Page 3 of Dark Hope (Dark Carpathians #38)

Chapter 3

“Silke, Silke,” an excited child’s voice rang out across the meadow. “Where are you?”

Silke’s hands were buried in the soil. Around her, countless wildflowers poked their heads through the soil and grasses toward the sun. The meadow was close to her beloved forest. She enjoyed what she considered gardening. It was really transplanting medicinal plants, bushes and trees close to the protection of the forest. The special flowers were planted inside the protection of the forest but where they could get plenty of sunlight.

“I’m here, Evi,” she called out to the child, raising one arm and waving so her hand could be seen above the taller grasses. “Come help me.”

Evi Van Wieren was considered a wild child, much like Silke had always been. The thought made Silke laugh, remembering how many times Fenja had found her in the meadow or forest late at night, usually gardening or practicing the art of demon slaying. She’d driven Fenja to distraction, disappearing for hours on end, always ending up in one of her two favorite places. When she’d been a child, her disappearances had been alarming. Now, Fenja was used to her spending hours alone.

Evi raced across the meadow, a little dynamo, arms flapping wildly, cheeks rosy red and eyes bright. She nearly ran Silke over before she could put on the brakes, skidding a little as she dug her heels in to keep from hitting her friend. As it was, she had to jump over the basket of black pearl plants Silke was transplanting.

Evi flung herself into the grass beside Silke. “I knew I could find you. You always come here.” She sounded joyful. Triumphant. “The other kids don’t know you come out this far, and I never tell them.”

Silke never told the other children where she went when she disappeared during the day. She liked her solitude. Her time for training and gardening was important to her. This particular section of the forest was a distance from the village, and she worried about the children getting hurt on their way to find her. She loved them and spent time telling them stories and listening to each of them.

Children were a great source of information if adults would just listen. They told what they saw and overheard from their own perspective. Adults talked as if they weren’t present, yet the children could repeat almost verbatim the conversations they eavesdropped on.

Certain children in their village, like Evi, were very sensitive. Silke believed they had gifts, and she listened when they were nervous around someone. Or had taken an aversion to an outsider for no reason, even if that tourist seemed to be very sweet and friendly.

Evi leaned into her, a brief, momentary giveaway that she needed Silke’s company even more than she wanted to be the one who knew her secret location.

“Having a hard day, my little dragonfly?” She always called Evi her dragonfly. She flitted around, usually joyous, a colorful character in the bright hues she loved to wear, but she could be fierce in her defense of her friends—and Silke.

Silke wrapped one arm around the child’s shoulders and then wiggled her dirty fingers as if she might get the bright blue dress Evi wore. Evi giggled but didn’t attempt to pull away. She never worried if her dresses or bright tutus went home smeared with dirt. Half the time she lost her shoes or sweater somewhere. It was Tora and Silke who always found the child’s belongings and returned them to her parents, Finn and Emma.

Silke loved being around the children, but Evi was her absolute favorite. She was a joyous child, her attitude always one of happiness and abandonment. She saw good in most things. And she loved the myths and legends in the stories told to her. She saw fairies, dragons and moss maidens, and talked about the creatures often, uncaring if adults or some of the other children teased her. Not many children dared tease her too much. Evi’s older brother, Jelte, was handy with his fists if anyone dared upset his little sister.

“I sometimes wish I didn’t have to go to my friend Julia’s house to spend the night. She likes to invite me, and Mama thinks I should go.”

To Silke, the child sounded as if she were asking if she should go. Evi and Julia had been friends practically since they were born. The two girls couldn’t be more opposite in looks, Evi with her thick, straight blond hair and Julia with her dark shiny cap of curls, but they’d always been good friends. Silke hated to see the two girls at odds.

Silke waited for more. She couldn’t imagine that the girls had had a falling-out without her hearing about it. She hugged Evi and then handed her the basket containing the flowers she was planting. Deliberately, she went back to work.

“I’m listening, dragonfly.”

Evi sighed dramatically because everything the child did or said, she did so with flair. “I love Julia.” She paused, a perfectly timed dramatic moment to build her revelation. “ And her mom.” Again, the theatrical pause. This time, Evi looked around to ensure they were alone. “I used to like her father.” She whispered the last.

Alarm skittered down Silke’s spine. Evi loved nearly everyone in the village. The ones she didn’t love, she liked. The child didn’t have a mean bone in her body. She was happiness personified. Something was very off to have Evi suddenly take a dislike to Julia’s father. Surely the man hadn’t touched her inappropriately. There was no hint of such behavior in the past. When Silke was around him, he never felt “off” to her. She generally recognized a taint on anyone who had certain proclivities.

