The Dark Shadow of Thursday

by H P Steven

  “Won’t say no,” Devin replied.

  “Yeah I’m keen for another one, thanks Cam,” Hannah added.

  “Yeah but I’ll come down with you two, I wouldn’t mind finding my book and reading it,” Susan explained, as we were about to walk down.

  “Ah a book, why didn’t we think of that,” the four of us cried.

  “I’m sure the next port will sell books, hopefully in English. I had a book but it was in my luggage,” Hannah joked, looking at me.

  Shaking my head and looking at the deck, I thought it was a good time to head down. “All right back soon guys.”

  Before the three of us headed downstairs to our cabins to grab towels. Susan’s book and meeting back up to grab the others and ourselves another drink.

  3

  The Gasp

  We started to get into the pattern of waking up late and pissing off the captain as the food he had bought on to the boat needed to be eaten. We did eventually find a book store that sold books written in English. As we were in port our first night we got to know some of the other guests on different boats and had a great time, drinking with them. Mike’s crew had made sure they had gotten enough duty free to last a couple of days and we took turns refuelling every time we got to another port. Yet that first night was something special, never had we laughed so hard and danced so much. Or acted like bigger idiots, with a couple of other boats. I was asked constantly about my shirt with my name on the back and had gotten fed up with telling so many people the truth, I started to make stories up.

  “Oh, it was a mate’s shirt he had given to me, so when a certain lady saw it she would confuse me for him and he would make a quick getaway.” Became the most popular.

  I had met some other women as my friends had said I would. I never told them of the gasp though. That had been the only time that had ever happened to me, it was something that would stay with me forever, and to this day something I can’t explain.

  I had danced, made an absolute ass of myself, but in doing so, put everyone else at ease.

  I had told them. “You don’t need to be shy, we may never see each other ever again, so let’s cut loose, drink and have fun.” Though, we should take care not to have too much fun that we can’t back up the following night. We didn’t want the night to end especially that first one, quite a few of us stayed up talking well into dawn.

  Yet though others, had gone to bed earlier we got to see the first glimpse of the sun the second day of our trip. The looks from the Captain as we walked towards the boat were priceless as well. Even when he made us eat breakfast before going to bed.

  “You must eat or it’ll go to waste,” the captain demanded.

  Luckily most of the time, we were always pretty hungry, so we always agreed.

  “Thanks skipper,” I smiled, most mornings knowing full why there was a chance I’d sleep through lunch.

  Quickly ducking down to my room, I was sharing with Pete one of the Waikato guys and grabbed my towel. So, after breakfast I could have a shower. It was mostly some cured meats, bread and a selection of cereals. I’d always take advantage of the boiled eggs on offer. It was really-great being out on the open water.

  Sailing around to see and spend some time in amazing inlets and swimming for hours every day in the Adriatic.

  “Morning Phil,” Cam and Susan remarked. Greeting me as they walked up to the steps.

  “Hey, morning you two. You’re both up early,” I said.

  “Yeah, second day and had an early one last night,” Cam explained, still yawning.

  “What time did you get back on board last night?” Susan asked.

  “Oh about twenty minutes ago,” I replied.

  “Just going to have some breakfast and quick shower then head to bed for a couple of hours before we anchor up for lunch I reckon,” I added smiling.

  “Ha, that’s a good effort mate.” Cam laughed, before asking. “Who were you out with?”

  “Just a few that were there last night, few from our boat and a few from some of the others. We got told off a couple of times for making too much noise, but we stayed up and watched the sun come up. Was a fun night,” I replied. “Oh man, I needed this breakfast,” I quickly added.

  “The captain was saying we should be in a pretty big port later today, might try and get some inflatables. What’d you reckon Cam?” I asked.

  “Yeah sounds good, we should have had a look around Split for some,” Cam insisted.

  “I’m still up for jumping from the top of the boat,” Susan added.

  I quickly replied, “You don’t have to you know.”

  Cam smiled “Babe, Phil’s only saying that because he knows if you do it, he’ll have too.”

