Robert’s Mirror, by
J.M. Stevenson, Chapter 31, www.jeannesbottle.com
Dwane and Jeanne became disheartened at Three Corners. For the most part, they kept a watchful eye for Robert to arrive and at night, they scavenged the beach. When beachcombing became uninteresting they rested in the background observing the humans. Days passed, months and finally years.
Jeanne worried about Robert. She believed that surely within the time frame of five human years that he would have arrived for a vacation at some point. Although she sensed within her heart that he was still around somehow, she also suspected that he too was in some sort of predicament.
Since no one else from the other realm found that particular
stretch along
Jeanne realized early on that the only team leaving no stone unturned was the demons that Lucas assigned from the dark realm. They were slick creatures, appearing as human, attempting to cajole the out-of-service genies to show themselves by the use of trickery. The only thing that Lucas and his team did not realize early on was that Jeanne never lost her ability to view the aura surrounding humans.
With every person that would arrive to sun bathe, hike the beach or climb the dunes, Jeanne would announce a specific color scale. Blue, green, orange, brown, and red...were all safe to be around. Anything with a pale hue such as gray, tan or the absence of color were to be avoided completely.
It was difficult to ignore the shouts from the aura-pale
figures as they claimed their children were lost or had fallen from the top of
the great dune and in need of rescue.
Dwane began to notice a pattern at how the demons were never associated
with any mishap within the great body of
"I believe that's their one weakness." He explained to Jeanne one evening as they watched the sun descend the horizon. "If you notice, none of them will step so much as a hair into the water."
"Why do you suppose that is?" Jeanne wondered.
Dwane shrugged his shoulders not willing to guess the reason.
"What about rain? I've noticed the evil team out and about during poor weather...snow as well. In fact, they were out there last winter climbing over the ice that had formed along the edge of the lake."
"Yes but we've never seen them submerged into the water, have we?"
Jeanne shook her head no, and Dwane took notice that she was considering this realization.
"We've got to get word to the elders somehow." Jeanne announced in a frustrated tone. "It may be the only weapon the genies have."
"But how can we get word to anyone?"
That was a major problem that the wish givers faced. The frustration was nearly too much to deal with, so they did other things to keep their spirits up. Each evening when all of the visitors would leave the beach, Jeanne and Dwane took to building sand sculptures. In the beginning, they would each build a basic castle using the buckets that had been left behind by forgetful children.
As time progressed, they improved their talent at constructing detailed works of art. A favorite challenge was to incorporate objects that would wash up on the beach.
In the hours before sunrise, they would walk the mile stretch along Three Corner's and collect anything that could be used....cans, old shoes, inner tubes, a boat ladder, a wide brimmed hat. Usually after one day of drying the objects in the sun, they were ready to be included within the composition.
People began to appear each day expecting a new creation. Jeanne and Dwane took great pride in the fact that the humans raved over the finished sculptures. With the more ornate figures, the same observer would appear with a camera to freeze the image on film. They heard mention from the crowd that the man was actually a photographer from the local paper and searching for the artist who was anonymously creating the sculptures during the cover of night.
Jeanne preferred humans reclining on the beach as her subject matter. She'd place hats, sandals, and scarves...human articles incorporated into the lifeless figures to make them more realistic. One of her trade marks was to place a soda can within the grip of the sand sunbather.
Dwane on the other hand, preferred buildings and automobiles. He would spend a great portion of time, walking the parking lot and studying the latest style of cars. Jeanne rolled her eyes every time he pointed out the latest sports cars. Often times if a window was left open, he'd climb through and pretend to drive.
"It's just a car!" She'd snap at Dwane.
Needless to say, after sharing so much time together they both began to bite on each other's nerves. Even in the after life, spending too much time with a person seemed to be irritating. Everyone needed space, but in this case Dwane had to rely on Jeanne's ability to warn him of the approaching demons so they were forced to stay within a shout of one another.
Jeanne wondered why the evil team was not giving up.
"Lucas has to find us." Dwane guessed. "With us escaping and everything, it makes him appear weak and powerless. He needs us back to show his team that no one ever escapes the tortures of the dark realm."
"We can never go back there." Jeanne said with an even tone. "No matter what, we must stay one step ahead of them."
"I don't know." Dwane murmured.
"What?"
"It's just that when we were down in that cellar, at least we had the chance to save other genies and neutralize demons. What is our use out here...making sand art that some little twerp always takes such pride in trampling?"
Jeanne gazed at Dwane, not liking the truth of his statement.
"So what are you saying...that we should just surrender and allow the demons to take us back there?"
"No, I don't know..." Dwane managed.
"We need to wait; I know Robert will come for me. You must believe, I know what's in Robert's heart. I can still feel his love...it's very much real and he'll be here."
"Yeah, sure." Dwane whispered showing his disillusionment.
"Come on Dwane." Jeanne said showing a delicate smile. "Have some faith in the pureness of love."
"I can't help but wonder if Lucas got his claws into him and this entire time that we've been stranded on the beach, the evil one is lurking in the shadows, laughing at us."
"No. If Lucas is sending his cronies to trick us into showing ourselves, he's not off somewhere poking fun of our misfortune. Now isn't the time to loose heart...please." Jeanne pleaded.
One night as the gentle water lapped up on the shoreline, Jeanne heard a distant music. From her bed in the sand she raised her head and gazed with curiosity towards the vast body of water.
A deep voice echoed reminding Jeanne of a live concert.
Love rescue me
Come forth and speak
to me
Raise me up and don't
let me fall....
"Dwane do you hear that?" Jeanne whispered.
Dwane was shut down in a deep meditation. He wasn’t quite asleep since in the powerless form to which they were trapped, did not make rest possible, but in a state of mind very similar.
And the sun in the sky
makes a shadow of you and I
Stretching out as the
sun sinks in the sea
I'm here without a
name in the palace of my shame
Love
rescue me....
"Dwane I hear music." Jeanne said rising to her feet. "There's someone out there." "Robert?" Jeanne questioned marching in a bold stride into the lake.
I've conquered my past
The future is here at
last
I stand at the
entrance
To a new world I can
see
The ruins to the right
of me
Will soon have lost
sight of me
Love
rescue me...
"He needs my help Dwane! I've got to go to him!" Jeanne shouted.
Jeanne submerged herself into the icy water and in an instant the lake swallowed her up.
_________
At first light, Dwane stood gazing at the sand sculpture that neither he nor Jeanne completed. A massive beast stood erect with a glass bottle within its claw grip. The eyes of the demon were hollowed out giving the impression of a vacant soul. The sculpture was hideous, a true reflection of evil unleashed.
Dwane felt overwrought as he understood it to mean Jeanne had been captured by the most feared beast of all, Lucas. He gazed at the surrounding crowd and felt an enormous weight of doom.
From somewhere behind, he heard a voice, "Dwane is that you?" He shivered with disbelief as he turned to realize his fate.