1-28-01 Challenge

TRIO CHALLENGE: A spider web, a sand dollar and an apple
or
QUOTE CHALLENGE: "All it takes for evil to triumph, is for good men to do
nothing."
or
"Alone, alone, all all alone."

Authors in alphabetical order:

Anthony, Eliza, JoLayne, Maril, Robin (brig)

REFLECTION

by Anthony
rodlox@hotmail.com

SPOILERS: "Witness", "The Serpent", "The Pact". Takes place following 'Confessor' {to be posted} and "The Pact" ep....prequel to 'Ghosts' and 'Ride Hard'. {Yes, I finally begin to complete the circle}.

NOTE: Yes, I have trouble writing whumping scenes, alright??

~~~~~

Doctor Robert Helm drew his horse to a stop, letting her munch on the bushes. Right now, man and horse were in a canyon - not as steep as some he'd seen in the past few weeks. There were an abundance of tracks here, everything from wild ponies to coatis to large felines. Spider webs grew in the brush.

Pulling out the lunch he'd brought with him, he handed it to his mare, letting her crunch on the apple.

"That went well," he said with clear irony. What'd happened with El Serpente was just one more load for him to shoulder, another burden upon his back. The oath to save a life, against what El Serpente did for a living. No matter what anyone thought, it had been a hard choice...one that, in the end, he'd made the decision much like anything else in his life: weighing it against his own past. After that, it was easy to stitch the old coot up.

And the Queen... That was a subject he'd prefer to avoid -- though he did have to admit, even if only to himself, that she did kiss well. She knew what it was like to have held the bloody knife, to have fired the lethal shot....how unlike Senorita Tessa Alvarado.

He'd known people with split personalities before...like his old battalion's cook. If that was happening here as well, then it was too bad. If not....

Robert picked up a handful of creek side sand and shook his head, resolving to think about safer subjects.... Like when he'd given a house call to check on the young Senorita Hidalgo - and when he'd come back to town, learning that he'd just missed the infamous Mary Rose. Or, more recently, when he'd assisted in the delivery of twins to a happy family - he was just returning from there now, in fact.

"From a watery sea to a dry one," Robert muttered, letting the sand sprinkle down between his fingers. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a sand dollar fused with a stone, and resolved to send it - eventually - to his cousin, who liked such things.

"'Alone, alone, all all alone'," Robert Helm quoted. "'Alone on a wide wide sea...'" he trailed off when he suspected he heard the sound of an approaching horse. Oh not her again! "Do I ever get a moment to myself?" he asked, starting to stand up.

"No," came the answer; and when he started to turn around, a blunt object impacted upon his head, knocking the doctor unconscious.

"That'll teach you to even try taking something that's not yours," the other rider said, then turned and left.

END

QOS FAN FIC CHALLENGE #2

by Eliza
elizawpg@home.com

It was such a perfect Montoya quote that I couldn't leave it alone. This story follows from the first Challenge.

"All it takes for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing."

~~~~~

Grisham rolled his eyes behind his commander's back and tried desperately to think of something to respond with that wouldn't get him demoted, shot, or challenged to a duel. He chose silence; he was not as stupid as Montoya always accused him of being.

The colonel continued his circuit of the room and turned again to face his captain. "By doing nothing about the Queen of Swords, we are sending a message to the underbelly of society that the authorities in Santa Helena support lawlessness. We must find her, Grisham. We must send a clear statement that anarchy will not reign within my jurisdiction."

The captain succeeded in suppressing a disgusted sigh. "We've tried, Colonel. She's always one step ahead of us. I've suspected for some time that there might be an accomplice in the garrison. I just haven't had time to think of a way to lure the traitor out."

Montoya actually seemed satisfied with the explanation and opened his wardrobe as he continued his comments, "Well, you will have the time this evening. I assume you have declined the invitation to the Hidalgo's anniversary party?"

"No. I plan on going." Grisham fumed as he realized what Montoya was going to say next. Damn, he always has to push the commander role too far! The most annoying thing is that he already knows I want him dead.

"I will send your regrets. One can only stretch propriety so far and the rest of the town is not as blind as Gaspar Hidalgo." As Grisham's expression darkened, Montoya turned to him and put on his most placating manner. "Do not worry, Captain. You will not be conspicuous by your absence, I will take the blame. I will say that I had pressing matters for you do deal with, and that is not a lie. Think of it as a favour to Vera. Your lady love will not take it as a slight and she will not be tempted to divide her time from her husband this evening."

