Northbound and Down!

Chapters

Waypoint 1- Hannibal, MO
Waypoint 2- Keokuk, IA
Waypoint 3- Burlington, IA

Waypoint 1- Hannibal, MO

Captain’s diary, March 12th, 2018, 1200 hours, Captain Howard Crane recording.

“Having finished off-loading two container loads of supplies, as well as twelve crewponies to the LST-325, we are on our way back to the Mississippi River, where we will turn right at Cairo and head north, stopping at Saint Louis for a day or so, to drop off Alice Smith for future transport to Kansas City, and to pick up two new volunteer crew, Paige Olsen, a pegasus from Davenport, and Jim Wood, a unicorn from Minneapolis. Our mission for the spring and summer is to head north, hopefully as far as Minneapolis, scouting for returnees and other sources of habitation. Fortunately, I have plenty of communication gems with me, to set up links.

“Another thing I have been saddled with is an official representative of Her Majesty, Cicely Stokes. She’s an earth pony who, fortunately for me, spends her time either in her cabin reading, or learning how the ship operates. She does have a prickly personality, but she does know what her job is, and more importantly, knows what her job is NOT. Three weeks on board and we have not come to blows. Yet. May that never happen.

“Yet another chore we’ve been handed is to start on setting up a chain of AM radio stations. The crew for that we left in Memphis, to see if they can get WMC 790 AM up and running. We have one technician from that group aboard, Ruth Bader, a former electronics tech now Ornithian, to do quick surveys at our stops along the way. In Saint Louis, she can fly over to see if KMOX can be saved.

“Young Stephanie has settled in well with us here on board the Voyager, helping Jason in the kitchen much of the time, and taking classes from whoever on board wants to teach her something for a while. Her schooling is more like she’ll have a question, and will find someone to answer it. She’s a good student, learns quickly, and is very polite. Rather shy, though. Takes her a while to warm to others. I’m just glad Her Majesty agreed with Lucien and Jessica and allowed her to stay aboard. She needs stability, and we can provide it.

“End diary entry,” Howard concluded before shutting off the voice-to-type, then reading the paragraphs critically. “Practice makes perfect…”

March 19th, 2018 1100 hours

The Voyager tied up at LaFarge pier, with a small reception committee waiting pierside, namely Mayor Suzanne Blakeslee, Vice-Mayor Mark Voltefiore, and to everyone’s surprise on the ship, Candace Smith. In the light of day, it was apparent that Alice and Candace are identical twins, with the exception being Candace’s left fore and hind legs were white instead of gray. Alice, who was topside, took to the air with a joyful squee, as did Candace. The two hippogriffs met head-on in midair before settling to the pier, squealing in joy, hugging each other fiercely.

Captain Crane extended the port side gangplank after the lines were fastened down and welcomed Suzanne and Mark. “Sure looks like those two are glad to see each other,” Howard observed.

“Candace arrived three days ago, having swam the whole way from Kansas City. She did bring a sack full of potions for our larder, as well as five pounds of refined meteor steel,” Suzanne told Howard.

“Got any plans for the steel?” Howard asked.

“Yes. Give it to you to send downstream to New Orleans, eventually. That way, we can’t be accused of ‘holding out’ on Her Majesty,” Suzanne replied honestly.

“Her Majesty appreciates the gesture, and is glad that Jenny MacLaine understood the methods needed to refine the ore without it losing its magic. So far, outside of the Norwegian colony, she’s the only one who has mastered the technique,” Howard said, repeating what Queen Marie said between his ears via gem. Suzanne wore one as well, but it is much smaller than Howard’s, and it’s like using a peephole instead of a window.

“Saint Louis may not join Louisianne, but I realize the need to stay on her good side,” the zebra said quietly, reinforcing her words with intent, hoping the message would make it across. She couldn’t be sure, but making the effort could not hurt. Turns out she was right.

“Everything else going well, Suzanne? The newbies we left here last year settle in?” Howard asked.

“No problem, Howard. The ten chose rooms in the hotel and rapidly figured out what needed doing. Just nominal supervision is all that’s needed. Right now, it’s breaking and prepping the ground for crops that’s taking much of us. The rest are either checking train lines or plundering the city.

“Casimir is helping with the monsters, and collecting potion components, like manticore venom. Once a month, they run their motorboat down this way to do some swapping,” Suzanne explained as Howard led the pair to the Lounge for coffee, leaving the sisters outside to hug.

March 21, 1000 hours

The Mississippi Voyager departed Saint Louis to get started on their real mission, to head north along the Mississippi River to fill in the gaps in their knowledge of conditions. Their first main destination is the Quad Cities area of Iowa and Illinois, because there are some ponies there that are in sporadic contact with the WSU via shortwave radio. Their first obstacle, however, is the Melvin Price Lock and Dam. Howard knew the place well, the main problem being the locks only had one gate, meaning going through the gates will be a chore without hydraulic assistance. Fortunately, the Chief Engineer, Arnie Van Dyke, had spent his winter down time doing research on lock construction, and had figured out a way to power the hydraulics remotely, with a portable generator. By two that afternoon, they were able to put Arnie’s ideas to the test.

Well, that was the idea. By the time Arnie, Liz and Dexter found everything they needed to find, the sun had set and they had to wait until the next day to try it out. “Ah hates waitin…” Arnie drawled at dinner.

“We do, too, Arnie, but best do this during the day, right?” Carroll replied.