  “Yeah damn right,” I replied. “So don’t be in any rush, what so ever.”

  Susan just laughed at me before she added, “A wee bit scared of heights are we Phil?”

  “No just scared, of flying through the air for too long,” I explained, laughing back.

  “Morning you three,” they greeted us. As Devin and Hannah came in to the dining area,

  “Ask Phil what time he got back on to the boat,” Cam suggested.

  “So Phil was it thirty minutes ago?” Hannah asked.

  “Yeah how’d you guess?” I asked Hannah.

  “We saw you last night trying to pick-up that Perth chick and it looked like you were willing to put in a little bit of effort.” Hannah laughed.

  “Looked like you were putting in too much effort,” Devin added.

  “Yeah, was having a bit of fun aye bro,” I replied.

  “Anyway guys, enjoy brekky, I need to have a bit of a nap,” I explained, without worrying about a shower I walked downstairs and crashed as soon as my head hit my pillow.

  Waking up and heading upstairs, I noticed the boat was rocking all over the place, that and it smelt a little— well a lot like spew.

  “Hey Cam, what the hell’s going on bro?” I asked.

  “Just head up the front bro,” Cam replied.

  I made my way up there and the crew’s all sitting around the table, I had to bypass the Waikato crew throwing up over the side of the boat, a couple of South Africans moaning and throwing up,

  Oh, man I hate the smell of vomit. But as I get to the table up front, I notice the smells gone and sit down with my friends and Mike.

  “Hey guys, where we heading today for lunch?” I asked.

  “No idea man,” Devin replied.

  “Oh cool, the perfect stop. Oh man, I needed that sleep,” I added, still yawning.

  “Oh really man we heard you snoring, what the hell was that noise coming from down stairs everyone was asking?” Mike teased.

  “Hey Mike, we don’t know you well enough for those sorts of comments,” we all joked, till I explained. “Nah, just kidding bro, well played,” I laughed.

  “Thanks man, thought you were serious for a second there,” Mike added.

  “So what happened with the Perth girl last night Phil?” Susan asked.

  “Oh you’ve been talking to these two, I see Susan,” I responded as I pointed at Hannah and Devin. “Absolutely nothing,” I sighed. I met this amazing women. I thought. I’d get out before laughing, then stopping before feeling like a dick, and told Susan. “Nothing happened honestly, we just had a good time with everyone else and I needed a dance partner,” I explained.

  “Though the crew on that boat are pretty cool, hopefully we see them again.”

  As Cam walked back over with a few beers. “Hey guys, here’s a beer for you each.”

  “Oh nice man,” I smiled, looking forward to the first beer of the day.

  “I’m just going to get the ladies drinks and myself a beer and I’ll be back,” Cam added.

  “Oh I’ll come with you bro.” Grabbing the beer just handed to me and necking it. Getting up and walking back past everyone spewing to help Cam carry some drinks back and get another one for myself.

  “Mate great trip so far, apart from that.” I
laughed, pointing out to those hanging over the side.

  “Yeah man, let’s sneak past those guys and head back up to the front with these drinks,” Cam suggested as we were both trying not to laugh or feel sorry for the other passengers.

  “Sounds good man,” I said, grabbing the other two pints for Mike and Devin.

  Walking back to the front of the boat and placing the drinks on the table.

  “There you go guys.”

  “Cheers, hey guys grab a seat and settle in,” Devin commented.

  “So how’s that book coming along Susan?” I asked.

  “Oh really good you can have it tomorrow, I should be finished with it,” Susan replied.

  “Yeah sounds good, I could do with something to help me read away the time, while I’m getting a tan,” I added. “What’s it called and what’s it about?” I asked.

  “Ah, it’s called, The Da Vinci Code and you’ll have to read it to find out,” Susan laughed.

  “Oh I’m intrigued,” I smiled back.

  “Hey man, what’s the plan for tonight, are you gonna be backing up again?” Mike asked.

  “Um, yeah bro, I’m the Phil. You heard them chanting last night,” I laughed.

  “Ha, you’re such a loser,” Hannah replied, with a massive smile on her face as Cam and Devin looked on trying not to laugh.