Raik Bootsma made his living on the water, just as Evi’s father did. The two men had been friends most of their lives. Raik was well-liked and personable. He appeared to love his wife and daughter. He’d always wanted more children, but Imka, his wife, had problems carrying. It had been Raik who determined enough was enough when Imka had nearly died when she had miscarried their third baby. He had declared that he wanted his wife far more than any more children. Fenja, a midwife, had concurred with Raik that the risk was far too much to continue trying.

Silke had liked him for his love of Imka alone. And he’d been the kind of father who laughed often with his daughter, putting her on his shoulders and playing games with her. He’d wanted a son like Jelte to follow in his footsteps, to go out on the water and help with the family business, but once he knew he would never have another child, he’d seemed to accept it. He never appeared to resent Finn, and he always treated Jelte without a hint of resentment. It didn’t make sense that all of a sudden, Evi wouldn’t care to be around a man who had treated her with the same affection he did his daughter.

Silke was very careful not to react. She continued planting, indicating a small trowel so that Evi would hand it to her. She sent the child a small, encouraging smile. “Did you tell your parents your concerns?”

Evi frowned. “Nonsense,” she replied.

That wasn’t good. Her parents had evidently informed her that whatever she was feeling—or had told them—was nonsense. Dismissing what she’d said was not a good way to keep lines of communication open. Evi had shut down and didn’t trust her parents to talk about her concerns. Now she was carefully feeling Silke out to see if Silke felt the same way as her parents did.

Evi was a very sensitive child, more so than most in the village. Silke wasn’t about to dismiss her concerns. If Raik made her uneasy, there had to be a reason.

“Feelings are never nonsense,” she pointed out carefully. “Your parents have been friends with Raik and Imka since they were children. Your father works with Raik. They might not have been able to hear you because of that friendship. It’s possible something is wrong. Even a medical condition that might cause Raik to change his behavior. Tell me why you don’t like him now.”

Evi’s expression brightened. “I didn’t consider that he might be sick. Sometimes people act mean when they aren’t feeling good.”

Another piece of the puzzle. “Mean?” Silke prompted, making certain to keep her gaze fixed on the plants she was surrounding with rich soil.

Evi nodded her head vigorously. “The last two times I went to visit, he was mean to Imka. He made her cry with the way he was talking in a nasty voice. It wasn’t like a fight.” Her frown deepened. “It wasn’t an argument. Imka didn’t say or do anything bad to him, he just yelled at her about dinner and then told her she was lazy. Imka works very hard. I’ve seen her. When she cried, he told her to stop blubbering. He said she was trying to manipulate him. I had to look up ‘manipulate.’ And then he made Julia cry.”

Silke stayed silent, turning the information over and over in her mind, waiting for pieces to start clicking together. Raik wasn’t a man who yelled at his wife and daughter. At least Silke had never seen evidence of it.

“He yelled at Julia?”

Raik had always been a wonderful father. Silke couldn’t remember him raising his voice at Julia, even if he had to reprimand her for something.

Evi nodded solemnly. She looked close to tears. She was a child with a great deal of empathy for others. “He yelled in a loud, mean voice and said lots of bad words. He told Julia she didn’t follow the rules and she was to be punished. But we did follow the rules. We never break rules at Julia’s house. I sometimes break them at my house because I don’t always remember the time. Julia always remembers it.”

Evi hung her head. “I was afraid to tell her father that. He looked so cruel. His face was red, and he kept doing this…” She waited until Silke was looking at her and then she bared her teeth and clenched and unclenched her jaw. She put her hands up and made fists and opened her hands over and over. “He kept making fists with his hands like he wanted to hit Imka and Julia. Julia tried to tell him we’d come home on time and helped Imka with dinner, but when she started to say something, he took a step toward her, cursing, and he swung his hand at her face. Imka stepped between them, and he hit her so hard, she fell down.”

Silke’s breath caught in her throat. She sat back and looked at the child. No way was Evi making up the story. “Did you tell your mother and father this?”

Evi shook her head. “I tried to, but when I said he was acting mean, my father jumped up and kept saying ‘nonsense.’ My mother told me grown-ups have arguments sometimes, and because I’m a child, I didn’t understand what was going on.”

Silke recognized the hurt in her voice. She’d been disturbed and afraid by what she’d witnessed. She was seeking reassurance from her parents, but they reacted without hearing her out.

