Chapter 9 The Quest

An excerpt from The Violet Series Book 1: The Water Nymph’s Tale.

Violet was sitting on the couch moping. Clyde walked up the stairs from his office. He smiled as soon as he saw her.

“What’s wrong, Violet?”

“I have a paper to write about the beginnings of the colony and I can’t seem to get a good picture from grandmother’s diary. I wish I could access grandfather’s. She said she knew he was keeping one as she was.”

Clyde stopped. “Oh, wait. I think I have it.” He went to his room. He searched his shelves. Finally he found a tablet computer and a cord. He walked out to the main room. “I found his computer. It probably needs to be charged and I don’t know how well it will work now.”

Violet smiled. “Well, I bet we could hook it up to my computer here on my glasses like we did with the other tablet.”

“Yes, let’s try that.” He sat down next to her and hooked the tablet into the tiny computer. Soon the data was being copied to Violet’s computer.

“Whoa, Uncle Clyde, your father did keep a diary. He’s made references to vampires, were creatures, and water nymphs!”

Clyde smiled. “Yeah, perhaps you can learn more about water nymphs.”

“I did hear there was a half water nymph who lives and works in the colony. Her skin is a weird color like mine.”

“Yeah? Who is it?”

“Her name is Tabitha. I have seen pictures of her. She has blonde hair. Strange that she has a normal hair color.”

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your hair color.”

Violet laughed. “You’re my uncle and you did meet my mother.”

“Yes, I did. I didn’t even know she was in the house until Frank died.” He cringed. “But she was gorgeous.”

Violet laughed even harder. “Water nymphs have that reputation.”

Bonnie walked up the stairs and raised her eyebrows at uncle and niece. “Alright, what are you two up to now?”

“I have a paper to write and we just found grandfather’s diary. It’s loaded with more information about the colony’s beginnings than grandmother’s diary had.”

“Well, Herbert did more actively than she did, but she did raise two boys pretty much by herself.” Clyde watched Violet.

“I didn’t look at it that way. I should put that in my paper. Without anyone raising children, the population isn’t going to grow very fast.”

“This is true. Perhaps you should cite examples from both diaries to give a better view of how the colony was built.”

“Yes, I’ll do that. Thanks, Bonnie.”

“You’re welcome. Is anyone else ready for dinner? I’m starved.”

“Oh, yes, sounds good to me.” Clyde turned to smile at Bonnie. “Violet, are you hungry?”

“Yeah, as I usually am these days.”

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Several hours later, Antoni sat up. He was thirsty and hungry. He stood up slowly and walked inside the house. He found what he needed in the kitchen. He thought of Violet with her long red violet hair and her red violet eyes. Her light blue skin. He could see her smiling at him.

He finished eating and went to his room. He packed up the rest of his clothes in a suitcase. Fortunately, he didn’t own much and there was still room in the suitcase. He took off his backpack and set it on the bed next to the suitcase. He took his clothes out of the backpack and put them in the suitcase.

He counted up his money and knew he didn’t have enough to get to Mars. He sat down on the bed and sighed. Then he remembered where his parents kept their mad money. He jumped up and ran to their room. He soon found what he was looking for.

“Mom, Dad, I just want you to know that I’m going to Mars to visit my friend, Violet. I don’t know what else to do now. I’m not even sure about college or a job. I suppose I can do odd jobs for now as I did when I was in school.”

He turned and walked out of the room. He went back to his room and closed up the suitcase. He then made sure he grabbed both the suitcase and his backpack. He walked to the kitchen. He grabbed as much food as he could and stuffed the backpack. The suitcase had a pair of wheels, so towing it behind him wasn’t a problem.

Antoni left the house for the last time. He said goodbye to his parents and to Betty. He walked away from Cat Falls to the train station and said goodbye to most everyone he had known his whole life.

At the station, he used the computer terminal to request transportation to get him to the spaceport in Xena. He found one quickly that was able to stop for him. It also didn’t cost much. While he waited, he found passage from Eris to Mars. It took some time to get a place on board the ship, Snowstorm, and he agreed to work in the galley and serve food to the other passengers. By the time he had finished signing up, his first transport had arrived.

He walked away from the terminal and grabbed his suitcase. Soon he was on board the shuttle and they left via the airlock. In a matter of hours, Antoni would be back in Xena and in the spaceport.

He didn’t talk to anyone on the shuttle and he stayed out of everyone’s way. When the shuttle arrived at the spaceport, he waited for others to leave before he stood up and grabbed his backpack and his suitcase. Then he followed the signs to the ship that would take him to Mars.

