Chapter 18

The silence was thick as they sat in the car waiting for the ferry. She turned to look at him again. “At least you get to come with me.”

He had been sitting looking out at the water. Soon he would be on it once more. Of course, he would be in Miranda’s automobile instead of on the deck of a ship, but it was far closer than he managed to get in a very long time. “Let us pray I am allowed to stay in the car.” He turned and looked at her. “I do not like the idea that you are to do this unaided, Miranda. I may watch from within here, but what if I am not able to stay? What if I find myself back within my boundaries and you are left alone on—”

“Stop. There are too many ‘what ifs.’ I need to focus on finding the right place and then figuring out how to get down there without getting caught. You worrying out loud isn’t helping.” She watched the cars start to move toward the ship.

Jareth studied her. He could not lose her. Not now. He sighed. He could not have stood to lose her when the events of yesterday had not taken place, events that still warmed him through, but to think of losing her now was not something he could cope with. “I cannot help to worry over you, love. You mean much to me.”

She gave him a sweet smile. “I know. It’s going to work, Jareth. It has to.”

“Very well.” He looked out the window once more to the water.

“I’m not sure if I’m allowed to stay in the car while we’re on the ferry.”

“You are leaving me?” He turned, startled.

“I’ll figure out a way to stay. I can say I need to sleep or something.”

“Yes.” He was torn betwixt gazing upon her or the water that he had longed to be on for so long.

“Here we go,” she whispered as she started to drive forward.

~

She fiddled with the camera until the focus was absolutely perfect. He had to be able to point out exactly where she was to go down over the edge. She looked over toward the cliff and down as far as she could get to from this point. Oh, don’t look down. That’s a bad idea, she thought. She moved the camera back to the trail. What if he needed to see down the side to find the spot? She looked around. There was no one in the area right now. She turned slowly, filming the area around the path and looking out for people.

After a deep breath, she crossed over the barrier and moved closer to the edge. Geez, this was nuts. She couldn’t even look down—how she was going to go over, she didn’t know. She walked along carefully, looking over the edge as little as possible but making sure the camera filmed all along the area he had chosen on the tour map they gave her. Moving quickly, she went back over to the safe side of the barrier.

If she wasn’t so nervous about what she planned on doing tonight, she might have stopped to enjoy the breathtaking view. But the fact that they had figured out she had to do this in the dark was taking up all of her energy right now. Scaling her house in the daylight was one thing. Going down over rocky cliffs in the dark was totally different, bringing on panic she had never felt before.

She returned quickly to the car. She’d ended up renting one of the smaller cabins, because it was the only semiprivate space where no one would notice that she was in her car more than in her cabin.

After hooking the camera up to her the laptop, she looked at Jareth. He hadn’t said much since they’d arrived. She thought at first it was because he was worried about her, and then she saw the expressions he tried to hide from her and realized it was more. He missed the water and missed how it had been here when he’d been here so long ago. Now it was trails and campgrounds and people who didn’t really stop to appreciate any of it.

“Have we got everything covered?” she asked him quietly, not wanting to intrude on his thoughts.

“My only place in all this is to show you where to climb down, little one. I believe you have everything covered, not I.” She looked back down at her letter board. “Miranda?” She looked up. “I’ve need of your word that at any moment you do not feel at ease, you will stop this.”

The emotion in his voice was plain even if she hadn’t noticed him using the contraction I’ve. She had noticed he only reverted to contractions when his pirate-ness was present or his emotions were high; maybe the two intertwined, she wasn’t sure. “I promise. If I get too freaked out I’ll come back.”

“Fine, then.” He turned back to the screen. “Stop there.” He studied the screen after she had stopped moving. “Do you see that large piece of rock juttin’ out?”

She leaned closer and pointed to what she thought he was talking about. “This?”

“Yes. If I recall, it’s beneath this, in truth not far.” He looked at her. “I used the rock to rest on whilst I caught my wind.”

“Okay. How far down would you say it is after that?”

“Half the length of my body, mayhap a bit more.”

“So three or four feet?” He nodded. She looked back at the screen. “So I’m looking at roughly twenty feet altogether?” That didn’t sound too bad. He gave her a puzzled look. She thought of how to put it. “Three and a half of your body length.” He was silent for a minute.

“That sounds to be right.” He let out a slow breath. “I wish I could do this in place of you.”

“Part of me does, too.” She nodded to the backpack with a jerk of her head. “Is that bag big enough to get everything that’s there? I’m only doing this once.”

He nodded. “I was not greedy. Most treasure went to my crew and the ship; there’s only a few favoured pieces I ever kept for myself.”

She didn’t have a hard time at all believing he looked after everyone else. “You were a fine captain.”