“My father said I wasn’t to repeat such nonsense to anyone. Raik was a good man and gossiping about him was forbidden. ” She looked as if she might burst into tears and once again lowered her voice to a whisper. “Am I gossiping by telling you? I’m not making it up.”

“No, honey, you aren’t gossiping. That would mean you are repeating something to get attention. You aren’t doing that. You’re honestly seeking answers. You need advice, someone to help you decide what to do. There’s a big difference.” She sat back on her heels, regarding the little girl. “I know you don’t lie, Evi. I’ve always relied on your observation skills.”

Evi’s lower lip quivered, breaking Silke’s heart. “What should I do?”

“Be honest with your mother. Tell her you aren’t ready to go to Julia’s. Ask if Julia can come to your house. If she says no, don’t be upset. Tell her you’ll make your special cookies with Julia the next time she comes over, and she can take them home to her parents. In the meantime, I’ll drop by and visit Imka. If she talks to me about what’s going on, that would help, but I won’t break your confidence. No matter what happens, I’ll find a way to talk with Raik. If I’m close to him, I might be able to tell if he’s ill.”

“When I’m sick, Jelte told me I get cranky.”

The incident Evi had repeated sounded more than Raik being cranky. Silke was wondering if he could have a tumor or a blood clot in the brain. She knew something of that nature could change behavior. Certainly, what Evi had described was a complete behavior change. She hoped Raik’s condition was medical. There had been so many unexplained incidents happening in the village, she hoped this wasn’t an escalation.

“I’ve never seen you cranky,” Silke said.

Evi giggled. “That’s because I’m sick and have to stay in the house. Only Jelte and my parents see me cranky.”

Silke laughed with her. “That makes sense.” She gestured toward the next basket. “Do you know what that is?”

Evi wrinkled her nose. “Those are dragon lilies. I love the way they look, but the flower stinks so bad. You aren’t planting the seeds or bulbs, not sure what those little pods are called. These are partially grown. I can tell they’re dragon lilies because of the cool speckled stems.”

“These plants are poisonous. Never forget that. Also, once they take root, they grow huge and wild, reproducing like crazy.”

Evi shook her head. “It’s really beautiful, but the smell is like…”

“Rotting meat. A corpse,” Silke supplied. “Can you guess why?”

Evi frowned. “They have a reason?”

“They need flies to pollinate them. The stench attracts the flies and the flies become trapped inside until the plant has been pollinated. It produces its own heat, maybe to help the plant stay strong or maybe to keep the flies comfortable until the plant releases them.”

“That’s cool.” Evi was enthusiastic all over again. “They’re very smart plants.”

“You have no idea,” Silke agreed. She indicated the next basket. “These are tiger lilies. Gorgeous Egyptian tiger lilies. They are edible and taste like pineapple. They can be used to heal mouth sores and help with coughs. They can be used for skin problems and have even been an ingredient used in cosmetics. The flower is beautiful and very delicate. The leaves are long and narrow. Unlike the dragon lily, the tiger lily has a wonderful scent that can be used in aromatherapy. Originally it was grown for food and medicine. Now people grow it because it’s gorgeous.”

“I think I choose the tiger lily over the dragon lily,” Evi said staunchly. “The tiger lily helps us in so many ways.”

“Don’t underestimate the use of the dragon lily,” Silke cautioned. “If I was stinky, I still could fight our battles, couldn’t I? The dragon lily has a purpose for us, just like the tiger lily and all the other ferns and trees in our forest. This is the place that you can come to if we’re ever attacked by outside sources. The forest will protect you, including the dragon lily.”

Evi frowned. “You believe we’re going to be attacked, don’t you? I heard my mom and dad discussing the possibilities. When they realized I could hear them, they stopped. I’d rather know and be prepared.”

Silke had been preparing the children through stories and the games she set up for them to play. The elders in the village aided her. Where most schools and parents dissuaded their children from learning to use swords, machetes and small throwing knives, they encouraged the children through play to learn those weapons as well as hand-to-hand combat. It wasn’t normal in any other town or city, but they knew war was coming. They were the first line of defense. If they could defeat Lilith’s army, they could prevent an all-out war. How did one explain that to children?

Silke regarded Evi carefully. She was an exceptionally bright child, as many in the village were. Most were direct descendants of those who had fought off the Romans in AD 28. They seemed to grasp the reality of their responsibility to the rest of the world. It was on them to stop Lilith’s slow takeover. It wouldn’t be a war against another country this time; it was her army of demons they would be facing.

