There's Nothing In The Water
"How long has he been fishing for?"
They ask her of the man on the dock. They see him out there before the sun has crested over the mountain. They see him out there long after the sun has slipped below the waves.
"Since I was young. Sometimes it feels like that's all he's ever done."
They laugh off her replies, just an exaggeration by a young woman. Unseeing her long looks off towards the fisherman, an unnamable emotion in her gaze.
They always leave. Satisfied with her spiel about the historic buildings and the still functioning lighthouse of the town, and of the hospitality of the residents during their visit.
No one stays. It has been a long time since someone stayed. Joel was the last. Joel and his lovely wife. He stays, she does not. She comes when the snow clears and leaves as it rolls down from the mountain and fog creeps in from the sea.
When did Lizzie last visit? Gem can't recall.
----
She sleeps on the sea. The boat rocking gently beneath her feet is an unchanging comfort.
She ignores the persistent scratching along the outer hull.
In the morning, she paints over the fresh gouges.
----
The only time he stops fishing is when the Man From Out of Town arrives.
"Mumbo." He insists.
The Man comes and goes as he pleases. Regardless of the snow and fog.
They make an odd sight, the fisherman in his grubby waders with his rod set aside and the Man in his posh but old fashioned black suit sitting together on a rickety old wharf.
She looks out towards the sea.
When she looks back the Man is gone and the fisherman has his line cast again.
----
From up on the lighthouse she can see further into the forest.
She can see False.
She's down at the edge of the forest by the time False breaks through the tree line.
"Anything new?"
False studies the historical settlements within the forest. There hasn't been anything new there in a long time.
She doesn't know why False looks, they both know what happened to those places.
"No."
----
Cleo catches her on the path to the lighthouse.
"Can you help me put up the signs?"
The snow is clearing, soon the people will come.
Please do not drink the tap water.
She takes down the old notices and pins the new identical ones in their place on each door.
She sets the old notices on reception desk.
"I don't get why we have to do this everytime."
They sigh.
"The guests always say it tastes bad. Fresh signs draw attention which means I get less complaints."
She takes a long drink from the tap that night.
"I don't get why they complain. There's nothing in the water."
----
The snow coming is back.
The last of the tourists have fled before the only pass out snows over.
She hears shouting from Joel's store.
It's Lizzie.
It takes her a moment to place Joel's wife.
Through the glass store front she can see Lizzie's hair is streaked with gray now.
"Lizzie, you need to leave!"
"Joel, give me the water! I need the water!"
"Lizzie, please!"
"You don't understand, I barely found my way back Joel! If I leave now I don't know if I can again!"
"Well its better than being stuck here like me!"
She makes it to the door in time to see Lizzie lunge for the glass pitcher Joel keeps behind the register.
She gulps down the water with a feverish desperation around Joel's frantically grabbing hands and her own gagging.
The first snowflake falls to Gem's shoulder as Lizzie collapses, choking on the blood spilling from her mouth.
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