By
Hazelyn Patterson
GHOST TREK
“Boldly
going where angles fear to tread…”
Episode II
Part 1
Chapter 1.
Carolyn Muir sat at
her desk on Christmas Eve 1972 and stared at the faded and worn leather bound
book called Old New England Sea Legends she’d bought at Mrs. Segway’s
yard sale in October. She had misplaced
it, then forgotten about it and somehow it ended up in the back of her over
stuffed closet, not to be found until she brought the children’s Christmas
presents out of hiding.
Now if what she’d
just read was true, she wasn’t the first woman to fall in love with a ghost,
nor the first to be loved by one in return.
As often happened
when her thoughts went to the beloved ghost in her life, he appeared at her
side, tall, handsome, and magnificent. His hand, strong and elegant touched the
frail book, and opened it to marked page; a tale entitled Her Ghostly Love.
Carolyn looked up at Daniel Gregg and saw a contemplative, unsettled expression
knit his eyebrows together.
“Do you know the
story Captain?”
“It is an old
mariners tale my dear,” the Captain said as he took his pipe from his coat
pocket and laid it on the desk. “I heard it many times when I was alive, told
many different ways. Why do you ask?”
Carolyn brushed her
fingers over the yellowed pages of the book, aware of the Captain’s eyes
intently on her.
“I was just
thinking… If it is possible.”
“Yes my dear, it is
possible,” the Captain said. “And I know what you’re thinking. I have to
warn you, though, it is not probable.”
“You know what I’m
thinking?” Carolyn repeated. “I’m thinking that you sound like Mr. Spock.” She
reached out and encircled the Captain’s wrist with her fingers. He was real to
her, solid and warm. Was it right to ask for more? They had so much now.
Gregg knelt at her
side, took her hand in his and drew it to his lips. A kiss that fleeted
lightly, leaving electrifying currently of desire in its wake and raising a
smile to spread uncontrollably across Carolyn’s face. He knew what she
was thinking and she loved him for that loved the warmth of their connection.
“Are you sure you
want to change things between us now madam? Its taken years and men from outer
space just to get us to this point?”
Carolyn’s green
eyes blinked and she didn’t reply. Her efforts to change Daniel Gregg always
caused horrible rows between them and always ended in dismal failure. He was
magnificent the way he was and she should just leave him that way, and be happy…
The Captain’s
slightly smug smile was unmistakable. He knew what she was thinking but
he said nothing, released her hand, then stood and walked over to the
telescope. Gregg looked out the French doors for a while and let Carolyn ponder
the matter. He waited, nearly ten minutes but she said nothing. The clock
chimed the bottom of the hour at eleven thirty.
“There’s no harm in
trying, if you want my dear,” he said breaking the silence. “But lets not get
our hopes up.”
Carolyn turned
towards him, trying to hide the emotions that rocked her. ‘If you don’t want to
Captain…”
“My dear there is
nothing I want more than to hold your hand, kiss your lips-
“Oh Daniel daring you do all those things
and more! I didn’t mean-“
”And be your proper
husband,” he told her. “Which regrettably is the one thing I’m prevented from
being given my present noncoporeal state. A state I’d gladly give up for a
lifetime with you. But my dear that story is just; well it is an old sea
legend. I don’t really believe in old sea legends,”
Carolyn swallowed
and nodded. “And I don’t really believe in ghosts Captain.”
Gregg rolled his
eyes and chuckled “You’d better get your coat then, it will soon be
Carolyn stood and
pulled her parka from the back of the chair, but before she could put it on,
Gregg materialized behind her and caught her round the waist. His fingers
pressed against her olive woolen sweater, into the soft flesh of her belly. His
other hand slide along her chin, tilting up her mouth to meet his own. Their
lips melded together like molten metals forged into one white-hot ingot.
“We’d. …better…
hurry, “ Carolyn murmured, as his lips feathered across her cheek and lingered
ardently at her throat.
“If this works, my
darling,” he murmured. “We will be together as we never have been before.”
“And if it fails,”
Carolyn whispered. “Surely no harm will be done.”
Gregg made no reply
and Carolyn turned in his embrace and looked into the depths of his blue eyes.
“I love you to much
not to try Carolyn, I’ll meet you on the beach.”