“Just cuz it’s logical t’wait don’t mean ah have to lakh it!” Arnie grumped.

“Plenty of tahm to fahnd out if you is a Frack-level genius or a Frack-level idjit. Arnie,” the ship’s doctor, Lucien Macombe, said drolly after a bite of his salad.

“I won’t take bets either way,” Liz Ruiz, the Ornithian engineer’s mate, chirped.

At another table, Howard and Cicely had their dinner. “Just how do you manage to handle your crew so well, Howard?” Cicely asked.

“Simple. I trust them to know their jobs and to get their jobs done without me looking over their shoulders. If I have to, it gets my displeasure and soon after, a crew replacement. Been a year now since I took command of this barge and I never had a crew discipline problem,” Howard said quietly after eating some fried fish.

“If I was in charge, I would have everyone quaking in their shoes about making me unhappy,” Cicely said with emphasis.

“Not smart to do on board a ship, even a converted barge like the Voyager. We all depend on each other to do our jobs, because we all have to work together to keep the ship afloat. For instance, as the only hippogriff aboard, I’m the one who does hull checks as needed. I’ve never asked for another, because Her Majesty uses those she has to clear the ship channels of debris and wreckage, as well as inspecting the boats we use. Just because I’m the Captain does not mean I don’t do my share of the work. Takes all of us to do that,” he explained patiently.

Cicely nodded as she chewed on some corn before speaking. “One thing I have to remember is that there is not a big labor pool to dip into. Finding people with the right skills is not as easy as it was Before.”

“All the more reason to treasure those you find. Like Stephanie,” Howard said, pointing at the black and white Abyssinian, who was busy cleaning the serving line. “We found her in a cold storm in December, alone and frightened. We took her aboard and she bonded with Jason and Esther. She won’t speak much of Before, but she works hard to be accepted here. Lucien thinks it’s because she’s afraid we’ll put her off somewhere and leave her, but I think she knows that won’t happen. I’m thinking it’s because we accept her as is, and guide her along, not run rough on her.”

“Personally, I don’t think an exploration ship is the right place for a child,” Cicely said with an edge in her voice, but then lost the edge as she went on. “Thing is, who could we leave her with? She’s fitted in well with Jason. Even I can see that. She also gets along with everyone, but has not come to speak with me. I wonder why.”

Howard sat straighter in his seat. “I want to think that she’s afraid of you, Cicely. Abyssinians can be extremely empathic, and you have a rather powerful, forceful personality. Jason has his version of empathy in that he always seems to know what is needed, where it’s needed and when someone needs it. It’s what makes him a fine shipmate. Stephanie I feel is empathic as well, but what she went through Before is coloring her feelings now. If you want to speak with her, I suggest you ‘make yourself receptive’ to her, and ask Jason or Esther to sit in on your first meeting,” he told the Crown representative firmly.

“Something I’ll have to keep in mind,” Cicely said before some more of the dinner. Think what she will about being aboard, the table the ship sets is far better than anything she can find back in New Orleans, even at the Queen’s court in the French Quarter.

Early the next morning, Arnie led his team out to see if his lock-picking idea would work or not. The only difficulty they faced was figuring out the right valve lineup to get the lock doors open. Once that happened, Howard applied full power to get the Voyager through and clear of the doors. Getting them shut again was not difficult, but one slight miscalculation did lead to a relief valve lifting, liberally bedaubing Arnie with hydraulic oil. (not that anyone could tell, he normally was a black and gray mix that looked like he was dipped in machine oil to begin with) He let Liz and Dexter break down the assembly while he went back aboard to clean up, sending word ahead to leave some toweling by the gangplank so he would not track oil through the ship.

That afternoon, they encountered their next obstacle, the Winfield Lock and Dam. This lock was different in that it had TWO gates instead of one, and it had a fill and drain system. This time, it only took an hour to get that lock behind them, and Arnie did not have another oil bath.

Two more days of travel had them at their first planned stop, Hannibal, Missouri. Howard and Jason wanted to take Stephanie to the Mark Twain Boyhood Home, to help further her education. The three went there early on the 26th of March, a nice clear day, Cicely and Lucien coming along as well. Much of the rest of the crew went out scavenging, to set up at least one ‘emergency stash’ near where they tied up, and another on a higher point of ground.

The five spent a slow morning at the Twain Boyhood Home, taking a leisurely tour and collecting a lot of souvenirs. One in particular that Stephanie found is an old pen and inkwell set that she found in the house, not the souvenir shop. “When we get back to the ship, ah’ll show you how to make some proper ink to use in that, Stephanie. There’s a reason ball-point pens were invented, but this is the way writing was done back in the old days. Would you like that?” Lucien asked the young Abyssininan.

“I would, Doctor Lucien. I remember reading Tom Sawyer back Before, and I like Mark Twain. Learning to write like he did would be a challenge!” Stephanie said brightly. Jason smiled at his foster daughter’s enthusiasm, an unusual showing of emotion from her, or him for that matter.

Just then, Howard’s radio crackled. “Voyager Lookout to Captain, I’m seeing something moving on the railroad tracks south of town, heading north,” said the new pegasus on the crew, Paige Olsen.

“What can you tell me about it, Lookout?” Howard asked.

“Not much, Captain. I’m over the Wal-Mart, and this is by the river, south of the ship and coming northbound. No smoke visible. Should I investigate?” Paige asked.

