Ghost Quest Retold by IRIS

This is the true story of what really happened on that fateful voyage to
Nova Scotia.


	It was a bright spring day in Maine.  The sun sparkled on the
waves of the bay near the Quest compound as Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji
prepared for a voyage to Canada.  Hadji stood on the deck of their new
boat, squinting in the morning light. "The weather gods must be smiling,"
he said.  "I predict smooth sailing for the Questor II's maiden voyage." 
	"And I'm holding you to it, buddy," called Jonny from the shore,
completing his examination of the boat.  "I predict a delicious lobster
dinner in Nova Scotia."  He laughed as Bandit barked at him from the deck. 
 "With a doggie bag," he added.  "Ready to cast off?" 
	"Aye, aye, Captain Quest," called Jessie from the deck, saluting
smartly. She caught the docking line Jonny tossed up to her and then
jumped down to help him launch their vessel.  The two of them headed for
the controls as Hadji pulled up the anchor.  "Canada, here we come!" said
Jonny gleefully as he took the helm. 

	The three adventurers enjoyed calm waters for a long while before
the sea started to get choppy. 
	"Wind's coming up!" Jessie observed from the deck, leaning against
the rail. 
	Jonny complained into his headset, "Hadj, you promised me smooth
sailing all the way to Nova Scotia!" 
	"WeatherStat is showing a small trough of low pressure nothing
the new Questor II cannot handle," Hadji replied from the cabin, checking
their progress on the computer system. 
	"Yeah, she does steer like a dream!" Jonny bragged at the wheel. 
	"Ha!" Jessie frowned in disgust, crossing her arms.  "Well we
wouldn't know!  You've been hogging the helm since we left the compound." 
	Jonny shamed a little at Jessie's accusation.  "Sorry, Jess."  He
backed away from the helm.  "Here, you can---"  Suddenly a thick fog
obscured their course.  "Huh?  Better let me get us out of this first!" 
Jonny took the helm again, calling down to Hadji, "Hey, does your
low-pressure trough include a dense pea soup?" 
	"Well," Hadji answered as he gazed at the console, "the Canadian
coast is always unpredictable.  Still, this fog is most unus---"  Hadji
was cut short as the power died and his computers went blank.  Alarmed, he
warned his friends, "Jonny!  All my instrumentation is down^�radar,
SatNav, Loran" 
 He quickly tried to restore power, to no avail. 
	"Great!" Jonny muttered under his breath, " I'm sailing blind." 
He called back down to Hadji, "I'll hold her on course, you try and get us
back on line before---"  Suddenly a piercing scream split through the fog. 
	"What was that?" Jessie asked, trying to see what lay ahead. 
	"It came from over there," Jonny declared, squinting over the
water.  He steered in the direction of the scream, too late noticing the
rocks that loomed out of the fog. 
	"Watch it!" Jessie cried, pointing at the jagged peaks in their
path. 
	Jonny turned the boat wildly, trying to avoid collision, but their
course was blocked. 
	The Questor II slammed into land, the impact sending Jessie flying
into the water. 
	"Jess!" Jonny yelled, rushing to the rail as Hadji raced out of
the cabin to join him. 
	"Jessie!" Hadji scanned the waves for any sign of her. 