They stood on the
rocky
In the distance,
the Methodist church bell in
“With sea and sand
on this morning of gifts and miracles,” Carolyn intoned the last toll of the
bell. “Please let my dreams come true. I love you Daniel and let my love breath
life into your heart once again.”
The Captain
extended his hands and said, “Your dreams are mine”
Holding her breath
Carolyn let the wet sand fall in to the Captain’s hand…
And watched as the
sand pass through him and hit the beach. They stared at the little pile and
watched a wave obliterate it. The moonbeam poured over the dark horizon and lit
the mist.
“So much for
legends,” Carolyn said. Across the bay at the lights of the town shone though
the glacial mist. Carolyn tried not to be disappointed and the Captain tried to
pretend that he was.
“Its cold out
here.” Carolyn murmured as the frigid wind whipped the breakers onto the shore.
She hugged the fleece parka around her, pulled the red scarf over her nose and
stared up at the stately Captain who was unaffected by the freezing, hostile
December weather. He seemed lost in thought. “So much for romance.”
Gregg stepped
closer and drew her into his embrace. “Sorry my dear, but I can hardly be
romantic while watching you stand here trembling from cold and about to catch
your death.”
Carolyn snuggled
against him and relaxed in his arms. The Captain might not be alive, but he was
always strangely warm and his “body” blocked out the wind.
“Better?” he asked.
“Much better.
Uhmm.”
They stood in
compatible silence for several minutes as the wind howled around them and the
winter surf broke on the rocks.
“I love you Captain,”
she said and squeezed him around his waist. The Captain buried nose in a tuff
of her blond hair that poked from under her scarf.
“Dear lady, ever
are you the one for me,” the Captain replied, and then moaned in a low rumbling
tone.
“What’s wrong,”
Carolyn asked, gazing up at him through the crack in her scarf. His face had a
strangely pained and distance expression and she felt him fade in her embrace.
Suddenly, he wasn’t there anymore, just his image remained. “Captain!”
Gregg became solid
again and held her even more tightly.
“That’s what my
Grandfather use to say," the Captain whispered. “I’d hear him in his room.
He’d look at my grandmother’s portrait and murmur that phrase. He never got
over her. And I will never, ever get over you, dear lady. Never.”
Carolyn buried her
face against his chest and smiled as she drank in the heady smell of sea and
cigars that lay in the folds of his blazer. “Could you go to
“I don’t think so
my dear.
“You went with
Vanessa…” Carolyn hated herself for saying that. His Halloween foray with his
past love had been totally against his will and besides the incident had so
strangely affected time that Carolyn would just as soon forget about it.
“That was
different,” Gregg insisted. “We… weren’t on earth really. We traveled in the
ether. I can’t explain it. I’ve tried but it’s impossible.”
Carolyn decided to
change the subject, dwelling on the entire Vanessa/ Gary Seven incident would
accomplish nothing. Besides, she still hadn’t told the Captain about Mr.
Seven’s first visit to Gull Cottage…
“I just wish we
could go some place warm,” Carolyn implored. “Just the two of us. That would be
romantic. A romantic vacation.”
“Or better,” Gregg replied,
his voice low like a velvet lined drum. “A romantic adventure. Complete with
pirates, treasure and a sword fight to defend your honor. To
She laughed and
squeezed him tight. Glad suddenly that he hadn’t become human again, glad for
the love they shared and that nothing would separate them.
“This is the next
best thing I guess, “Carolyn replied. “Just the two of us, here on our beach.”
“Indeed,” the
Captain answered. “It is nice to be alone with you too.” He pressed lips
against her temple and heard her contented sigh. “Now let’s go in before you
turn into an iceberg.”
Together they
silently walked across the cold beachhead and back to Gull Cottage.
Chapter 3.
In the warmth of
the Captain’s Cabin of Gull Cottage Carolyn and the Captain sat with a chessboard
between them besides the crackling fire. Gregg moved a knight, leaving a castle
vulnerable to the sweep of Carolyn’s bishop. Smugly she attacked and removed
the hapless piece from the board.
“Captain I have
your knight, four pawns, a bishop and a castle. Give up yet?”
Gregg chuckled. “In
your greedy haste to capture my castle you missed the pin my dear.” He advanced
his bishop and took Carolyn’s queen. “I now have your queen, five pawns, two
knights and a castle. Give up?”