Grisham relented under the weight of the logic of the argument. He could see that attending his mistress' anniversary celebration was a bit crass. As he was leaving, he noticed Montoya's dress uniform and the fact that he was pulling on his gloves. "Isn't it a bit early to be getting ready?"

"I have to go to the Alvarado hacienda first."

"Why?"

Montoya's smirk was very self satisfied, even for him. "Because Senorita Alvarado asked me to escort her. She told me that she was tired of going to these events alone. It seems I was right in my assessment of the situation."

Grisham rubbed the back of his head, as he remembered the conversation that released him from his courtship of Tessa Alvarado. He had initially been insulted that the colonel didn't think he was up to the job, but now he felt like he had just dodged a bullet. She was seeking out Montoya's company -- the woman was obviously nuts.

THE END

FIREWORKS

by JoLayne
enyajo@aol.com

I'm so sorry that this gets loopy at the end but I've got a one track mind this week.

Response to Monday Challenge. Spider Web, Apple, Sand Dollar

"All it takes for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing."

"Alone, alone, all all alone."

~~~~~

Vera teetered atop a velvet covered foot stool in the center of her drawing room in the mansion that she had married well in order to attain. Marta, stooped over to pin the hem of Vera's new dress, told her to stand still. "It's hard enough to get it straight if you weren't fidgeting."

Vera twisted the core of the golden apple in her hand and it finally broke off. "Six turns," she told Marta. "What do you think that means?"

Marta inserted the last pin and straightened up, careful not to wrench her back. "It means it took you six turns to break off the stem."

"But, you're a seer, Marta," Vera said before taking a large bite of the apple.

"I read tarot, I don't have use for silly superstitions."

"Silly?" Vera stepped down off the foot stool and stated, "I will have you know that I had many beaus who have kissed me just after I had twisted the stem off of an apple."

"Your looks didn't have a thing to do with it, I gather," Marta smiled and waved for her to turn around so she could inspect the evenness of the hem. Vera had acquired the best lavender silk from Japan. Marta had been worried about making the dress for fear of ruining the delicate fabric. The old adage, "Measure twice, cut once," reverberated in her head.

Vera caught her reflection in the mirror and oohed and aahed at how she looked in the dress, even though it wasn't finished. She said, "I have the softest lace I have ever seen in my life downstairs. It would look divine around the collar. I was saving it for a special dress. A special occasion."

Vera hustled off to a door in the hallway and motioned for Marta to join her. Marta dutifully followed and asked, "What is the special occasion? Is the Colonel having another party?"

Vera skipped down the steps with her dress hiked up to prevent it from getting dirty and giggled, "No. This is a private occasion. Gaspar's and my anniversary."

"Oh," Marta said in surprise. She had seen Vera and Captain Grisham in a tender moment many times and was under the impression that Vera's marriage was one of convenience. Gaspar had a gorgeous woman on his arm and she lived well, maintaining her extracurricular activities. "Careful!" Marta warned Vera just in time before the senora had backed up into a spider web in the corner.

Vera ducked forward and spun around. That huge web had almost ruined her dress. "Marta! Thank you! I guess I haven't been down here for a while. I've been saving that lace for three years."

"Maybe you should change into something less ornate and special before scrounging around down here." Marta looked around the cellar which wasn't much different from Tessa's. There were golden objects, old family portraits, trunks, a wine rack. The only light was from a small window that cut through the dusty haze of the room which hadn't been occupied in months. Vera lifted a black cloth and squealed with delight. "Look Marta!"

Marta wished she was so young and in love and had the younger woman's energy. She watched as Vera opened a small wooden box which contained small, inextravagant items. Vera said, "These are the things that I brought to the marriage with me."

She picked up a silver mirror and said, "This was my mother's." Vera fumbled through the contents a little more. She pulled out a sand dollar. "Oh, I remember the day my father found this when I was a little girl. It was such a perfect day. My family and I on the Southern Spanish coastline. The great Mediterranean before us. The ships... oh the ships were..." Vera couldn't think of a word to describe such majesty but her body language emitted grandness. "They were pretty. So large. The big white sails. My father put me on his knee--I couldn't have been more than five years old--and we stared at the ships as they sailed by. He told me that my life would be filled with adventure and happiness and that I would be able to sail on such a ship."

Vera handed the sand dollar to Marta and said, "My father found that on the sand that day and gave it to me so I would remember his prophecy."

Marta was touched by Vera's nostalgic journey and said, "Well, you sailed on a least one ship to get to America."

Vera nodded, then corrected her, "Many ships. My father never had the chance."

"Did he die young?"

"No." Vera took the sand dollar back. "My father died an old man, just after my wedding. He was so happy that I married Gaspar."

"I'd imagine," Marta said, then realized that her response may have sounded judgmental. That was the last thing she wanted to do. "Not that-."

"I know what you meant." Vera shrugged. "But I love Gaspar, no matter what anyone thinks."

"I'm glad," Marta said as she put her hand on Vera's arm. Just then, Marta saw a movement at the window. "What was that?"

Vera looked at the window and got up on her tip-toes to strain to see. "There are people walking past the window. Who can they be?"

Marta and Vera ran up the stairs and outside the house to see a mass of people marching in a large oval. The people were strange to the women. They didn't know what to make of them. They were wearing strange clothes that neither senoras had ever seen before. Vera sucked in her breath and almost fainted, "Most of those people are women!"

Marta just stared at them. "I see that."

"But... they aren't wearing dresses! They are in men's trousers!"

"Strange...." Marta said. The people were walking in a large oval, wearing jeans and t-shirts, white spongy type shoes, buttons that read 'Helmwantshisownshowdammit!'. She asked Vera, "What on earth are they supposed to be?"

Vera read the cardboard signs that some were carrying. "SAVE OUR QUEEN!" was the most predominant saying. Vera said, "Oh, they must be peasants who love the Queen of Swords."

"I suppose," Marta said with trepidation. She was a mother hen to her Tessita and those people looked angry. She hadn't seen Tessa since she had gone to the Hidalgos and was worried that Tessa had gotten into trouble as the Queen. Why did she need saving?

The people all said in unison, "Fireworks, change your mind! Fireworks, keep the show!"

One of the people broke ranks in the oval to run to the steps that Marta and Vera stood upon. "We love this show so much!" The fan gushed on, "You two are so great. We have to know more about you and see more of your adventures. They can't pull the show!"

Vera, scared, moved behind Marta to use her as a shield and asked, "Show? What is she saying?"

The fan continued, "All it takes for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing."

Marta nodded, "That's true. That's so very true."

"So we're doing something! We don't want to be alone, alone, all all alone."

END

Write those letters of support!

HOME TRUTHS

by Maril
maril.swan@sympatico.ca

QUOTE CHALLENGE: All alone

Feedback is highly valued and appreciated.