	In the frigid water, Jessie burst to the surface and turned back
towards the Questor.  She was stopped by another scream and a vision of a
young woman falling into the water.  Jessie immediately dove after her,
but as soon as she neared the sinking woman the figure disappeared. 
Puzzled, Jessie glanced around again before heading for the surface. 
	"Jessie!  Jessie!"  She heard Jonny and Hadji calling for her when
she broke through the waves.  " Over here!" she called, swimming back to
the boat.  Hadji threw her a rope and Jonny helped pull her in.  Hadji
took Jessie's hand as she climbed back to the deck wondering what she had
just witnessed. 
	"That scream---" she began. 
	"I know," said Jonny.  "I heard it too." 
	"No!" Jessie shook her head.  " I saw her.  There was a woman, and
she jumped into the waves" 
	"I'll go back!" said Jonny rashly. 
	"No!  I tried," she said, her brow furrowed.  "She just
disappeared.  It was as if she wasn't even real." 
	Jonny started toward the other end of the deck.  "Real or not,
better send out a distress call, Hadj.  I'm gonna secure the Questor." 
	Hadji and Jessie went below to check their equipment. 
	"We are still off line, Jonny," Hadji called upon seeing the
computer. "Could be due to these strange atmospheric conditions." 
	"Strange is right!" Jessie agreed as Hadji walked across the
cabin. Shivering, she pointed at the map.  "Look at our course!  We
shouldn't have run aground."  Hadji returned from the cabinet with a
towel, which he placed gently around Jessie's shoulders.  "Thanks," she
smiled, trying to dry off. 
	Hadji looked at the chart again.  "Then maybe it is an uncharted
island, but we are most definitely here," he said, indicating a spot
halfway to Canada. 
	"Not for long, guys!"  Jonny called from shore.  Crouching by the
Questor, he examined the side of the boat with his watch beam.  "Looks
like we only sustained some minor damage," he said when Jessie and Hadji
joined him. 
	"You are quite fortunate."  The three friends turned to see a man
emerging from the fog carrying a lantern.  "The fog this time of year can
be quite treacherous.  Is anyone hurt?" 
	"No, sir," Jonny answered for the three of them. 
	"Good."  The stranger smiled and raised the lantern.  "Welcome to
Mornay Island.  I'm Paul Mornay." 
	"I'm Jonny Quest.  These are my friends, Hadji and Jessie."  He
laughed as Bandit bounded forward with a bark.  "And Bandit." 
	Mr. Mornay smiled, the lantern light reflecting in his dark eyes. 
"Charmed."  He made a slight bow.  "We don't get many visitors
regretfully." 
	"Mr. Mornay," began Jessie, "I saw something out there.  It was a
woman, and she fell" 
	"I'm the only one who lives on the island, but the fog can play
tricks,"  replied Mornay.  A strange expression flickered across his face. 
"And then, of course, there are the ghosts." 
	Jessie started.  "Ghosts?" 
	Jonny raised his eyebrows.  "You're kidding, right?" 
	"The island has an unsavory reputation with the locals."  Mr.
Mornay turned to Jessie.  "But you're shivering, my dear.  I have a warm
fire up at the manor."  He turned and began to walk up the hill.  "Come,
unless you're all too frightened," he said over his shoulder. 
	"Fear isn't in our vocabulary, Mr. Mornay," said Jonny, squaring
his shoulders for emphasis. 
	Hadji quirked an eyebrow at Jessie, and she rolled her eyes at
Jonny's bravado. 

