by Lara Frater
“What happened?” I said, touching his shoulder and he flinched.
He pulled away, not to jump but to move from me. He didn’t go far, enough that I could still hear him over the sea wind. It chilled me even through my coat.
“Please Keith, tell me.” I don’t know why I asked. I rather give Dave his coffee and go back to bed, but I worried that Keith might do something stupid.
“You won’t want to hear it, Annemarie.”
“Try me.”
“I have a terrible secret. I can kill you all. I don’t want to. I just want the hunters to leave me alone.”
“What hunters? Keith, stop being cryptic.”
“They know about the people with the special blood. They want to kill the zombies and us.”
I paused for a moment and let what he said sink in. Originally I thought they were rambling delusions of frightened kid.
“You’re a carrier?” I could barely see Keith’s face in the light but he looked confused then startled.
“Keith—“
“I wish I hadn’t said anything—how did you know about carriers?”
“Rachel—the leader before Tanya was one.”
Keith didn’t respond right away. He looked around the deck like he was searching for someone. “I didn’t meet a Rachel. She’s not here now?”
I wasn’t sure how much information to tell him. That Rachel passed the virus on or that she committed suicide because of it. Keith might hear from the others, but maybe not. We avoided the subject.
“How’d she die?”
“Suicide,” I admitted. “She did it because she was depressed for a long time. She used to be our leader and a lot of us got killed fleeing from the zombies.” That sounded better than the truth.
“It was so strange,” he said not looking at me. “I got bitten by a zombie, thought about killing myself, but I couldn’t. I was surprised I didn’t turn—that nothing happened. I got a little sick, but that was it. Please Annemarie, you can’t tell anyone—People who know my secret end up dead.”
I didn’t like hearing that, now that I knew his secret. I didn’t like being his confidant either. At least now I knew how Jim felt. I should have never asked but it was too late now.
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Please—Annemarie. I shouldn’t have told you, but now you know you can’t tell anyone.” I didn’t like keeping secrets from Tanya. She would become pissed off if she found out but Keith looked at me like a wounded animal. What was I to do?
“Whatever you do, do not have sex with anyone.”
“I don’t even like using the same bathroom. I scrub the toilet down every time I use it. I don’t know why I got this curse.” He looked down into the water. The whales had stopped singing. Were they scared of our voices?
“Go back to bed. I have to bring coffee to Dave.”
“Thanks, Annemarie,” he said moving away from the bow.
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t stay. Maybe Mike can take me back to shore in the morning.”
“Stay for now. For the winter at least. We’ll talk again.”
He didn’t respond. I watched him go back into the salon. I wasn’t sure what to do. It was hard to keep a secret here. I did swear to Tanya I’d warn her about trouble, but also promised Keith, I wouldn’t snitch.
I headed to the bridge and climbed the slightly rusted metal stairs to the upper deck. The boat had been left out the elements for almost a year allowing rust to form in a lot of areas above deck including the stairs, parts of the mast, and the deck chairs.
The bridge was made entirely out of glass and while not bulletproof was pretty strong. It was lit up with several lanterns. Dave sat in the leather captain’s chair that was dead center in the room, and looked asleep. Now I know why he hadn’t seen Keith. His dog Olive was asleep on one of the leather seats. She was a sweet terrier and the only one who adored Dave. I don’t even know if Tanya liked him or just wanted sex.
I knew a lot of people fell asleep on watch, me included, so I wasn’t mad. Not much to do but watch the dark. I loudly opened the door to wake Dave. Olive woke up too, ran to me and demanded affection. She licked my hand twice before going back to the chair.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey,” he said, pretending that he wasn’t asleep. He yawned and stretched.
“I was up so I bought you coffee,” I said, handing him the cup. I worried it might be cold.
The whale began singing again.
“They must like our boat.”
“Maybe they miss us.”
Dave didn’t respond. I think he was disappointed that when I was bed hopping, I never went to his. He sipped the coffee. If it was cold, he didn’t complain.
“I’m going back to bed. Have a good night.”
“Can you stay for a bit? It gets dull overnight. What time is it anyway?”
“I don’t know, I’m kind of beat. I just got up to use the bathroom when I heard the whales.”
