Tale Of The Tail Part 4

   “Shit that hurt.” Tony said rubbing the spot on his head where Henry whacked him.

   “Serves you right for kidnapping me.” Stacey said.

   Tony was startled. He momentarily forgot the events of the last few minutes. Blame it on the blow to the head.

   “Jumpy aren’t we?” Stacey taunted. “Give me one reason not to go medieval on your ass.”

   “I just wanted to prove to myself I wasn’t crazy. I wanted to let you go. Henry whacked me in the head leading to the concussion.” He stammered.

   “Why should I believe anything you say?” Stacey shot back.

   “You’re right. You have no reason to believe me. Even so, I’m sorry for all this.”

   “Bite me.”

***

   Becky caught up to Gail. “I’ll trying freezing the motor and you can attack with waves.” She said.

   “Works for me.” Gail replied.

   Becky took aim and fired.

***

   There was enough water in the cargo hold to keep Stacey in mermaid form.

   “Do mermaids really get legs when out of the water?” Tony asked.

   “No.” Stacey lied.

`    “Are there are more mermaids out there?”

   “Not that I know of.” She lied again. Gail and Becky may of abandoned her, but that was no reason to put them at risk.

   “Do you prefer land or water?” he asked.

   “Water. People annoy me.” She said harshly. “What’s with the interrogation?”

   “I just have so many questions.” He was about to ask another when the boat suddenly  stopped throwing both of them almost against the wall.

***

   “Bullseye!” Becky cheered after hitting the boat’s propeller dead center..

   “Now it’s my turn” Gail said and concentrated on making waves.

***

   “What was that!?!” Tony asked/exclaimed.

   Stacey smiled. “If it’s what I think it is, you all are screwed.”

****

   “Why did we stop?” Henry shouted out. “Status report!” he barked to the crewman in the pilothouse.

   “Something’s wrong with the motor.” A crewman called back.

   “No shit. GO FIX IT!” Henry ordered. As soon as he finished saying that the boat started rocking violently as the waves grew in size. “What’s going on?” Henry asked since there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

   “It’s the sea!” the other crewman yelled out. “She is angry with us for taking one of it’s creatures!”

   Henry facepalmed and said to himself “I’m surrounded by morons.” as the waves grew so large that the water slapped onto the deck. “One flaw in your logic Einstein. We take fish out of the sea on a daily basis and this is the first time we had any problems.”

   The other crew member came up from the engine room.“Captain!” He called. “The engines are frozen.”

   “What do you mean frozen?”

   “Frozen solid sir.”

   The waves were hitting the boat hard on the port (left) side to the point that the boat could easily capsize.

   “The sea wants us to release the mermaid!” the crewman said. Sailors were very superstitious. Angering the sea is never a good thing.

   “The mermaid.” Henry said holding on so as not the fall overboard. “That foul creature is doing this.” He slowly went towards the cargo hold trying to keep his balance against the harsh waves rocking the ship. As soon as he unlocked the hold and opened it, Tony’s fist rammed straight into his nose. Henry was knocked off guard and almost went overboard having grabbed the rails just in time.

   Tony turned to Stacey. “We got to get you outta here.” He picked her up and started to carry her up top. Maybe he was telling the truth about trying to free her earlier. Then again, one good deed does not a trustworthy person make.

   When Tony and Stacey got back on deck they saw Henry hanging onto the railing for dear life and the other two crew members had been knocked into the water and were apologizing to the ocean for their misdeeds.

   As soon as the 2 crew members hit the water Becky froze them in place. “Takes care of them. Let’s finish this.”

   Henry was still holding on to the rails as wave after wave assaulted the boat. Tony walked as best he could over to the railing. “I should have let you rot in Bangkok.” He set Stacey on the deck. “It’s only right to let you finish this.” He told her.

   “My pleasure.” she said. Turning to Henry she added “Eat some fin asshole.” and nailed him in the face with her tail.    

   Henry lost his grip and fell into the water. Tony looked at Stacey and said “Really? That is the best line you could come up with?”

   “Give me a break. I’m new to badassery.” She said before jumping back in the water.

   As soon as her friend was back in the water Gail eased up on the waves. She swam over to embrace Stacey. “Are you ok?” she asked.

   “I am now that I’m off that boat.”

   “What happened?” Gail asked.

   “Never mind that.” Becky butted in. “What are we gonna do with these four?”

   Stacey swam up to the boat again.

   Tony said. “I am so sorry for all this. I just wanted to prove I wasn’t crazy. I never meant to hurt you. I promise I won’t reveal your secret.” Stacey could see in his eyes he was telling the truth.

   “Now you know you’re not crazy. Get out of here.”

   “Will I ever see you again?” he asked.

   “Never say never, but at this point in time I highly doubt it.” She swam off.

   “You’re just gonna let him go? Gail asked.

   “Ya. He helped me escape. One good deed deserves another.” Stacey replied.

   “But it’s his fault this all happened.” Becky added.

   “No it’s not. It’s my fault. You guys were right. I was reckless and got what I deserved.”

   “What about the other three?” Becky asked.

   “I have an idea about those two. I’m gonna play into their superstitions.” Stacey said. She swam over to the two crew members.

   “We beg for your forgiveness.” They pleaded.

   “You are forgiven just this once.” Stacey said “But know this. If you ever mention what happened today to anyone the sea will know and punish you severely.”

   “Thank you so much Miss Mermaid.”

   Since the crewmen thawed out in the warm waters, Stacey finished by saying “Now get back on your boat and leave here. Remember that you are not to ANYONE about this.”

   The two guys obeyed Stacey’s orders and soon the boat was gone.

   “And then there was 1.” She said and swam over to where Henry was trying to stay afloat.

   “What are gonna do to me?” Henry asked with a hint of fear in his voice.

  “Good question.” She turned to Gail and Becky. “Any ideas?”

   “I say we leave him here to drown.” Gail said.

   “I could freeze his ass solid and leave him that way.” Becky said.

   “Great options.” Stacey said. “But I want to show him I’m better than he is. I say we do what you two always wanted to do. Leave him on the rocks where he caught me and then alert the coast guard. Let them deal with this jerk.”

   “Works for us.” Gail and Becky said in unison.

   “I’ll still get the last laugh.” Henry said defiantly. “You do that and you expose yourselves to the Coast Guard.”

   Stacey whacked him with her tail again. “Shut up you!”

   The trio and their prisoner swam out to the rocks where this mess first started and marooned Henry there.

   As they swam off Henry yelled out “I’ll tell everyone about you! More people will be out to catch you!”

   “Empty threat.” Stacey said. “No one’s gonna believe a lone nut with no proof.”

   Later on the girls were back on shore in human form. “When should we tell the Coast Guard he’s out there?” Gail asked.

   “Give him another hour or so.” Stacey answered. The three girls laughed and went on with their day.