by G. E. Stills
“The bottom of the ocean, actually.”
“Huh?”
“Not under a rock. My Mil’ort…my coffin, as you call it…has been on the ocean floor for many… years.”
A look of stunned disbelief spread across his face. “Where? At the ocean bottom I mean. I don’t know for sure how deep it is around here, but I’m certain that in most places it’s at least a mile down to the bottom. You’ve been living in that thing for years on the bottom of the ocean floor?” He shook his head.
“I’m not sure what location my Mil’ort has been in for all these years but it has been on the ocean floor.”
“Impossible.”
“Nonetheless true. I see the expression of disbelief on your face, so maybe I shouldn’t tell you the rest of my story.”
“Katrina, in spite of our current situation…me being your hostage and all, I find that I like you. Tell me the rest. We have lots of time.”
“I’m finding that I like you too, Nolan.”
****
While he sat in the pilot seat and checked the compass bearing against the other instruments, she told him her tale. She watched his mouth drop open further and his eyes grow wider as her story progressed. She thought it best not to tell him about her abilities or about Jar’san. After she had said all she wanted to say, she waited for his response.
He looked at her, stunned. “I don’t know what to say.” His gaze focused solely on her. “As hard to believe as your story is, your eyes tell me you’re being truthful. You’re either a fantastically good liar, with a wild imagination, or you’ve told me an unbelievable truth.”
“I have no reason to lie to you.”
He stared at the panel in front of him, lost in thought. Minutes later, he said, “Why me? Out of all the humans on this planet, why did you pick me?”
“You were chosen because you best satisfied my requirements. I need to learn your skills. I also need to understand your world. And I require someone to take me where I must go.”
“So, let me get this straight,” he said, turning in his seat to face her. “You want me to teach you whatever it is you need to know, cart you all over the world so you can revive others like yourself, and then, all of you are going to prevent an alien invasion?”
“That is an accurate summary.”
Grinning, he stiffened. “Right.”
“I’m quite serious,” she said, leaning forward.
He raised his hands as if to ward off an attack, but kept them positioned mid-air, his mouth open like he intended to speak, but instead, he sighed. “Do I have a choice?”
“No.”
“Right.”
They stared at one another for a long time.
“What about money?” he asked.
“What about it?”
“What you want to accomplish will take a ton of money. Money I don’t have. So, unless you have a bundle stashed in that coffin of yours, I have no idea how you’re going achieve your goal.”
“Money? What is money? I’ve heard you mention that term before.”
“That’s what I thought. The fact that you have no idea what money is, makes me believe your wild tale even more. Good God,” Nolan said, shifting in his seat. “And you’re supposed to save the world? And I’m supposed to help you do that?” His gaze came to rest on the jewel in her navel. “Now if you would part with that huge diamond you’re wearing in your navel …if you sold it, that might make a good start.”
She looked at her crystal, then at him. “So, you’re suggesting I trade something of value for what I need to purchase in order to accomplish my mission. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
She thought of the bracelets and necklaces she used to wear. She did not know what had become of them but wondered if Nolan would consider them to be of value.
“They are all here, in the Mil’ort,” Jar’san said.
She directed her attention back to Nolan. “This jewel in my navel can not be sold, but I have other things I want to show you. Wait here.”
She went to get one of the bracelets and returned. “Would this be worth the kind of money you think we need?”
Nolan took the bracelet and whistled. “I’ll be honest with you. If this is what I think it is, each one of these diamonds is worth a fortune. You won’t need my help. You could surround yourself with others much more qualified to get the job done than me.”
“Then, we should sell them.”
She hid her grin at her thought. I intend to keep you though.
He gave the bracelet back to her, his hand shaking.
She slipped it on her wrist, took a seat, crossed her leg and leaned toward him. “I want to know your story now.”
“My story? Not much to tell really. My life has been very mundane compared to yours.” That wonderful smile of his formed on his face, and he chuckled. “I used to work at a financial institution, a bank. I arranged financial transactions between clients. That was before I quit.”
“Why did you leave?”
“Personal reasons.” He scratched his two-day-old beard.
“So, tell me why you’re traveling on this ocean and where your destination is.” She flashed an interested smile. “After all, as you said, we have time. Neither of us is going anywhere.”
She listened as he relayed his story. From his occasional hesitations, she assessed he held back details he wasn’t ready to share.
Hours passed and darkness fell.
Finally, Nolan said, “I think we should turn in and get some sleep. There’s a stateroom you can sleep in, unless you’d rather sleep in your coffin?” He chuckled. He moved the throttles to neutral halting their progress.
“Why are we stopping?”
“I would much rather drift tonight while we’re sleeping just in case something malfunctions. But you’re the lady with the gun, and therefore, the boss, so, it’s up to you.”
“I’ll do what you suggest.”
