Wipeout | Book 2 | Foul Play

by Richards, E. S.

  She just wanted some answers. The news reports were becoming increasingly scarce and when they were aired now, they were reporting more on the disasters in big cities instead of focusing on aid and how the country was going to get through this. Without any way to immediately contact her brother or parents – the phone lines were all dead and the internet connection across Kauai was too patchy for a proper call anymore – Jessie felt like she was operating in the dark. She’d sent a few emails to her brother but was yet to hear back, uncertain whether they had just failed to deliver properly or whether he was simply unable to respond. It did Jessie no good to worry about Samuel and her parents as well as her husband and two boys so she tried to think about them as little as possible.

  “Are you okay?”

  Looking up, Jessie realized Art had left Zayn and Axel playing by themselves and now stood in the doorway of her study, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand. He smiled at her with the same kind eyes that she had fallen in love with many years ago and Jessie found herself wanting to dive into the deep blue ocean of her husband’s soul and just swim peacefully in circles until this was all over.

  “I don’t know,” she replied as she accepted the mug of coffee from him. “I feel lost.”

  “You’re not lost, Jess,” Art shook his head, walked around the back of her chair and rested his hands on her shoulders, massaging her. “This meeting tonight is a good idea. We’ve still got plenty of skilled people left on this island and we’ve got sufficient resources, too. This isn’t a hundred years ago – it’s not like we’re all living in mud huts and dancing around fires at night.”

  Jessie laughed, unable to avoid picturing the scene of her husband and friends dressed up in ancient tribal gear chanting ancient verses and banging old drums. There was a festival held every year on the island where people did just that in order to honor the original inhabitants of the island. Locals and tourists alike flocked to it, everyone caught up in the atmosphere for a weekend before going back to their normal lives the following Monday morning.

  “Did Martha say who organized it?” Art continued speaking, his strong hands still massaging Jessie’s shoulders as he spoke. “I imagine they’ve already got quite a few ideas lined up, makes sense not to arrange something like this until you’ve got a rough structure planned out.”

  “She said Dennis and Jamie were both involved, I don’t know beyond that.”

  “Hm,” Art thought to himself. “I hope Dennis doesn’t end up with too much control. You know what he can be like.”

  “Martha won’t let anything like that happen again.”

  “We’d best hope not,” Art replied. “Now is the time when we all need to work together, not for personal gain.”

  By the time five o’clock rolled around everyone who had an interest in being involved – some roughly two thousand people – had all gathered at the surf shack on the beach and were waiting for the meeting to begin. With little else to do, the area had been filling up for the last hour, some people desperate to get seats at the front while others were just happy to have something to do. There had been no structure on the island since the ship left, everyone treating the following days like an impromptu but uncomfortable holiday, now things were ready to get started again and everyone was keen to be a part of it.

  Jessie and Art were seated fairly close to one side of the stage that had been set up on the beach, after having dropped Zayn and Axel off further down the beach. Both of the boys were happy to be out of the house for a bit and seeing some of their friends. Most of them had been able to leave on the ship. Kauai wasn’t exactly a small island; with roughly sixty thousand residents there was little chance of even recognizing everyone left behind. Luckily for them though, Jessie and Art’s closest friends, Mike and Grace were still with them, the four of them awaiting the start of the announcement.

  “Hello everyone!” Jamie Bates walked onto the stage, speaking into a microphone that was hooked up to his old and dusty speaker system, the one that normally lay in the corner of the surf shack. “Thanks for coming out, it’s great to see so many of you here.”

  A cheer resonated throughout the crowd as Jamie walked to center stage and stuck the microphone into a stand. He was perhaps one of the few people on Kauai who was known to almost everyone. The surf shack was a popular restaurant and bar that spanned the length of the most popular beach in town, catering to locals and tourists from the break of dawn until well after the sun set over the horizon.

  He was a friendly man who was more than happy to let a tab roll over to the next day or have large parties bring in a bottle or two when there was something to celebrate. But he always managed to strike the right balance of not being taken advantage of, which meant everyone both liked and respected him.

  “It’s no secret what has happened to the world following Trident’s collapse,” he continued, the crowd gradually falling into silence as they listened to his opening statement. “And it’s certainly no secret how that has directly affected us here on Kauai. Many of our friends and fellow islanders may have left us behind, but we are still here and we need to figure out a way to weather this storm, just like we’ve weathered many more before it.”

  “This isn’t just some thunderstorm Jamie!” A male voice shouted out from the crowd. “We can’t just batten down the hatches and wait for it to pass. What do you suggest we do?”

  A few cheers and rumbles of agreement carried through the audience, cries of hear hear ringing out. Jamie listened on stage and waited for the noise to die down again, biding his time to respond and thinking carefully of the words he chose.