“Start making your way there, Lookout. I’ll beat you there and we can check this out together. Captain out.” Howard said before looking at his companions. “Head back to the ship. I’ll check this out. Could be another Returnee.”

“Sounds good t’me, Howard. C’mon, everyone, back to the ship! Step lively!” Lucien urged the group, heading out the door to the gift shop. Howard was the last one out, taking wing once clear.

It wasn’t long before Howard saw the spot moving along the tracks south of town. It was an antique hand-pumped train cart, being worked by what appeared to be a youngish hippogriff, dark pink body fur with a lime-green mane and tail, the mane having a bold white stripe through it. As he closed in, the hippogriff stopped pumping the cart, let out a squeal, pulled a handgun from somewhere and started shooting at Howard with very little skill.

It doesn’t take much skill to hit a target, though. Howard was so startled he didn’t veer off. He took one bullet to the wing and another to the body, sending him spiraling down to the river, unconsciousness claiming him before hitting the water.

Author's Note

Well, that's a nasty surprise. How will Howard get out of this predicament?

tilts head Why am I hearing a Beatles song? Bonus points to whoever can say which song it is. Can't say when next chapter will be out. Hopefully less than the six months since the last story ended!

Long COVID is a real bitch. Four years ago this time, I was on a ventilator. I don't think I'll ever recover. I just do the best I can.

Waypoint 2- Keokuk, IA

Howard woke to find himself in his cabin, bandages wrapped around his barrel and left wing, feeling rather confused. It was dim in the cabin, just one desk light on and the curtains drawn. Once he had enough wit to remember what had happened to him, the door opened. Jason looked in, made eye contact with the Captain, nodded and backed out, shutting the door.

He flopped back, finding his strength lacking and his appetite building, which he remembered as being side effects of healing potions being used on him. He must have dozed off, because he woke when someone knocked on his door before opening it. The someone was his Chief Officer, Carroll Milsap, a genderbent seagull/cougar griffon, followed by his ship’s doctor, Lucien Macombe, carrying a laden dinner tray in his deep red glow. “Glad you’re awake, Captain,” Carroll said as she took a seat in a corner of the room, allowing space for Lucien to put the tray where Howard could get at it.

“Ah had no doubts about him wakin’ up,” Lucien drawled in his thick New Orleans accent. “Nothin’ major got broke, and when ah got the bullet out and healin’ salves on, ah knew it wouldn’t be a few hours afore he woke.”

Howard eagerly dug into the heaping bowl of sausage and grits for a good minute before having some coffee. “Will someone tell me just what happened to put me here?” he asked when his hunger had eased enough to allow him to speak.

“You done got shot by some thirty-two caliber slugs fired from a gun held by a startled thirteen year old hippogriff who uses the name Becky Thatcher. You done splashed down into the river, and Paige dove in after you, keeping your head up until some more help came,” Lucien explained as Howard had some more sausage. “Cicely and Stephanie came charging down alongside the tracks, Aaron hot on their heels.”

Carroll then took up the tale. “While Aaron worked on getting you and Paige to shore, Cicely and Stephanie worked on calming Becky down. To hear Cicely talk, it was Stephanie that got Becky settled down enough to be sensible, Cicely just lending strength by her presence. I arrived a bit later, followed by Harry and Jim in the truck. We got you loaded in the back of the truck and brought here for Lucien to work on you while Cicely and Stephanie brought Becky here on hoof, talking to her all the while.”

“How is Becky doing? How long has she been on her own?” Howard asked after finishing the heaping bowl of sausage and grits, which he had to admit felt good inside him.

“A couple of months, best she could figure,” Lucien said as his red glow scanned Howard. “There was snow on the ground when she woke up the way she is. She’s been hiding out in the Mark Twain Caves, using the old hand cart to go back and forth. She started carrying the gun after being chased by some critters. When you flew at her, she just pulled it and fired out of pure fright. One round was an in and out on your wing, the other one hit you in the left side. Didn’t penetrate any organs, but your side muscles ain’t going to be happy for a while. That’s why you’re on your right side.”

Howard yawned. “How long am I off duty, Doctor?” he asked.

“You should be able to get up and about in the morning. Right now, you get back to sleep and stay that way until you got to get up again, okay? You’ll be sore for another day or so, other than that, you’ll be okay,” Lucien pronounced with all the confidence of a minister speaking from the pulpit.

“I’ll buy that for a quarter…” Howard mumbled as his head hit the pillow again. The two cleared the cabin, taking the tray with them, letting him sleep.

Down in the Lounge, the crew and passengers waited on what Lucien had to say as Carroll put the dirty dishes up. “He’ll be right as can be tomorrow morning, except for some muscle soreness. That should clear up with some exercise. Got to love healing potions, even minor ones,” he told the gathered ponies and whatnot.

Carroll came out of the galley and looked at Jason, Stephanie and Becky. “The Captain will interview you all tomorrow. Until then, Becky, I want you to stay near Stephanie until such time as the Captain or I give you the freedom of the ship. Until then, I want you escorted. Tonight, you’ll stay here. If you want to join us on our expedition, tomorrow we’ll get your stuff from the caves and move you in. Understood?” she said in serious but not angry tones.

“I understand, Miz Milsap. It will be nice to sleep in a real bed and not be alone!” Becky said emphatically.