“I like those tiny little flowers.” Evi confessed. “Especially the red ones with the dark centers. They look so beautiful when you have the different colors planted close to each other.”

“They were originally designed to be container plants, but they’ve proven to be hardy and make great borders. This color is actually burnt orange with dark maroon centers. They have their own little secrets as well. They call them shadow lilies, and for us, they make excellent sentries. That’s why I plant so many around the outside of the forest. It isn’t just because they love the light—it’s a warning system to everything in the forest.”

Evi nodded solemnly. “Like the moss maidens and the forest dragons.”

Silke laughed. “Those dragons don’t like to be called forest dragons. You know how testy they get.”

“Cranky,” Evi corrected, her eyes laughing. “Like me when I get sick. They live in the forest and look like little mini trees on a log. What do they want to be called?”

“Wood dragons. They have cousins, rock dragons. Wood dragons can live in any wooded area, not, apparently, just a forest.”

Evi keeled over laughing, heedless of the pretty blue dress she wore. “Woods. Forest. Aren’t they the same?”

Silke laughed with her. “Not to them. They were very indignant about it when the moss maidens and shadow lilies weighed in on the subject. I didn’t dare laugh.”

“You’re laughing now,” Evi pointed out, sitting up again. Her face was streaked with mud and there were clumps of dirt in her hair. The beautiful dress that always made her look like a fairy was smeared with green and brown from the soil and vegetation. With her eyes alight with laughter and her little rosebud of a mouth curved into a bow, the streaks on her dress and face only served to make her look like one of the cute fairies or moss maidens she believed in.

Silke loved being around Evi, although at times, it made her sad. She knew she would never have the chance to have children. Her life had been predestined. She wasn’t ever going to be the fair princess waiting for her prince to come along. She dealt in strict reality. That was her world. She might talk about the fantastical, but underlying every myth, every legend, there was the sober truth of her life.

Silke had been born already imprinted with the knowledge of her ancestors. Demons were a fact, not simply mythology. Every story read to her, the material of every book she studied to commit to memory, was about the various demons and how to defeat them in battle. She knew they were real, and they sought to kill her and everyone she loved. She had never felt safe. Not one single time growing up. Not now. She accepted that she would die young in the defense of her people. She was prepared for that fate. Just because she was pragmatic about it didn’t mean she didn’t have a secret desire for the things she couldn’t have.

Mostly, she wanted to feel safe. She’d never had that. As a young child, she had helped Fenja when anyone in the village needed care. The person sick or with broken bones would go to the local doctor but then call Fenja to help them. She always went. As the local midwife, she was called to every birth. Silke assisted her, even when she was very young.

Eventually, Silke began to take care of Fenja, noticing that the woman was hurting quite a bit. Limping, walking much slower, having a difficult time breathing. The roles became reversed at a young age, although Silke didn’t mind. Fenja was so loving and kind to her. She couldn’t have asked for a better mother. While she didn’t mind the role of caregiver, she had never experienced feeling safe or having the kind of relationship Evi did with her parents. A part of her longed to find a man who would see beyond the exterior, beyond the demon slayer, and see that she might need care.

She loved her life. Loved Fenja and Tora as well as all the children in the village. She just always felt a little apart, as if she didn’t quite belong with anyone. She was a demon slayer. It wasn’t as if she ran into a hundred other women in that profession.

She glanced at her watch. If she was going to visit the Bootsma family, she needed to get moving. She didn’t want to wait on the matter. If there was something medically wrong with Raik, she would need time to persuade him to be checked out. If it was something else…

—

The Bootsma estate was midsized but gorgeous. Imka loved to garden, and the grounds were worthy of photos in magazines. Under places of interest, the Bootsma estate figured prominently. Tourists often came to see the extensive gardens, admiring the variety of snowdrops and daffodils and the many crocuses. The house was beautifully designed and handcrafted by several of the best carpenters in the village. It was a newer home, one Raik was proud to provide for his family. He made a good living off the sea, along with Finn Van Wieren.

Silke didn’t want to just show up for no apparent reason. Raik might become suspicious, especially if something was wrong. She’d hurried home and baked his favorite dessert, orange-cranberry scones. She also had Fenja write him a card, thanking him for stopping by to fix their little fountain. Fenja loved the water treatment, but it was old and often stopped working. Only Raik seemed to have the magic touch to bring it back to life. He always refused to take money for it, so she would often bake treats for him. It was known throughout the village that Raik had a sweet tooth.