  “That’s a valid point,” he nodded, “and I know this is unlike anything we’ve ever faced before. No one person can come up with a solution and I’m not suggesting that I have that solution – if there even is one.” He paused, letting his words sink in and building up to the first key point he needed to make.

  “What I suggest is that all of us here tonight take a vote. That we elect a leadership council to get us through this difficult time. Things are going to have to change and we’re going to have to consider what careers and jobs are most important for us as a society to move forward. We’ve all seen the news reports of how things are falling apart over on the mainland. We can’t let that happen to us. This island is precious to each and every one of us and the most important thing is to make sure it not only survives, but thrives through this disaster. If we work together, there is no reason why that can’t happen.”

  More noise erupted along the beach, most everyone now cheering. Jessie looked over at Art and their friends and grinned, encouraged by what Jamie was suggesting and hopeful for the first time since she watched the large cruise liner leave the island shores that they would be able to continue their island life. Things would have to change just like Jamie suggested, but she had faith that those left behind would all band together and make it work. She might not know everyone left on Kauai, but they were a tight-knit community even still and they wouldn’t let this break them.

  “Alright,” Jamie let out a laugh into the microphone, pleased with the response he had received. “I think it seems like we’re in agreement.” Another roar of applause rang out, punctuating his sentence and making him smile once more. Jamie loved Kauai and the last thing he wanted was to see his beautiful island destroyed because of this. He would fight for it until his dying breath and he hoped his friends would all do the same.

  “There are several things which are going to be key to us all in the coming weeks and months – however long this may last. The first of these is power; I’m sure everyone is aware that our electric grid has been on the blink for the last thirty-six hours or so. If anyone has any experience in that sort of technology – the sort that I don’t even know the name for –” Jamie paused and chuckled to himself, “then please head over to the clock tower after this meeting.

  “We’re going to need to divide up into core work groups, with each focusing on a different element of island li
fe. Power will be one, food and water another. But we need to maintain other aspects of normal life too: we must focus on our healthcare, our education systems and our maintenance. Working with a few others, I believe we have developed a list of these key areas – though naturally if there is something more which anyone feels needs to be looked into, we can expand.

  “As I said earlier, we need to elect a leadership group to orchestrate and maintain this new way of life. So that’s enough of me going on about what I think should happen. Let’s take a vote. If anyone would like to stand for the leadership council – or like to nominate someone – then please make it known now. I will be putting my own hat into the ring for it, as I believe I have a lot I can offer this island. But I have no expectations. Please – the floor is yours. Who else would like to try and make a difference to our island?”

  As Jamie finally finished his speech, ripples and murmurs carried across the crowd like waves on the ocean. It went without saying that Jamie would be a part of the leadership council, after his introduction and what he had come up with already, anyone would have serious difficulty trying to remove him from the position. The question that remained now was who would join him.

  Jessie looked at her husband and raised her eyebrows. She had no intention of putting herself forward for the position, but she was curious about who would. Art shook his head slightly in response to say he too was waiting to find out who was up for it, the rest of the crowd in a similar position until a woman’s voice rose above the murmurs.

  “I’ve helped Jamie come up with the plan so far.”

  People craned their necks in the direction of the voice, trying to determine who was speaking before she walked up onto the stage alongside him and revealed herself. Jessie already knew it was Martha though, recognizing the woman’s voice and already trusting that she would be a strong addition to the leadership council.

  “And I’d like to continue to offer my support – particularly in the schooling and education of our little ones.” Martha was a teacher at the school that both Zayn and Axel attended, meaning Jessie knew the woman well and she was more than happy to have the woman heading up their education going forward. She was pleased it had already been mentioned, the question about what to do with her boys in the coming weeks already crossing her mind on several occasions in the last couple of days.

  “I too would like to be involved!” Another man’s voice echoed out above the crowd, the new volunteer now needing to be much louder than Martha had been as the whispering amongst the crowd increased. Jessie looked back into the throng of people but couldn’t see where the voice was coming from, nor did she recognize the sound of it.

  “I am a doctor at –”

  “I nominate Richard Harri-”

  “I should be –”

  In a matter of seconds, the orderly meeting started to descend into chaos, people standing up and shouting over one another to make their pleas for the leadership council. Jessie looked to the stage where Jamie and Martha stood, both talking in hushed tones to one another and shaking their heads, neither expecting the response to blow up like it had. People were practically climbing over each other to make their nominations or put themselves forward, the idea of a simple public forum spiraling out of control quicker than anyone could have imagined. Jessie gripped Art’s hand in her own, frightened by how easily something so orderly could be turned on its head.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Jamie spoke into the microphone again, trying to calm the crowd down. But with the din of everyone shouting, his voice could barely be heard due to the quality of his speakers. They were designed to be used in the enclosed performance area of the surf shack, where local musicians played guitars and sung soft melodies; not out in the open with the wind, waves and wrestling islanders to contend with. He didn’t have a choice though, looking questioningly at Martha as he continued to try and regain the peace.

