“Of course—” Stewart was offended “—I know you think I’m paranoid, but I’m not blind.”
“Maybe she was looking for us?” Mark countered.
“Oh, come on man—” Stewart was boiling with frustration “—if she were looking for us, she would have found us.”
“I’m sure she has some perfectly logical reason—” Mark justified “—we’ll just ask her when she gets back to the boat.”
As it turned out, she was on the yacht when they got back, sitting there, fish book in hand as if she had gone nowhere at all.
“Enjoying your book?” Stewart said sarcastically.
“Actually, it’s very interesting—” she eyed him strangely “—why?”
“So you’ve been reading that boring fish book the entire time we’ve been gone?” Stewart demanded.
“Yes, what are you accusing me of?—” Her eyes narrowed “—is being interested in marine biology a crime now?”
Stewart opened his mouth to reply when Mark interjected, “He just thought he saw you by one of the shops, it was dark. I told him it wasn’t you.”
Imperceptively, Ashlyn clinched her jaw, and then she rolled her eyes at Stewart before going back to her book.
Stewart followed Mark into the other room and said, “Her reaction was weird.”
“I didn’t notice anything—” Mark was tired of the constant complaints about her “—if there was a change in her expression it was probably irritation, just like the look on my face, see?” He pointed to himself.
“Wait,” Stewart tried to follow him.
“Are you going to follow me into the can as well? Give it a rest,” Mark shook his head and shut the door between them.
When Stewart went back to the salon, Ashlyn was gone. What was he to do, follow her to her room too? There was little hope that she had not heard every word, the walls were not thick. He paced around for a while, but when he realized that he was alone for the night, he went down to his room in the crew quarters.
His new accommodations reminded him of the situation, and it angered him all over again. His thoughts kept him awake for a while, but eventually the exhaustion from the day’s work made him fall asleep. Neither of them noticed Ashlyn’s quiet return to the boat several hours later.
***
“Madeira, this is OceanAire flight 705 requesting landing instructions, over—” the copilot waited for a response then repeated “—Tower, this is OceanAire flight 705 requesting landing instructions, over.”
The pilot came back into the cockpit and strapped himself in. “Man, that coffee is bad tonight.”
“Yeah well, look at who made it; you don’t think they hired her because of her coffee making skills, do you?—” the co-pilot joked, and they both laughed, and then he repeated “—Funchal Airport, this is OceanAire flight 705 requesting landing instructions. Please respond.”
“What’s going on?” the pilot asked.
“I’ve called three times, and they haven’t answered.”
“Have you tried calling in Portuguese? Maybe the English speakers are all off shift tonight,” he grinned.
“Right—” he said, and then spoke in broken Portuguese “—Olá! acorde e dê-nos instruções da aterragem.”
Still, there was no response.
“I don’t see anything on radar—” the pilot said nervously “—are you sure you didn’t take us off autopilot too soon?”
Both of them began double-checking everything.
“We should be right on top of them; the GPS confirms our latitude and longitude—” the co-pilot said “—this is weird, we should see lights.”
The pilot tried contacting the tower himself, but still there was no response. He pulled out his cell phone and turned it on. There was no signal; they should have been close enough to be bouncing off several cell towers by now. He was about to try connecting through the onboard satellite phone system, when all the instruments began to malfunction.
“Look at the navigational compass!” the co-pilot said, alarmed.
Both the digital and magnetic compasses began to spin wildly. It was dark, the horizon was completely obscured, and the navigation system wasn’t working.
“May Day!—May Day!” the pilot shouted into the radio just before they hit the ocean at full speed.
***
Ashlyn, typically the first to awaken, was still sleeping when Stewart opened his eyes. He definitely did not like her, did not trust her, and wished that she would go away. However, he was hungry and couldn’t wait for breakfast. Even in the short time she had been with them, he had grown accustomed to the smell of bacon cooking in the morning.
Mark walked into the galley. He had been up on the deck planning the day’s events, “Where’s Ashlyn?”
“You’re asking me?” Mark didn’t miss the sarcasm in Stewart’s voice and scowled at him.
As if on cue, she came up the stairs looking less energetic than usual.
“Are you okay?” Mark’s voice dripped with concern, and Stewart didn’t bother turning away before rolling his eyes.
“I’m alright, I just didn’t sleep well.”
“You don’t need to cook breakfast this morning if you don’t feel up to it,” Mark said gently.
Stewart closed his eyes, clenched his fists, and wanted to scream—what is wrong with you, Mark?—Instead, Stewart said mockingly, “I don’t feel well either.”
His statement fell on deaf ears, Mark’s deaf ears anyway; Ashlyn didn’t miss it. She turned so that Mark could not see and shot Stewart a look that said, “Don’t push it.”
How he wished he had a camera right then so that Mark could see that expression. He was sure it was a warning, another threat, only this time unspoken.
“It’s not a problem. I can cook, I’m just tired,” she said with a sleepy smile.