Stephanie put an arm around Becky’s shoulders. “From now on, you’ll only be alone by choice. I’ll be here for you, as will Papa and the rest of the crew. I know what it’s like to be alone. I don’t wish that on anyone!” she said, adding a gentle hug to the words.

“Thank you, Stef. Can we go back to the cabin and talk some more? I have lots of learning to do!” Becky said with a giggle.

Stephanie grinned back at the pink hippogriff. “Let’s do it!”

As the pair headed to the stairwell heading up, Jason said to Lucien and Carroll, “I’m glad the two are getting along. They both need friends their age.” That was more than he usually said all day.

Lucien nodded in agreement. “Yep. That’s the absolute truth. I’ve seen too many times kids die on the vine because of one reason or another they wouldn’t reach out to have friends. Ah’m glad Stef latched on to you and Esther. You two is doin’ a good job with her. Damn happy to see such happ’nin,” he said solemnly. Jason just nodded in return and went into the galley to clean up and set out the overnight munchie selection before he went to bed. He wakes up promptly at six each morning to prepare breakfast.

27 March 2018

Howard woke about eight in the morning, urged up by severe bladder pressure, which he managed to relieve without undue incident. His left side was sore, but nothing unbearable. Putting on a clean uniform shirt, he headed downstairs for breakfast. He decided on a custom one, pancakes, sausage, fish bacon and three eggs over easy, the eggs coming from the chicken coop installed over the winter up on the top deck by the exhaust stacks. Nobody bothered him while he ate, waiting until he had finished before approaching him, the first of which being his exec, Carroll Milsap.

“Feeling better now, Captain?” she asked as Howard leaned back in his seat, sipping from his coffee mug.

“Better now than before, Chief. Side and wing are feeling a bit tight. I’ll see Lucien about it when he wakes up,” Howard said, referring to the doctor’s proclivity for sleeping until the crack of noon, unless he is truly needed. In that case, he has been known to spend two days awake, crash for six hours, then go another two days. “Where are the girls?”

“Cicely has Becky and Stephanie with her in the big guest cabin, checking how much education they truly have,” Carroll reported. a job Cicely is qualified to do, having been a teacher in her past before moving to administration.

“I’m glad to see Stephanie opening up to Cicely. Looks like my idea worked. Ship status?” Howard asked.

“We could set out today, but tomorrow morning or the next day would be better. We need to take a trip to the caves to get Becky’s gear, and complete the stores load that got interrupted yesterday. That’s under way now, with Harry, Ruth, Jim and Aaron on that working party. Esther has the watch with Paige until lunch, then I’ll take over. Otherwise, the ship is in shape. Care to do a walkdown, Captain?” Carroll asked

“That would be a very good idea, Chief. Some gentle exercise should clear the stiffness,” Howard agreed, slowly getting up and stretching.

The two did a walkdown of the craft, first going upstairs and checking in at the Bridge before heading aft, inspecting the cabins, except the ones who had night watches. They then went up to the roof, checking the chicken coop aft before going forward to the gun emplacements. Finding the guns in order, Carroll then asked her captain, “Fly down to the deck?”

Howard was quick to answer. “Glide to the pier. Small steps first,” he said before unhooking the safety line and leaping off, spreading his wings.

He made it safely down to the pier, but he could feel the stiffness in his left side, especially when his hooves hit the concrete. He didn’t fall, but he did stagger some. Carroll landed expertly nearby, having replaced the safety line before taking off. “You okay?”

“I will be. Need some more workout time. I’ll try again after lunch,” Howard said before leading the way to the gangplank and going back aboard. There, they checked over the deck, noting that bays 1, 2 and 4 were ‘dummy-locked’, meaning the doors were shut and locks were in place, but not sealed. Howard knew that was because the Second Officer had a working party out gathering supplies, and setting a supply dump up. Tomorrow will be soon enough to set up the second, which Howard decided would be in the Mark Twain Caves.

“One idea I have is to take the hand cart along with us and give it to the track crew in Memphis,” Carroll suggested. “Would be a shame to leave it here. We know it works.”

Howard was quick to answer. His body’s soreness was fading, but his mind is as sharp as ever. “Good idea. We have plenty of space for it. Let’s ask Becky first. I think she’ll be agreeable.”

“Going to interview her?”

“After lunch, with Stephanie, Cicely and either Jason or Esther present. I want her to relax. I wonder how much she knows about being a hippogriff,” Howard said as he looked inside bay 6, the refrigerated compartment. All was in place there. Harry Bell and Jason keep it that way at all times. Easier to find what you’re looking for.

“I’m sure Stephanie is busy telling Becky how good a pony you are,” Carroll commented as Howard shut the door to bay 6 and locked it.

“I’m concerned about what Cicely is saying.”

After lunch, and after a going over by Lucien, who said that he needed more gentle exercise but put off flying until tomorrow, Howard gathered Stephanie, Becky, Cicely and Esther in a corner of the Lounge. “Becky, first thing I will say to you is that I will not hold you shooting me against you. Am I right in saying you have never seen a pony flying before?” he said gently to the dark pink hippogriff.

Becky nodded, her mane bouncing some. Howard noticed that it was partially braided, probably by Stephanie during morning lessons. “That’s right, Captain. Seeing you flying at me, well, I got scared and started shooting. I’ve seen flying critters before, but not ponies. I’m glad you’re all right,” she said, her voice only a little shaky.

