Chapter Eighteen

The Gemini

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The town was strange and new. People wearing brown and cream colored clothing hurried through the market. How was I going to get back? I was going to have to find you…you who I had no idea about.

I made like a guy and snuck into Boy Scouts for several months, so I wasn’t afraid of being out on my own. I wasn't in a real rush to get back to all my memories and pain either, so I was grateful that it'd be a while before I got home. I could try a different life – I already screwed up the first two handed to me – maybe I could do better on the third.

First, I had to blend in. I walked further down the road, looking for a store or something to buy some clothes. I knew nothing about your time; we wouldn't be getting into the medieval time period until sophomore year. After finding no shops (that didn't sell dresses) I finally decided to ask around for spare clothes.

“Hey, do you have any extra clothes like the ones you’re wearing?” I called into a stable. Three boys were tending their master’s horses, but turned to me, awed looks on their faces. “Yeah, I know my clothes are weird, and that’s why I need new ones.

“Yes, we have extras.” The boy in the center commanded leadership, watching me carefully. “What’s it to you?”

“Wearing lackeys clothing will not help you fit in around here,” added another boy. “Go ask the maids.”

I flew into a fine rage. Kyle had mentioned the spontaneous-ness of my mood swings. “I didn’t travel (I caught myself, and not wanting any more trouble, watched what I said) all this way to wear a dress!”

The leader didn’t know what to make of me, though he was clearly trying to work it out in his head. “You are mad,” he finally responded. Boy, had I heard that a lot that day. “Be on your way before we give you a beating.”

I was not the least bit afraid of them; being from the future, I had a feeling of superiority and felt virtually invincible. “Look, I have money,” was all I managed to say. I was proud, Ishmael, not stupid. They outnumbered me. “I’ll give you three pieces for your clothes and that floppy hat you’re wearing.”

The boys were astonished. That was more money than they made in 6 months. Could this girl be a princess from a foreign land? “Ten.”

Now it was my turn to be shocked. Ten pieces? I could afford it, yes, but I might need it further down the road. “Four,” I replied.

“Six,” the boy dared. I was impatient. I needed to find you, not waste my time with that stupid boy.

“Fine.” I handed the coins to the boy and he signaled for another to get the extras. I found that the loose cream pants (that were so loose I could fit all of those boys in them with me) could fit easily over my jeans. They were long enough to cover my tennis shoes too. The tie-up shirt fit perfectly, but I needed help with the belt. After everyone was satisfied, I was ready to be on my way. “One more thing. Do you know a man named Ishmael?”

“What do you seek that crazy man for?”

“Long story. Do you know where I could find him?”

The boys were suspicious (though I felt they had no reason to be) and pressed me with further questions. “Is he family? (Head shake) Does he owe you money? Then why are you looking for him then?”

I was extremely agitated by this time. “He apparently knows some things about me that only he can explain. Now will you please tell me where I could find him?”

They told me that he was somewhere in Agyra. “Last we heard, in Lavenora,” the small boy explained. I thanked them and asked if they knew where I could get a car (“Horse!”) Even if there were cars, it’s not like I knew how to drive.

Now, Ishmael, all this time, Malachi was looking for me in vain. He had no money to pay for his drink, and was forced to give up his hat. That wasn’t all. He cared for me, no matter what he may say or how he may act.

Well, I had bought a horse and was searching for a place to stay. I was tired and knew that I’d have to look for Lavenora in the morning. I forgot to ask the boys how to get to Lavenora; everything was different in my time. We had freeways with signs, road almanacs and several other ways to tell you were you were or wanted to be. I’d have to find a person, a guide or something in the morning.

“Apple?” Malachi left no stone unturned. He looked inside bars, checked with various people. He had almost given up hope of finding me, when he came upon the stable.

“Yes, we've seen her. Bought Mark's clothes and went to buy a horse. Was looking for that crazy friend of yours.”

“I'd say she was a bit crazy herself,” the small boy agreed.

“Yes, now, where exactly did she go, Peter?” Malachi had quite a temper, and took a step towards the leader. Annoyed and tired, he didn’t want to play games, just hurry up and find me. The leader (or Peter) wasn't a coward, and also took a step.

“What's it to you, Malachi?” he challenged. “Taken a liking to that mad girl?”

“Listen, that mad girl claims to be from the future and tells us what is to become of us. Now, she may be possessed, but what if…” Malachi could barely believe that he was saying what he was, “but what if she’s not? What if she’s telling the truth? Now where is she?”

“She went down to the Tiger’s Eye Inn. Bought herself a horse too.”

“Thank you.” Malachi turned to leave.

“Hey Malachi! If that fanatical girl is the Gemini, we will devote our lives to her.”

“She denies it. Besides, you cannot leave your masters!”

“We shall. If she is the Gemini, we must do everything in our power to protect her. Some things are just more important.”

“Listen, I will come back for you. For now, I have to find her before the monarch does.”

The situation was critical and the boys delayed Malachi no longer. They knew what would become of me if I ran into any more of Richard’s guards. I was fine at the time being, though, Ishmael. I had found the inn and wandered into the bar. As soon as I sat down to rest, (and hopefully get some clean food) a young king’s guard invited me to join him and a few of his tipsy friends.

