by catt dahman
Extinction Island
Book 1
catt dahman
Copyright© 2014 catt dahman
www.cattd.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book, including the cover and photos, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. All rights reserved.
To: Limmerfer, Ollie, TS, Murron, Finn, Procol, Baby Winnie,
Limmerfer 1, Pickle, Aztec, Trixie, Prissy, Flea
Chapter 1: The Sea
“Bermuda Triangle all the way. We’re in trouble.”
“That makes all of us feel better,” Helen snapped at Stu. She wanted to slap him; actually, she had wanted to several times over the last few days, but that wouldn’t fix his sour disposition.
He didn’t acknowledge her response. He didn’t care, and he didn’t get it, anyway. All he cared about right now was the sky and sea. It was something he had never seen, and he found it fascinating, but spooky. He loved reading about sea anomalies, and he liked the chance to see one. He wanted to enjoy the eerie experience and at least pretend that he was in the middle of something other worldly.
Instead of the usual, bright blue sky, golden light, and wispy white clouds, there was a lot of yellow, black, and purple. The sky was a mass of bruises. The sky itself was a urine-yellow, but cloudy as if infected and full of poison. Rolling in were deep purple, almost black, boiling clouds that looked as thick and solid as a fungus; they looked ominous. The sea, no longer a pretty, clear turquoise, was dark and seemed to be covered in an oily yellow film, but that was only a reflection of the sky.
Even though the waves were growing, they were sluggish, twisting upon themselves and threatening. They no longer lapped at the boat but rolled it.
“Is it foggy out here?” Helen asked. The third person, standing with them, shook his head. “Not like regular fog. It’s more like a haze. You see it in big cities, right? What causes this, Stu?”
“I don’t know. How would I know?”
“You’ve been on your dad’s yacht enough. Have you ever seen the sky look this way? Yellow?”
“No, never. It’s got to be something weird: Bermuda Triangle stuff, I like it. Just think….”
“I don’t like it,” Helen admitted, “I don’t want to think. I want it to go away.”
“I told Tom this was a bad idea, but he was all for it,” Stu said with a cocked eyebrow, implying that he meant more than he was saying. He wasn’t happy with the entire trip. He had complained out loud for days, criticizing the guests and rolling his eyes often.
Tom had finished his Master’s Degree, and for a gift, his dad allowed him to invite a huge crowd of his friends to join them on a week’s vacation on the yacht. It was a generous gift that all the guests were pleased with. They had days of sunbathing, snorkeling, fishing, swimming, and relaxing.
Stu had several issues with the trip. First, he had been on this jaunt around the Bahamas several times and was irritated by those who were excited by the scenery. It was blue water and blue skies. No thrill. It got on his nerves to listen to all the visitors commenting on the nice weather. What did they expect to find? It was beautiful. So what?
His second problem was the guest list: did his brother make friends with every freak on campus? Why did he purposely diversify his friend-list? Tom must have searched the corners of the college to find people to fit each stereotype possible; they were all so expected. Stu forgot their names half the time, so he mentally considered them as: the slut, the gimp, the black guy, the Goth, the doper, and so on. Did Tom have any normal friends? Was he filling a list of typecasts?
Stu was bored with them. To him, they were losers that crowded the yacht; not that it was really crowded because the boat was huge, one of the biggest, so they had room enough to enjoy themselves, but it felt crowded with boring people. He walked over to watch the sky and speculate on an approaching storm, but Helen and Scott couldn’t leave him alone; they followed like stupid ducklings and asked questions. Losers. He couldn’t avoid them.
The boat was over three hundred feet long and forty-five feet abeam with five decks and a small pool. She had a steel hull and was fitted with an aluminum structure but then refitted with wooden decks and details so that while she was a sleek boat and huge, she was reminiscent of old sailing vessels.
From a distance, she was beautiful; up close the details were a little overdone and gaudy instead of being elegant. The teak wood made her a little weaker than the steel would have, but it was far more interesting.
