by Jon Schafer
Brain looked on as the two men finally ended their disagreement by making the contest the best two out of three. Although nervous about being so close to Reverend Ricky's people, some of his jumpiness had faded now that he saw the safety ropes did their job. As his mind wandered, he started dwelling on the sight of the three-way he'd witnessed earlier. While he didn't particularly get off on watching a naked guy, he did enjoy watching naked women. Seeing them live was much better than watching clips on the Internet like he’d been doing for years. Thinking of what Connie would look like naked, he was brought out of his reverie by Tick-Tock snapping his fingers in front of his face.
“Steve's ready, Pork Chop.” With an evil smile, he added, “And if the rope slips through your hands and he crashes to the deck, we'll just write it off as a training accident.”
Steve gave Tick-Tock the finger and started to climb.
After each man scaled the wall two times, they were too exhausted to try again so declared their bet off. When they told Brain it was his turn, it took them ten minutes to persuade him.
The first time, Brain made it a quarter of the way to the top before he fell. On his second try, he passed that mark and was nearly halfway when suddenly he stopped.
After calling up to the tech and receiving no answer, Tick-Tock was worried he was frozen in fear. He was about to put his gear back on and climb up to talk him down when he saw Brain push off from the wall and let himself be lowered while he frantically waved and pointed toward the rear of the ship.
When his feet were once again on the deck, Brain yelled out excitedly, “Don't you feel it?”
Steve's mind spun. Feel what? He asked himself. Are we sinking?
Seeing the quizzical looks he was getting, Brain pointed to the multi-colored banners attached to the guide wires that secured the climbing wall to the base of the Crows Nest Lounge and screamed, “Look.”
It took them a moment to understand what he was trying to show them. Suddenly, it hit them both at the same time and they whooped with joy.
The banners were fluttering and snapping in the breeze. The wind had come up.
Chapter Fourteen
The Dead Calm:
When Steve told the rest of the group that the wind was up and they had all the more reason to depart the Dead Calm, he was met by a less than enthusiastic response. He could understand Mary not wanting to leave the shopping Mecca she had fallen into but even Heather seemed depressed at the news.
When he asked her why, she replied, “I know there's a million reasons to go, the most important being that we get Cindy somewhere to see if she holds the cure for HWNW virus, but ...” Her voice trailed off.
“But what?” He asked.
“I may sound selfish but screw it. I'm saying it anyway. I’ve just gotten comfortable here and now we’ve got to leave. That sucks. I knew this was only temporary when we decided to come on board, and even more temporary when we found out the ship was sinking, but I want to enjoy it while I can.”
Steve considered his reply before saying, “I’m not saying we’ve got to leave this very minute but I’d like to try to get going as soon as possible. We have to stay here for the next day anyway while we load up the supplies and see if Ricky can come up with a sextant so ...” Now Steve's voice trailed off as he looked at Heather's crestfallen expression. He knew she would go if he said go but would be disappointed at having to leave the Calm of the Seas. After a second, he continued, “So I guess it's no big deal if we take a couple extra days and relax.”
Heather gave him a smile and asked, “Really?”
Steve smiled back, “Really. We can get everything loaded up and then take a break and relax. You told me about Ricky letting us have deck five with all the restaurants, so we'll fill up on some good food before we go. The extra time will also give Tick-Tock the chance to figure out our position if he gets that sextant from Ricky.”
Heather threw her arms around him and said, “Don’t worry, babe, I’m not breaking weak on you. It's just that it's so nice here and it's kind of hard to leave it knowing what we're heading out into.”
“I never thought you were going soft,” Steve assured her. “But remember, we also have to deal with Ricky and his people before we go.”
After kissing him, she said, “I’ll take care of Ricky. Don't worry about that. And as for his Faithful, they can take their chances in the lifeboats.”
***
Reverend Ricky opened the lid of the case containing the sextant. After picking up and removing its lens, he threw the circle of glass against the wall. Examining it and seeing it sufficiently cracked so as to make it useless, he put it back in place and removed the spare from the box. This he put in the breast pocket of his shirt.
Turning to the younger of the two Hungarian sisters, he ordered her to get dressed. After his last encounter with Heather, he had no desire to meet with the woman face to face again. He would send the girl down to deck four with his latest gift.
Although his informant had told him that the group from the sailboat didn't plan any aggression against him or his people, Ricky was nevertheless wary about being around them. Especially Heather. She was always looking at him as if he were a bug that had invaded her space and needed to be crushed. His snitch warned him to stay away from her, that she used to be a cop and saw him as nothing but a pedophile that needed to be eliminated.
Thinking about his informant, anger flashed through Ricky as he recalled their last meeting. He was still pissed off when he found out how much his snitch had told the newcomers about him. The people from the sailboat had way too much information and it had turned then completely against him. He'd planned on trying to win the people from the sailboat over with his charm, but now that they knew some of his secrets, this would be impossible.
Good thing they don't know all my secrets or they'd come after me with a vengeance, Ricky thought.
Calming himself, he considered the other news his snitch had brought. It seemed that one of the people on deck four by the name of Randy was something of a mechanical and electrical whiz. This might fit in nicely with his plans.