Imka answered the door. She looked casually elegant as only Imka could look. She also wore foundation makeup, something she rarely did. Imka had gorgeous skin, just like her daughter, Julia. That makeup was barely covering the bruises on her face. Silke’s heart dropped. Evi had told her about the assault, and she should have been more prepared, but she hadn’t thought Raik would really hurt his wife. Had those blows landed on his daughter, Julia would have really been harmed. She wanted to rush Imka and Julia to a place of safety.

She smiled at Imka and indicated the package in her hand. “I brought Raik’s favorite scones. Fenja also sent a card for him. She would have come in person to thank him, but her legs were troubling her this evening.”

Imka blocked the entrance, clearly afraid to allow her entry. Behind her, an annoyed voice bellowed out in anger. “Who’s so rude to disturb us at this hour, Imka?”

At once, Silke stepped back with a rueful smile. “I’m sorry, Raik,” she called out. “I didn’t realize it was so late. I just stopped by to thank you for your excellent work and drop off the scones for you.” She kept her tone light and engaging. “I must have lost track of time when I was baking.”

Raik loomed up behind Imka and impatiently caught her by her shoulders to move her out of the way. “Why are you being rude to our guest, Imka?” The inquiry came out like a snarl. “You don’t leave important people standing on the doorstep.” He waved his hand toward Silke. “Come inside.”

Behind him, Imka gave a small shake of her head, silently trying to convey to Silke that something was wrong and not to enter. Silke pretended not to see the warning. It was imperative that she examine Raik. Just looking at him, hearing the way he spoke to his wife, and seeing the evidence of his foul behavior was alarming to her. It was all so out of character.

Silke stepped through the door. She had to pass close to Raik, as he didn’t move that far from her. Instantly she scented…demon. The energy the invader gave off was low, but it was there. As she smiled sweetly up at Raik, she held out the box of scones and Fenja’s card, keeping them close so he would have to step toward her. At the same time, she ran her gaze over the man, seeing with more than normal vision.

Silke was a healer, trained by Fenja. Fenja was considered a witte wieven and held great status in their community. The historical title meant she was believed to be a wise medicinal healer, steeped in the knowledge of herbs and plants. She was also a seer, one who could see into the future. Some believed that a witte wieven remained as a spirit after death. They became elven or living spirits. They were always honored and held in such high regard they were consulted about anything important, and when they passed, ceremonies were held at gravesites to honor them.

Many in the village believed that Silke also was witte wieven. She had been given to Fenja to raise. Fenja was a single woman, and yet everyone knew the baby should go to her. Even at a young age, Silke had proven over and over her extraordinary capabilities to see and cure hidden diseases. She was excellent with medicinal plants. And she had an affinity for the forest and the mythical creatures they all believed inhabited the forest.

Looking Raik over, she could easily see he was holding his left arm carefully away from his body. His hand looked swollen, and although he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, he had rolled his sleeve up, revealing a swollen, reddened forearm. As a healer, or a suspected witte wieven , it wouldn’t seem out of the ordinary for her to notice his arm.

Instantly she frowned, moving closer. “Raik, you’re injured. Imka, you should have called Fenja or me to come help him. This is infected. We can’t let any infection go no matter how strong you are, Raik. Especially if you were injured at sea.”

Her guess was a solid one. She had sealed the ground beneath the village and throughout the forest. Tora had created a barrier around the forest as well as woven safeguards above both forest and village. There was no way to protect against every monster Lilith sent their way from the sea. The men had to earn a living. They were accustomed to the myths of the sea creatures. But facing one or even recognizing a little-known one would be difficult.

She took charge immediately, not allowing the demon in him time to protest or realize she was more than the village healer.

Imka tried to defend herself, stammering a protest that she’d tried to get Raik to go to the doctor or Fenja. Silke flicked her a quick glance and shook her head. Imka pressed her lips together to keep from objecting further.

“I’ll need hot water, Imka,” she said with great authority as she pulled out her phone and texted Fenja she would be later than she thought.

Tora. The sun has set. Come to the Bootsma home now. I believe Raik was bitten by a sea monster and injected with a small demon. It’s growing in him.

Tora answered immediately. On my way. What do you intend to do? What do you need me to do?

I’ll need your help to contain Raik once I begin to extract the demon. He’ll use Raik to protect himself. At the moment, Raik is cooperating with me because he’s seeing me in the role of a healer, so the demon does, too.

Raik glowered at her. “I don’t think it’s necessary for you to look at my arm.” He sounded gruff, even belligerent.

