Subj: Reflections Pt.5
Date: 12/27/98 12:19:46 PM Central Standard Time
From: marcos1

Captain’s log—Earth Date 1795

Q seems to have stranded me in this ancient time. I write these words with some sense of longing. I long to be on the bridge of the Enterprise again, long to continue our voyage of exploration. But yet in all due candor, I love this era. It was a time of heroes. And I have fallen in love.

Her name is Angelique, her name is Josette. I’m in love with two different women. And frankly, I don’t know what to do. There was never any protocol in StarFleet Academy about this. How can I chose, when both ladies appeal to different sides of who I am?

Angelique is full of ten thousand fires of lust and love for life. She makes me feel alive with her endless curiosity and quest for knowledge. She wants to learn everything, experience everything. She reminds me of my own carefree youth, which I can live again.

Josette is like a precious flower that grows in a secret garden. A flower that is unique in its beauty. Made even more precious by its accessibility only to me. I love her for her sweetness, her proud but gentle nature. She is the woman in my dreams, holding my hand, as we walk through the pearly gates of eternity. I love her with every inch of my being, but yet when I’m confused and lonely and want to talk, I chose Angelique. How can a man chose between his heart and soul?

~~~~

There was a knock at the door of the house of Andre duPres. Esther, the housemaid, walked over to answer it. She was a large woman, dark complected, with a commanding presence. She was known as a healer in the village and even Andre respected her.

“Hello, madam, will you please tell Monsieur duPres, that Barnabas Collins from Collinsport Massachusetts, has arrived,” the tall dark stranger said.

“Oui, Monsieur,” Esther said. “I shall tell him.”

“There is no need,” Andre said, walking behind her. “Collins, I’m delighted to see you.” He reached and shook his hand. “I hope you had a pleasant trip.”

“Very,” Barnabas replied. “I’m not completely a novice at seamanship. I worked for a brief time on a merchant vessel. We had a pleasant voyage. My father Joshua sends his respects.”

Suddenly, there was the sound of laughter coming down the stairway, a woman with chestnut hair was joking with one the color of sunlight. Andre looked up and smiled. “Collins, that is my daughter, Josette and her servant Angelique.”

Barnabas felt his throat tighten. He had never seen anyone so beautiful. But he doubted if he would have the nerve to ever speak with her. She was so lovely—this Josette duPres. He bowed and smiled.

A young man walked in from the servants entrance. He had brown hair and was very gimlet-eyed. There was a sense of maturity about him. “Andre, the sugar harvest is ready to be shipped,” he said.

“Oh, Collins,” Andre said. “This is Jean-Luc Picard. He was worked for me, for several years. He is more than an employee...more like a son to me really.”

“Barnabas Collins,” Jean-Luc blurted.

“Do you know me sir?” Barnabas asked. “I wasn’t aware that we had met before.”

“We have not sir,” Jean-Luc said. “It’s just that Monsieur duPres had told me so much about the famous Collins family and their shipyards. I was made aware that he was expecting you.”

“Jean-Luc,” Josette said. “Shall we leave?” She turned and looked at Andre. “Is it all right, Papa? Jean-Luc is going to take me riding.”

“Very well,” Andre said. “But try to return soon. We mustn’t be rude to our guest.”

Jean-Luc walked out of the house with the two ladies, heading towards the stables. Andre shook his head. “Collins, I love that boy as a son. But I just don’t approve of his relationship towards my daughter.”

“He seems like a nice young man,” Barnabas said.

“Yes, but it’s a question of class really,” Andre said. “He’s nice but has no class or station.” Andre raised his eyebrows. “I was thinking more of someone like you. You would be perfect for Josette. Forgive me for speaking so boldly, but a marriage between our two families would be perfection. The duPres, sugar fields—and the Collins shipyards, a marriage made in heaven.”

“Monsieur duPres,” Barnabas said. “You must forgive me for speaking my mind, but this is the 1790’s—this is the modern age. Marriage should be for reasons of the heart, not money.”

“Why, I never,” Andre said, storming away. The sound of his study door slamming behind him.

Esther walked behind Barnabas. “Now, you have done it, Monsieur. He probably won’t speak to you for several hours. But when he starts to think about those rich shipyards of your family, he will come out.”

“I suppose that I did speak too plainly,” Barnabas said. “My uncle Jeremiah said that I should make a habit of closing my mouth, so flies can’t enter.”

“Those weren’t flies but words of truth,” Esther said. “I have studied the sacred roots. And there is doom waiting for this family. There is but one way to avoid it.”

“How is that?” Barnabas asked. “I was once a skeptic of such things; but I spent several weeks on the other islands. I have seen a zombie walk, seen the wise walk through fire—their feet unhurt.”

“You must marry Angelique,” Esther said. “And love her with all your heart.”

To be continued—