When he’d grabbed power on the ship, he was looking at the short-term. With the impending loss of the Calm of the Seas though, he knew he had to look further than that in order to guarantee his continued survival. With these far reaching thoughts and ideas, he could see that he needed someone like Randy on his team. The man's knowledge would be indispensable when they reached Cozumel. Both in barter with the other people who already inhabited the island and for helping him set up his own empire when they got there. There would be much to do be done since they were starting from scratch.
The first thing I need to do is open up a church, Ricky decided, as his mind switched to the tasks confronting him when they reached land. But I’ll need to alter the religion from what I preach here because it's a different situation. I need to convert those people slowly instead of banging then over the head with God. I’ll quit preaching that rapture garbage too. It’s getting old. It probably won't be as easy to convert the people on Cozumel as it was to fool these idiots on the ship, but all I need is a foothold. Once I get enough True Believers, this is what he decided to call his followers instead of calling them the Faithful, I’ll see if it's feasible to take over the whole Island.
Having decided on a course of action, he turned to preparing a list of who would go with him - and also who wouldn't.
Sitting at his desk, the first thing he wrote was ‘Get Rid of Parsons’. This was not an easy decision to come to because the man made an excellent second-in-command. The problem arose from the fact that he seemed to have aspirations to run things. Even though Parsons tried to stay blank faced and hide his ambitions, Ricky could see in his eyes how he craved power. It was a familiar look to him since it was the same one he saw every time he gazed in the mirror. He knew that it was only a matter of time before Parsons tried to take over so it was better to nip the problem in the bud. Even if Parsons were unsuccessful in
a bid for the top slot, a coup would cause a rift in the group, so he had to go.
The younger of the two sisters interrupted Ricky's train of thought when she called out that she was ready. He wanted to get his thoughts down on paper first so, telling her to be patient with daddy, he put in a DVD of the little mermaid and went back to his list.
Now to sort out the rest of his people to see who would stay and who would go.
He saw that Brother Seth had his uses so his name was added to the list along with Brother William. They would be his enforcers. He’d need some muscle when he reached Cozumel. Seth had been a cop in Lee County, Florida before the dead came to life and was as dirty as they came. Brother William was a wannabe thug and had no aspirations for the top spot so he was safe to bring along.
Both men followed orders and had little or no imagination. This was what counted, Ricky decided. Too bad Seth didn't bring some of his fellow officers with him. To hear him tell it, the whole Lee County Sheriff's office was corrupt. I could use that kind of support.
Turning back to the matter at hand, Ricky put a number one next to each of the two Head Usher's names to indicate they could bring along one person. They could have their pick from the women who made up over half of the Faithful. Looking at where the two sisters sat watching TV, Ricky put his own name at the top of the list and penciled in a two next to it.
Now for Brother Cal, Ricky thought. He's been loyal and is handy to have around. He knows how to fix and run generators and other pieces of equipment, but if what I’m planning comes off, I won't need him. Besides, the boat is starting fill up. I’ve got to balance people versus supplies. Anyway, I won't need two guys who know how to fix a generator.
Ricky wrote down a question mark with a one next to it at the bottom of the list. Regardless of what happened, at least two more people would be coming and that made nine. Plenty, Ricky decided. It'll either be Cal or Randy that comes along and either way they'll be accompanied by one person. If it's Cal, then he's entitled to bring a companion, and if we can grab Randy, I’ve got a hostage in mind to threaten and assure his cooperation.
Not really a hostage though, someone who's already on my side, Ricky thought with a glee. That makes it so much easier.
Calling the younger sister over to him, Ricky handed her the box with the sextant in it and told her that, on her way down to present it to the newcomers, she needed to stop at the small staff kitchen on deck eight and turn on the In Use light for the dumb waiter.
The small elevator ran through the service areas all the way from deck ten down to four. When the light was on, it alerted his informant to slip away and meet with him on deck nine.
Once the little girl was gone, Ricky lay back on the bed with her older sister and stared blankly at the cartoon while his mind drifted over his plan, searching for anything he might have missed. The people on deck four were doing their part by loading the sailboat with provisions, thinking they would use them when they departed the Calm of the Seas. Instead, Ricky gloated, it'll be me and my people who benefit from their labor, Ricky gloated. And as for Randy, I need to set a trap and kidnap him.
As he considered how he would lure Randy away from the others, he suddenly had the answer to how he was going to get the people on deck four separated so he could pick them off in ones and twos. Ricky's mind raced as he worked out the specifics. Once I grab Randy, Steve and Heather, the rest of them will be easy to lure in different directions while they look for their missing comrades. All I have to do is cut them off from each other by sealing doors in front and behind them and then eliminate them one by one. As soon as they find that Randy's missing, they'll be chomping at the bit to search for him, only I’ll direct the search and have my people set up to ambush them once they're separated. With a smile, Ricky planned on how he would get Heather to the Sound's Lounge and personally toss her into the crowd of dead waiting below.
That bitch is mine.