	Soon they were all sitting comfortably before a roaring fire in
Mr.  Mornay's parlor.  As they talked, the three teens noticed some rather
unusual things, like a vase apparently levitating on its own. 
	"So," Mr. Mornay said to Jonny, "your father investigates
supernatural phenomena?  I wonder what he would make of this place." 
	"Dr. Quest always likes to keep an open mind, sir," said Hadji,
watching the floating vase. 
	Jonny stood and picked up the vase, examining it inside and out. 
"But most hauntings just turn out to be clever parlor tricks," he said,
replacing the vase on the table.  To his surprise, it immediately rose
into the air again. 
	Mr. Mornay smiled slightly.  "Indeed?  I wish that were the case
here. When I first inherited the manor I too did not believe that those
who meet violent ends can become ghosts." 
	Bandit, who had been sniffing around the room, suddenly gave chase
to a sleek gray cat that materialized from the shadows. 
	"Even pets," continued Mr. Mornay.  The cat headed for a door and
seemingly jumped through it, leaving Bandit to crash into the heavy oak. 
	"Bandit!" exclaimed Jonny, picking up his dog.  "Easy, boy." 
	Jessie knelt and knocked on the door.  "It's solid, Jonny!  That
cat is a---" 
	"Is a ghost," finished their host.  "Ruby once belonged to the
lady of the house.  Her picture hangs in my upstairs studio.  Come."  He
rose and led them to a staircase. 
	"Don't all these manifestations bother you?" asked Hadji curiously
as they entered the studio. 
	"They did at first.  Then I found the tragic history of the island
was somehow inspirational to my work," said Mr. Mornay, indicating the
covered easels scattered through the room. 
	"You're a painter!" exclaimed Jessie admiringly. 
	"Uh, when the spirit moves me."  Once again a strange expression
flashed across Mr. Mornay's face. 
	Jessie gasped when she saw the portrait hanging on the wall. 
"That's her," she cried excitedly.  "The woman I saw in the water!" 
	"The tragic Lady Caroline," explained Mr. Mornay.  "She jumped
from the Widow's Walk almost 200 years ago^�to the day." 
	"But why?" asked Jessie, marveling at the beautiful young woman in
the portrait. 
	"For love, so the story goes.  Her fianc� drowned at sea, and the
heartbroken Caroline could not bear life without him." 
	"How tragic!" said Jonny. 
	"How romantic!" sighed Jessie. 
	Jonny rolled his eyes.  "Whatever."  He shuddered as an icy blast
swept through the room.  "Hey!  Who turned off the heat?" 
	"Sudden temperature drops often precede psychic disturbances,"
replied Hadji, his teeth chattering. 
	"Got that right!" said Jessie as the lights suddenly flickered
wildly. 
	They all turned to see a ghostly figure appear in the hallway. 
The woman wore a flowing pale gown, and her long red hair blew around her
shoulders. 
	Jessie rushed out into the hall for a closer look.  "It's Lady
Caroline! She's beautiful." 
	"Yeah," agreed Jonny, "for a ghost." 
	"I think I know how this ends," said Jessie, following the ghostly
Caroline as she floated down the hall toward the balcony doors.  Slowly
Lady Caroline passed through the doors and stepped out onto the balcony. 
For an instant she perched on the ledge, then with a piercing scream
plunged into the waves crashing against the rocks below. 
	Jessie shivered.  "She seemed so, so frightened," she said
thoughtfully. 
	Mr. Mornay sighed.  "She will return again and again this night,
until the dawn puts an end to her troubled wanderings." 
	"A very impressive display of paranormal phenomena, Mr. Mornay,"
said Hadji, peering over the balcony. 
	"I wish my dad were here to see it," said Jonny ruefully.  Then he
snapped his fingers.  "Hey!  There's some new digital video gear in the
Questor. Maybe we could capture an image of Lady Caroline!" 
	Hadji looked to Mr. Mornay.  "With your permission, of course." 
	"Uh, of course," their host nodded. 

	As the three friends walked back to the boat for the video gear,
Ruby the cat appeared on the path before them.  With a growl Bandit rushed
after her, running back past the others.  "Bandit!" yelled Jonny in
exasperation.
	"I'll get him!" volunteered Jessie, running back down the path. 
"Bandit, come back here!" 
	Bandit chased the cat through the forest until they reached a
pond.  Ruby jumped out over the water, then disappeared in mid-leap. 
Bandit was right behind her, and splashed into the water. 
	Jessie followed the sounds of Bandit's splashing and mournful
yelps.  Soon she reached the pond and found him flailing helplessly in the
water.  "Easy, boy, I'll get you out of there," she called, setting down
her lantern.  "Hang on."  Jessie climbed onto a tree that hung out over
the water and began edging out toward the splashing dog.  Hanging
upside-down awkwardly, she reached out to grab Bandit's collar.  Suddenly
a dim figure rose out of the murky water.  The man had long black hair and
dark almond-shaped eyes.  Jessie gasped as his hand reached toward her,
but the next instant he had disappeared back into the water. 
	"What was that?" whispered Jessie fearfully, glancing around.  She
hurriedly scooped Bandit up and inched back down the tree. 