Howard glanced at Stephanie, who put an arm around Becky’s neck. “Easy, Becky. The Captain’s a very good pony. I’m sure he’s not mad at you. Now, go tell him what you know,” the normally quiet Abyssinian told her friend.

Taking courage from the words and the Captain’s calm expression, Becky told about her waking up at her house the way she was ‘a few months back, when there was a lot of snow’. Having spent her life in Hannibal, she knew all about the Mark Twain Caves, and decided to make it her base, because she knew where she could build a fire to keep warm. Slogging through the snow was a chore, until she found the rail car. She used that to gather supplies, only going out when the sun shone. The pistol belonged to her mother, and she knew how to use it, but was not very skilled with it.

“How many times have you had to use it, Becky?” Howard asked.

“Four times all together, Captain. Twice on dogs, once on something I’m not sure what it was. It came at me, I shot at it, it fled and I have not seen it since. Will you let me stay aboard? I don’t want to be alone again, hoping someone would show up,” Becky said hopefully.

“A couple more questions first. One, Becky Thatcher is not your real name, but one you chose after you woke up, right?” Howard asked.

Becky nodded. “Yes. I never liked my given name, and when I woke up like this, I thought it didn’t fit me any more. No problem with that, is there?”

Howard smiled warmly at the filly. “Not at all. I did the same thing myself. Many ponies do, some don’t. It’s all a matter of choice.

“Now, will you be willing to follow the rules of the ship, do any and all chores assigned to you, and obey the ship’s officers at all times?” he asked with a firm expression on his face.

“Yes, Captain! I will do so! Can Stef and I work together?” Becky said, snapping a sharp salute with both her right arm and right wing, the feather tips of which went into her right ear, making her shake and grimace, spoiling the effect.

“I see no reason why not, Becky. Is there anything you would like to do before we leave? I would like to set up a supply shelter at the caves. Want to help with it?”

Becky grinned eagerly. “Yes, Captain! When?”

“After breakfast tomorrow. One thing we would like to do, when we leave, is to bring your hand rail car with us. We know some ponies in Memphis who would like to have it. Can we do so?” Howard asked.

Becky was startled that they would even ASK her if they could take the hand truck, but recovered fast. “Sure! I’m surprised it even worked. Needed a lot of WD-40 and oil to clear the rust out. If someone can use it, go ahead!” she said, surprise in her voice quickly replaced by eagerness.

“Okay, then! Welcome aboard, Becky!” Howard said, standing and extending a paw to her. After shaking, he said “You work with Stephanie through until after dinner, doing what chores need doing. Tomorrow, I’ll start you on flying lessons, okay?”

“Fly? Me? No way I can fly! Swim, yes. Fly?” Becky said, incredulous.

“I flew at you, right? If I can do it, you can, too! Those wings are not for decoration, they’re meant to be used! Now, to work, crewpony! Stephanie, report to Papa with Becky for duties!” Howard said with an official snap at the end.

Stephanie saluted smartly. “Yes, Captain! Come on, Becky!” she said before heading to the galley, Becky in tow.

Cicely, who had been watching the whole interview with Esther, chose that time to speak. “You’ve raised children Before, Howard. It shows.”

Howard shook his head. “Nope. Lifelong bachelor. Now, I did have bunches of nieces, nephews and little cousins. They soon learned that Uncle Howie was no pushover!”

“You would have made a good teacher, Howard. You handled the girls well. Ready to hear what I learned this morning?” she asked. At Howard’s nod, she went on. “Becky had just graduated junior high school and was looking forward to summer activities with her friends. Waking up in the thick of winter was a sudden surprise, especially being alone and changed into a hippogriff, though she didn’t know that word.

“It took her several days to get herself sorted out. Fortunately, her house has a working fireplace, and she was able to keep warm between foraging expeditions. She knew about the caves, and made her way there. The hand cart was part of a display, and she got it working with a lot of greasing of the gears. It made going to and from town easier.

“She woke up late yesterday, to find the ship tied up here. Excited, she raced to the cart and started heading our way. Esther saw her on the tracks and the rest you know.” Cicely explained.

“What went on yesterday and this morning?” Howard asked.

“After you splashed down in the river, she brought the cart to a stop. Paige had arrived by then and dove in to keep your head out of the water. Stef and I were next, racing down the tracks. Stef immediately went to Becky to calm her down, getting her to put the pistol back into its holster before hugging her. Aaron was next to dive in and get you out of the river. Harry and Jim arrived with the truck, Jim got you loaded in the bed and they drove you here while Stef and I brought Becky to the ship. Carroll offered her a hot meal and companionship, which she detailed to Stef and I,” Cicely described as she had a cup of coffee.

“Do you think Becky is safe and stable?”

“No more and no less than anyone else in this day and age, Captain,” Cicely said firmly, believing in what she said. “It would do her a world of good being aboard. By the time we get back to New Orleans, she’ll be able to decide her path in life, wherever it may be.”

“I’ll buy that for a nickel, Cicely,” Howard said. “Care to walk with me through downtown? I can use the exercise.”

“Sounds good to me!”

The rest of that day, stores load was completed. The next day was devoted to setting up the two ‘survival kits’ they planned on placing there in Hannibal, one up at the lighthouse and the other at the caves Becky holed up at. The last chore was for the unicorns (Lucien, Arnie and Jim) to stow the railroad hand cart in one of the cargo bays and secured down so it would not roll. “Just glad there’s no rough seas on a river!” Harry Bell observed once the hand cart was lashed firmly in place.