“Quit now mom.”
Johnathan told her as he and his sister walked into through the open door.
“You children
should be in bed.” Carolyn said between clinched lips.
“Don’t take it out
on the children, my dear,” Gregg implored with mocking insincerity. Carolyn
stuck out her tongue, Gregg pretended to be horrified.
“Martha sent us to
ask you if it was ok for her to take us in to town to hear the singers?” Candy
interjected. “They give out candy and prizes for all the kids every year.
Please can we go mom, please?”
“Please?” Johnathan
joined in.
The eyes of the
ghost and the lady met and flickered with mutual understanding. Martha was
offering a few hours of the silence and privacy they craved.
“Well,” Carolyn began,
trying hard not to sound too anxious to get rid of her little darlings for a
bit. “If you put on your thermal underwear-“
The children
squealed with delight and bounded out of the open door, their feet pounding the
floor as they ran to their bedroom.
Carolyn looked
after them and smiled at the innocent glee they found in Christmas. “I’d better
make sure they dress properly.”
“Leave that to me
my dear,” the Captain said. “You just
put the chess board away and-”
“Are you giving
up?”
Gregg glared at
her. “Certainly not, I thought you were,” he said and vanished.
Chapter 4.
Carolyn met the
children at the front door and inspected them carefully. They seem well
insulated against the cold, complete with scarves, hats and mittens. The
Captain appeared on the steps near the barometer. Pleased with the way the
children were bundled; Carolyn nodded approvingly to him and gave him an A OK
sign. He replied by folding his arms across his chest and haughtily mouthing
“Of course.”
“Come on kids,”
said Martha as she emerged from her room. “You don’t want to miss any of the
treats or seeing Ed and Claymore sing.” She rolled her eyes at the thought of
the singing pair, herded the kids towards the door. When she opened it, Scruffy
entered with a mouthful of something along with a blast of cold air.
“What you got
fella?” Johnathan inquired as he reached for the oblong object in the terrier’s
mouth. Scruffy resisted with a playful growl and backed away, dragging the boy
towards the steps.
“Scruffy stop it!”
Carolyn admonished and scooped up the little dog. She put her fingers in the
corner of his mouth to make him release his new toy; a flat piece of shinny
metal roughly 4 by 8 inches long. She glanced at the plate then handed it to
the Captain. “I think this must be yours, I has your name on it.”
Carolyn turned back
to her children who were following Martha outside, and missed the look of shock
that came to Daniel Gregg’s face as he read the inscription.
Chapter 5.
Carolyn returned to
the cabin expecting to find the Gregg waiting there, but her room was empty.
She called out to him several times, and when he didn’t appear, Carolyn sought
him out in the attic. He sat slumped at his attic desk, staring with furrowed
brow at the metal plate.
“What’s wrong
Captain,” she asked. He looked both confused and upset. He met her gaze and but
was silent. The blue eyes brimmed with unshed tears
Carolyn touched his
shoulder and then shook him gently.
“This isn’t mine,” he
said at last his voice a hollow rasp. “That’s not my name.”
“It says Captain
Daniel Gregg,” Carolyn insisted.
“No my dear, it
says Captain Danielle Gregg.”
Chapter 6.
They returned to
the Captain’s cabin, and Carolyn sat on the bed and tried to make sense of the
Captain Gregg’s rant about his grandmother, a woman he didn’t recall clearly.
Interspersed with the story were his salty curses about his grandfather’s odd
behavior following her death.
“So Danielle was
your grandmother?” Carolyn inquired. “And you’re sure she wasn’t a Captain.”
“She was a blasted
woman! How could she be a Captain madam?”
Carolyn’s mouth
twisted indignantly and her green eyes fired daggers of resentment. Gregg
quickly changed his tone.
“I’m sorry my dear.
But in my time… what I mean is…”
“I know what you
mean” she replied a bit harshly. Several silent and awkward beats passed and
Carolyn regretted her tone. “Sorry, I mean, well, I understand what you mean.
Tell me about your grandmother.”
“Grandfather buried
her up here,” Gregg explained. “On this bluff. I don’t remember her, but he
loved the view of the sea from this spot. I use to come up here with him when I
was small. I guess that’s why I bought the place. But I had totally forgotten
about my grandmother when I did.”