~~~~~

Marta pulled the door open and peered into the hidden room. She drew a relieved breath, seeing Tessa inside, seated next to a table on which a single candle burned. "There you are, Tessa. I have been looking for you all morning." Observing more closely, Marta noticed a half-empty bottle of wine on the table and a full glass in Tessa's hand. "What are you doing?" Marta asked sharply.

"I'm celebrating," Tessa answered, rocking dangerously on her chair.

"I can see that," Marta said, coming closer to catch the girl in case she fell off her chair. "What are you celebrating?"

Tessa stood up abruptly, staggered slightly, then grabbed the table for balance. She grinned fatuously and said, "My birthday."

"Of course. I nearly forgot. Felicidades, Tessa. Considering what you have been doing for the past year, your birthday is a real cause for celebration."

"I'm twenty-three today. Twenty-three, ...and an old maid." She bit her lip and looked away.

Marta took her arm and tried to steer her back to the chair, but Tessa shook her off and moved across the room, to lean against a cabinet. "You know what the married girls whisper when I pass by, Marta? 'There goes poor Maria Theresa Alvarado. Twenty-three and not married. Not even a prospect in sight'." She took a swig of her wine, glancing morosely into its contents. "Alone, alone, all, all alone," she intoned.

"Tessa, you must stop. What will the servants say if they see you like this?" Marta shook her head in exasperation as the younger woman took another long pull at her drink, then giggled.

"They won't see me, Marta. This is a hidden room. That's the whole point, isn't it?" She laughed at her own humour, unaware of Marta's troubled look as Tessa finished the last of her wine, and made her way back to the table for a refill.

"I wouldn't exactly say you have no prospects. What about Dr. Helm?" Marta said, as she intercepted the bottle before Tessa could pour more wine into her glass. Ignoring Tessa's glare, Marta pushed the cork back in and placed it on top of a cabinet.

Tessa snorted in a most unladylike fashion. "Dr. Helm! How blind can a man be? He can't even see through a flimsy piece of lace."

"So that's what this is about." Marta said gently. "Do you really think this helps?" she asked, gesturing at the bottle.

"Can't hurt."

"It will later."

"I'll worry about it then. Give me the bottle."

"No more wine. I'm taking you to your room where you can sleep it off." Marta took a firm grip on the younger woman's arm, steering her toward the door. Tessa allowed herself to led, laying her arm over Marta's shoulder for support.

