Island Asylum Segment 9

"I wouldn't exactly call it a fight," Fish Hawk blushed as a beam of pride broke through his worry. "I was ticked off at what he did to you, of course, but I didn't dare stop working. The rage that bubbled up inside me caused me to work a lot faster, though. I actually finished around a half hour after he sent you to the boat. Of course it didn't make ol' Russ happy, rather he found something else to crab about."

"Lemme guess ... ya didn't clean dat grinder ta his likin'?" Jim dryly quipped as he motioned for another sip out of the water skin.

"Yep," Fish Hawk chuckled, "and he started insulting me in the same manner he fronted at you. Think he was having one of his 'do you have a brain' days. Well, I acted like I was listening, but I was really watching the past seven years flash before my eyes. You know, everything from the day those Arundel Corp security guards rounded us up outside the middle school and threw us in those cages! The visions ended in a hot flash, and I somehow felt the pain of that hot poker hitting your forehead. It was nasty, and I couldn't let Russ get away with it, so I blindly flung the grinder wheel at his arrogant butthead."

"Whoa br'y!"

"Yeah, couldn't believe what I did once my head cleared. I've always stunk at baseball. Remember how that was was part of the court proceedings, bud? Guess I just got lucky, because I hit the creep square in the forehead!"

"Did 'e die?"

"Who knows," Fish Hawk brushed aside the question with his hand, "he was breathing when I checked him out, so I just continued to act on instinct. I loaded his scrawny bones into the wheelbarrow and ran down to the boat, having a feeling that I'd be invisible to Mr. Meatworm. Sure enough, he was passed out muttering some crazy junk but didn't take time to listen."

"Hmm, seem ta recall 'e was talkin' some legend I 'eard way back." Jim scratched his head, "oh yeah, dat's right. It's a comin' back ,,, ya da Lakes Fairy took care of 'em!"

"Well..." Fish Hawk's face went blank for a minute, as if something was calling him from beyond, "... well, whatever it was, I was able to dump Russ aboard. That's when my head cleared, and when I began to shout out for you. When you didn't respond, I figured you had darted off in to the woods, so I cut the moorings and let her drift out to sea. Actually got some help in the form of well timed and spaced gusts, which was weird because the sky was clear and starry. Felt like a series of cannon shots from above! But they got rid of the boat pretty fast, and not a sign of them since."

"Yah, 'member more now! That wind, felt like a storm a comin' right as I fell!"

Fish Hawk looked up at the sky, sighed, and replied "well, whether it was the Lakes Fairy or just some freaky act of nature, all I know is that I was scared senseless and I still am. Somehow, though, I have a feeling things will work out. I mean, at least things are coming back to you, Jim. Can you remember what you saw in Russ's cabin?"

"Yah," Jim nearly blurted, "or, dang, only kinda. Buddy, I swear it will all come back, but dat cabin was a bloody mess dat told me dat Russ is a lier!"

"Yeah, tell me something I don't know," Fish Hawk sarcastically muttered.

"Der's a more ... saw more ... read more. Dunno whut, but, dude, I learned sumthin'. They all lie, all lies! Da Corporation is a net of lies, b'ry, and he ain't what he says he is!"

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