"Bruce,
how long have you been sailing this boat?" Gene was worried.
"It's
going to be okay Gene. I just need to
check the motor." Bruce was
annoyed not just at Gene but also at his new boat.
Originally
Bruce had taken the boat out for a test with Gene and Paul and that was when
they had met that strange girl. Bruce
had been looking for her ever since.
Bruce
talked Gene and Paul into going with him for an afternoon sail in hopes that
the mystery lady would show again. His
destination was the same area where she originally appeared.
"I
don’t know what the problem is." Bruce grumbled. The motor sputtered until it finally died.
"Now
what do we do?" Paul asked.
"Maybe
we should call for help?" Gene offered.
"The
whole electrical system is down and the radio is not working." Bruce
lamented.
"That
is just great! Now what are we going to
do?" Paul was obviously upset.
Looking
out to sea, "Hey! Is that an
island?" Gene asked as he pointed.
"I
didn’t see that before." Bruce said with a puzzled look on his face.
"Maybe
someone there can help us. But how do
we get there?" Paul asked.
"Do
you have anything that we can use as oars?" Gene questioned.
"Oars?"
asked Paul.
"What
else do you suggest? We can’t swim that
far and we certainly can’t call a tow truck." Gene said angrily.
Just
as it appeared there was going to be an argument they heard a splash and all
three looked over the side.
"Isn't
that her dolphin?" Bruce asked.
"Do you think she is close?"
"I
don’t see her anywhere." Paul told
them as he looked around the boat.
"Do
you think the dolphin could tow us in?" asked Gene.
"This
is not Sea World Gene." Paul said sarcastically.
"She
keeps jumping," Bruce observed, "maybe she can help."
Bruce
moved to the front of the boat and threw out a rope. Marshmallow seemed to grab the rope and away she swam. The boat began to move toward the island.
"I
wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes." Paul said
incredibly.
It
appeared to the three men that the dolphin was towing them toward the
island. What they did not see was the
Merpeople under the boat helping push it to shore.
As
they got closer to the island a small boat came out to meet them.
"Hello. Having trouble?"
"Hello."
Bruce replied. "We seem to have
lost electrical power. Don’t know what
happened."
"We
will pull you in, throw us a rope."
Bruce
pulled in the rope that Marshmallow had been using and threw it to the two men
in the boat. The men grabbed the rope
and proceeded to pull Bruce's boat toward a dock on the island. With the help of those on the dock Bruce
tied up his boat but as they were attempting to disembark they were stopped by
the man from the boat.
"I
am sorry but you will have to stay on board until her Majesty gives permission
for you to be here."
"The
boat is broken. Where else can we
go?" Gene asked incredibly.
"I
am sorry not until…."
"It
is all right Andre. They can come
ashore."
"Yes,
Majesty." Andre bowed as he backed
away.
"Please
gentlemen, I am sorry if you have been inconvienced. We are a private people and strangers are not always
welcomed."
"We
understand about your desire for privacy." Paul told her. "Let me introduce myself, I am Paul
Stanley, this is Gene Simmons, and our captain is Bruce Kulick."
"My
name is Daphne. I rule over this
island. Now what brings you here?"
"The
electrical system seems to have gone out." Bruce told Queen Daphne.
"Andre."
"Yes,
Majesty."
"Have
someone look at their boat and see if we can get if fixed."
"Yes
Majesty." Andre bowed to the
Queen, motioned to a group standing behind him and then boarded Bruce's boat.
"Gentlemen
if you will come with me I will see that you are made comfortable while we wait
for your boat to be repaired.” Queen
Daphne led the way to her palace.
"He
called you Majesty?" Gene asked.
"Yes,
I am queen here." Daphne said with a smile.
"I’ve
never met a real queen before." Bruce joined in the conversation.
"We
are normal people just like you." Daphne laughed.
"We?"
Gene raised an eyebrow in question.
"Mother?"
Jut
then coming up the path was a beautiful young woman. She had long brown hair and green eyes. She wore a long translucent skirt in shades of blue and green,
which hung low on her hips. Her top was
seagreen in color and to the three men resembled a strapless bra.
"You!"
exclaimed Paul.
"You
know my daughter?" asked a shocked Daphne.
"These
are the men that saved me from Hunter.
You remember Mother, I told you about it." Skye explained.
"Yes,
but we never got your name." Gene smiled at the beautiful girl.
Skye
blushed and looked down at the ground.
"I guess we were never formally introduced. My name is Skye."
"Daughter,
have you been to the lagoon today?" Queen Daphne interrupted.
"I
was on my way there now Mother." Skye answered.
"Then
you proceed and I will take our guests to the palace and you may join us
later." Queen Daphne commanded.
"Yes,
Mother." Skye bowed and began to continue her journey.
"I
will go with you." Paul started to follow Skye.
"No!'
Daphne barked. All eyes turned to the
Queen as she continued. "My
daughter has duties to attend to. You
will come with me and Skye will join us later." Queen Daphne turned and continued toward the palace. Skye bowed in respect to her mother then
turned and resumed her journey.
Paul
looked from Skye to her mother and did not know which way to go.
"I
think we better follow the Queen, Paul.
I don’t think I want to make her mad." Bruce told them.
Paul
watched as Skye walked away from him and decided Bruce was right, it would not
bode well for them if they made the queen angry. Besides Paul smiled to himself as he realized, he knew where she
lived.