Tessa hiccuped and started to laugh. "It's really quite funny, isn't it, Marta? Dr. Helm loves the Queen of Swords, and thinks Tessa Alvarado is just a nobody, a nuisance. What would he do if he ever found out the truth? He's probably end up hating both of us."

"Or loving both," Marta said, with an affectionate hug. "You can't decide for him how he will feel. But you must continue to protect yourself, keep your secret. And, Tessa, whether you realize it or not, it is you the doctor loves." Marta laughed softly. "So, go to him as the Queen, and enjoy what you already have. Just don't tell me about it. I'm supposed to be your duenna." She felt Tessa stiffen with shock, then relax. Forgive me, Don Alvarado, Marta thought, as she helped Tessa up the cellar stairs, but I'm sure you would want Tessa to be happy, as I do.

The End, or maybe the beginning <g>

---Maril

A TANGLED WEB

by Maril
maril.swan@sympatico.ca

Feedback is always great.

FICTION: usual disclaimers about copyright...Fireworks, etc.

~~~~~

Marta set down a bowl of fruit on the verandah table, watching as Captain Grisham approached, his swaggering gait sending prickles of irritation through her. She summoned up a cheerful face, though her eyes were wary. "Capitan, what brings you so far from town?"

Noting her cautious look, he grinned. "Just a social visit, senora. Is Senorita Alvarado at home?"

"My mistress usually takes a long ride on the beach every morning. She is not back yet."

"Still doing that, after the kidnapping and all? She's either brave or foolhardy." Grisham stepped up onto the verandah, his hat brushing a spider web which clung to the felt material. He pulled the hat off, swiping at the gossamer, then hauled the whole web down along with the spider. With a ruthless stomp, he crushed the little creature. "I hate spiders," he said, looking into Marta's stricken eyes.

"There was no reason to kill a helpless little spider. It was doing you no harm, Capitan."

Ignoring her protest, he moved past her onto the flagstoned verandah. "I'll just wait here until the senorita returns," Grisham said. He strolled over to the table, helping himself to an apple, and dropped into one of the wicker chairs. Lounging comfortably, he munched the apple while enjoying the obvious annoyance on Marta's face. And a lovely face it was, too, he remarked to himself. In other circumstances...

"Look, Marta, what I found this morning on the beach... a sand dollar." Catching Marta's warning look and nod, Tessa turned suddenly and noticed the captain. He stood up and bowed courteously.

"Capitan Grisham, this is a ...surprise. I would offer you some refreshment, but I see you have already taken care of that. To what do we owe this visit?"

"I feel I've neglected you, senorita. I've come to apologise and to remedy that situation."

"On the contrary, Capitan. You have nothing to reproach yourself for. I don't feel the least bit neglected," Tessa said pertly.

"In any case, I've come to talk with you. If Marta would be kind enough to get me something cool to drink, I would appreciate it." He gave Marta a dismissive nod to which she merely raised her eyebrows. He jerked his head more forcefully toward the villa and she looked away. His eyes hardened for a moment.

"Please, Marta, get Capitan Grisham some of your excellent lemonade." Tessa watched Marta reluctantly enter the villa, then returned to the captain. "What was it you wanted to talk about."

"Our future. I'm sure you know how I feel about you, Tessa." He moved toward her, and Tessa dodged his grasp, keeping a chair between them. She had a look in her eyes he'd seen before--a rabbit in his gunsights. A thrill of pleasure rippled through him. She was afraid. Well, a little fear in a woman was always a good thing.

"I think I should help Marta with that lemonade," she said a bit breathlessly, moving cautiously toward the door.

"Marta can handle that, Tessa." He smiled deeply into her eyes, waiting for the inevitable melting look that was always returned. Her eyes continued to be wary. He brushed aside his annoyance. "I'd like to escort you to Montoya's next party. Would you do me the honour, Senorita Alvarado?"

"My goodness, did Marta go all the way to Monterey for those lemons?" Tessa glanced anxiously at the villa entrance, where Marta finally appeared bearing a tray with a pitcher and two glasses. "Let me help you with that," Tessa said, taking the tray and setting it on the table. "Perhaps, Capitan Grisham, you would like something to eat as well?" she said, giving Marta a significant look. "Help me prepare a plate of food for the capitan, Marta."

"That's not necessary, senorita..." his words dwindled away as the two women disappeared into the villa. He settled back to wait for his food.

"Marta, how could you leave me alone so long with him? You're supposed to be my duenna!" Tessa said sharply as they strode toward the kitchen.

"Just last week, you accused me of doing my job too well," Marta retorted with asperity.

"Well, I can always relieve you of that burden!"

"If only you would!" Marta rejoined with a harsh laugh.

"Bickering among ourselves isn't helping. How do we get rid of him? He asked to be my escort at one of Montoya's interminably dull parties."

"Well, the Queen could appear and shoot him," Marta sniffed, still irritated. "That would solve the problem. You go back and keep him out of mischief. I'll get him something to eat." Marta went into the kitchen, and Tessa reluctantly returned to the verandah.

Grisham arose and gestured to a chair beside him. Tessa ignored the implied invitation and said, "Capitan Grisham, as much as I am honoured by your asking to escort me to the party, I must decline. I am still in mourning. It would be improper to be seen in public with another man so soon after Antonio's death. I hope you understand."

A look of frustration crossed Grisham's face. Did Montoya send him out here to make of fool of him? He must have known the girl would have to remain in mourning for some period of time. "How long does this mourning usually take? I don't mean to be insensitive to your feelings, but when would it be appropriate to ask you again?" Grisham's tone was harsher than he meant it to be; his temper was just barely under control.

"It varies, capitan. In my case, it may take a long time." Tessa's eyes moistened as she turned a sad face to Grisham. "A very long time," she added more feelingly.

"I see." Grisham clenched his jaw as he moved toward the verandah steps, turning to say, "I think I'd better get back to my duties now. Thanks for the refreshments. Hasta luego, senorita."

Marta joined her as they watched Grisham mount his horse and ride off. "I almost felt sorry for him, Marta." Tessa said reflectively, then laughed, "But I'm over it now."

THE END

SEA CHANGE

By Robin
bliteheart@fast.net

This week's challenges: TRIO CHALLENGE: A spider web, a sand dollar and an apple

Feedback is always welcome :) --brig

