Wicked Circle

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

I couldn’t reach the overhead door from this ladder, but the catwalk had a secondary ladder. I had to swing my leg over the railing and climb it from the outer side of the catwalk, but after climbing as high as possible, I wrapped one leg around the ladder to steady myself and shoved at the hatch cover. It was too heavy for me to just slide this panel into the next. Rising another ladder rung, I gained some leverage. Pushing with all my might, I managed to open it two inches. I wasn’t sure I could gain enough leverage to open it far enough to crawl through.

Then air swirled in around me.

Putting one knee over the rung to balance myself, I lifted both arms over my head. My shoulder ached, but I pressed my index fingers—fingers associated with air—against the metal roof.

Breath and breeze and gusting wind

Element of air bluster in!

Eddy and churn, swirl and sigh

Take this door and open it wide!

I’ve heard wind howl beyond my windows. I’ve heard it rush through the trees. Neither of those sounded anything like the screaming force that answered me. Salt whipped into the air and scoured my skin. I shut my eyes and fought to maintain my position.

The roof creaked like a door slowly closing, then the sound escalated. With a whoosh it was shoved open.

I climbed free of the cargo hold.

Standing on the deck, I looked around. The city of Cleveland lay beyond, all aglow.

Closer was the Rock Hall to my left and the Great Lakes Science Center just ahead. I was on the William G. Mather, the steamship that built Cleveland—now a museum.

I laughed, delighted to be free. How do I get off of here?

A shrill screech in the sky stole my good humor.

With a frustrated groan, I straddled the railing. I had to touch the water to invoke it.

Then my attention caught on the water. This was going to be cold.

I leapt.

It was more than cold. I surfaced, shivering and treading water. The mantle remained around me, and its soft glow helped Liyliy locate me. I couldn’t release it; only with it active could I access the elements. My teeth chattered as I gathered my will. I pointed with my pinky fingers while still paddling the water with my hands. Liyliy was diving in, talons forward.

Stream, river and beautiful lake

Element of water, crest and break

Froth and splatter, splash and spray

Reach and cast my enemy away!

The calm water stirred around me. Waves built and crested over me. The current carried me away as the owl was slapped with a mighty wave. With a flap of her wings she gained altitude and circled back.

Again she made a try for me, and again an uncanny wave rescued me.

Dawn was a long way off. I would succumb to the cold long before the sun rose.

I swam closer to the ship. Because of the inward slope of the ship’s hull, she couldn’t dive at the same angle. She adjusted, preparing to swoop in straight at me. She might drown me, or squash me against the side of the ship. There were many possibilities, but it was unlikely letting me live was among them.

As I was heading toward the rudder, thinking that there was more cover there, it hit me—

Combine what you have earned.

Splashing forward, I put my thumbs against the ship’s hull, pointed up with my index fingers and kept my pinkies in the water. And I kicked like hell to stay afloat.

Element of fire, give me heat!

Element of water, boil and seethe!

Element of air, combine with these . . .

Over my shoulder I watched the dark form descending. I focused, hard. I reached deep within me, and I finished,

Lake Erie, arise, and give me steam!

The talons gleamed in the moonlight, silver and sharp. The owl wings spread, adjusting her aim. A sharp cry of triumph exploded from her beak.

Air swirled behind me. About three yards away, a blast of boiling water burst free of the surface. Pulled into the whirling wind, it was transmuted by the touch of wicked air.

The owl crashed into the thick veil. She screamed as it hit her huge eyes and blanketed her fleshy talons. She screeched and flapped and stumbled through the air. She lurched out of my sight, and it sounded like she crashed into the hatch and was flopping around on the deck.

A wave of heated water flowed over me, and I was grateful for its warmth.

I heard an awful screech, then a dark shadow flew away over the lake.

I swam toward the rocks of the North Harbor. With my arm feeling so bad, “swimming” was actually more like floating on my back and kicking to propel me in the proper general direction.

As I neared the steep slope, the large, slimy rocks ahead made me wary. I wasn’t fondly anticipating that climb barefoot, and I wasn’t hankering to be dripping wet in the cold night air as I made my way downtown, either, but here I was.

Wading out of the water, I saw a flash of light above, but it disappeared. I tried to wipe the silt from the shreds of my gown. I’d ruined two nice dresses in seventy-two hours. Laughing at myself, I scrambled on, slipping but determined. I was halfway up when I heard someone say, “May I help you?”

I looked up.

Menessos.

He’s alive.

Of course it was him. My Arthur, I could count on him.

His shoulders lowered. His eyes softened, expressing the relief that filled him.

I offered him my hand.