	Jonny and Hadji stood in the hallway of the Widow's Walk, setting
up their camera equipment.  Mr.  Mornay watched them curiously.  "We
better use the night scope," said Jonny, flipping a switch.  "I don't
trust the lights in here."
	"Wise call," Hadji agreed and handed him the adapter. 
	Jonny peered through the camera.  "Can you walk toward the doors,
Mr.  Mornay?" 
	"Yes, of course."  He walked down the hall, and his image appeared
clearly in the camera's view panel. 
	"Perfect!" said Jonny.  "When Lady Caroline appears, motion
detectors will turn on the camera and send a direct feed back to our
computer in that bedroom," he explained, nodding towards a door down the
hall. 

	Jessie sat on the bed in the old room.  She had just finished
hooking up their computer system, and now she gazed at the portrait of
Lady Caroline on the opposite wall.  She couldn't imagine dying so young,
even for love. "Such a waste!" she said softly.  "You were so young, and
beautiful.  Life would have gone on, even without the one you love." 
	Jonny's voice interrupted her musings.  "Hey, Jess!  How's the
digital link-up?" 
	Jessie turned her attention back to the computer.  "Um, clear as a
bell!"  she called back. 
	Suddenly a gust of wind blew through the room, and a door opened
in one of the old cabinets along the wall.  Jessie stood and went to look
inside.  To her delight, the cabinet contained a stack of letters,
yellowed with age. Jessie peered closer and began to read the first one
aloud. 
	"Dearest Caroline, You know the hours spent on the mainland away
from you seem endless, but soon we will be together.  I hope the new
kitten will ease your loneliness.  With all my love, Jacques." 
	Smiling, Jessie turned back toward the bed, only to come face to
face with Lady Caroline herself.  Startled, Jessie dropped the letters as
the ghost loomed closer. 

	Jonny looked up from the camera as the lights began to flicker
again.  "Jess!" he called.  "I think Lady Caroline is about to make
another appearance.  Jess, ready?" 
	His only answer was a piercing scream, and suddenly Jessie burst
out of the bedroom. 
	"Jess?" said Jonny, puzzled, but she ran past them as if she
didn't even see them. 
	Hadji ran after Jessie as she dashed out onto the balcony.  He
called her name, but she didn't reply.  When he reached the balcony she
was perched dangerously on the edge, staring down at the waves below. 
	"What are you doing?" cried Hadji.  He climbed up next to her and
gripped her shoulders desperately, turning her to face him.  Hadji was
shocked by the terror in her green eyes when she finally looked at his
face. 
	"Jacques?  No!" she cried suddenly, shoving herself away from him. 
	Hadji cried out, pushed off-balance, as he tumbled over the edge. 
He plummeted toward the sea, but one hand caught the ledge of the balcony.
Gasping in relief, Hadji strained to pull himself back upwards.  Then
Jonny appeared on the balcony, and immediately reached down to pull Hadji
back up. 
	"Nice timing," said Hadji gratefully.  "Where's Jessie?" 
	Jonny pointed back inside the house.  "She ran off.  Mornay went
after her." 
	Hadji's brow furrowed with concern.  "Something scared her out of
her wits," he said, remembering the strange gleam in her eyes. " Scared
her enough to almost jump!" 

	Back in the bedroom, Jonny and Hadji tried to figure out what had
scared Jessie. 
	"Look at this!" exclaimed Jonny, picking up the scattered papers
on the floor.  "Love letters to Lady Caroline from her boyfriend." 
	Hadji examined one of the letters.  "Now I am starting to get
spooked," he said, folding the letter and putting it in his pocket.  Jonny
got to his feet.  "Hadj, let's find Jess." 

	Hadji stepped into the studio, looking around the dusty easels for
any sign of Jessie.  On the far wall, the portrait of Lady Caroline was
slowly spinning around.  A rush of cold air lifted the sheet covering one
of the easels, revealing a portrait of a young man.  Hadji raised the
sheet and gasped at what he saw. 
	The man in the portrait stared back with dark, almond-shaped eyes. 
He had coppery skin, high cheekbones, and long black hair.  He could have
been Hadji's brother. 
	"Jonny," began Hadji uncertainly. 