  “Hang on, you were chanting with them,” I corrected Hannah.

  “Yeah, till Devin got tired and we called it a night, it was so much fun. That crew on that Luna boat are a lot of fun,” Hannah joked.

  “Yeah, hope all the other boats are like that,” I remarked. Just as another boat is a bout 60-80 metres off our starboard side. We heard a couple of younger girls yelling out, “Is your boat full of young people, cause we are stuck on here with a bunch of oldies!”

  “Wow, can they not see that lot spewing?” I asked Cam.

  “Should we yell something back?” Mike asked.

  Devin told us to get out of the way so the girls can see him on top of the table and mooned them.

  “Ha brilliant, well played Devin,” Cam laughed. We all went back to sitting around the table drinking and laughing.

  “Hey Mike, where are the girls?” I asked.

  “Um, I think they’re sleeping still,” Mike replied.

  One of the crew members came up to the front and asked us how we are doing.

  “Yeah, really good thanks, how long will this last for?” I asked.

  “Not much longer, we’re about an hour away from the inlet we are going to anchor in and have lunch, the trip should be a lot smoother from this afternoon,” Gopher responded.

  “Cool, thanks Gopher,” I said, as he walked off, but not before giving me a funny look. “All right guys, we need to get inflatables at the next port,” I turned to the others and insisted.

  “Agreed,” Cam replied.

  “Yeah man sounds like a plan,” Devin added.

  “Do you think Anna will be at the next port?” Hannah asked.

  “Wow, imagine if she was, you guys wouldn’t see me for that whole time. I’d be doing the woo,” I remarked, laughing back at Hannah.

  “The woo?” Susan asked.

  “Yeah, I’d be trying to woo her,” I explained.

  “You know Susan. The woo, when you try and impress a woman, to like you. By wooing,” I added, cringing a little.

  “Ha, you are a loser!” Hannah joked as they all start laughing at me.

  “Well, at least my curls don’t look ridiculous like Doctor Soul Glo over here,” I quickly added. Making all four of them laugh harder.

  “Way to pass the ball to me bro,” Cam sulked.

  “Yeah sorry bro I panicked,” I responded.

  “Ha, no problem man, but you can’t keep using that as your default function,” Cam insisted.

  “Yeah my bad man.”

  “Oh man, the smell of the waves crashing into the front of the boat and the taste of the beer is making me hungry. Wow, so glad I had some brekky this morning,” I declared to the others. Who were still slightly impressed but not surprised that I had done a whole nighter.

  “Oh man I slept in and missed it, how’d you manage to get up for it?” Mike asked.

  “Oh easy bro, I didn’t go to bed till after,” I replied.

  “Ah so that’s the secret?” Mike added.

  “Yeah, you can’t keep that up,” Hannah joked.

  “Yeah I know, but if I meet someone, I can move mountains,” I replied, with a stupid look on my face.

  “Ah, do you guys need another drink?” Cam asked.

  “Yeah bro, Devin and Mike can go though aye, as we got the last ones,” I suggested.

  “We can go,” Hannah replied.

  “Oh thanks Hannah,” I said.

  “Just beers all round?” Hannah asked.

  “Yes, please,” Mike said. We all looked at him when Susan, smiled and mentioned, “Oh way to use your P’s and Q’s Mike.”

  “You guys could learn something from this guy,” Susan added.

  “Oh, thank you, Susan I would love a beer please and thank you in advance,” I replied, quickly getting up to go help get them. There was just something in the way Cam was shaking his head that I thought they might spit in my beer, so for safety reasons I decided it was wise to get my own and help them out.

  “So what happened in Split when you turned around at the ATM?” Hannah asked.

  “Oh man, not really wanting to talk about that,” I replied. “I’m way to sober to talk about it,” I added.

  Susan asked Hannah, “Did something happen, did I miss something?”

  “Seriously you two, I’m far to sober to talk about it, but I’m surprised you saw that. I thought everyone missed it,” I declared. “Or should I say I wished you had.”

  “Well, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen something like it,” Hannah added.