Stu hardly cared. His father had the money to waste, and this was one of the latest ways of spending it. What was five hundred million for a boat? For all the area and luxury, Stu couldn’t find a place to be alone to enjoy the weather; he was irritated beyond words at the others for ruining these moments.
“It’s just a storm. I’m sure the captain knows what to do and would tell us if anything was wrong.” Scott ran his hands over the railing, glad the boat was stronger than a storm. All the water made him feel faintly vulnerable. He hadn’t felt that way before, but they had been fishing and swimming, but not watching a storm approach. There was a lot of water out there.
Stu snickered. “Really? He’s paid to keep us calm. He wouldn’t tell us anything was wrong. My dad pays a lot for the captain to say the right things.”
“Gee, now I feel so much better,” Helen remarked, “you’re a spring of positivity.”
Scott snickered and said, “Spring.”
“It isn’t my job to make you feel any way at all. We are technically at one edge of the Bermuda Triangle….”
“I thought that was the Bahamas,” a voice said. The voice belonged to Joy, and she wandered over to watch the sky.
Stu ignored her. He was a good-looking young man, smart, and wealthy, and he saw no reason to pay attention to a woman who was like she was. He could do better, and she was beneath his notice. Joy was pretty in a vapid way: bleached blonde hair, big, perky, fake boobs, and bright blue eyes. She was obviously a slut, having made-out or slept with several of the men aboard the yacht. As loose as she was, she probably already had worked through the male and female crew as well. She was a flirt. Stu had her pegged.
“It is, but the edge of the Devil’s Triangle is right here. But then, it’s supposedly a million and a half square miles in size, and most of the downed planes and ships are outside of the Triangle anyway. It’s a fairy tale,” said Helen as she smiled at Joy’s frown and told her, “It’s just a storm. It may miss us anyway.”
“That’s what they all said right before they vanished,” Stu said. “All those ships and planes…it’s just a storm and pow...gone.”
“I don’t wanna vanish.” Joy worried as she watched the yellow sky. She wasn’t stupid and knew Stu was being mean and teasing her, but she didn’t like how everything felt. She made her own observations, and she didn’t believe in a so-called bad triangle of a dangerous area; she did believe in the storm and hated the way it looked.
“The captain says go below,” Amanda called. She was one of the crew and one everyone liked. Not only was she smart and friendly, but she also took time to explain interesting parts of working on a yacht this size. She looked nice and neat in her uniform and had dark hair cut short and brushed carefully into a professional style. She was a fun member of the crew.
“Is anything wrong?” Scott asked. Unconsciously, he moved closer to the woman, protectively. “The sky looks strange.”
“Nothing is wrong at all unless you want to get soaked, blown over the side, or hit by lightning,” Amanda laughed. “The captain prefers to keep everyone safe, and that means being below. It’s just a storm. Very normal. But it’s not smart to be out in one, whether on land or sea. The crew can handle things.” Men moved around the big boat, checking to be sure everything was tied down tightly.
“Is the color normal? Look at the sky. And the clouds are really black. It’s hazy and creepy out here,” Stu said, “I’ve never seen anything like this. We’re right in the Triangle.” He was excited and enjoyed watching the clouds roll in.
Amanda nodded and said, “We are there technically if you believe in that, but that isn’t a reason to worry. How many planes and ships pass through here all the time and are fine? Laws of average, Stu. I’ve seen many weird-looking skies. The clouds and the storm are making it look worse. The cloud colors make everything look yellow. The haze is probably low level clouds coming in, but it looks pretty normal for a storm to me.”
“She’s paid to say that,” said Stu as he smirked.
“No, I am paid to assist the captain, to keep everyone safe, and to be logical,” Amanda snapped. She was crossing a line with her tone because he was the owner’s son, but he was such a prick at times. He was trying to scare the others and show off, and it irritated her. He was always a little nasty to her since she had flatly refused his advances with polite, but clear words.