	A scream split the air as Jonny searched the downstairs parlor. 
"Jess?" called Jonny, running back upstairs. 
	He reached the bedroom at the same time as Hadji, and they both
rushed inside.  The computer was floating above the bed, and the screen
showed an image of Lady Caroline's ghost advancing toward Jessie. 
	"Oh no!" cried Hadji.  "It appears we have captured Lady Caroline,
and she has possessed Jessie!  But why?"  He knelt in front of the
computer and began rapidly typing commands. 
	"Maybe it had to do with those letters from her boyfriend,
Jacques,"  suggested Jonny, peering over Hadji's shoulder. 
	"Jacques!  That is what Jess called me out there," Hadji said,
squinting at the computer screen.  It showed an image of Jessie running
onto the balcony.  "And look at this!"  He pointed to what looked like a
reaching hand at the bottom of the screen, just behind Jessie. 
	"A wisp of fog?" asked Jonny. 
	"Or another ghost form," replied Hadji, fingers flying over the
keyboard. "Let us see what the digital image enhancer can do.  High-res. 
close-up enhancing there!" 
	Jonny gasped.  The computer image clearly revealed a man's hand,
wearing a gold ring.  "So Lady Caroline didn't jump off the Widow's Walk! 
She was pushed!" he exclaimed, peering closer.  "Can you make out the
writing on the ring?" 
	Hadji keyed in more commands.  "Freeze frame increasing
magnification. L, E, S, A, G, E," he spelled out slowly. 
	"Lesage," said Mr. Mornay from the doorway behind them.  "Come
with me." 

	Mornay led them back to the studio and uncovered the portrait
Hadji had found earlier.  Jonny gasped. 
	"Lady Caroline's fianc� who drowned at sea," explained Mr. Mornay. 
"Jacques Lesage was the son of a French fur trapper who married an
Iroquois woman." 
	"Do you see the resemblance, Hadji?" asked Jonny in wonderment. 
"No wonder Jessie, er, Lady Caroline was so afraid of you." 
	"But why would Lesage come back to kill the woman he loved?" asked
Hadji. 
	"Yes, and what does Lady Caroline want with Jessie?" Jonny added. 
	Mr. Mornay shook his head and frowned.  "I do not know, but this
is my fault.  I should never have let your friend come to this house on
the anniversary of Caroline's death." 
	"Do not blame yourself, Mr. Mornay," said Hadji.  "But we must
find her." His voice was filled with urgency. 
	"Yes.  There is no telling what that ghost might make her do,"
agreed Jonny. 

	"Just make sure Jess stays away from that Widow's Walk, Mr.
Mornay," said Jonny as he and Hadji left the manor. 
	Mornay nodded.  "Of course.  Be careful." 
	"I'll check the Questor.  Come on, Bandit!" called Jonny, running
off into the fog. 

