On Beatrix Hill: Part Two (special preview)

Josie stood on her seat, looking over the edge of the boat. The water below looked silvery and glittery, reflecting her in a hazy cast. She could see the edge of the water as well; rather than flow to a bank, it fell over an edge, cascading down into an abyss that connected with the sky.

“Where is this place anyways?” Josie sat back down in her seat, smoothing her hands over her soft skirt.

“I’ve never been able to really figure that out.” Perley leaned back upon the railing. “I was in my plane one day, delivering supplies to the troops. I then realized I was being chased by someone.”

Josie’s eyes widened as Perley continued on about his story.

“I was used to that sort of thing, though,” he bragged a little. “But something about this place rattled me. I couldn’t see it clearly, but I could hear it. I could almost hear the other pilot taunting me. It was almost like a ghost in a way. So, in case it was an enemy ship, I tried to lead it away from my delivery zone. They kept following me no matter what. I became exhausted, and I knew I needed to land soon, but I was afraid. Against my better judgement, I went higher and higher into the clouds to lose them.”  He sighed heavily, looking down into his gloved hands. “I did, but I realized I was lost. So I just kept flying. Next thing I knew, I had landed in the water just on the outskirts of Beatrix Hill. I told myself at the time that I was dreaming, but the longer I stayed, the more I understood it was all too real.” He then looked up into the sky. “There’s no moon here, perhaps that’s where we are.”

Josie craned her neck up to look, but realized too late it was daytime. “Rabbits on the moon,” she then murmured.

“I always wanted to go to the moon as a little boy,” he chuckled. “It would make sense I would get there by accident.”

“I never imagined I could go anywhere,” Josie confessed softly. “I always thought I’d work at that shop all my life.”

His soft expression turned serious as Josie spoke. Perley turned to her, watching her sad eyes as she stared around at the people on the boats. Children were playing, mothers were holding their babies, fathers were reading to their kids. He noticed how her eyes seemed to stare at them, but look through them completely as well.

“Is it your family who runs that shop?” He asked.

Josie shook her head. “They just took me in and hired me. At first I helped care for their baby, then I took care of the shop once they were shipped off during the war.”

Perley leaned over so he was on level with Josie. “Then where is your family?”

“I don’t know,” a simple answer for something so much more than that. “I never knew them, and if I did, I was way too young to know.” She kicked her legs slowly in the air. “The orphanage I was at was taken over by troops, so most of us got put to work right away.”

Perley patted the top of her head. “Once we get Bess back, you won’t have to go back to that shop. You won’t have to work if you don’t want to. Like I said, I’ll give you a home as grand as a castle.”

Josie’s distant gaze returned to him and she smiled brightly. “I don’t need a castle. I wouldn’t know what to do with so much!”

“Well, you’ll see first hand in a while what a castle is really like.” He leans closer to Josie to whisper. “Once we do get to the palace, I’m going to have to rely greatly on you. I could get recognized while I’m there, which means I may need you to go inside and find Bess.”

“You think I can do that?” Josie whispered.

“I think you’re a smart girl, so I know you can. You found me, so I have no doubt you can find Bess as well.” He tapped the tip of her nose. “You’re also a small, cute girl, so no one is going to assume you’re there to steal away the princess. You just have to act like you belong there.”

“How do I do that?”

Perley pushed up her chin. “Keep your chin up, look annoyed, and don’t look at anyone. It’s a wedding day, so I bet everyone is going to look like that.”