The Death of 1977 (Book 3)

Chapter 15

"As you can see here, in this once sparkling, blue sea, blackness has taken over. This gelatinous filth has managed to wash ashore on this glorious island. An island known for its lush beauty and serene beaches, now...polluted beyond recognition.

Could it be an environmental mistake? Some sort of oil leak? Or something even more sinister? Just last evening, one of the police stations went up in flames. Could the tumultuous elections here be just an ominous sign of the unsettling calamities that have taken control of this setting? Just what exactly is taking place here on this once peaceful and—

"Uh, Silas, you've got someone making faces behind you." Rebecca made an X with her arms.

Taken off guard, Silas spun around to see two, young white men waving at the camera in front of them as though they wanted to be stars.

"Buzz off, ya braggards!" Silas shooed both of the annoying men away in the other direction before turning back to Rebecca and Robbie and dropping his shoulders, "Are we ever gonna get through this nightmare or am I gonna have to get drunk each and every day here?"

Lynnette, who was standing with her bike, along with some others, was steadily watching with sullen eyes as the waves brought more and more of the black sludge onshore from out of the sea. The ooze didn't saturate the entire beach, but it was prominent enough to where a sixty yard proximity had to be closed off in order to figure out what was happening.

Lynnette looked on as the always burdened Silas and his crew carried on down a more isolated portion of the beach while others just examined. The Millers, who Lynnette had just met the day before, stood at the foot of the waves hand in hand and just looked on in silent dismay before eventually turning and strolling away. For Lynnette, deep down, she probably could have figured out what on earth was taking shape, but it just wasn't in her to do so. She honestly could have cared less at that point about anything, let alone some nastiness that was washing ashore.

The more people began to sift away from the scene that morning the more Lynnette herself wanted to put more distance between her and the world. She sat down on the seat of her bike and trudged through the sand until her tires met with the road. She had to be at The Kabal in three hours, but that wasn't registering in her lethargic brain. Ever since first arriving in Jamaica she wanted to go back home, but after the events of the day before, the longing to leave was within arm's reach.

Ever since leaving work the day before Lynnette just wandered about the beach either staring out at the water or simply resting underneath a palm tree. She even managed to spend the night at the beach, allowing the waves to put her to a restful slumber. The woman tooled down the always busy street until she made it to her dwelling. Lynnette placed her bike against the steps before slowly marching up. Her entire body felt like jelly; her hands didn't even touch the railings as she plodded up the steps with the emptiest look on her sunburnt face.

The very instant she approached the door she pushed it open only to have a hard object knock her to the ground. Lynnette's once sluggish body came to stunning life right then as she looked up to see a wild-eyed Cusha standing above her with a shaking, balled up right fist.

"Where ya been, girl?" Cusha hollered as she continued to press towards Lynnette.

Lynnette struggled to get to her feet but Cusha, with her large girth, kept shoving her back to the floor.

"Waa gwaan," the angry woman questioned.

"What do you mean?" Lynnette screamed back.

"Look around ya, girl!"

Lynnette stopped scooting backwards long enough to take a view at the hovel that appeared even more unkempt than usual. The cooking pot, as well as the dining table and other pots and pans were strewn all over the floor. The curtains that concealed both bedrooms were torn down.

"Where was ya last night, girl?" Cusha continued to yell.

"What happened here?"

"Dey came in and tore me place down, dat's what!"

"Who, dammit," Lynnette said aloud.

"Who knows?" Cusha tossed her arms all around. "But all dese years no one come in here and rob me until now!"

Pointing at herself, Lynnette asked, "You're blaming me?"

"Dey ask for you, girl!"

"Who," Lynnette attempted to get up.

But Cusha was too wound up to answer another question. The woman reached to the floor and picked up a sharp knife before pouncing on top of Lynnette and pointing the utensil at her throat. The only thing Lynnette could possibly do at that juncture was sweat.

"Now, who are ya, and why ya here?"

"I told you who I was!"

"Dey say ya lookin' for somebody! Ya never tell me you was lookin' for somebody when ya showed up!"

Lynnette held her breath against the seething, sharp blade that desired so much to carry out its user's wishes.

"I...I'm here looking for Arthur Bushard!"

Cusha reared back and strangely studied Lynnette. "Ya come all de way here for dat," Cusha's arm shook.

"He tried to kill me and my son! I'm here searching for him!"

Cusha peered straight into Lynnette's petrified eyes at that moment before rising to her feet. She stood and gawked all over at her dwelling before saying, "Ya come all de way here to find de devil."

Lynnette was still lying on the floor, seemingly too horrified to even make a single move. "Do you know him?" She stuttered.

Cusha gave Lynnette the most intense eye roll she could before replying in a deep tone, "You a damn fool, child. Dat man and his family eat ya alive!"

"I know, that's why I—

"Shut ya mouth!" Cusha fired back. "Dat still not explain why dose men come here! Weh yuh a eh?"

"I just told you what I was doing!"

"But not de whole story," Cusha flung her blade back to the floor.