~~~~~

Marta lifted her face to the breeze, enjoying the feel of the cool damp air. The surf thundered in, wetting her feet, and she laughed at its cold caress over her ankles.

Something winked in the early morning light. Her fingers carefully pried the object loose, turned it over.

A sand dollar. She smiled at the perfection displayed, the pale surface marked with vents. Without further thought she tucked it in her pocket. Her fingers touched the apple waiting there, and she became aware of her empty belly.

Marta clambered up the beach away from the wet sand and sat down on a rock, intent on making breakfast. She took the small knife she always carried with her and started to cut the apple in slices, then stopped. After a moment she cut with care about the apple's equator, smiling at what was revealed--a star, the seeds laid out in a simple pattern. She eased the sand dollar out of her pocket and compared the two.

"The signs of the Goddess are everywhere," she said to herself in the Old Speech, letting the surf carry her words away. With great gentleness she set the sand dollar on the beach beside her and bit into the apple, wiping juice from her chin.

"Good morning, Marta."

She looked up at the figure obscuring the morning sun.

"Senor Montoya?" she asked in considerable astonishment.

"Just so." He sat down beside her and stretched out his legs with a casual movement. "Enjoying the morning, I see."

On the trouser closest to her was a faint gossamer sheen. She reached out and touched it, ignoring his sudden tension. Her fingers caught the silk, watched it float away on the salty breeze.

"Consorting with spiders, Senor?"

He brushed at the rest of the webbing with an impatient gesture.

"I suppose you would say that was some sort of omen."

Marta lifted her face to the sun.

"Surely what I have to say is unimportant, Senor. After all, I'm only a gypsy. We live our lives by superstition and ignorance--"

"You are the least ignorant gitano I have ever met, Marta."

"And you have met so many." The contempt she felt edged into her words. "With torch and gun in hand, no doubt."

He twisted about to look at her, his strong features filled with anger.

"As a matter of fact, we used to allow the gitanos to camp on our lands. And no doubt you don't believe me." He laughed, the sound harsh. "Why should you? You're talking to El Colonel, the military governor who eats small children for breakfast."

He sounded bitter and even worse, lonely. Marta took in a slow, shaky breath.

Careful, she warned herself. The signs of the Goddess are everywhere...

She took the other half of the apple and offered it to the man beside her.

"It's too lovely a morning to quarrel," she said in her best placating tone, and smiled at him. "May I share my breakfast with you, Senor?"

He paused, looking at her. Marta glanced out to sea, unwilling to meet that pale gaze.

"People will talk, you know." His tone was light once more, even charming. Muscular fingers brushed hers as he took the apple, his touch lingering a bit longer than was necessary, but not long enough to become offensive. "Thank you, Marta. You are as generous as you are lovely."

THE END