The Orlanis Star necklace pendant was pulled from his neck by an unseen hand. The central crystal that wouldn't crack for Captain Rogers shattered into nothingness within the grasp of the unseen hand. Meanwhile the surrounding metal ring inscribed with dark thought heated up to a cherry red.
The giant's horrified face abruptly clamped shut in terror. His mouth was yanked open by unseen forces and the red glowing metal was thrust inside as the giant's jaw was then shut beyond any ability to ever be opened again.
The giant's eyes bugged out of its head in a desperate plea for mercy almost too terrible to comprehend, but no mercy was given. The giant's feet left the ground and then he went sailing out into the ocean as Dimbo twisted his snout in a hard jerk that was reminiscent of the time I had witnessed the whales playing catch with the snake head dinosaurs.
I rushed up to Keturah and kneeling down I lifted her head into my lap. Her eyes blinked open and she mumbled out, "What happened?"
"Nothing you need to worry about honey. You're safe!" I said, as I held her close to me cradled in my arms. Her eyes fell back closed as her cheek rested against my chest.
She was safe! Thank God she was safe!
"Thank you Lord!" I whispered over and over even as I felt peace overwhelm me. I'd come so close to having to relive the past again and yet my worst fears hadn't been realized. God is good!
Dimbo looked to be thoroughly beached, but with some twisting and wiggling of his large rubbery mass he managed to worm his way back into the water with the help from some gentle nudging of a second smaller whale who looked to be a female.
I got up with Keturah in my arms as Dimbo slid the rest of the way free of the sand. He headed out for deeper waters with his mate close to him, even as I held mine to me in equal protectiveness.
"Sir?"
I turned to see a large group of people come from the trees and advance onto the beach. By their dress I took them to be plantation owners.
It was a woman who had spoken. She spoke again in the cultured voice of a southern bell, "May we come with you? With the Whale People?"
I paused for a moment as to what to say. I wanted to deny the request, but where was the forgiveness in that?
"There will be no slaves where we roam or any man or woman esteemed higher than another." I cautioned.