  “Come on people, calm it down! Things weren’t supposed to happen like this!”

  Little by little, the residents of Kauai started to listen to Jamie and took their seats again, the momentary madness subsiding and fading away like a retreating tide. Jamie waited for it to be almost silent again before he continued to speak, thinking on his feet for how to control the situation and maintain the peace, while still giving everyone a chance to say their piece.

  “Okay so that didn’t work,” he paused for a ripple of awkward laughter. “New plan: if you would like to be considered for the leadership council, please make an orderly line to the right of the stage and we’ll get you up one by one to say your bit.”

  “How will we choose?” A voice shouted from the middle of the crowd, asking the big question on everyone’s minds.

  “I think taking a physical vote might be too lengthy of a process,” Jamie answered, considering his options as he spoke. “If everyone agrees it is fair enough, perhaps a show of hands or an audible cheer is the best option?”

  “What do you think?” Jessie spoke to her husband, keeping her voice low as to not be overheard by anyone else. She wondered how this would work, the immediate lack of control when power was returned to the masses just moments before showing how fragile this meeting and their entire situation was.

  “I think this is going to be a long night,” Art replied. “But Jamie is doing a great job. He’ll figure it out.”

  Jessie nodded, agreeing with her husband. That was at least one position – along with perhaps Martha – that was already decided on the leadership council. Jamie would be a firm hand to guide everyone with and a rational voice to think through the problems; he cared about their home above everything else and that would always remain his priority. With him in control, everyone at least knew they would never be forgotten about.

  The meeting continued in the way Jamie had suggested. Those who didn’t want to be considered for the council remained in their seats while one by one, men and women of varying ages and professions took to the stage to declare why they deemed themselves a good fit for leadership.

  There were several natural choices among them; doctors and teachers, former politicians and engineers who could help with the big and immediate problems. Then there were people who would’ve otherwise never been given such an opportunity, people from normal walks of life who simply believed they carried leadership characteristics, or wanted to give something back to the island and its residents. In total nearly thirty people took to the stage and gave their speeches, all gathering in a group to one side once they were finished to await the decision.

  Jessie listened carefully to each and every one of them, trying to make notes in her head and wishing she had a pen and paper. She made herself remember exactly what each of them did, believing it was important that they had a varying set of professions on the leadership council so that every factor was considered when working to maintain the island.

  The sun had almost set by the time everything was finished, but after several hours, the remaining residents of Kauai had finally come to a decision. Thirteen men and women remained on the stage; an odd number agreed upon so that a majority decision could always be achieved. Jamie and Martha were among them, completing the new leadership council of Kauai, a decision which had miraculously been achieved with very little upset.

  Everyone was happy – even those who had nominated themselves and not been chosen. The council was elected to put the health, safety and longevity of the island and its residents first and as Jessie looked at the thirteen people who stood on the stage in front of her, she knew they would all do their utmost to make that happen. Disaster may have struck their small community, but by working together they could overcome the odds and get through the foreseeable future together. For the first time since the crash, Jessie found herself looking forward to what was to come and actually feeling good about it.

  Chapter 6

  Standing at Cassie’s bedside, Samuel couldn’t believe what was happening as the ward around him collapsed into darkness once more. People were still visible i
n their beds, those able to move looking around in confusion as the machinery stopped beeping and voices started to rise again. The scent of panic was fresh in the air, everyone very aware of how dangerous a sustained lack of power could be to the hospital.

  “What is happening?” Cassie asked in a frightened voice, clinging for dear life to Samuel’s hand as it rested on her bed. She had been alone in the hospital for nearly twenty-four hours now and seeing her boss was like being reunited with her family in some way. There had been no way for her to contact her aunt who lived nearby or her parents in the suburbs, leaving Cassie completely alone with two broken legs and no way of knowing when or if she would be able to make it out of the city. She was alone and terrified and while she and Samuel hadn’t exactly been particularly close, having him there with her was like a lifeline she didn’t want to lose, though she knew it couldn’t last.

  “Rolling blackouts,” Samuel surmised, pressing into Cassie’s bed even more as a doctor ran past and hurtled down the steps he and Austin were supposed to have descended earlier. The backup generator was still down there. Perhaps it was still worth a shot to try and keep the patients alive. The man in the bed next to Cassie’s had been incredibly still for the last five minutes, a thick tube leading out of his mouth and connecting to a breathing device next to him that was uncomfortably quiet. Without it the man couldn’t breathe on his own and it was obvious too much time had already passed for him to manage without it.

  “There’s a generator downstairs I think,” Samuel continued, shifting his gaze from the dead man’s body back to Cassie. “Maybe we can get the power back on with it.”

  “What? No!” Cassie tightened her grip on Samuel’s hand, frightened about being left alone in the dark. “Don’t leave me.”