The Oak Hotel - Watty Awards 2013 Finalist

Chapter Fourteen - Ceca Hebona

 Chapter Fourteen

Ceca Hebona

Lincoln and Kayleigh left Sagan Rideau and the party at the lighthouse while it was still dark. Sagan had told them that it was possible someone named David Grey lived in a seaside town just a few miles to the north. He insisted they spend the night at the lighthouse and rest before setting out in the morning. Kayleigh almost relented, but Lincoln felt uneasy being near the lighthouse. As tired as he was, he still felt like they needed to be on the move.

“But Stitch is gone,” Kayleigh pressed. “Don’t we deserve a rest?”

Of course they did, but Lincoln stood his ground. An hour later, they began a sleepy, arduous walk up the dark coastline. The sound of the waves hushed away what sharpness of thought remained. The soft, airborne spray of the sea enrobed them in a soft mantle of dreams. They passed tufts of sea oats and other varieties of flora (which would certainly make fine temporary beds, Kayleigh thought), but continued onward. Time meant nothing.

At some point in the lost center of night, they reached Ceca Hebona. The small, seaside town was anything but small. Every house and building had been raised above the beach by incalculable boards and rafters. An intricate system of boardwalks connected each structure and a massive marina and pier reached over the sea at its eastern side.

There was a soft, lonesome sound of heavy bells tolling in buoys not far from the shoreline. The steady, dim strobe from the lighthouse miles down the beach was a devious paintbrush. They moved closer to what appeared to be an entrance—a steep, slanting ramp leading up onto the boardwalk. Along this edge of Ceca Hebona, on the beach, were a line of perhaps twenty boats all resting upside down on the sand.

Kayleigh followed Lincoln to one of these boats.

“We should be okay under here at least until morning,” he said.

Climbing up under the nearest boat, they discovered several life preservers fashioned from rope and cork. Using these as pillows, they curled up closely in the darkness and at once fell asleep.

*     *     *

When they awoke, it was to the gentle sound of the sea. They remained undiscovered beneath the inverted vessel. The sun, hot and white, burned like fire against the sand just outside their dark haven.

“Part of me wants to stay under here,” Kayleigh said quietly.

And they did stay put, not saying much, for another five minutes.

“What if someone sees us coming out of here?” Kayleigh asked.

“We tell them we’re boat inspectors sent by Mayor Stitch,” Lincoln said, smiling.

Crouching, moving from cool to hot sand, they pushed under the boat and rolled out onto the beach. A large sign they had missed earlier announced:

CECA HEBONA:

THE FIRST BURNAM TAU’ROH

MARITIME SETTLEMENT

“I guess we’re in the right place,” Kayleigh said, shielding her eyes from the glare with cupped hands.

And then there was laughter, something they hadn’t heard in quite some time. It was the free and joyful giggling of children. The sound brought immediate smiles and they moved unselfconsciously up the worn, wooden ramp.

The first thing they felt, about halfway up, was the wind. At the top, the ocean breeze seemed to lessen the power of the sun. The air was crisp with sea-salt and their stomachs purred with hunger. Finally, they reached what appeared to be the lowest level of Ceca Hebona. They marveled at those who had created this maze-like, yet well organized system of platforms and roads made entirely of wood. And such wood! Not planks, but great, massive slabs of which had been soaked in some type of sealant. There was a thick, yet pleasant smell of some heavy, exotic oil.