I was enjoying myself. One of the old men was a sailor and told numerous stories of his adventures on the seas. I didn’t pause to wonder where they were true or not…if not true they were enchanting and captivating. I felt as if I were on the water with the old man (named Amos as I found out later) myself. No more use for books!

Hours had past before poor Malachi found me, leaning forward and hanging on Amos’ every word. Tired and cross, he grabbed my arm fiercely. “Apple!”

“What?” I was upset myself, for as if I were in another world, I was jerked back into my painful reality. “I’m sorry I made you pay! Leave me; I’m listening to a story.”

Ha! Leave me. Was I a princess now?

Malachi could not abandon me; he felt stuck to me. Although a part of him wanted to shrug it off his shoulders, the better part told him to stay. “If that girl is the Gemini,” thought he, “I would have let down my kingdom for not protecting her.”

So he sat and listened, but unlike me, he wasn’t enjoying himself. As the day faded into evening, and evening into night, Malachi’s patience expired. He grabbed my arm once more.

“Hey…!”

“Thank you, Sir, for entertaining us with your rubbish, but for now, we must be taking our leave.”

“But I wasn’t…”

“Come, Apple.”

Now the guard (and gentleman also of a high estate) stood. “Does this lad bother you?” he asked, looking to me. “One word and I shall punish the wretch!” The man’s hand was on his hilt. This blew me away, Ishmael, completely blew me away.

“Really?” I had forgotten that avenging damsels was legal in your time. I cocked my head at Malachi who stood frozen. Deer in the headlights!

A fear had shot up Malachi’s spine when the young man stood. The man (who I became aquatinted with as Paul) was trained in fighting; Malachi was nothing more than a village boy and was unarmed.

I was not cruel. After a pause (Malachi shaky and Paul ready) I spoke.

“No, it’s okay. He’s a friend.” Both relaxed. “Good grief! It’s already dark! Yeah, I guess I have to go, now.”

Malachi planned to punish me once Paul wasn’t around. As we turned to leave, Paul grabbed my hand. He was giving me eyes since I got there.

“Shall I see you again?”

I shrugged. I'd rather find a guy once I was ready for one and in my own time period, but I didn’t want to be rude. “I hope so. (An impatient tug) Maybe sooner than you would hope.”

Paul’s smile grew and he shook his head while kissing my hand. My heart relented; the kiss was so gentle. “Never.”

“Bye then.”

“Farewell.”

“He was flirting with you!” Malachi hissed in my ear as he pulled me down the dark streets. I shrugged and patted my new horse’s mane.

“So? He was cute.” I thought as Malachi complained of all the troubles that I gave him. “What should I call her?”

Malachi looked around. Had she gained a new friend without my knowledge? “Who?”

“My new horse. Who did you think I was talking about?”

“You would name a horse?”

“Yeah! What’s so strange about that?”

“You must be from the future.”

I chose not to hear that remark. “How about Amos, after that dude we met?”

“Yes, sure! Just hold your tongue!”

“Are you always this grouchy, or is this a recent development? (Another violent tug) Where are we going, anyway? I thought it was dangerous to travel at night?”

“It is.”

“So why didn’t we just stay at the inn?”

“You ask far too many questions.”

“I have a right to; where we’re going concerns me!”

P

“So what now?” I sat between the boy I traded clothes with (Mark) and the small boy (David). Across from us sat Malachi and Peter, both with sour expressions on their faces.

“Now we find Ishmael,” Peter answered. Malachi said nothing. He just sat silently, arms-crossed. I was his responsibility. He was the leader. He had tangles with Peter long before I arrived. He only kept quiet because he knew he would need Peter’s help.

“I don’t know how to get to Lavenora,” I sighed. “There aren’t freeways in this time.”

“I know how to get to Lavenora,” Mark spoke up. “We’d be there in four days time.”

“Four days?” I shuddered. How I had taken cars and buses for granted!

Peter’s serious glare didn’t’ vanish from his face. “All of us leave our masters? You and David shall stay here. Malachi and I will take her.”

The young boy cried out in objection, but after a nasty look from Peter, he silenced. Mark wasn’t as bold as Peter and certainly was scared of him, but he spoke anyway. “It would be safer if I went too.”

“You must stay,” Peter ordered. “I know how to get to Lavenora also, and none of us are fighters; how would we be safe? No, you must stay.”

Now I cried out. Mark was the only one who liked me, or at least tolerated me. He wasn’t cross or rude to me like Peter and Malachi were. I also felt safer around Mark. He never threatened to hit me.

“You have something to say?” Malachi glared at me.

“Why can’t Mark go?”

“Have you not been paying attention?” Peter snapped.

“Okay, okay! Chill!” I turned to Mark. “You see, I’d rather travel with you and David than those two sore heads any day.”

Mark was scared to smile, but David giggled. Neither Malachi nor Peter were amused. “We leave at dawn; get some sleep.”

“How’s this – we go off before dawn?” I slipped by David and Mark. “I don’t have an alarm, but I’m sure you can wake us up.” David nodded excitedly and Mark gave a small smile in agreement.