	Hadji raised his lantern, peering through the thick fog for any
sign of Jessie.  He alternated between calling for Jessie and Lady
Caroline, but so far his only answer had been silence.  Finally Hadji
emerged from the forest to find himself at the edge of a pond.  He started
at a woman's voice behind him. 
	"Jacques!  I knew you would return."  It was Jessie walking
towards him through the fog, her eyes glowing strangely.  "It has been a
long time since you and I stood here" 
	Hadji took a step backwards.  "Jess, uh, Lady Caroline, look,
listen---" 
	"No!" she cried, pointing an accusing finger at him.  "You listen,
Jacques!  For centuries my soul has been tossed from the ramparts, because
of you!"  She took a few steps closer, glaring at him menacingly. 
	"But I am not Jacques!" protested Hadji, backing away slowly. 
"This is all a mistake.  You---" he fell to the ground as his heel caught
on a tree root. 
	Jessie stood over him, her voice rising in anger.  "The mistake
was mine, Jacques!  Falling in love with a man like you!  Do you deny you
wrote that?" she pointed to the letter sticking out of his pocket. 
	Surprised, Hadji unfolded the letter and began to read, " 'My
dearest Marie'?"  He looked up at her questioningly. 
	Jessie's fiery eyes held tears of pain.  "A little shop girl from
the mainland," she said accusingly. 
	"Easy," said Hadji, fumbling for something appeasing to say. 
"Look, she, that girl,she meant nothing to me." He scrambled to his
feet. 
	Jessie stepped closer, fists clenched at her sides.  "You said it
then, you say it now, and you shall say it for all eternity!" she cried,
suddenly rushing towards him. 
	Hadji ducked as she clawed at him, and she succeeded only in
tearing off his turban.  Screaming in rage, she hurled herself at him
again, falling to the ground when he jumped away.  Unwilling to hurt her,
Hadji tried as gently as he could to hold her down, pinning her arms to
the ground. 
	"No!" she screamed in frustration, kicking and squirming. 
	"Calm down, Jessie!" said Hadji.  He relaxed his hold on her
wrists slightly.  "Look, I am not going to hurt you!" 
	Jessie screamed again, and with a sudden burst of strength threw
him off of her.  Hadji tried to defend himself as they grappled on the
ground, but although he was stronger than Jessie he was hampered by his
efforts not to hurt her.  They rolled over the bank and splashed into the
pond.  Jessie landed on top, and immediately tried to hold Hadji's head
under water. 
	"This is where you belong!"  She gripped his shoulders, pushing
him down. 
	"I am not Jacques!" gasped Hadji desperately. 
	Jonny appeared on the shore with Bandit, out of breath.  Quickly
taking in the struggling pair, Jonny pulled off his belt and threw one end
out to Hadji. 
	"Hadji!  Hadji, catch!" 
	Hadji gripped the belt and began hauling himself back to shore. 
Jessie clung to him, trying to pull him back in.  "No!" she screamed. 
"You belong here!"  Suddenly a dark figure emerged from the depths of the
pond and floated toward Jessie and Hadji. 
	Jonny's eyes widened in fear.  "Jacques Lesage!" he gasped.  "So
he did not drown at sea!"  He pulled at his belt, trying to get Hadji and
Jessie away.  But the ghost of Jacques Lesage was already merging into
Hadji's body.  He gripped Jessie's shoulders firmly, forcing her to stop
struggling.  "I always loved you, Caroline," his deep voice said
earnestly.  "That other girl did mean nothing to me.  But you wouldn't
believe me."  "Liar!" cried Jessie, her face distorted with rage.  "You
betrayed me!  You deserved to die in this bog!"  "You left my soul in
torment," cried Hadji, shaking his head.  "My vengeful spirit returned to
push you to your death."  "Over, and over, and over!" cried Jessie.  
	"You must believe me, Caroline!" Hadji said desperately.  "I've
regretted it for centuries, but I was doomed to---"  
	"No!" she cut him off, clawing at him again.  
	"Please!" yelled Jonny from the shore.  "You have to end this
cycle of spiritual violence and forgive each other, or your spirits will
never rest!"  
	The struggling figures turned on him, but Mr. Mornay,
appearing suddenly, interrupted.  "The boy is right, Caroline.  Time is
running out.  You have only until sunrise, then the nightmare will begin
again.  Let it end, tonight."  
	Jessie and Hadji dropped their arms and looked at each other for a
moment. She looked away, and he turned his back and began to walk away.
Ashamed, Jessie ran after him.  
	"Oh, Jacques," she said as he turned to face her.  "I was wrong to
kill you.  But my jealousy drove me to the brink of insanity.  I loved
you."  Her voice choked with emotion.  "I still love you."  Her eyes shone
with tears. 
	Hadji looked into her eyes.  "Forgive me," he pleaded, his voice a husky
whisper.  Jessie threw herself into his arms.  There was a rush of wind
around them as their lips met. 
	