“I’m going to take the day off,” Stewart announced to no one in particular, and then climbed off the boat onto the dock and walked away.
***
Mark stared after him, puzzled by Stewart’s sudden departure.
“What’s with him?” He turned to Ashlyn.
“I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure he just feels threatened by my presence. I did take his room and …well, it’s easy to see why there might be some hard feelings.”
“He knows that we were planning on leaving this morning. I wasn’t going to come back here for at least a week. The place is halfway to Puerto Rico—” Mark steamed “—I don’t want to wait all morning while he throws a tantrum.”
“He knows the plan—” she shrugged “—and he’s an adult.”
“What are you suggesting?” Mark asked seriously.
“Wait a couple of hours—” she took a deep breath “—if he’s not back, leave.”
Mark was about to protest, but he thought about it, and the idea of a few days without Stewart’s constant complaints sounded like an excellent idea. There were plenty of small resorts for him to stay in, and Mark was certain that Stewart had plenty of money with him.
“Maybe you’re right.”
She opened her mouth suddenly and then said, “I’m sorry. I forgot—I need to go somewhere quickly before we leave. Don’t worry, I won’t be long.”
“What? I thought you didn’t even know anyone here?”
She didn’t answer for a moment, and then a little awkwardly answered, “It’s personal.”
“Sure, alright, I didn’t mean to be nosy—” probably a female thing “—can you do me a favor while you are gone? I have to get the gear ready.”
“Yes, what is it?”
Mark quickly scribbled a note for Stewart explaining his plans, “Will you give this to the guy at the harbor office? Stewart will no doubt go there when he sees the boat missing.”
“No problem.” She smiled sweetly and left.
When she got to her destination, she inspected the area to make sure that she was not being watched, and then walked into a small building.
On
her way back, she opened the note Mark had given her, and read it. She paused for only a moment, before crushing the letter in her hand and throwing it into a trash can.
***
It took two days to reach their destination. By the time they had arrived, it was too late in the evening to begin diving. Mark had to admit, the days had been more pleasant without Stewart‘s objections. Ashlyn was friendly and fun, as well as highly intelligent and beautiful.
Mark had an unusually high IQ, which made it hard to find people who were interesting to talk with. She was clearly intelligent, and didn’t pretend to be helpless as many women did when they were with him. He hadn’t had the chance to get to know her well, mostly because of Stewart’s continued hostility. Mark was looking forward to finally having the opportunity.
The sun was just setting with perfect weather, so they ate dinner up on the flybridge. Several dolphins had been following the boat for a while and began jumping near their anchored vessel. They took pictures of them until they ran entirely out of light, then they watched the stars come out one by one.
The absolute darkness of the nearly moonless night made the stars look like diamonds in the sky. The boat was rocking gently from the small swells of the calm sea. The Milky Way was extremely bright, and they counted the shooting stars.
“Wow, I’ve never seen anything like this,” Ashlyn sounded like a child on Christmas morning.
“It’s a meteor shower.”
“It’s so incredibly beautiful,” Ashlyn said, mesmerized by the scene.
“This isn’t actually a very large shower. There’s going to be one in December that will be huge in comparison to this one, and if I remember right, the moon will only be a sliver. No light to get in the way.”
“I hope I can watch it with you,” her smile was infectious, and he found himself hoping that she would still be there too.
He had been avoiding relationships for the last few years, but that night he realized how enjoyable it was to be with someone, to be with her.
“Do you get along well with your parents?” he asked.
Ashlyn didn’t immediately answer, and then she spoke softly, “I never knew my parents. I was raised in a kind of group home. My grandfather took me with him for that one year that I told you about, and then he died.”
“You don’t have any other family?”
She shook her head; a pained expression masked her face.
He didn’t say anything more. Although he had never been close to his parents, at least he had known them.
She changed the subject to him. “How about you, do you have any family?” She stood up and walked over to the edge of the water.
He followed her quietly and then he said, “I’m an only child, and my parents are both deceased.”
“Deceased—” she looked up at him sadly “—that sounds so clinical. Were you close?”
He turned to face her and didn’t speak for a moment before admitting, “I didn’t think so, but I guess I took what I had for granted. I always wished that my dad had spent more time with me.”
Mark looked up at the stars. “My father always told me that he would take me deep-sea fishing someday, but we never got past ice-fishing; definitely not the same. I suppose that’s why I bought this boat. I’ve never actually considered that, but I think that I’m—” he shook his head “—I really don’t know.”
When he didn’t say anything more, she almost whispered, “I miss my grandfather. Being on this boat, with you …it makes me feel …safe I guess. I suppose that sounds silly.”
“You think you sound silly, after what I just said? I’m glad I make you feel that way. I feel safe with you too.” He stepped a little closer.
“No one has ever said that to me before—” she met his eyes “—I’ll do my best not to let you down.”
“I’m not sure what you mean by that,” he conceded.
Her eyes drifted away for a moment, and then she looked down at her hands. “Life is just complicated. I’m not sure what I mean either.”
