Digest>Archives> Sep/Oct 2014

 A Ride on the Sleepy Maiden

By Sharma Krauskopf

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The stars twinkle making a beautiful back drop for a quiet peaceful Halloween. There is only the graceful sweep of the lighthouse beacon on the surrounding hills covered with white mounds of sleeping sheep to disturb the scene. Three tiny lights bounce over the top of the hilly lighthouse road. Slowly advancing toward the lighthouse the lights grow larger.  When the beacon sweeps near them we see a miniature white ghost, a short soldier, and a tiny pirate holding flashlights.

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“Do you think anyone will be home?” The ghost whispers.

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The soldier replies “Dummy, the keepers never leave the lighthouse. It is their job to make sure the light stays on.” “I´m scared.” The tiny pirate whimpers. “It is perfectly safe. Look, all of the sheep are sound asleep.  I´m armed and can protect us” replies the soldier as he draws out his water gun waving it around. “Okay, but just in case can you have to hold my hand” the small pirate replies as she thrusts out her hand.

“You´re such a baby!” the soldier shouts as he grabs the small hand. “They always give us lots of candy at the lighthouse.”

The three small costumed urchins arrive at the lighthouse gate.  As the soldier opens the gate it creaks loudly. The small pirate stops and refuses to go any farther and obstinately says, “I´m not going in there. I´ll wait out here.”

“Our sister is a scardy cat. Why did we have to bring her along?” the ghost asks the soldier.

“Mom said we had too, or no trick or treating.” The soldier approaches the lighthouse door and knocks. No one answers.  He knocks again, louder this time.

The ghost looks in a window. “No one seems to be home. No lights on in the house. Let’s get out of here.”

“Hold on. I hear something,” replies the soldier.

Suddenly the door begins to open but instead of welcoming warm air drifting out, a huge draft of cold, damp foul air blows out at them. Advancing toward them are three huge pirates who drift on the wind. One has a patch on his eye and all of them have rusty cutlasses.

Backing away with voice shaking the soldier says, “Trick or Treat.”

The one eyed pirate roars back. “Trick or treat? Why are you bothering us?”

“It´s . . . Halloween” stammers the little soldier. “You´re supposed to give us treats.”

“Treats, we know how to treat trespassers! We can make you walk the plank or kidnap you for ransom. We are very busy so go away and leave us alone! The keepers deserted this lighthouse so we are here to make sure the light will continue to protect the entrance to our island hideaway.”

“We are camping down the hill. We didn´t know the keepers were gone. Where did they go?” asked the soldier.

“How should I know? I´m Captain Patch, the Pirate. All I know is pirates need the light to help them find their way in storms. We want to make sure this light is going to stay lit. We found a metal box on the wall that has lights that keep blinking at us, but besides the beacon that is the only thing in this place that is running. We are totally mixed up.” 

“Our Dad is an electrician maybe he could help you. I could run down the hill to our camper and get him,” the ghost volunteers.

Pointing at one of the other pirates, Captain Patch yells, “Rascal, take this ghost to his father. We´ll keep this soldier prisoner until you get back. One of the tattered pirates shoots out the door, lifts the ghost and flies down the hill. Standing at the gate the little pirate screams as they fly by and runs to her soldier brother wrapping her arms around him.

Captain Patch smiles at the appearance of the small pirate. “Who is this?”

“My little sister. She is frightened,” the soldier replies.

“Pirates are brave warriors and your pirate sister will grow up to be tough just like we were.”

“Were? Are you . . . Spirits? I thought you were just in Halloween costume.

“We´re pirates who breathed our last breath in a great sea battle many centuries ago. Because of our bravery we have been allowed to roam the sea forever. We also have special powers, did you notice the flying? Maybe that makes us Spirits?”

“Yes,” the soldier said as he backs away from the door dragging his sister with him.

“Do not be afraid we will not harm you or the little pirate. We only want to make sure the lighthouse stays active so living pirates can find our hideaway safely,” answers Captain Patch.

Suddenly Rascal returns with the little ghost and their father. He drops them like flotsam beside the soldier and rushes back into the lighthouse. The little pirate releases herself from her brother´s legs and clamps on to her father's leg.

“What do you want with my children?” the Father asked.

“Nothing.   We want you to tell us how to make this lighthouse work without keepers,” Captain Patch replies.

“That´s easy. The beacon keeps working because it is now controlled by a thing called a computer which is far away,” the father answers.

“Computer – what be that? Far away? How is all this possible? Can it help our wrecked ships like the keepers did?” asks the Captain.

“I can´t explain it all to you, but it will keep the beacon on and turning. It cannot help beached ships because it is too far away but it will try to get help for them,” the father answers.

“They should have left the keepers here so they could get to marooned ships quickly. But it is good to know that the beacon will keep going,” Captain Patch replies. 

“Now will you let me and my children go?” the father asks.

“Because of your help with the lighthouse, I think we owe you something for your aid. We do have a treat we can give you – One that may particularly please the little pirate.” Smiling while looking

down at the little pirate, he continued. “Would you like to go for a ride on our ship, the Sleepy Maiden?”

“Oh, yes, please. I am all dressed for it,” she answers.

“Aarrggh, we´ll take you to our ship for a quick sail around the island and return you back here. Is that what yea would call a treat?” asks the Captain.

The little pirate eyes glimmer with excitement. She smiles and answers, “Couldn´t be better.”

“Avast matey, let´s go!” shouts the Captain.

The three pirate spirits gather in their arms the white ghost, the soldier, the tiny pirate and their father and fly away under a star studded sky to a beautiful glowing transparent ship with a fluttering skull and cross bones flag.

Images by Pam Britton.

This story appeared in the Sep/Oct 2014 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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