“Don’t hold your breath, Harry,” Howard told him. “There’s some big lakes coming up, and when a storm blows, barges are not known to be placid places.”

“Pardon me for saying so, Howard, but I’ll believe that when I see it.”

“You’ll get your chance.”

The Mississippi Voyager made its way upstream, dealing with locks and dams as well as dropping off ‘survival kits’ at the different towns they passed, namely Quincy, IL, LaGrange, MO, Canton, MO, and Warsaw, IL. The next ‘big city’ they approached is the ‘thriving metropolis’ of Keokuk, Iowa. Arnie and his engineering team went into the depths of Lock and Dam 19, where they found something startling. “Cap’n, this place done got power! Everythin’s workin’ down heah! Openin’ the south doors for you!” Arnie sent through the crystals as he worked the lock controls, the doors opening.

“There’s a hydroelectric plant here, Arnie. Somehow, it must still be working to power the hydraulics. Once we’re through, we’ll check it out,” Howard sent as he watched Carroll guide the ship into the lock. Once clear, Arnie shut the south doors and started to fill the lock, getting ready to open the north doors.

“Captain! Activity on west bank! Four diamond dogs, armed!” sent Paige Olsen, who was on lookout duty above the ship.

“I see them, Lookout. Shift your location to over the river and keep watching. Arming weapons,” Howard sent as he powered up the weapons console. “Aaron, make ready to man the upper deck guns.”

“Going to access hatch, Captain. Ready to obey orders,” Aaron Tereshkov, the ship’s newly-minted Fourth Officer sent in reply, getting to the hatch in the upper midship’s passage, undogging it but not opening.

Outside, the four dogs, all big burly puggish-types, set themselves up on the street alongside the lock. Two of them carried rifles, one pushed a covered cart, and the fourth carried a bullhorn. The one with the bullhorn turned it on with a loud squawk before talking. “Ahoy the ship! Stand down and prepare to be boarded! The King of Keokuk orders the ship to be confiscated and all crew members arrested pending trial!” The bullhorn was loud enough to be clearly heard throughout the ship.

Out of sight-line of the dogs, Howard rotated the topside grenade launcher so it pointed in the dog’s direction, but almost straight up. “Carroll, all stop on the engines. Alert Arnie to keep hidden, but be wary of underground passages to the power plant and lock controls,” he ordered as he turned on the outside loudspeakers.

The two dogs with rifles outfitted their guns with RPG’s from the covered cart. Small, but the Voyager is a converted barge, not a warship. No armor plating. “Ahoy the ship! Prepare for boarding! The King so orders!”

Howard keyed the mic. “What did the Harlequin say when the Ticktockman told him to repent?”

The four dogs looked at each other, then the two with rifles got down on one knee and took aim at the ship. “What did he say?” the dog with the bullhorn asked before ordering his gunners “Open fire!”

Author's Note

King of Keokuk? Well, that's unexpected. Davenport has access to the outside, why not Keokuk? For the answer to this and other questions yet unasked, stay tuned to this story! More in Chapter Three!

-sighs-

Wish the pain and fatigue would stop. Getting up out of my bed or chair takes more effort every day. Going to 'mindfulness' lessons at the VA hospital every Thursday ruins me for a couple days after. Sometimes I wonder why I bother.

Then I sit down and write, post, and see the responses. Thank you, readers! Any suggestions, ideas, compliments, complaints, put them in the comments! Now for some more Arnold Palmer... *wheels off*

Waypoint 3- Burlington, IA

The two dogs with the rifles fired their RPG’s at the same time. They immediately proved their lack of skill with them, as one completely missed while the other did not hit the ship square, glancing off the top of the cabin block before detonating, fortunately missing the chicken coop and the weapons emplacement.

“Use the smaller grenades, not the big rockets, you morons!” the dog with the bullhorn screamed at the others. The dog with the cart dug out two smaller baseball-sized green spheres with stems.

Before the two rifle dogs could reload, Howard answered the question he posed earlier. “GET STUFFED!” he shouted into the mic as he triggered a three-round burst from the grenade launcher. The shout got the dog's attention. They watched the grenades arc up, then down to detonate one, two, three not thirty feet from them. The concussions bowled them all over, weapons flying away from them.

Howard didn’t hesitate. Over crystals, he ordered Aaron to go up to the rooftop gun placement, Jim and Lucien to go outside aft and immobilize/anesthetize the dogs, and Ruth to take a pistol from the armory and go out forward to cover.

Aaron got into the gun emplacement and swung the fifty-cal M2 over and down to point at the dogs as Howard got back on the microphone. “Now, fellows and gals, we have us a job to do farther upriver. If His Majesty the King wants to have a conference on our way back down river, we’ll be plum tickled to chat with him. Queen Marie Laveau would be right displeased if you damage her ship. Topside, keep them covered until we get out of range. Later, all!” he said as he mentally gave Arnie the order to open the north doors to the lock. Once they were through, the lock party was hurriedly brought aboard and the ship made best speed north.

Howard ordered all hooves and paws to a meeting in the Lounge, leaving Carroll and Esther in Control and Paige as Lookout. Once there, Lucien reported that he hit the dogs with a sleep spell while Jim moved the cart to the lock, dumping the grenades into the water.

“That’s from behind, but we’re not clear yet. Who knows what this ‘King of Keokuk’ has at his disposal? Here’s my tentative plans.