"My parents think I came all the way here for drug rehab! That's why I'm able to be away for so long! They don't even know what's going on!"

"Dey probably kick ya out of dere house, and den ya come here to cause trouble for me!"

"That's not it!" Lynnette leaned up against the wall. "All I've ever done since being here is work! I've never asked you or anyone else for anything! I never even asked to stay here! You invited me here!"

"Dats 'cause ya was on de street! But now ya can go back to de streets! I have all dese headaches! I can't sleep all dese nights, and now dis! Mi dun wit ya!"

Exasperated both physically and mentally, Lynnette couldn't say another word. She attempted to head straight for her room only to have Cusha block her path.

"No, ya go now! Ya be trouble for me!"

Lynnette just stood and stared at the old woman. With everything conjured within her she wanted more than anything to haul off and smack the woman to the floor. But Lynnette withheld and simply sidestepped Cusha on her way out the door with a red face and two poked out lips. She stormed down the steps nearly tripping along the way before she made it to her bike and got on. Lynnette had all but forgotten about what Cusha had said about someone looking for her. All she could see in front of her was endless degradation the likes she had never experienced before in her life. There was evil of all sorts and kinds surrounding her on a daily basis; her once blind eyes were at last coming back to life.

If an airplane or boat couldn't get her home, then swimming would be her final option.

***

Lynnette rode on until she could see the partially broken down fish stable straight ahead of her that sat along the other side of the beach. It, much like most of the other businesses on the island, was a rundown shack-like place of industry. Complete with rusted planks and six sturdy poles that supported it from just seven feet from off the sea water.

Nearly crashing into the side of the building, Lynnette hopped off of her bike before racing up the stairs, through the door and into the place where the stench of seafood was nearly bludgeoning to the senses. There were several assembly lines: One for stripping fish, one for jellyfish, and another for shellfish and two others strictly for the detail of clubbing to death and mutilating sea turtles. Ignoring each and every worker in the warm building Lynnette carried on down one particular line until she could see her foreman who was speaking with two other employees.

"Excuse me, Mr. Salva." Lynnette blatantly cut right in.

Mr. Salva, an older, broad-shouldered man, turned to Lynnette and smiled, "Ahh, one of my best. We still don't have enough work for you to be here an entire week, Lynn."

Shaking her head, Lynnette remarked, "That's not why I'm here. I just came to collect my final pay. I'm leaving."

Mr. Salva looked completely taken aback by the sudden news. "How ya leave me? I still need you after de rainy season, Lynn." He pleaded.

"I know, but I have to go home, and now." She said in a rushed pant. "That's it, plain and simple. I need to go home."

Mr. Salva stood and nodded his head. "Okay, I understand. I pay ya what I owed ya from de last two weeks. Wait here."

"Thank you." Lynnette said as she watched the man walk away.

From one corner of the building to the other was nothing but busy workers all too enthralled in their duties to even give her a simple glance. That was exactly the way she wanted it. Lynnette didn't need any stares or bad looks pointed in her direction. She was already a ball of nerves and rage, one false look and she would have burned the slaughterhouse down to the ground.

"Lynn." Jose stepped up behind Lynnette.

Lynnette jumped at that second before turning around to see Jose's perturbed face staring at her. "Oh, hey, Jose," she mumbled.

"Why are you leaving?"

"You heard that?" She grinned slightly.

"You could hear a pin drop in dis place."

Lynnette was in no mood to explain herself. She wanted out of the country like a prisoner. Jose was just another distraction.

"Jose...you've been such a good friend to me. I'm sorry that it had to come to this."

"Okay, here you are." Mr. Salva said as he came and handed Lynnette her final pay.

The woman took her money and shook Salva's hand before beginning for the door. But Jose was incredibly resilient as he followed her out.

"Lynn, let me speak wit you."

Both Lynnette and Jose took off down the steps before they came to a stop at her bicycle. "I know your father has a truck. Would he be able to take me to the airport?"

"I can ask him." Jose nodded his head. "But...I just need to know someting. Are you leaving because of me?"

All Lynnette could do was giggle at the man's ever so innocent face and voice that appeared and sounded almost like a child's.

She took Jose's hand into her own and said, "You've been the only person that I could actually believe in since I've been here. It's just that...I came here searching for something. But I'm a fool. Point blank, Jose, I'm a damn fool who needs to go home and be a mother. This was all a big, dumb mistake."

Jose took both of Lynnette's hands. "Come with me, please."

"To where," Lynnette resisted.

"Just follow me." Jose laughed as he pulled Lynnette along to the other side of the building.

Like frolicking teenagers they ran across the sand before coming to the rear part of the slaughterhouse. Jose then led Lynnette up some old rusted stairs that dead-ended at an equally rusted, metal door. Lynnette was in no ill mood for any more surprises, but she could always trust Jose, no matter how cock-eyed his plans appeared to be at times. She always knew that he had the best of intentions in mind.