Silke laughed, using her voice shamelessly. “Of course you don’t. You’ve always been one of the strongest men in the community. I remember the famous story of you breaking your arm in three places and still insisting on helping to build Milan and Gesina Laninga’s home after they married. You wouldn’t stop or even acknowledge you were hurt. The doctor nearly lost his mind over that.”

She laughed again and this time, Raik laughed with her. He seemed more relaxed as she deliberately went into the cozy sitting room where the family spent most evenings together or entertaining their friends. She’d been there often with Fenja and knew her way around the house.

She indicated Raik’s favorite chair. “This shouldn’t take long. If I think you’ll need more than the herb dressings I can supply, I’ll let the doc know.” His face darkened and once again he tensed. She gave him another easy smile. “But I’m fairly confident I can take care of this without fuss.”

Tora, please bring me several of my plants. She gave a list. That is your excuse for coming. You’re bringing me the things I need to stop the infection.

Silke had brought everything she needed for calling demons to her and destroying them. Her kit was in her backpack. She took it everywhere with her, and no matter what the function was or how she was dressed, the villagers were used to seeing that “fashion accessory.” No one would ever wonder or think anything about her showing up with a backpack. It was standard wear for her. Raik’s suspicions weren’t raised at all.

Raik reacted to her assurance with visible relief. “Don’t like that doc fussing over me like I’m a broken hen.”

Silke laughed as she rolled Raik’s sleeve higher to better see how far the infection had spread and what it looked like. When looking beyond the bright red, hot-to-the-touch rash, she could see the faintest dark purple line running under the skin up his arm, growing wider as it did so.

“Raik.” She whispered his name as if she were in awe. She was. Her respect for him grew. This man had fought off the effects of the demon, struggling for some time before he began to succumb to the monster’s influence. “You’ve been bitten by something. How long ago?”

Raik glanced toward the door where Imka had gone. He lowered his booming voice. “A month ago. Almost. Maybe just under. I was fishing when the thing came up out of the water and struck at my arm.” He pointed to the center of his forearm where two teeth marks, much like a snake bite, were present. There was bruising around the marks, as well as a violent shade of red and purple. The skin looked mottled.

“Why didn’t you tell someone?”

“Imka fears for me when I go out. Many of us fishermen are lost at sea. We talk too much about sea monsters. We try to make it seem like folklore, myths, just nonsense from our past, but all of us who live on the sea know they are very real.” He lowered his voice even more, casting another quick glance at the door leading to the kitchen. “She wanted me to stop going out when we started to have problems a few months ago. She asked me several times, but the sea is what I know. What I love. I provide for her, although she has her business and the gardens people come to see. I’m the provider.” He said the last with great pride.

Silke loved that he was so insistent on taking care of his family, but there was that one tiny bit of information. She wanted me to stop going out when we started to have problems a few months ago. “You started having problems? What kinds of problems, Raik?”

I know you’re close, Tora. Give me a minute. If you come to the door, he’ll stop talking. She could sense Tora on the porch, and she wanted Raik to continue sharing with her. He clearly didn’t want to talk in front of his family. She doubted he would continue if Tora was present.

Give me the go-ahead when you’re ready for me.

“When we would take the boats out, the sea would turn rough, even when it should have been calm. The waters around and under us would grow dark with the shadows of monsters. That went on for several weeks and then something large smashed into Lucas Herrema’s hull. That really started the attacks. We dismissed the first time as an accident, but several times my boat and Finn’s were both rammed. We knew those attacks were deliberate. I began taking the young Dykstra boy as my lookout. He’s nineteen and expressed interest in the sea.”

Silke knew Jesse Dykstra. He was younger than she was by only a few years. She wondered if Raik referred to her as a young girl. Jesse’s parents, Mila and Nelis, ran the local hardware shop. Jesse helped them, but he’d always wanted to go to sea.

“Finn has his son, Jelte, and Lucas has his boy, Sem. We were using them to protect the boats with spears, harpoons and guns. It helped for a couple of weeks and then this happened.” He held up his arm. “Sea monster came up from under the boat and sank its teeth into my arm. Jesse grabbed me and stabbed at the monster’s neck with a spear. It broke away from me and disappeared. I treated the wound right away, but after a couple of days, it started to get red and swollen, even my hand.”

Knock now, Tora. Silke was beginning to feel a sense of urgency. When the knock came and Raik stiffened, she hastily assured him with a cheery smile. “That will be Tora with all the things we’ll need to knock out this infection.”