“We will remain at battle stations until we get to Nauvoo, Illinois. That’s about ten miles from here. There, we’ll remain alert for a day, keeping a watch out from all sides. Stephanie, I want you and Becky to get on the computers. I want you to send a preliminary report to the WSU in Rotterdam as to what just happened. Next, I need all contact information with the folk in Davenport. I was going to do that later, but now we’ll need to find out what they know about this ‘King of Keokuk’. Cicely, Ruth, I want one of you on watch at all times on the stern deck, watching. This is a barge, not a warship. We’re not fast, but we are armed. If they come after us, we need warning. You two are the stern warning system. Trade off if you want.

“We should be in Nauvoo within two hours. Once there, hopefully I’ll have some better information. If I have not mentioned you, normal routine until things change. Dismissed.” Howard concluded before going to the coffee bar for a mug. The two girls went right to the main shipboard computer, which is in one corner of the Lounge. Most everyone had laptops, tablets and whatnot, but the main one had the best outside links. Cicely and Ruth went aft, as did the engineering team. After pouring not one, but three mugs, he put them on a tray and went to the bridge.

Howard barely had time to pass out the coffee mugs when Paige reported in via crystal. “Captain, I see a motorboat pulling out from a pier ahead. One being aboard, a pony. Not a pegasus. It’s steering for us. Orders?”

Howard picked up the bridge binoculars and scanned the river ahead. A small recreational motor boat was heading for the ship, a pony driving, closing distance, a small rooster tail forming behind the motor boat as the driver applied power. “Esther, activate forward gun mount and train weapons on the incoming target. Weapons cold, but looking that way.”

“On it, Captain,” Esther said as she manned the weapons control station. She powered up the cameras and guns, aiming the M2 and grenade launchers at the boat, which quickly closed the gap.

When the boat was about a hundred yards off, Howard picked up the loudspeaker mic. “Okay, you, cut power! Let us come to you! You are in our weapons sights and right now, we’re not very happy!” he said firmly.

The boat driver (a unicorn, as it turned out), immediately cut power, letting the motor boat drift. The driver waved some, apparently miming wanting to tie up alongside. “Paige, see what the driver wants,” Howard ordered.

“On it, Cap!” Paige replied, swooping down to the motor boat.

“Request permission to come aboard!” shouted the driver once Paige was within shouting distance.

“Permission granted! Do you have something to tie up with?” Paige shouted back, relaying from the Captain.

“Yeah!” the unicorn replied as its horn lit up with an orange glow. A rope that was lying on the bottom of the boat lifted up as it was smoothly brought alongside, then it snaked its way through a ring on the small boat and around a stanchion on the bigger barge, knotting itself firmly. Once that chore was done, the unicorn shut the small boat’s motor off and scrambled aboard the Voyager.

“Hi! I’m Marian Atherton, electrical engineer out of Bettendorf, Iowa. Thanks for getting me out of there!” the yellow and white unicorn with a dull orange mane and tail and bright orange horn said. “That King can be crazy!”

Paige landed carefully on the deck. “I’m Paige Olsen, from Davenport. Captain Crane will want to speak with you. Care for some coffee?”

“I won’t say no to that! Let’s get inside!” Marian agreed, following Paige into the Lounge.

Inside, Paige and Marian were met by Jason, who was carrying a tray with two mugs, one with Paige’s preferred tea and one of coffee. Marian took the coffee and sipped. Her eyes widened at the taste- it was hot, good and the way she liked it. “How did he know?” Marian wondered as Paige led her to a table, where some small pastries waited on a plate.

“Just roll with it. I’ve been aboard since Saint Louis, and it’s just the way he is. I’m glad for it,” Paige said in dry tones as she sat down.

“We have a couple of good cooks at the Arsenal, but nobody inspired. We tend to take turns, but those of us with essential infrastructure tasks are exempt. Myself and two others keep the power going,” Marian explained as she took a seat.

“Just how many ponies are at the Quad Cities, Miz Atherton?” Captain Crane asked, coming up to the table and sitting down across from Paige and Marian. “I’m Howard Crane, Captain of the Mississippi Voyager.”

“Thirty-seven when I was last there, and how did you know my name?” Marian asked, startled.

Both Howard and Paige tapped the gems around their necks, his a diamond, hers a sapphire. “These allow us to communicate telepathically, Miz Atherton. I was also watching as Miz Olsen rendezvoused with you. Just what were you doing in the motorboat, if I may ask?” Howard asked casually.

“Getting the hell out of Keokuk!” Marian shouted. “That King is a dangerous freak of nature! He lied to the Mayor to get me down there to get the power plant working and would not let me go! I’ve been there since the end of January!”

“Dangerous freak of nature? What do you mean by that?” Howard asked.

“He’s a creature that is a split personality writ large. When calm, he’s nice, polite and charming. When mad, things around him burn. His army is a bunch of thuggish mutts, and most of the rest are just too scared of the King to do anything other than their assigned jobs!” Marian said, allowing herself to rant some about the conditions in Keokuk.

Howard sipped from his coffee. “Just how many thuggish mutts are in the King’s army?” he asked.

“Five. One is his bodyguard, and the other four handle threats. When the four went after you, I made tracks to the yacht club and stole a boat to meet you. I was supposed to go back to Davenport at the end of February, but I was held prisoner!” Marian ranted.