“Sure you are.”
Amanda bit her tongue.
“Let’s do what we’ve been asked to,” Helen suggested. “Thanks, Amanda. I was nervous but feel better now. What is a little rain?”
“I understand. The clouds do look ominous, but this boat can handle it. And no, I am not paid to say that. Don’t let old stories get to you, either. I’ve been in these waters often, as Stu has, and we’re still here. We won’t vanish.” Amanda laughed as she led them to safety.
Below in the many rooms were groups everywhere because the yacht was full of Tom Jones’ friends and family. It was so large that it could easily have accommodated twenty-eight people and almost that many crew.
Some of the guests complained about missing out on swimming or sunbathing, and some talked about the weather. They hated being inside when the day should have been beautiful. A few people played board games, and a few others sat at the bar, playing a drinking game. The concern about the storm made everyone either speak more softly or louder, but not in between. Normally, they spread out on the outer decks to relax or take in the sun, swim, snorkel, or splash in the small fresh water pool on the top deck. Sometimes they played billiards or rested in the movie room. Rarely did they wind up all together.
With the storm coming, they came together.
“What was that?”
Tom chuckled at the girl who replied, “It was a rolling wave. We’ll likely get far worse, so be ready to run to the head...the bathroom...if you feel sick. We’ll feel those from all over as the wind makes the water choppier.”
“I thought I was over being sick.” Wanda shuddered. She had spent a full day vomiting when they first boarded, but medication and peppermint tea finally had her able to walk around without getting sick.
“Nope.” Tom gave her a one-armed hug. To his other side was his girlfriend, Kelly. “Wanda, I want you to talk me through when I get a tattoo next month. I hate needles, you know.”
“Awe.” Wanda grinned. She had a dozen tattoos and a half dozen piercings. “I need a new hole.”
“You’re running out of places,” said Kelly as she teased her.
Wanda laughed and replied, “No way. There are places yet untouched.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“No way,” said Kelly, cringing, “you are way too brave for me. Crazy girl.” She liked all of Tom’s friends, male and female. They were all so diverse and interesting to her. She had noticed Stu, Tom’s brother, scowling at almost every one, but she didn’t get that. All of Tom’s friends were intelligent, funny or sweet, and he was missing out. The people that Tom chose had made the trip far more fun than when they were stuck with Tom’s brother and his younger sister, spoiled and hateful. Tom’s father was okay, his stepmother was dull and self-centered, and his younger brother Vaughn was the only other bright side when the rest weren’t here. Even Tom felt that way. “Hey.”
Kelly gripped Tom’s arm. The roll of the boat made her stomach flip a little. That wave was pronounced, and it felt as if the boat stayed still a second before plunging into the next trough.
“It’s okay. It’s just a storm,” Tom said.
“In the Bermuda Triangle,” Stu called. He always heard things that he could jump on. Ears like a bat.
“Knock it off, Stu.”
“Just saying….”
“Well, don’t say. We won’t miss the comments at all. You’re being an ass. If you want to be a jerk, then be so to your own friends; oh wait, you have none,” said Tom.
“You’re so funny, Tom. It’s not my fault if we’re….”
“We know where we are. Let it go.” Tom stopped the argument as Kelly grabbed his arm again. This time she dug in her long nails and made him wince. He wished he could calm her, but as long as the sea rolled wave after wave at them, there was little he could do. He noticed that the waves were closer together and deeper.
Chairs and loungers shifted as the crew worked to stow them in big stacks. They ran tight, springy ties around them to hold them steady.
“Listen to that wind,” Wanda said, “it sounds like ghosts howling. I hate the sound. Thunder is more me.”
“How Gothic,” Stu said.
“And?” she shot back.
Tom was going to have a long talk with his brother and whip his ass if he had to. Enough was enough. For days, his brother had been rude to his friends, but Tom valued each one of them; that’s why he invited them. Jealousy was not a pleasant thing to see.