	Jonny shielded his face with his arm as a blinding flash of light
surrounded the figures on the edge of the pond.  Squinting, Jonny watched
the ghostly figures of Caroline and Jacques rise upward and disappear in a
whirl of light.  When his vision cleared it revealed Hadji and Jessie
still standing in an embrace, their lips pressed together in a fervent
kiss.  Jonny blinked, trying to clear his head, and suddenly smiled as
realization dawned. 
	"Ahem," Jonny cleared his throat loudly, and the two started and
opened their eyes, ending the kiss. 
	Jessie immediately flushed scarlet as she realized what had
happened, and even Hadji's dark skin seemed to deepen.  They stared at
each other in embarrassment, not knowing what to say. 
	"Jessie, I---" began Hadji slowly, but she cut him off. 
	"I know.  Me too.  There's nothing to explain."  She dropped her
eyes, blushing even more as she found that she was still wrapped in his
arms. 
	Hadji found that his heart was suddenly beating much too fast, and
his mind seemed to be spinning.  He let go of Jessie and stepped back,
uncertain what else to say. 
	
	Mr. Mornay interrupted the charged silence between them.  "Now
that I have learned the truth about my ancestor Caroline, I too can
finally rest."  He turned and walked back up the hill.  "The fog is
lifting.  If you want to leave, you must leave now."  His voice echoed
strangely as he disappeared in the darkness.
	"Mr. Mornay?" Jessie called after him.  "Wait!" 
	The three ran up the hill and stopped short before a crumbling
gravestone. 
 The inscription read, "Paul Mornay, 1920-1940."  They gasped. 
	"Mornay was a ghost too!" exclaimed Jonny. 
	"I think he was right about leaving!" said Hadji, noting the
wavering air around them. 
	"Let's move!" ordered Jessie, and they bolted for the Questor. 
	"Jonny!  Where are you going?" yelled Hadji as Jonny raced back
into the manor. 
	"I'm not leaving without our evidence!" Jonny replied over his
shoulder. 
	Hadji quickly followed him, and together they retrieved their
computer and camera equipment. 
	"Hurry, guys!" warned Jessie urgently, watching the house
disappearing behind them. 
	"Cast off, Jess!" cried Jonny when they reached the boat.  He and
Hadji pushed against the hull. 
	"We're stuck!" said Hadji, straining against the boat. 
	"Push!" yelled Jonny through clenched teeth. 
	Suddenly they plunged into the water as the island vanished out
from under them. 

	The Questor was once again sailing on calm, open seas.  Jessie set
the controls on autopilot and went below to join the boys in the cabin. 
	Hadji greeted her with a smile.  "Good news!  We're back on line. 
We can call Dr. Quest, though I think he will have a hard time swallowing
this story." 
	"But we've got the proof," said Jonny, sitting down at the
computer eagerly. 
	The screen flickered to life, revealing an image of the hall
inside Mornay Manor.  The hall was completely empty. "What proof?" said
Hadji dryly. 
	"Why am I not surprised," said Jessie.  "Look at the time." 
	Jonny's shoulder's slumped in disappointment as he glanced at his
watch. "Nine o'clock!  Our watches must have stopped right when that fog
rolled in."  Time sure stood still for me, thought Jessie, suppressing a
smile.  Jonny frowned.  "Maybe the whole thing was just a dream." 
	"Maybe,"said Jessie, the wind ruffling through her hair.  She held
up a yellowed piece of paper.  "Except for this, the letter that started
it all." She began to read, "'Dearest Marie' Hey!" she cried as the wind
snatched the letter from her hands.
	Jonny made a lunge for the letter as it blew out the porthole. 
"Aw, man, now we've got zip!" he exclaimed, pounding his fist against the
wall. 
	Jessie glanced at Hadji, remembering the feel of his lips against
hers, and smiled.  Not exactly, she thought. 


The End. 

I hope all you HR's out there enjoyed my version of your favorite episode! 
: )  Don't forget to look at the picture on Wendy's cool Eraser Dust JQ
fan art page!  Love, IRIS