Looking at the older sister lying on the bed next to him, his mind switched track as he remembered his snitch telling him that there was a ten-year-old girl aboard the sailboat. She was supposedly immune to the disease. Ricky smiled evilly as he thought he might be able to sell her to the government. They'd pay a fortune to have someone who they could poke and prod to try and figure out a cure for HWNW.
This thought was followed by; when I get done with her of course.
He briefly considered changing the number of people he would bring with him from a two to a three but decided to leave it at two. The two youngest, he decided.
A huge smile broke across Ricky's face as he considered the endless possibilities.
***
Steve and Heather cautiously checked deck five as Susan and Tick-Tock covered them. They weren't as concerned about running into Ricky's people as they were about encountering the dead. Reaching the end of restaurant row and finding no signs of any Z’s, they turned and made their way back. As they passed the staircase, Steve approached the doors identical to the ones on deck four which led to the cabin area beyond.
Motioning Heather to cover him, he went forward and quickly chained the doors together by their handles. Tim had told him about the watertight hatch beyond, but he wasn't going to take any chances. Fumbling one handed with the lock as he gripped the rifle his other, he half expected the doors to be pushed open by decaying hands and a flood of dead to come rushing out. His fears were unjustified. Noticing only the slight smell of funk coming from beyond, he guessed the water tight doors must be shut or it would smell as bad as it did when he drew close to the ones on deck four.
Finished with securing the doors, he gripped his M-4 in both hands and backed away. Safely by the stairs, he took one more look around and said, “No one goes into any of the restaurants that are closed until we clear them. There are plenty of open ones to choose from. Other than that, bon appetite.”
With the words barely out of his mouth, the others came up from deck four and spread out to explore. As an added warning, he shouted out, “And no one goes anywhere alone.”
Mary gasped and said, “Oh my god, a TGI Fridays. I love their food.” Grabbing Sheila by the hand, she led her off saying, “You fix us a couple of Mojitos and I’ll whip us up something to eat.”
Tick-Tock headed for a British Pub before suddenly stopping. Looking at Susan, he asked, “Join Me?”
She thought about it and decided that in a world where it was unlikely she would ever have a chance to drink beer, shoot darts and eat meat pies in an authentic replica of an Olde English Pub again that she should jump on the chance. Instead, she hesitated for a few seconds.
Although she liked spending time with Tick-Tock, the thought of facing another thing about to pass from the pre dead world depressed her. Not wanting to spoil it for everyone by pointing out that they would never see anything like this again in their lives, she forced a smile and pushed her thoughts away as she said, “I'd love to join you.”
Connie and Brain stood undecided by the stairs. For them this was like a first date so, like many couples since the beginning of time, their conversation went:
Connie: What do you want to eat?
Brain: I’m fine with whatever you want.
Connie: Pick a place.
Brain: Where do you want to go?
Connie: Anywhere is fine with me.
Hearing this and knowing this type of conversation could go on for days, since he had been in similar ones before, Steve called Brain over to him. After the tech had joined him, he whispered, “Women love assertive men. Don't ask her, tell her. She doesn't care about the food anyway. She wants to spend time with you.”
Brain nodded at this bit of wisdom and glanced around at the selection of restaurants. While he was doing this, Heather grabbed Steve by the hand and said, “I'm hungry for pizza. Take me now or loose me forever.”
He went along willingly.
As Heather led him away, Brain looked startled at the contradiction to what he had just been told. This was until Steve
called back over his shoulder, “The rule I told you about only applies until you hook up. After that, she decides where to eat for the rest of your life.”
He yelped as Heather punched his shoulder and Brain laughed. Rejoining Connie he said, “Let's get some Chinese food.”
Giving him a smile that made his knees weak, Connie replied, “I love Chinese, perfect choice.”
Tim and Cindy looked at each other with disgust. Neither wanted to be stuck with the other but it looked like they had no choice. Earlier, Susan had asked him to watch over Cindy. At first he had swelled with pride at being given the responsibility but now it looked like this was going to be a drag.
In a bored voice, Tim said, “The Kidz Comer has got a bunch of video games and I can cook us up some cheeseburgers or something if you're hungry.”
At this, Cindy brightened. “Do they have Devious Dwarfs?”
“Oh yeah they do,” Tim said. “That's my favorite. I love Double D.”
“Me too.”
“What level have you gotten to?” Tim asked.
Cindy replied, “Twenty-two.”
“No way a girl got to level twenty-two. Prove it,” Tim said skeptically
“Show me where the game is and I will,” Cindy retorted.
Tim led her to the far end of Restaurant Row, thinking that there was no way a girl made it to level twenty-two, while Cindy thought, I’ll show him, and I actually made it to level twenty-eight.
After they were gone, the deck was still for a moment.
Until Mary broke it by calling out, “Brain, how in the hell do you turn on this deep fryer?”
***
In the red glow of the emergency lights, the dead locked in the engine room looked even more grotesque than the ones topside, if anyone was left alive in there to see them. Having been trapped inside the compartment for months now without any food, the figures were rail thin but still active as they staggered about looking for something to eat. It had been a long time since they had stuffed meat into their mouths to sate their cravings. They were hungry.