“One more thing I would advise Katrina. I think we should refuel at Majuro and then return to Hawaii. I’ll help you sell your diamond. After that…” He shrugged his shoulders. “Where we go from there is up to you.”
She stood “I’ll sleep in the stateroom, not in the Mil’ort.”
They climbed down from the pilot deck and went separate ways. In her room, she settled into the bed staring up into the darkness.
“Katrina,” Jar’san said, “I have accessed something the people on this planet call the internet. It has a wealth of information. With your permission I will study it while you sleep. We’ll know a lot more concerning current society and conditions in this world when you wake.”
“I agree,” she said sleepily. She rolled on her side and pulled the pillow into the crux of her shoulder. “We’ll talk in the morning.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Nolan stared at the ceiling, troubled by what had happened today. Though it was hard to accept, he had no doubt Katrina was real. Why would she lie? She could have told him anything, or nothing. She held all the cards. The alternative to not believing her was to think her an absolute nut case. He did not think she was crazy. Besides, he had seen too much, like the Mil’ort floating behind the raft, to dismiss any part of her story. That she had chosen him to assist her in her mission, he found incredulous. But that was before….
He would sail to Hawaii and help her sell the diamond. After that he had no idea what would happen. She would have far more wealth than he could ever dream of having. She had no reason to keep him around. He did not want to remain her hostage, but at the same time, the thought of never seeing her again was not appealing. Their talk this afternoon had been amicable, no different than two friends sharing.
He could not believe she wasn’t human. Katrina looked like a woman, moved like one, strong and graceful. His mind refused to process that she wa
s the product of ape and alien genes. In his eyes, she was undeniably beautiful in addition to being highly intelligent. He found her and her story captivating. The thought of traveling the globe, helping her accomplish her mission was appealing. If he went his own way after Hawaii, he would be right back where he was: stuck in a miserable, boring existence.
On the other hand, remember, Leah, he reminded himself.
I do not need or want another woman, friend or otherwise, in my life right now. No how. No way. Not so soon after Leah. Not after the way she used me. Nope, I do not need a repeat of that. Getting involved with Katrina, even if we kept it platonic, reminds me too much of what I lost.
Nolan rolled over in bed and glanced at the time displayed by the clock on his bed-stand. He ran his hand over his beard and considered getting a beer. Quickly, he decided that getting drunk would not make what happened today any less staggering nor would it help solve his dilemma.
Right now, Katrina needed him for transport to Hawaii. What about after that? Any guy with a boat and time on his hands could do her bidding. He was torn between the need to get as far from her and her mission as possible, and his desire to stay near her and get fully involved.
Laying there staring up in the dark, his eyes opened wide. All this time I have been thinking about me and my feelings. What about hers? Maybe she does not even like me. Maybe she is looking forward to being rid of me.
He was still pondering that question when slumber claimed him.
****
Nolan woke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. After showering, shaving and performing his other bathroom duties, he quickly dressed. The delicious smell drew him to the galley. He found Katrina, seated at the table, drinking a cup of coffee and reading one of the manuals on how to operate his boat. She had finished most of it and apparently had read the two other manuals stacked next to her plate.
“Good morning, Nolan,” she greeted him with a smile. She stood and walked to the refrigerator. She removed a frozen breakfast meal and put it in the microwave “I hope you don’t mind, I helped myself to one of these. They’re quite good, actually.” She poured him a cup of coffee, refilled her own and sat in her seat. “Please, join me.”
“Okay,” he answered absently, while watching the microwave timer count down. He slid into the booth seat across the table from her.
“I’ve been reading these books. Loads of technical terms but I think I understand most of the information in them.”
Dumfounded he pointed at the thick books. “You’ve already read both of those?”
“Yes.”
“Good God, Katrina. No human can read that fast unless they’re a genius, which I’m beginning to suspect you are.”
The timer chimed and before he could react, she jumped up, retrieved the breakfast meal and set it in front of him.
He fingered the tray, steam rising from scrambled eggs, hashed brown potatoes and bacon. How did you make coffee and learn how to operate the microwave? What, did you stay up all night reading and experimenting?”
She lifted her cup and held it with both hands. “No, I’ve only been up for a couple hours. It wasn’t hard to figure out. I guess you could say I’m a fast learner. Is that a problem?”
He raised his eyebrows and shrugged. “Hell, no.”
She grinned at him as she unfolded a piece of paper. “I hate to ask, but if you’d be kind enough to loan me some money, there are a few things I’d like to pick up when we get to Majuro. I’ll pay you back when we get to Hawaii and sell my diamond.”
“Not a problem. One thing I might suggest, you don’t know your way around and… have little knowledge of people, our society. I think maybe you should stay onboard while we refuel. I’ll be happy to pick up your items. That is, if you’ll trust me out of your sight.”
“That might be best. I’ll trust you. If you tried to tell the authorities about me and my wild story, they’d no doubt lock you up in a padded cell anyway.”
