Incident at Jupiter Lighthouse Part 2

I was rowing toward the island when I saw the last part of the fight. For the sake of delicacy I will not go into detail of the fight Ral took to the yellow-haired man, but may I summarize it by saying that the poor soul ended up flat on his back in his boat. I can honestly say he never laid another punch on Ral whatsoever. For all of his trouble, the yellow-haired gentleman ended up with two black eyes, a chipped tooth, a bloody lip and his shirt tore clean off. As he lay in the bottom of the boat, the only noise he made was a low soft moaning sound, the kind you make when you stuffed yourself too hard during the Thanksgiving meal.
“Shouldn’t a done that, mister, it got me riled up,” Ral said, dusting off his hands. “You brought it on yourself, though.” The two other men glared in amazement, and Ral turned to face the bald man. “Mister, my fire’s just getting’ hot. Are you thinkin’ of goin’ a round or two?”

“No problem from me. You – you’re not normal, boy,” he said nervously.

But the other man quickly stepped toward Pa with his knife drawn. “Boy or no boy, nobody’s gonna try to...”

He finished his sentence in a choke, because Pa’s lightning-fast hand had gripped him around the collar, tightening it with a speed the man had never seen before.

“Truth to tell, my family’s kind of learned the art of fightin’ from the hills of Tennessee,” said Pa as the man fought for breath. “The boy here’s the strongest one, but as much as I hate to brag, I still rule the roost on quickness. As small as I am, mister, I ain’t never lost a fight, so I’d advise you re-think your position.” The man nodded slowly as Pa took his knife from the man’s hand and threw it in the water. “Truth be told, my moonshining days is over, and I don’t like bein’ reminded of it. I’ve had a change.” He shoved the man toward the boat. “Maybe someday I’ll tell you about it, but not right now. Yer always welcome here, but your attitude ain’t. Fix it, an’ we’ll have us a coffee on the front porch.” His eyes narrowed. “But if you come here with any motive outside of a friendly visit, just remember, I’ve got a mean streak that’s put me in jail more’n once. Think on that. Now git on out of here.” He glanced at the darkening sky. “Rain’s comin’. Try to beat the storm. Git.”

Clouds gathered overhead and the wind picked up as the boat pulled away with the big man still groaning and the two other men rowing as hard as they dared. The groaning man glanced at the rising waves but shot a look at Ral liked he’d be back to get his revenge.

Ral shrugged. “Sorry, Pa, but that yellow-haired man got the drop on me...”

The wind whistled through the tree branches above Anna. She leaned against the wall of the lighthouse, shivering violently as she glanced at them. In all the fighting, they never heard her scream.

Old Bannister saw me and waved. “Never mind that, boy, we got company. Mr. Burl is gracing us with his presence, so see what he needs. I got me a bit of a cut when I grabbed that knife away from the trouble-maker, so I need to go patch up and wash off the blood before I head to the market to sell my oranges. Load my boat with those boxes of oranges an’ let’s beat the rain, eh?” He turned and walked away quickly, heading to the bucket around the back of the lighthouse.

Ral rolled up his sleeves, happy that his father had chosen a new path. The change from moonshining was a dramatic one. He had secretly seen Pa at the top railing of the lighthouse with his feet dangling over the side, leaning his forehead against the railing and reading the Bible …

Ral stopped and looked at me. “Did you hear a sob…? A girl’s sob?”

I nodded and pointed through the small trees. There was Anna, leaning against the lighthouse wall with her hand over her mouth.

“What are you doing here?” he asked angrily. “Sneaking around on people isn’t highly thought of in these parts.”

Anna gasped out from between her fingers. “On that wooden box there… that’s a dead person.”

“A what?”

“Th-that face… his eyes are blank… look! Someone’s been killed…”

I ran over while Ral stooped and pulled apart the branches. Raindrops splattered on the upturned face of a crumpled body sprawled atop a crate. Anna cried out aloud. “What is it you do on this island?” She pushed past him and ran for her boat.

“Wait!” Ral stood up straight and turned toward her. Anna ran past me and sprinted for the shore. She knew she couldn’t outrun Ral, but she dodged toward the bushes along the shore, hoping to get lost in the shrubbery.

It was no use. Ral quickly overtook her and grabbed her arm.

“Let me go!” She screamed flailing at him with her free hand.

Ral grabbed her other hand and held it firmly. “No! Listen! I don’t know where it came from!” He stammered. “I- I’m serious. It’s - ”

Anna held still but still spoke sharply. The rain fell steadily. “How could a body lay in the trees right next to the lighthouse, and you not know about it? And what about that casket inside the lighthouse, under the steps?”

Ral scratched his head. “What casket?“

“Oh, don’t play the fool with me! I heard how your father threatened those men. Do you have the same murderous streak in you?”

“Wait. Hush. Be still,“ Ral said, taking a deep breath. “Look.”

Hands thrust through the bushes and parted the branches. A waxy-looking grayish face poked out from among the leaves.

“He’s alive!” screamed Anna.

“Well, that’s a sight better comfort that if he was dead,” said Ral. “Now hush.”

The man did not stir any further, but rolled his eyes to the sky, letting the raindrops spatter on his face. “Yes, child, I am alive and yet I can see the dead.”

“Who are you?” demanded Anna.

The man ignored her. “I have traveled afar and have learned many things. “

I rubbed my chin. “How did you get here, sir? Haven’t I seen you before?” I asked.

The man turned his eyes toward Ral. “Old man, I travel where I please and arrive in the manner of my choosing.” He pointed to the lighthouse. “This is the tower that calls the spiritual forces of the nether world, and it is my destination. By its side, I can predict the future.”

“Aw, you couldn’t do that,” said Ral, but he didn’t sound too sure of himself.

“Indeed I could,” said the man. “I have. I shall.”

“How can we know that you’re telling the truth?” asked Anna.

“Because,” said the man, “I am the Truth.”

“You can’t be,” said Ral.

“Why can’t I be?” said the man as he looked up again. “What is there in your world that is a reliable standard? You and your father claim to be people of peace but you just showed unnerving violence. You invent your own right and wrong.” He reached over and picked an orange from the ground, biting it right through the skin
“Well, “said Ral uneasily, “you just can’t become the whole Truth of the world just because you say so.”

“Oh?” said the man. “And you throw eggs down on people because you think it’s humorous? You assume the authority on what is acceptable and what is not?”

Ral blushed but Anna spoke up. “What is your purpose here?”

The man nodded. “And I’ve seen you, missy, moving into this town with your mother and taking up residence where you have no right.”

Anna sputtered. “My mother bought that old house!” She turned to me. “Who is this man, Mr. Burl?”

I squinted. “I’ve heard of him. They call him the Prophet. Be careful.”

“Well, I can’t have him acting as if he could tell if I were worthy enough to live in this town,” retorted Anna as she wiped the rain from her face.

“I have the authority. I have the power, “ said the man.

“Yeah?” challenged Ral. “Give me proof.”

The man raised his finger to the now-black sky as juice dribbled down his chin. “I predicted the hurricanes of the last two seasons within the correct hour, and the fire season outbreak within one day, saving many people’s existence. I searched long and far for the Fates to show me the gift of life itself, how the universe opens and closes the door.” He lowered his finger and pointed at Anna. “And I came to rest beside this tower to tell you the door will be closed for you.”

Anna’s knees began to tremble as he spoke. The pale man raised his hands as the lightning flashed. “If you insist on staying in this town even one more night, then put your house in order, young woman. By morning the town folk will be sobbing as they see you lifeless on the main street of Jupiter lighthouse. I brought the casket. It awaits you inside the walls of this tower.”


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