“How did you get to Keokuk?” Paige asked.

“The King came up to Davenport when he heard we had electric capability restored, and asked for someone to come down and restart theirs. I drew the high card, so I went down with the King and his crew. It was only supposed to be a month, but he refused to let me head back!”

“Just how did he know Davenport has power?” Howard asked.

Marian had a piece of pastry and some coffee before answering. “Last fall, we had a hippogriff come through the Quad Cities from upstream. She said she wanted to get to Saint Louis, so she didn’t stay. We already had power back then. She left around the tail end of October, and the King arrived in mid-January. I don’t know what he dickered with the Mayor for my services, but I went back with him to Keokuk. Fortunately, it didn’t take much at all to get the power back up, just some lubing and a breaker lineup. Needed someone who knew what the hell to do, and that someone was me. I’ll be damned if I’ll go back, for sure!”

“What do you know about the World Seafarer’s Union and the Kingdom of Louisianne?” Howard asked before biting into a beignet.

“Just what we hear over the radio at night. There’s only three working satphones, and none of us have the skill to get a computer up and running. The Mayor I know has phoned in to Rotterdam. You do have a Louisianne rep on board, right?” Marian asked in return.

“That we do. Plenty of time to talk to her. She’s watching behind us, in case Keokuk pursues us,” Howard told the visiting unicorn.

“They won’t. I took the only operating motor boat. He only has two flyers that can, and they won’t go far. A pegasus and a griffon, and they are both rather scared of the King. When he gets fiery, I can’t blame them,” Marian said, calming down some.

“Would you like the opportunity to call your Mayor and fill him or her in on what’s going on, and we’ll be bringing you back in a few days?” Howard offered.

Marian smiled brightly, orange sparkles running up and down her horn. “I would like that very much, Captain! Before or after lunch?”

“How about after? We plan on pulling over up in Nauvoo to compare notes. We’ll have lunch then, then we’ll go up to my office and call your Mayor. Before that, I’ll have to get on the phone with the WSU and tell them to go radio-silent on our encounter with Keokuk. Do they listen in down there?” Howard asked.

Marian nodded. “That they do, especially at night. It’s the only real link they have to the outside. If they knew you were passing near, that word didn’t get to me. I’m either watching over the electrics or in my prison suite.”

Marian then blinked. “Oh, if I may ask, when we stop in Nauvoo, may I go to the Temple there? I want to get a copy or two of the Book, and look around some.”

“I see no reason why not. I’ll give you a little escort, just so you won’t have many surprises,” Howard agreed. “I’ll be a bit busy, but I can scare up a couple of crewfolk who would not mind a walk.”

Captain’s Diary, April 4th, 2018 0900 hours

“Currently at anchor in Burlington, Iowa. Arrived last night, after putting a supply stash at Old Fort Madison. We’re going to leave one here, after some scavenging to fill a supply stash for here. We could use stores we have aboard, but we have time to go out and look. Fort Madison, we had one ready, so we just pulled up and used our forklift to place it.

“No sign of pursuit from Keokuk. We remained at alert for a day, keeping a watch out while in Nauvoo, but there was no disturbance. Marian got her desired tour of Nauvoo, with Lucien, Stephanie and Becky as escorts. She managed to find several copies of the Book of Mormon, which pleased her. Stephanie found a trinket at one of the sites that intrigued her, a small sculpture of Moroni with his trumpet in brass. Becky found some souvenirs as well.

“The goal for today is to get through Lock and Dam 18 and make it to Oquawka (he had to spell it out for the voicewriter), Illinois before nightfall. There’s a grain elevator there that we can check out. We’ve got two empty cargo containers, and if there’s anything good at the elevator, we’ll take some. That and a chance to refuel. Next good place won’t be until Muscatine, Iowa, and I don’t want to have to push matters that far. The river port here at Burlington, well, somehow got burned out, so no fuel here.

“Now, to see what today brings. End diary entry.” Howard said before shutting off the voice-to-type function and reading the paragraphs.

“Captain! Incoming from the north!” was heard through the doorway to the bridge, said by the Second Officer, Harry Bell.

Howard strode onto the bridge. Ahead was a dot that resolved into an approaching griffon, heading straight for the Voyager. He went out the bridge door to take wing and intercept.

The griffon was clearly exhausted, struggling to maintain headway. “This the Voyager?” she panted.

“Yes, it is. What’s wrong?” Howard asked as he flew alongside the griffon, going for the fore deck, where there was more room for a bad landing.

“Quad Cities under attack. Force from Keokuk. QC forces at Arsenal. King rampaging outside,” the griffon managed to say before landing hard on the Voyager and going still, plainly too tired to move.

“All unicorns to the fore deck! Lucien, medical emergency! Get out here! We got trouble ahead!” Howard sent over the crystal circuit as he checked over the griffon the best he knew how.

Author's Note

Looks like the King of Keokuk has more tricks than the electrical engineer knew about. Besides, just how DID the king go from Keokuk to the Quad Cities and back in January?

Finally had the pain-free moments last long enough to get this down. Back and leg have been bothering me bad these last few days. Sunday was my fourth 'second birthday', but I was in too much pain to do anything but stay home and cope. Getting that way again. Goody's and Absorbine don't do a whole lot.

Pardon me, but I have a battle plan to figure out. After I do that, figure out how to do chapter four. Time to sprawl in the recliner with massage unit going.