He shook his head and grinned. Having been in shock over her transformation, it was only now the he noticed the throb of the diesel engines underfoot.
“We’re underway?”
“Of course. After reading those manuals, I think I’m qualified to operate this boat. We’re sailing toward the port. I estimate we should be there by around midday.”
“Good god. Well you damn sure don’t need me anymore.”
“There you’re wrong Nolan. I have a lot to learn. Things that aren’t in books or other places. Things that I can only learn from another person. Besides, I like you.”
Well that question answered. She at least likes me.
“I like you too, Katrina.”
“That’s something else. I think you should start calling me Kat. That’s what my friends call me.”
“So we’re friends?”
“Aren’t we?”
“Yes, yes we are. I’ll leave you to your reading, Kat.”
He ate his breakfast and taking his coffee, went up top in a daze. How was it possible? The difference between the Kat of yesterday, and the one he saw today, was like the difference of night and day. How was it possible for her to change so drastically overnight?
He was still pondering that question, while coating himself with sunblock, when she joined him.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Putting sunblock on to keep from getting burned.”
“Burned?”
“By sun rays. UV rays to be exact. Do you want me to put some on you?”
“You don’t need it Kat. Your skin is impervious to UV rays,” Jar’san said.
“Yes please,” she told Nolan, ignoring her AI.
While Nolan sprayed her, she thought at Jar’san. “Maybe I don’t need it, but Nolan doesn’t know that. Besides, he’s being polite and I intend to be the same.”
Nolan stepped close with the spray can. “You’re not going shoot me if I touch you are you?”
“Nolan, we’ve already discussed this.”
“Just checking. For now, I think we should only treat your exposed skin.” He held her arms out and spayed them. He sprayed his hand. “Close your eyes.”
When she did, he ran his hand gently over her face. With his other he held up her long hair and applied it to her neck.
“Don’t kick me. I’m going to put some on your legs.” Slowly, so as not to alarm her, he knelt down and raised her dress to mid thigh. He sprayed her legs. He felt her tremble slightly each time he touched her soft skin.
“There,” he said. “Now that you know how, I’ll let you do it next time to yourself. That way you don’t need to feel threatened when I touch you.”
That way I don’t torture myself by feeling your softness.
By midday, the port at Majuro came in sight.
Docked and making arrangements for refueling, he prepared to leave. She addressed him. “Nolan please don’t contact the authorities or bring them here to restrain me. The results would not be pleasant, for any of us.”
“Alright…Kat, you’re the lady with the gun.”
Smiling at him, she said, “Yes I am. You keep reminding me of that fact.”
“I won’t tell a soul about you. Consider me duly intimidated.”
For a moment she stared at him blankly. He could visualize her processing the new word intimidated. Again a smile tugged her luscious lips wide. “Thank you Nolan. I don’t wish to harm you or anyone else.”
“So you keep telling me. That’s reassuring. I just hope you’re being truthful.”
“I am.”
He looked at her list. “Well, I have some shopping to do. I’ll be back soon. Don’t run away.”
Her smile widened. “I won’t.”
While the boat was being refueled, he purchased the items she had requested and he obtained other supplies. By late afternoon, th
ey headed out of port on the return voyage to Hawaii.
After lengthy debate, he surrendered, letting Kat pilot the boat overnight, as she insisted, while he slept.
“Do you mind if I take a look at that while you’re sleeping?” Kat asked, indicating his laptop.
He debated. There was a lot of info on him in there. That part was password protected though. “Why not? Sure go ahead.”
“Thanks. I’ve finished everything onboard that is printed. I need something to do during the night.”
Shaking his head in amazement at what she’d told him, he retired for the night.
He relieved her the next morning, taking his place at the controls.
“Talk to you later,” he told her, when she turned to climb down the ladder. “Get some sleep.”
“See you this afternoon. Anything you need before I retire?”
“Get some rest Kat. I’ll be fine.”
“By the way. When I join you this afternoon, I’d like to know a little bit more about Leah… the woman that broke you heart.” She vanished down the ladder before he could get over his speechless state and reply.
Oh fuck. She knows about Leah. But how? That part of the computer is password protected.
The day was uneventful. Several times he went down to the galley to get something to eat, or drink and never encountered her.
****
“Hi, I brought you a coke. Care for some company?”
After his initial jolt of surprise, he swiveled in his chair to face her. He swallowed hard. Locks of her hair fluttered in the gentle sea breeze. The setting sun made it glisten and shine. Her face was flawless and fantastic looking. Her loose fitting dress had always hidden most of her body. He had guessed at her sizes. Kat was about the same build as Leah and he knew those measurements. As it turned out his estimation was correct. Disturbingly correct. The snug fitting top and blue jean shorts she wore today, left just enough to the imagination to tantalize. Her beautiful face and legs were a perfect match to the rest of her killer body. All her curves were well pronounced and in just the right places. The aura surrounding her fairly shouted, sultry, sexy.