Glasses slid down the bar, and a few baubles fell as the boat rose, paused, and fell with a shudder.
Like magic, Amanda appeared, and said, “I know it’s rough, but we’re fine. It’s just a nasty storm, and the captain says we should be in it for a few hours. I’m sorry to tell you that part. It came up all at once and feels and sounds terrible, but it’s not anything to worry about.” She grabbed the wall as the yacht rolled again. She frowned a little. She was sure her information was correct, but it was getting worse, fast. As big as the yacht was, it was sure taking a beating. Little boats would have been swamped. She was thankful she wasn’t with those out in the rain and wind.
Stu whistled a tune from a movie about a giant shark and made Amanda grit her teeth.
“We can’t sink, right?” Wanda asked.
“Any boat can sink, but storms are common, and it would be a fluke if we did. I can’t imagine that this storm could best the captain or the Connie Louise. This is a big, strong boat. It feels far worse than it is.” Amanda wished the woman had not brought it up. “I’ve been in many storms, some far worse than this.”
Glasses slid again, and a glass on a table fell off and broke. There were a few yelps of surprise. Before Amanda could smooth this over, a particularly violent wave made the boat shudder and tilt, causing a young man named Stanley to lose his balance and fall into a chair. Several flailed as they caught themselves. Outside, the wind was now a roar, far louder than it should have been. Metal groaned. The sound was daunting.
“The Connie Louise has a steel structure and is reinforced with teak, a very strong wood. The captain is working to get us away from this storm front. But remember, we are on one of the top thirty biggest, best luxury yachts in the world. We have a top crew.”
Tom met Amanda’s eyes. He knew it was a little worse than what she had thought. Her job right now was to be here and keep everyone calm while the rest of the crew helped the captain elsewhere. “Maybe we should put everything away that could fly around the room and hurt someone. Try to stay seated and relax as much as possible. If you walk around, you could fall,
” said Amanda.
“I’m a little scared,” Kelly whispered to Tom.
He understood. The noise made it far worse.
Wanda nodded that she heard Tom, but she ran for the head to vomit, lurching sideways and grabbing walls to keep her balance.
“Helen, hand me a few lemon slices, will you? I’ll go see if that will help settle Wanda’s stomach,” Kelly asked.
She took the slices and followed the other woman.
Tom was so proud of Kelly; she was scared but was thinking of helping someone else. She was a good nurse. She was getting an advance degree, and that was how Tom met her. She was smart, driven, and good hearted. He hoped that at the end of this trip on the last night, she would be surprised by his marriage proposal and would accept.
“Damn. Are you okay?” Tom saw two of his friends at the bar go sprawling. They sat on the floor, refusing to get back on the bar stools. Tyrese and Alex frowned from where they sat.
Amanda went over and picked up a phone that connected to the captain. She wanted an update. She listened and fought to keep from frowning. In this storm, how could the outside be any more yellow? Captain Worthington was tense, something which Amanda was not accustomed to. He said the barometer was plunging, the waves were getting worse, and the wind was ferocious. It was all he could do to manage to keep them from flipping. That unnerved her to hear those words.
A tingle of worry ran over her body.
“Have the passengers put on life vests, please,” said the captain.
Amanda gulped. How would she do that and retain a calmness among the young passengers? She was about to earn her salary.
“Aye-Aye, sir.”
“May I have your attention, please?” Amanda steadied herself on another roll. “The captain said the storm is very strong. I would like for everyone to sit on the floor so you don’t fall. That is my biggest worry. A fall could break a bone.” She tried to deflect the concern. “Just sit on the floor, and lean against the chairs or sofas. I need for you to do this at once. I will also hand out life preservers. Please, put one on as soon as I hand it to you. It is simply protocol, and it’s better to overdo the precautions than to regret not taking them.” She smiled brightly.