Jose shoved open the door and allowed Lynnette to enter before him. He then shut the door before running over to the middle of the floor. It was a medium sized type of room. Lynnette could tell that it hadn't been used in quite a while. The metal walls were nearly peeling away while the floor itself felt as if it would collapse at any moment. The roof seemed to be the only thing that looked remotely stable, even though every time they moved rust particles would sprinkle down to the floor.

"Where are we?" Lynnette shook.

"Do not be afraid." Jose said as he picked up a cloth bag from off the floor.

Lynnette watched in braced anticipation as the man opened the bag and took out a small object which he promptly handed to Lynnette.

Lynnette examined the thing from all angles before turning up her nose and looking straight at Jose. "Uh...what is it?"

"It is a toy to give to your son."

Lynnette studied the thing once more. "What kind of toy?" She began to snigger oddly.

"When I was a boy, I used to be scared of de thunderstorms. My father gave dat to me one day to keep my mind occupied wit other tings dan de storm. It's a spinning top."Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

What Lynnette was holding in her hands was a little, black top with three, painted black stones at the tip. She marveled at its archaic simplicity to where she had to actually laugh a bit.

"What is so funny?" Jose asked with his own smile.

"I...I don't know what to say."

"It is a sea heart top." Jose approached Lynnette and explained as he took the top, placed it on the floor and demonstrated it for her.

Lynnette stood and watched in a cute wonder at the man spin the toy within its own circle. Just for the briefest of moments she actually felt a breath of relief from all of the anarchy that had overtaken her so recently.

"That's very sweet, Jose." Lynnette beamed.

Standing back up, Jose handed Lynnette the toy once more and said, "I don't know what de weather in Ohio is like, but hopefully dis will make your son feel better whenever he is afraid."

Lynnette held the toy tight in her hand while holding back tears in her eyes. "Well, to be honest, right now in Ohio its autumn, and starting to get chilly. But I truly do thank you for this, my friend."

"I was always hoping dat you and I could have been more dan friends. " He said with watery eyes.

Feeling the weight of his emotion radiate throughout the shack they were inside, Lynnette knew she had to soothe the situation and quickly before she too became enthralled.

"Jose, I don't want to leave this country with you thinking that I don't like you. You were never a burden to me. I was supposed to do something here, and I failed."

"What was it you were supposed to do?"

Lynnette pondered for a spell. "I was supposed to make me and my son's lives a lot safer. But I guess...I guess I'll have to find another way." Her heart nearly stopped.

"At first I thought you were going to say dat you had a boyfriend back home."

Giggling, Lynnette replied, "Oh no, none of that. But I did know a man like you once."

"Really," Jose asked.

"Yeah," Lynnette said. "He was a strong, brave...and sweet guy." She caught her breath.

"Where is he now, though?"

Lynnette meekly dropped her head and bashfully murmured, "He's a long way from this world." She then looked back at Jose. "But he helped me in ways I can never repay."

"Well, all I can say is that I'm glad I got to know you, Lynnette Glover." Jose smiled as he embraced Lynnette.

Lynnette returned the gesture, only her hug was more aggressive, as though she almost didn't want to let the man go.

"Perhaps one day I can come to America and see you."

Lynnette began to weep as she replied, "That would be great, if you don't mind putting up with my foolish family." She giggled. "Damn you, Isaac." She then whispered ever so softly away from Jose's ear.

"I did not hear you." Jose slightly pulled away.

Lynnette wiped her nose before suddenly noticing a blackened figure standing right behind Jose. Just like that, Jose was struck with a blunt object to the back of his head which in turn caused both he and

Lynnette to fall backwards to the floor. Lynnette screamed at the sight of Philippe and two other men with machine guns before Livingston approached from behind them.

Livingston's attire was ragged, complete with a ball cap, sweaty undershirt and a pair of dirty jeans and boots. He walked towards Lynnette with a baseball bat in hand and stood above Jose.

Lynnette then looked at Jose who for a few moments remained motionless on the floor before his entire body began to go into convulsions right there before her. She attempted to rescue the man, but one of the henchmen restrained her. "He's dying!" She hollered.

"He's already dead, love." Livingston said in a dry tenor.

They all watched as Jose's body stopped jerking before it came to a complete rest. Livingston then went over to where a rusted lever was located on the wall and pulled it down. The lever operated a hatch in the floor that revealed the water below. Livingston dragged Jose's body over before kicking it down the hatch.

"What are you doing?" Lynnette screamed.

Livingston then turned back around and faced the woman pointing, "You've been a very naughty little bird, Miss. Glover."

Livingston motioned to the other henchman. The two men grabbed the woman by the arms and held her. Lynnette began to cry out loud before Philippe covered her mouth.

Livingston stood in front of the woman and asked, "Do you remember me?"

Lynnette shook her head up and down as sweat blinded her eyesight. Livingston then nodded at his men. Immediately, they tossed Lynnette to the floor before beating her within an inch of her life.

Punching her in the face and kicking her in the gut. Somehow, someway, within the thralls of the thrashing, Lynnette managed to keep hold of the toy that Jose had given her.

It never once left the solid grip of her right hand.