“Indeed, I was.” He looked to the water. “I’ve often pondered what became of my crew and ship...” He shook his head. “My first mate was a smart man. I’m sure he sailed her well.”

Her heart ached for everything he had been through. “I wish there was a way you could go back to what you knew and loved.”

“I do not.” He leaned toward her and spoke low. “I shall always long for it from time to time, that I cannot help. But I am a content man to live in the now, with you, little one. So much I have learned that if I were to still be there, I would not have had the chance.”

”Okay, we need to talk about something else or I’m going to be a basket case and not able to do anything.”

He looked toward the cabin. “I’ve a wish my form returns so we can make use of that wee little house you’ve borrowed.”

She laughed. “No talk of sex, either. I need to be able to think.”

“I do not know what else to speak of now.”

“Let’s try the walkie-talkies again.” They had tried repeatedly on the drive to see if he could hold the talk button long enough to say something, but it didn’t work. So they came up with him pushing the call button once for yes and twice for no. Nine times out of ten he managed it on the first try.

~

Randy had parked as close as she possibly could to the point she would be going down. He wanted to be able to see her. Of course, once she was over the edge there was no way he could. She waited until it was completely dark before even getting out of the car. There was a campfire with lots of people, so hopefully anyone around would be drawn to that. After chatting with some regulars, she found out she had an hour before anyone from the grounds would wander by.

Looking one last time at the car, she stood there for a moment and checked everything again. The backpack was strapped on, and for this part of the trip it was really light. She’d tucked the bag she’d had the rope and harness inside, so it wouldn’t be found lying around. The walkie-talkie was clipped at the top of the shoulder strap so she didn’t have to reach too far to talk. Her harness was on, the rope tied off and fed through properly. She was ready...as much as she’d ever be. She pushed the talk button as she went back over the rail she’d tied the rope on. “Wish me luck,” she said quietly. The small speaker squawked once.

The first five feet were probably the hardest, as she had no real place to brace herself. She took her time; she had a full hour. She felt along with her feet for small indentations to rest in each time she moved herself. It was dark and she didn’t need to be smacking her face on some sharp rock—or brush against anything yucky for that matter. Pausing, she moved the hand that wasn’t squeezing the clamp for dear life, and pushed the talk button. “So far, so good. I’m clear of the edge now so it shouldn’t take too long.” She looked beneath her into the fading blackness. The walkie-talkie squawked once.

She had to be close by now. Looking up, she realized she was feeling around in the dark down here. She couldn’t see the face of the rock to the top, and she couldn’t see the rock ledge she was supposed to be aiming for. She rested close to the surface and pressed the button again. “It’s dark so I’m being slow and careful. Don’t worry, okay?” She waited until it squawked once before moving again.

Turning so her side was against the rock, she reached out with one foot again. It was definitely more than a little piece sticking out. She lowered herself a little bit more and placed her other foot on it. Squeezing the line she shuffled her feet together and moved across it. Exhaling, she gave herself a bit more slack and then sat down.

Still holding the line from slipping because she wasn’t relaxed where she was, she depressed the button. “I’m on the ledge above it now.” She exhaled again. “I forgot to ask if I go over to the left or to the right. So is it the left?” She waited. It squawked once. She waited just in case he signaled twice, and he did. She grinned. “Okay, right it is. I’m going now. Will I be able to feel along for this hole in the rock?” It squawked. “Got it.”

Randy rested her head against the stone. She couldn’t find this hole; of course, she didn’t really know what kind of hole she was looking for. Her hand was starting to cramp, so she carefully switched hands and then swore as she started to slide into the rock. Putting her hand out quickly to stop from smacking against it, she came close enough she could feel the coolness of the rock near her cheek.

Pushing out with her knees, she smiled. Her hand was in a pretty substantial hole. She moved so her body was right in front of the hole so she could pull her hand out and reach the button. “Think I found it.” She reached back in, holding her breath and hoping nothing lived in this hole. Why didn’t I bring a flashlight? she wondered again, for the tenth time. She reached back and to the— She froze. Had he said it went in half an arm span and then to the left or right? He’d said left, she was pretty sure. She rubbed her hand along in the hole until she felt it turn. She pressed the side of her face against the cold stone so she could reach farther. When it came up against something, she jolted. It felt like...itchy? She rubbed her hand softly over it; a sack, maybe...

Not wanting it to fly out and fall, she pulled gently. When it was close to the edge, she began squeezing it and was pretty sure there was something shaped like a wineglass in it. She pulled her hand out and pushed the button. “Was it all in one sack?” She rested her forehead on the sharp rock until it squawked once. She grinned. “I’ve got it.” She reached in again and then stopped and groaned. She’d strapped the stupid backpack to her back; how was she going to get the sack in it?

