The Dancer - serialized novel Written for Steemit Part 11

The Witch comes for Martha - Welcome Steemit Friends I invite you into my world for some horror and the power to overcome horror. It is a world of the spirit and the hidden abilities some people have that they find out and secretly use to the benefit of all of us. Written for Steemit.

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The Dancer - Lucky Pouches 11

We were on Lake Erie by 11 in the morning. It was Rog, Martha, Pete, and me, Gran’Pa. It was already 85 and humid, very humid like it always is around the Great Lakes and I knew it would get hotter. Everyone wore shorts or a swimming suit with hats. We also had very light long sleeve shirts to protect from the sun.

The fish did not bite immediately and I had time to think while we waited. Now after I was pestered last night by Ma as to what had upset me at the fair, she sent me to the doctor this morning. Since I came back from the doctor with a report that said I was whole and sound, she decided that we all needed some protection.

Before I left, after I had loaded up the truck with all the gear, and was ready to leave, my wife handed me a little potpourri pouch. She said I was supposed to tie it around my neck for protection against what I saw last night. So, it was like a little necklace with a pouch,

“What is this and I am supposed to do what with this?” I asked Ma.

“You, Peter, and Martha should wear these at all times for protection.” Ma said emphatically.

“Well what is it?”

“You never mind. It is a family secret for good fishing luck and to protect your luck and that is all you need to know.”

“So, it will bring me more luck?” I asked, “Well, if it will bring me more luck than why did you never hand me one before?”

“You never had an encounter with real spirits that are evil, I recognized. After last night, now I recognize it, look –“Ma reached into her blouse and pulled up a little pouch that was tied around her neck then said, “You see, I have one too and so will you my dearest Roland.”

“Ma, “I smiled at her, “I didn’t marry a secret witch and you’re suddenly revealing yourself to me?”

“This isn’t witchcraft. It’s wisdom and there is a big difference. I have had this in our house since we were together and I got it from my mother, she from hers, and all the way back.”

“Did you tell Sara Lynn about it then? Won’t she have made some for Martha and Peter?” I asked.

“I have and she says it is nonsense. She has broken with tradition going back who knows how far and there is nothing I can do about it. I do have one hidden in their house. I always check whenever we go over to see if it’s still there and if not, I take the one off my neck and hide it somewhere else.” Ma explained with a smile. “So, don’t let on to our daughter – Got it?”

“Ma did you cast some sort of love spell on me, have I been bewitched by you?” I winked.

“I might have but honestly no, it was just a prayer Roland.” Ma hugged me and sent me out the door to go fishing and that is how I got here. Remembering that I forgot,

“Gran’Ma,” I said to Martha and Peter, “Wants me to hand each one of you one of these to tie around your necks like this.” I pulled mine out to show and then handed one each to Martha and Peter.

“I already have one Gran’Pa,” Martha said.

“What is that exactly?” Rog asked.

“It’s for fishing luck and protection from evil. I guess the way Gran’Ma explained it, if you are protected from evil your fishing luck is increased.” I said.

“Well, how come I don’t get one?” Rog asked, “Aren’t I worth protecting and don’t I need the fishing luck?”

“Here Daddy,” Martha said, handing hers to her father, “I already have one. They smell nice.”

We were out a little farther than normal, maybe two miles and sat northeast of the berth. I had talked to a friend of mine who had depth charts because he owned a large sailboat with a huge, deep keel. Deep water was cooler in the summer and better for fishing. We drifted but the boat did not move much.

About one minute and certainly no more than two after every fisherman had their little pouch tied to their neck,

“Bingo!” Rog yelled. “Oh it is big!”

Rog had bought a larger pole and it had 30 pound test line. So, whatever he caught, I could tell it fought with fury. I could also tell that I should have bought a larger pole because, he just cranked the reel and brought the fish to the surface from about a hundred foot depth like it was nothing. Well, I could see him strain but the fish was coming up anyways and in a few minutes -

It broke water, a huge channel cat. It flopped around and splashed up a storm. Soon I had it in the net for very large fish and in the boat. We did not fiddle with trying to remove the hook, not on that. Rog undid the leader clip and we put it into a floating fish basket that hung over the side of the boat. “I have to get me one of those poles before we go out again.” I said.

We all cheered once we had the fish in the basket.

Within a few seconds, I’d hooked something and I am sure it was not nearly as big but nevertheless, I fought with it a good fifteen minutes or so before I landed the striped bass. It was about two feet and I put it in the under the seat live well.

“We need to mark this spot on the map.” I said before I resumed fishing. I took out a line of sight compass. It was a clear day. I took three bearing angles from landmarks on shore and used a protractor to mark our position on the map of the lake.

It put away the map and the tools. It was non-stop fishing. Fish too big for our poles and rigs broke the lines of the kids and me but even so we managed many a haul of fish into the boat.

The time approached 3 pm and it looked like there were storm clouds far off to the north. I said something about it. Since the storm was still far away, we all decided to stay. It was hot but Rog and the kids would dip themselves in the water every so often while hanging onto the side of the boat to cool off. Little did I know?

“I sensed her this morning while I waited for you to revive from last night,” he said to her inside the cave after they had discussed her plans to get Martha, “But for some reason, I have lost track of her and those with her.”

“Where were they before you lost track of her?” She asked him in the ancient language very few even knew was spoken by anyone anymore.

“They were fishing in the same boat as when we first saw them two years ago further north in the lake from where they were last time. They just disappeared.” He answered, “Vanished from my sight.”

He saw that she concentrated for a moment and she returned her attention to him, “The boat is there but she is not and no one else is there either.” She concentrated and a minute later she said,

“They are in the boat even though we cannot see them, or several people are. Something is blocking them from being seen but that does not mean we can’t take her.” She smiled.

“We must join?” He asked.

“Yes, we must join together. It will be worth it when we take her. Now, join with me and we shall be much more powerful.” She commanded. He descended into a deep trance or state of meditation. The protégé attempted to join with his teacher.

Copyright:
Written for Steemit: Copyright © 2017 Jeff Kubitz - The Dancer - et al. All Rights Reserved. Steemit.com/steemit/@jeff-kubitz