Her statement clarified nothing, but he didn’t care. When she looked into his eyes, he leaned over and kissed her.
***
Stewart sat watching television in his room—I can’t believe they left without me—he had only been trying to protect Mark, and look where it was getting him. Stewart didn’t even know where they had been planning to go, so guessing his return date was virtually impossible. He swore under his breath as he went to take a shower. Every day he liked Ashlyn less.
The television continued droning on in the background. A newscaster named Bob was speaking to an official NASA scientist, Dr. Aristae, about the ever-increasing solar activity. He was warning the public about bad space weather.
“So, anyone planning a visit to Mars should maybe take the next flight or at least take a large umbrella,” the newscaster proclaimed.
The scientist continued on, “We are now projecting a geomagnetic storm of a magnitude not seen since 1859. That storm destroyed much of the telegraph system of the time and melted or shorted out even some of the undersea cables.”
“Then it’s certainly a good thing that we don’t use the telegraph anymore,” said Bob.
Dr. Aristae continued, “We may face widespread power and communication outages within the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours.”
“Okay then—” the newscaster interjected “—better have those video cameras running. Apparently, the Aurora Borealis may be visible all the way to Cuba.
The news switched to the other commentator, “I’m with you, Bob. Next up, new evidence has linked the increase of cancer to the lack of breast-feeding. Don’t turn the channel; we will be back in a moment.” The station went to commercial.
***
Mark and Ashlyn had been out for five days now, the dives yielding no measurable results whatsoever. However, there were strange things happening. The most amazing was the Aurora Borealis, which showed brilliantly in the evening sky.
It wouldn’t be an unusual sight if they were in Alaska or in Siberia, maybe even in Canada, but they were in the Caribbean. What they were seeing was nigh on impossible. Mark was watching the ever-increasing geo-magnetic activity but hadn’t been able to watch the news, unable to maintain any decent reception with his satellite television.
Here they were, sitting peacefully on a boat in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle. Their compass was working just fine while the sky above was full of lights creating a beautiful dance. There were no swirling clouds full of light or bizarre, unexplainable events, just an incredibly brilliant lightshow, courtesy of the closest star’s solar flares.
Ashlyn leaned back against Mark as they contemplated the breathtaking sight. His arms had already been around her, but now he held her more tightly.
“Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?” she asked.
When he didn’t answer, she turned her head to look back up at him.
He gazed deeply into her eyes and then smiled, “Never.”
A knowing smile curved the side of her mouth as she turned again to the sky, with its mesmerizing, brilliantly undulating hues.
***
Deep within the Earth’s core, spinning pools of magma were appearing with more and more frequency, their contrary flow expelling enormous amounts of electromagnetic power. Far out in the Atlantic Ocean an explosive stream of electromagnetic energy shot up through the deep water into the atmosphere. The area through which it had ascended began to spin, a greenish glow matching a shimmering, swirling mist above. Almost instantly, a bank of storm clouds formed, twisting like an inverted cyclone high into the night sky. Strange lights waved in and out of odd formations that would have caused some concern if anyone had been there to watch.
Chapter 4
Integrity can be neither lost nor concealed nor faked
nor quenched, nor artificially come by nor outlived, nor, I believe, in the
long run, denied. — Eudora Welty
~
In th
e morning, not having found anything that they had been looking for, they made the decision to head back to Bimini Island to pick up Stewart. Because there were only two of them, they fit nicely at the helm of the flybridge.
It was seventy-five degrees, the sun was shining, and there was a slight breeze. It was October twenty-ninth, and soon it would be a little too chilly for doing much in the way of diving.
Ashlyn had her eyes closed with her head leaning back. Mark thought she was asleep until she asked, “Will you stop diving when the weather isn’t so perfect next month?”
“That all depends on whether I find anything interesting enough to make it worth it. Generally I stay out of cold water—” he shivered “—I grew up in Wisconsin.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You’re a long way from home.”
“Have you ever been there?” he asked.
“No,” she stated as if it were an appalling thought.
He laughed softly, “Don’t like the cold either, huh?”
She met his eyes and shook her head vehemently.
“I can take you ice fishing if you ever change your mind,” he teased.
She cringed, and then she turned back to look at the pristine, more importantly, warm, water, “No thank you.”
“Was it just pleasure diving in Hawaii?”
“Hawaii?—” She furrowed her brow momentarily “—oh …yeah.”
He eyed her strangely. “You don’t remember where you grew up?”
An odd expression crossed her face, “It’s complicated.”
He waited for more—puzzled, but when she didn’t look at him, he dropped it.
“I can‘t get over the color of the water, it’s so …blue. That really doesn’t describe it. You know what I mean, right?” she asked him.
“It’s that different from Hawaii?” He asked, surprised.
“Haven’t you been there?”
“No.” He shook his head.
“Why in the world haven’t you? You own a yacht; you live on it for heaven’s sake—” she continued passionately “—I would have traveled across the entire world by now.”
Time Storm Shockwave Page 4