  “Really, okay I’ve got to know what happened?” Susan demanded.

  “It wasn’t much of anything, but it felt like a kind of a gasp,” I mentioned.

  “Ah-ha I knew it!” Hannah shouted, a bit too loudly. Luckily most of it was drowned out by people throwing up.

  “A gasp?” Susan asked.

  “Yeah when you meet someone and they take your breath away. It happened when I turned around from the ATM,” I answered. Seeing the lady serving the gelato, I tried to say but stopped myself after I said ATM.

  “Wow, I’ve never had that happen to me,” Susan and Hannah both remarked.

  “What do you mean, you’ve never had it happen to you?” I questioned. “How is that possible?” I asked them both. Luckily pointing the conversation in another direction.

  “You’re both young, I’m sure it’ll happen,” I teased.

  “Might even happen to you both on the trip,” I suggested smiling back.

  “You really are a dick,” Hannah joked.

  “Stop trying to change the subject,” Susan added.

  “Well, let’s get some drinks, and head back, ask me again when I’m not as sober,” I replied. They both stubbornly agreed.

  “I will be asking again,” Susan insisted.

  “So will I,” Hannah added punching me in the arm, a little harder than usual.

  “Ha,” I laughed, back at her. “Let’s get back, I’ll probably be drunk enough tonight. Hopefully we can find a great restaurant and get amongst it again,” I added as we all started to head back.

  “Hey guys and girls!” I announced to those spewing over the side of the boat, on the way back to the front. “We should be at the inlet soon and this is the last of the rough stuff for the trip,” I added.

  “Oh, thank god,” Pete groaned before leaning over the side again and throwing up.

  “Hey guys here’s your drinks, I think everyone’s up now, and stumbling around. Wow, that side of the boat stinks.” I laughed.

  “Poor bastards,” Devin added.

  “Obviously they’ve never tackled the cook strait on a big day,” I bragged.


  “Or gone out fishing near Stewart Island,” Devin added.

  “Wow, why would you want to do that mate?” Cam asked Devin.

  “For fish bro,” Devin replied. We all looked at Cam crying, trying not to laugh at him.

  “I’m sorry bro, it’s just not fair,” I joked to Cam. Breaking out into a sweat, thinking stuff it and start laughing. Making everyone else start laughing.

  “Oh man, can’t wait to finally get to the inlet.” Wiping the tears from my eyes.

  “Hey Susan, is today the day, we jump from the top deck?” I added.

  “Yeah will see.” Susan shrugged.

  “Well, me and Cam are gonna do it,” Devin announced.

  “What about you Mike?” Devin asked.

  “Nah stuff that man,” Mike insisted.

  “Dude, if Susan can do it I think everyone should have to, aye bro,” I insisted.

  “Um, nah I’m good thanks,” Mike added.

  “So how you finding being a Chinese chef?” Hannah asked out of nowhere.

  “We all have to come in for dinner when you’re working,” Hannah added.

  “Yeah bro, sounds good to me,” Devin agreed.

  “Um, yeah its different but I’m really enjoying it,” Mike replied.

  I poked my head up to the top deck, I noticed quite a few of the other guests just chilling out reading on the side that didn’t smell.

  “Who’s up there Phil?” Cam asked.

  “Mikes friends, the South African’s and the Perth guy and the Italians, or the Americans pretending to be Italians bro, it’s like that old 80’s movie.” I laughed.

  “What are they up to?” Mike asked before he headed up to see for himself.

  “Oh man, what a day,” I declared standing up and walking around to stretch my legs.

  “Just a bit of a messy start,” Devin added.

  “How good are these beers going down?” I questioned. Cam grabs the empties, and took them back in, bringing out another full mug for us each.

  Just as Gopher, popped his head down. “Hi again folks, we are just heading over there to anchor up and have lunch in say fifteen minutes,” He announced.

  “Ah sweet, I could eat a horse,” I replied. Noticing Gophers smile, I turned to Hannah and Devin. “They’re not going to serve us horse, are they?” I asked them both, looking concerned.