She clenched her jaw as she reached down and pulled the loose rope that was hanging down. This is where you fall to your death for being an idiot, she told herself. She pulled the rope up enough so she could wrap it around her thigh and then pulled it up through the harness. Please hold. Very slowly she started to release her grip on the clamp. She moved down a few inches and then her thigh felt like it was being cut off.

Inhaling deeply, she moved with slow-motion movements and undid the clasp on the backpack. Bringing it off one arm she unzipped it and turned that side toward the hole. She reached in and pulled the sack so she could slowly feed it into the backpack.

Blowing out the breath she’d been holding, she moved it back and put her arm in it. Clamping it back together, she grasped the rope clamp again and squeezed it hard. Her thigh throbbed like crazy, but she’d whine about that later. When she was sure she wouldn’t slide, she pulled the rope free from the harness and off her thigh. Bracing her feet back on the wall, she pressed the button. “Got it and I’m on my way back to the ledge.” One squawk came back quickly.

Randy reached the edge of the ledge and slithered her body, face-first, onto it. She still had the largest part of the climb to go but she was almost done. She pushed the button. “Am I good on time before someone comes?” One squawk. “I’m getting tired, so this might take a bit.” She sat up and then got to her knees and tightened up the slack. She stood up and turned back to face the rock. “On my—” The walkie-talkie slipped off the shoulder strap and bounced off the ledge before falling. “Well, crap!” She groaned.

~

He tried the infernal button again and waited. Nothing. He looked at the number clock light up; it had been ten minutes’ time by his estimation. He looked back toward the cliff. Had she just dropped it? He looked down at the radio on her seat again. Did she fall? He looked to the cliff. He was sitting here all while she could be injured and he was useless to assist her. He wanted to get out of the car and go to her. He grit his teeth; if he were to attempt to go to her, he could find himself back within his boundaries many miles from here—and her.

Watching as a young couple walked by the place she had gone down, they did not pause in the slightest, so she could not be calling out. His heart jumped to his throat. Had he lost her? Would he be left sitting here in this spot lost in conjecture? He squeezed his eyes shut, praying to any gods that would still have him that she not be hurt, that she be well. “Miranda,” he whispered. “I can’t have lost you; I’ve only just found you, love.”

Randy rested her face against the rock for a minute. Her wrists were shaking, and it was taking both of them to make sure she was squeezing hard enough to not fall. She looked up; she wasn’t sure, but it looked like she was only about five feet from the top now. Then again, hadn’t she thought that about five feet ago? It wasn’t fair, really, climbing a cliff that grew taller by the minute.

The rope jerked, and she gave a little hiss. Had someone found it? She watched as the rock went by her and pushed with her feet so she wouldn’t break her face on it. Holding on with every ounce of strength she had, she almost let go, when a hand reached down and grabbed her wrist. Looking up slowly, she saw Jareth’s face leaning over the edge. “Jareth? You’re out of the car!” A dumb thing to say, she realized, but she was tired and scared half to death.

He grit his teeth. “Grab my wrist with your other hand.” She shook her head, not wanting to let go of the rope. “I’ve got you, love, let go.”

She went to move and the slack from his pulling wrapped around the backpack. She tried to flip it away from her body.

“Drop the bag.”

“Are you crazy? I almost died trying to get this!” He glared at her and pulled on her arm again. She quickly went up the last few feet and was pulled over the edge, still clinging to the clamp on the rope. She lay there on her side, tangled in the rope, his hand still holding her other wrist. “How...?”

Sitting up, he started to free her from the ropes. “You are what I have never sought before,” he stated quietly.

She smirked. “I bet you say that to all the girls you pull over cliffs...” She squinted at him. “So, I didn’t have to go over a cliff –in the dark– to get an old cup to break the curse? You just had to...” Dropping onto her back she stared up at the dark sky.

Jareth laughed and then looked at her. “I aged a decade while sitting awaiting your appearance from over this edge.”

As she sat up and rubbed her hands to get the shaking to stop. “Geez, that makes you about two hundred and ninety now...I don’t know if I can do a guy that old.” She squeaked when she was flung up over his shoulder in one blurred movement.

Randy pulled the rope along with them as he strode to the car with her flipped over his shoulder. Honestly, she was too tired to care how she got there, just as long as she did.

He set her down when they reached the car and began to wrap the rope around his arm in a practiced movement. “So, what are we going to do until the first ferry in the morning?” She looked at him and smiled.

Jareth tossed the rope onto the top of her car and winked at her. “I’ve a want or two that need tending.”

She opened the door. “Then we’d better hurry; we only have seven hours.” She grinned as he went around the car smiling in a way she had never seen him do before.

So, she thought, here she was in the twenty-first century with her very own sexy pirate from the seventeen hundreds. How many girls could say that?