Castle Dreams

Sixteen Port of Dreams

“So, what happens out there on the Sea of Oblivion?”

The place was full, though the patrons were subdued, as usual. Smoke drifted ceilingward. Hushed conversations, except for the one between two men at the piano bar.

Glasses tinkled as the piano player did a soft, slow rendition of “These Foolish Things.”

“Nobody knows,” said the other barfly. “No one’s ever come back from the Sea.”

“Yeah? I need another drink. I don’t like this being dead business.”

“So what’s to like? It’s the way things are, my friend. You pays your money and you takes your chance.”

“I still don’t like it. I bought my boat today. Those chandlers charge an arm and a leg to outfit a boat.”

“Ship.”

“Whatever. Anyway, I ship out tomorrow, on the tide.”

“Time and tide. Good luck.”

“Hey, are you supposed to say that? I mean, isn’t it bad luck to wish a sailor good luck?”

“That’s actors.”

“Oh. Actors. I hope I make it back. Kinda like it here.”

“It’s just a way station, they say.”

“Wish it wasn’t. Wish we could just settle down right here, open up a nice little business, something like this tavern. Hire a piano player, like this guy.”

“He’s pretty good.”[15]

“Yeah, he is. Hey, buddy, you’re a pretty good piano player, you know that?”

“Thanks.”

“Yeah. Here’s something for ya.”

A gold coin linked into the tumbler on the baby grand.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t mention it, pal. Don’t mention it. Hey, where I’m going, who needs money?”

The other barfly said, “You need it to get where you’re going.”

“Hey, that’s true. You die without the cash, you’re up the creek without a paddle.”

“Or up the river.”

“Yeah, and you need to get down the river.”

“On the other hand, if you get sold down the river, you might wind up up the creek without a paddle.”

The first barfly burst into laughter.

“Hey, that’s pretty good. That’s funny. Hey, piano player, wasn’t that a great gag? Huh?”

“Yes, sir, sure was funny.”

“You’re too kind. Why the hell am I making jokes, though? I wish someone could tell us what the hell is out there on the Sea Of Oblivion. At least we’d know what we’re in for.”

“Who wants to know? What good would it do if we did know?”

“I’d feel better, somehow, knowing.”

“Like you said, it’s inevitable. You pays your money, and like that.”

Conversation continued. Before long the piano player launched into “You Belong to Me.”[16]

The two barflies listened.

“I never saw the pyramids.”

“Neither did I. What the heck are pyramids?”

“I guess we’re not from the same world.”

“Nah, I guess not.”

“I wonder if there’s more than one afterlife.”

“Huh?”

“If there are many worlds — and I hear there are indeed a shitload of them — I wonder if there aren’t a whole assortment of different and differing afterlives. Maybe this is just one of a number of possible ones.”

“Hey, that’s interesting.”

“Just idle speculation.”

“What do you think about that, piano player, huh?”

“Sir, I think the gentleman is right.”

“Hey, what do you think of that? Maybe in some afterlives, you get everything free. I’m all for that.”

“But here money is a token of moral worth, my friend.”

“Is that why I got here so poor? I coulda sworn I socked away enough for a better ship than the one I got.”

“It means your life didn’t amount to all that much, friend. Just like most folks. You left the world you lived in more or less the way you found it, neither better nor worse for your having been there.”

“Hey, I did okay.”

“Not saying you didn’t. Just saying you’re an average guy, like me.”

“Yeah, that’s me. Average. I like it that way.”

“Nothing wrong with it. Now, take our friend, here, the piano player. He brings music to the world.”

“This ain’t the world.”

“The netherworld, whatever it is. He creates a little beauty, makes people happy. That’s something. Me, I couldn’t play “Chopsticks.” No talent for anything.”

“I thought you said you were a businessman.”

“Yep, but I didn’t show any particular talent for that either. I just got by.”

“Hey, buddy, that’s all you can expect. Just to get by.”

“But it’s all over, now. All over.”

“Don’t go sappy on me. Come on, drink up. I’ll buy you another.”

“Thanks. Let’s buy the piano player a drink. Whaddya say?”

“Sure. Here, pal.”

Two more gold coins plunked into the tumbler as the piano player finished the tune and did a short finale.

Scattered applause.

He rose from the keyboard and picked up the tumbler.

“Thank you, gentlemen. Much appreciated.”

“Don’t mention it, pal.”

He made his way past the bar, nodding to the barkeep, Rhadamanthus,[17] en route.

He found the owner, Minos,[18] in the back room, sitting at his untidy desk and writing in a ledger. Minos looked up, smiled, and laid down his pen.

“Good crowd tonight, eh?”

“Pretty good. Drunker than usual, and all the more generous.”

“That’s the idea, pal. Part those fools from their cash.”

“Here’s your cut for the night. That was the last set.”

Minos looked at his pocket watch. “Hey, look at that, almost closing time.”

“Speaking of time, mine here is nearing its end.”

“How long’s it been?”

“Seventy years.”

“That all? Seems like you’ve always been around. So, you got your nest egg up to respectable proportions, eh?”

“More or less. I have my eye on a sleek little schooner down at Alecto Wharf.”

“So, you’re gonna ship out at last, huh. Good luck. Talked with a chandler yet?”

“Not yet, but I have friends, connections.”

“Outfitting’ll set you back some, you know that.”

“I know it. I have it all scoped out.”

“Good, good.”

Minos yawned and stretched his chubby arms.

“I’m bushed. Going to call it a night.”

“Night, boss.”

“G’night, Steve.”

Minos paused at the door and said, “Your own name come to you yet?”

“No. I still go by “Steve Daedalus’[19] around town.”

“It’ll come. Part of the learning process.”

“Boss, what is it I’m supposed to be learning?”

“You got me, Steve. Not my department.”

“I still have the vague feeling that I don’t belong here.”

“Yeah, you’ve said that many times. You know, I’m inclined to agree with you. You don’t seem like the rest.”

“I don’t feel dead.”

“Well, there’s always some residual disbelief.”

“I feel it’s a lot more than that. I really do not believe I’m supposed to be here.”

Minos shrugged. “But you’re here. Hey, what are you gonna do? Maybe you just haven’t faced facts yet.”

“Possibly. Possibly.”

“Then again …” Minos heaved his shoulders again. “I dunno. Maybe you’ll find your answer out to sea, like everybody else. Maybe your case is special, but your destiny is still the same. The only way to find out is to get on that boat and take the final journey.”

“To where, boss? Where?”

“But … Stevie boy, that’s the whole point, isn’t it?”

Steve nodded. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

“Right. Well, I’ll see you … Uh, you are gonna work one more shift?”

“Sure. Tomorrow-which-is-meaningless-here.”

“Okey-doke. See you around.”

“Right.”

Minos shut the door after him.

He poured himself two fingers of ambrosia from Minos’ hidden stash and sat, sipping thoughtfully.