The Death of 1977 (Book 3)

"As you can see here, in this once sparkling, blue sea, blackness has taken over. This gelatinous filth has managed to wash ashore on this glorious island. An island known for its lush beauty and serene beaches, now...polluted beyond recognition.

Could it be an environmental mistake? Some sort of oil leak? Or something even more sinister? Just last evening, one of the police stations went up in flames. Could the tumultuous elections here be just an ominous sign of the unsettling calamities that have taken control of this setting? Just what exactly is taking place here on this once peaceful and—

"Uh, Silas, you've got someone making faces behind you." Rebecca made an X with her arms.

Taken off guard, Silas spun around to see two, young white men waving at the camera in front of them as though they wanted to be stars.

"Buzz off, ya braggards!" Silas shooed both of the annoying men away in the other direction before turning back to Rebecca and Robbie and dropping his shoulders, "Are we ever gonna get through this nightmare or am I gonna have to get drunk each and every day here?"

Lynnette, who was standing with her bike, along with some others, was steadily watching with sullen eyes as the waves brought more and more of the black sludge onshore from out of the sea. The ooze didn't saturate the entire beach, but it was prominent enough to where a sixty yard proximity had to be closed off in order to figure out what was happening.

Lynnette looked on as the always burdened Silas and his crew carried on down a more isolated portion of the beach while others just examined. The Millers, who Lynnette had just met the day before, stood at the foot of the waves hand in hand and just looked on in silent dismay before eventually turning and strolling away. For Lynnette, deep down, she probably could have figured out what on earth was taking shape, but it just wasn't in her to do so. She honestly could have cared less at that point about anything, let alone some nastiness that was washing ashore.

The more people began to sift away from the scene that morning the more Lynnette herself wanted to put more distance between her and the world. She sat down on the seat of her bike and trudged through the sand until her tires met with the road. She had to be at The Kabal in three hours, but that wasn't registering in her lethargic brain. Ever since first arriving in Jamaica she wanted to go back home, but after the events of the day before, the longing to leave was within arm's reach.

Ever since leaving work the day before Lynnette just wandered about the beach either staring out at the water or simply resting underneath a palm tree. She even managed to spend the night at the beach, allowing the waves to put her to a restful slumber. The woman tooled down the always busy street until she made it to her dwelling. Lynnette placed her bike against the steps before slowly marching up. Her entire body felt like jelly; her hands didn't even touch the railings as she plodded up the steps with the emptiest look on her sunburnt face.

The very instant she approached the door she pushed it open only to have a hard object knock her to the ground. Lynnette's once sluggish body came to stunning life right then as she looked up to see a wild-eyed Cusha standing above her with a shaking, balled up right fist.

"Where ya been, girl?" Cusha hollered as she continued to press towards Lynnette.

Lynnette struggled to get to her feet but Cusha, with her large girth, kept shoving her back to the floor.

"Waa gwaan," the angry woman questioned.

"What do you mean?" Lynnette screamed back.

"Look around ya, girl!"

Lynnette stopped scooting backwards long enough to take a view at the hovel that appeared even more unkempt than usual. The cooking pot, as well as the dining table and other pots and pans were strewn all over the floor. The curtains that concealed both bedrooms were torn down.

"Where was ya last night, girl?" Cusha continued to yell.

"What happened here?"

"Dey came in and tore me place down, dat's what!"

"Who, dammit," Lynnette said aloud.

"Who knows?" Cusha tossed her arms all around. "But all dese years no one come in here and rob me until now!"

Pointing at herself, Lynnette asked, "You're blaming me?"

"Dey ask for you, girl!"

"Who," Lynnette attempted to get up.

But Cusha was too wound up to answer another question. The woman reached to the floor and picked up a sharp knife before pouncing on top of Lynnette and pointing the utensil at her throat. The only thing Lynnette could possibly do at that juncture was sweat.

"Now, who are ya, and why ya here?"

"I told you who I was!"

"Dey say ya lookin' for somebody! Ya never tell me you was lookin' for somebody when ya showed up!"

Lynnette held her breath against the seething, sharp blade that desired so much to carry out its user's wishes.

"I...I'm here looking for Arthur Bushard!"

and strangely studied Lynnette. "Ya

kill me and my son! I'm

eyes at that moment before rising to her feet. She stood and gawked all over at her dwelling

too horrified to even make a

Cusha gave Lynnette the most intense eye roll she could before replying in a deep tone, "You a damn fool, child. Dat

"I know,

"Dat still

told you what I was

story," Cusha flung her blade back

drug rehab! That's why I'm able to be away for so long! They don't even know

house, and

done since being here is work! I've never asked you or anyone else for anything! I never even asked to stay here! You invited

on de street! But now ya can go back to de streets! I have all

physically and mentally, Lynnette couldn't say another word. She attempted to head straight for her room only to have Cusha block her

now! Ya be trouble

to the floor. But Lynnette withheld and simply sidestepped Cusha on her way out the door with a red face and two poked out lips. She stormed down the steps nearly tripping along the way before she made it to her bike and got on. Lynnette had all but forgotten about what

If an airplane or boat couldn't get her home, then swimming would be

Lynnette rode on until she could see the partially broken down fish stable straight ahead of her that sat along the other side of the beach. It, much like most of the other

before racing up the stairs, through the door and into the place where the stench of seafood was nearly bludgeoning to the senses. There were several assembly lines: One for stripping fish, one for jellyfish, and another for shellfish and two others strictly for the detail of clubbing to death and mutilating sea turtles. Ignoring each and every worker in the warm building Lynnette carried on

me, Mr. Salva." Lynnette blatantly

to Lynnette and smiled, "Ahh, one of my best. We still don't have enough work for you to

remarked, "That's not why I'm here. I

"How ya leave me? I still need you after de

I have to go home, and now." She said in a rushed pant.

his head. "Okay, I understand. I pay ya what

you." Lynnette said as she watched the man walk

their duties to even give her a simple glance. That was exactly the way she wanted it. Lynnette didn't need any stares or

"Lynn." Jose stepped up

turning around to see Jose's perturbed face staring at her. "Oh, hey,

"Why are

heard that?" She

a pin drop

explain herself. She wanted out of

"Jose...you've been such a good friend to me. I'm sorry

are." Mr. Salva said

beginning for the door. But Jose was incredibly resilient as he followed her

"Lynn, let me speak

Jose took off down the steps before they came to a stop at her bicycle.

him." Jose nodded his head. "But...I just need to

could do was giggle at the man's ever so innocent face and voice that appeared and

took Jose's hand into her own and said, "You've been the only person that I could actually believe in since I've been here. It's just that...I came here searching for something. But I'm a fool. Point blank,

took both of Lynnette's hands. "Come with me,

"To

Jose laughed as he pulled Lynnette along to

stairs that dead-ended at an equally rusted, metal door. Lynnette was in no ill mood for any more surprises, but she could always trust Jose, no matter how cock-eyed his plans appeared to be at times. She always knew that

been used in quite a while. The metal walls were nearly peeling away while the floor itself felt as if it would collapse at any moment. The roof seemed to be the only thing that

"Where are we?" Lynnette

afraid." Jose said as he picked

opened the bag and took out a small object which he promptly

all angles before turning

toy

"What kind of toy?" She began

thunderstorms. My father gave dat