He checked in and was told to see the captain before seeing his quarters. Antoni walked to the Captain Whitfield’s room and stood before the captain.

“Oh, who are you?”

“Antoni Lance Winchester.”

“Oh, yes, a late arrival. We will be leaving this morning. You look tired. Are you alright?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay. I see you have some experience serving and growing food. Excellent. We will need your services aboard this ship. Your employment will give free travel to Mars, your own quarters, and food. If you do well, you’re welcome to become a full member of this crew. Would that interest you?”

“Maybe.”

The captain smiled. “Alright. We can discuss that later. For now, you will be shown your quarters. There will be uniforms for you to wear while on duty. Off duty, well, I won’t say anything to you, nor will anyone else, if you choose to wear your own clothes. We’ll need you for lunch at 11 a.m. Be in the galley in uniform.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You may go.”

Antoni took his suitcase, turned, and walked out of the room. Soon he was following the lights which led him to his quarters. His quarters were small. There was enough room for his bed and storage space for his suitcase and backpack. There was a small bathroom with a shower, toilet and small sink. He found the uniforms hanging up in the closet. He put his things away without unpacking anything. He sat down on the bed and sighed.

He laid down on the bed and was soon asleep.

Then he was dreaming of Violet again…

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Violet and Antoni were talking. She was laughing. He was smiling. They were lying on pillows with the top of their heads touching.

“Antoni, I’ve missed you.”

“Yeah, I’ve missed you too.”

“What’s new? I’m dropping out of college.”

“So am I. I just got a job working as a server on board a spaceship.”

“Cool. I want to travel around the solar system. There are so many colonies to explore.”

Antoni smiled. “Can I join you?”

“Sure. Why not?”

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“There you are, Violet.” Bonnie sat down next to Violet on the couch.

“Hi, Bonnie.” Violet made some hand signs that the small computer attached to her glasses would understand and then turned to look at Bonnie.

“How did the paper come out?”

“Good. I got an A on it. The teacher liked how I showed that what both my grandparents did helped the colony.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks. Anything new with my uncle?”

“No.”

“Really, it’s getting worse around here.”

Bonnie sighed.

“Well, I’m thinking about exploring Mars soon.”

“Really? Why?”

“I’m curious. I’ve lived here all my life and I want to know more, especially after learning about my grandparents’ diaries.”

“Oh. What about school?”

“I don’t know. Some of the classes are too easy and I’m not sure what I’m going to do with a degree or what else I want to do.”

“You should ask your uncle before you take off.”

“Yeah, I do want to talk with him. Where is he? He told me he was too busy a little while ago.”

“Oh, he’s checking over a new possible route. He should be back soon. Unless there’s a delay.”

Violet smiled. “Oh, that would be bad if there were a delay. Uncle might lose his temper.”

Bonnie laughed. “He might.” She looked at her feet. “Hey, Violet, would it bother you if your uncle got involved with anyone?”

Violet laughed. “Bonnie, why don’t you ask him?”

Bonnie gasped. “You don’t care!”

“Nope. Go ahead. Perhaps you’ll both feel more comfortable when I’m out exploring.”

Bonnie smiled and looked at her feet again. Soon they both could hear Clyde walking up the stairs. Bonnie blushed and Violet giggled.

“Hello, ladies.”

“Hi, Uncle Clyde.”

“Hi, partner.”

“So anything new?”

“I’m thinking about exploring Mars on my own.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I’m curious especially after learning more about my grandparents.”

“Okay. What about college?”

“I don’t know yet. Some of the classes are too easy for me.”

Clyde smiled. “Sometimes they are. I guess you could learn more from exploring the colony than you can from school. Just be sure to call me once a week.”

“Okay, I can do that. I’ll also be blogging about my adventures to earn some money on the side.”

Clyde nodded. “Good. At least you can think ahead. When are you going to leave?”

“After classes are over.”

“So that’s what? Another week with us?”

“Yep.”

“Clyde, are you sure about letting her go like this?”

“No, but she does have to grow up sometime. I think exploring can help her do that.”

“How do you know that?”

“I don’t know for sure, but she has the same enthusiasm about exploring as I do about setting up efficient and inexpensive transportation.”

Bonnie smiled. “That’s a good point. She’ll probably do it without permission then?”

“Sure I would!”

“Yeah, I bet you would, my darling niece.”