Carolyn weighed his
words and came to the obvious conclusion. “So that metal plate is her grave
marker.”
Gregg huffed, not
accepting an idea couldn’t refute. “I suppose.”
“Can I see it?” she
asked.
He handed her the plate
and turned to the telescope, stroking it as he often did when annoyed but
something beyond his control.
“It looks brand new, “ Carolyn mused. The
metal was shinny and cold. “What are these other symbols, they look like a
foreign alphabet but I don’t recognize them.”
“Neither do I.”
“Maybe you
grandmother was a honorary Captain. Of a regiment or something, in…
“I don’t think so.
Blast! This makes no sense at all. Unless blasted Claymore is having his April
Fools in December.”
A gust of wind
rattled the French door, blowing them open with a frigid rush of air. The space
rippled like water and shattered with a crystal tone as a tall, foppishly
dressed man materialized from the ether. He was dark haired and elegant in a
maroon silk frock coat embroidered with gold lilies, matching knee breaches and
garter hose. A short curved sword swung at his hip and his manicured and buffed
hands held an elegant ivory walking stick surmounted with a glassy, luminous
green ball. It was as if a courtier of 17th century
“Well met, may this
tired traveler partake of your hospitably to rest his bones nay his soul by
your hearth? I have travel far, from distant worlds and time, to visit your
verdant planet,” said the visitor, as he bowed towards the Captain. “And you
kind friend.”
Advancing on
Carolyn, he seized her hand and kissed it before she could draw it back,
grinning like an imp as he did.
“Ah fair one, your
skin is as luminous as the moon, your hair like a field of ripen wheat, your
eyes rival the finest emeralds and your lips are like rose petals newly budded,
ripe for kisses.” Turning his attention back to the Captain he continued his
superfluous chatter.
“Well met good sir.
I trust I find you and your charming companion in fine fettle?”
“Oh no,” said the
Captain wearily as he rubbed his forehead. “Not you.”
“You know him?”
Carolyn asked looking from one to the other.
“Yes, I know him. I
met him on my adventures with Vanessa.” Gregg replied. “His name is Trelane.”
“Not just Trelane
good sir and kind madam. I am sir, nay lord Trelane, the squire of Gothos.” He
snapped his heels together martially, and then laughed as if ever so pleased
with himself. “At you service.”
“Then serve me well
by vanishing back to wherever you came!” roared the Captain. “Be gone!”
“No way to greet and
old friend, old chap,” Trelane exclaimed as he flopped into the couch and
parked his thick heeled shoes on the coffee table. “We have many games to
play…”
“No more games! Not
with you!” The Captain’s indignation was
at a pitch he only reserved for his very worst moods with Claymore. He advanced
on Trelane and seized him by the right arm, lifting him to his feet. “Now leave
sir, I must insist for you intrude upon our privacy!”
Trelane resisted
and tried to yank away, but Gregg tightened his grip.
“You’re hurting, oh
and not playing fair Captain! You’re supposed to play fair; you’re supposed to
welcome your guests!” Trelane bellowed like the recalcitrant brat he was.
“You are not my
guest.” Gregg replied, his tense jawed expression as stern as Carolyn had ever
seen. “You are tiresome and wicked and most unwelcome here and there will be no
playing, no games and no humoring you.”
Trelane pouted,
sniveled and bit the Captain’s hand, then lunged backwards to escape Captain
Gregg’s hold on him. He fell, thrashing upon the couch in a fit of ill temper,
kicking and stomping his feet on the coffee table as his face reddened with
anger.
“You’re as boring
as, as… as Spock!” Trelane sputtered the
insult. “And I’ll fix you! I’ll fix you both.”
“You know Spock?” Carolyn
asked unable to believe her ears. Gregg seemed as stunned as she to hear their
erstwhile Vulcan guest’s name upon the lips of their intemperate visitor and
Trelane picked up on their uncertainty with rapidity. He stopped thrashing and
sat up on the couch, an evil smirk creasing his cherubic face.
“Aye fair one I
do,” he intoned with nasty certainty. “And you and your inglorious lord shall
break you fast with him this morn. Give him and his heinous master Kirk, my
kind regards. Ha, hahaha!”
Trelane raised his
cane, and the house dissolved around them.
End of part
one.