“How about a half hour until the coffee kicks in.”
“All right,” I said. I yawned to show that I was tired. I wasn’t lying though. I thought about Keith and about the other carriers and about the hunters who killed them. I wondered how the hunters knew about it.
When I woke up, it was cold and I pulled the blanket around me tighter. Mike rationed the fuel so it should run out mid-March but he often lowered the heat overnight. On mild nights, we used less to use more on very cold nights. At least the sun shined through my port window. I looked at my wind up clock: 7:08 am just at the edge of dawn. Henry wasn’t next to me. I guess he got tired of lying in bed. I got up, put on my robe and went to see if anyone was in the bathroom.
There was a short line. Dena and Jim were ahead of me.
“Who’s in the bathroom?”
Brie sat on the bed reading a picture book and occasionally giggling. I loved hearing her laugh. Despite all she’s been through, losing her natural parents and three adopted ones, she seemed to have bounced back nicely. I only hoped nothing happens to Hannah. Simon was also on the bed playing silently with two toy dinosaurs.
“Grace,” Jim said and rolled his eyes.
“How long?”
“Five minutes.”
“Jim,” I said, annoyed, probably still pissed with her for yesterday. “We made a deal, toilet only unless it’s allotted shower time. We all have basins.”
Jim knocked on the door. “Grace, come on out.”
“One moment,” she said, her voice annoyed.
He knocked again. “Princess, get out here.”
I heard the toilet flush, so it wasn’t mellow. A minute later, the door opened and Grace came out. She looked flawless with a dash of makeup. She wore a Ralph Lauren jacket over a black shirt and jeans. On her feet were Jimmy Choo slippers. Dena went in before Grace said anything.
“I was in fact only using the bathroom, James. Sometimes even a Princess’ needs more than 5 minutes.”
“Try to save your shits for later.” Jim rarely got angry but usually when he was, Grace set him off.
Grace scowled and left the room.
“How’s Keith?” Jim asked me while we waited for Dena.
“I’m checking on him after I use the bathroom. I think he’s trustworthy. I don’t think he’ll be trouble.” Bring trouble maybe, if the hunters found us.
“I’m glad. We can use an extra hand in the spring. Maybe he’ll have time to rest and be okay by then.”
“I hope so.” I thought about our conversation last night. I hated keeping this secret.
“What’s the matter, Annemarie,” he said and smiled. “You look distracted.”
“It’s nothing. It’s cold and I’m not looking forward be cooped up on this boat for the next three months.”
“I’m going to try to think of entertainment. Charades? I spy something with my little eyes, it’s blue and goes on forever.”
I laughed and when I did, Brie cracked
up.
“Besides we can still make trips on mild days.”
“I hope so.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
I shrugged. I wanted to tell him. Everyone trusted Jim but he wouldn’t keep the secret if the pressure was on. “Who’s okay in this world?”
“No one.”
Dena came out of the bathroom, no flush. It’s mellow. Jim went in.
“Damn it, Dena!” he yelled. Or maybe not.
After I used the bathroom, I headed to the crew quarters to check on Keith but found him in the salon with Tanya. I guess he knocked. Then I realized I forgot again to lock him again last night. Tanya raised her eyes to me. I think I was in trouble, but she would let me have it when we’re alone.
The left over chili was on the table and the smoke coming off them indicated Mike had reheated it. There was also a carafe of coffee on the table, an opened can of condensed milk and a box of sugar packets. I grabbed a mug and took it over to the table. I didn’t feel like eating, I would, but I wanted coffee.
I poured some, added the condensed milk and sugar, and then sat next to Keith. He looked cleaner than he did yesterday so I guess Jim told him about showering.
“Feeling better?” I asked, as I took a sip of the nasty coffee. The sugar and milk didn’t help.
“Much,” he said, his voice still low. “The shower was amazing-- ” He looked at Tanya. “Thank you for allowing me more than the allotted time.”
“Just this once,” she said, “but now on 2 minutes four times a week or five minutes twice a week.”
I can imagine he hadn’t done much showering unless it rained. He was pretty stinky when we found him, but none of us, except maybe Grace, smelled like roses.
Then the outside bell began rang. Tanya stood up. This meant whoever was on watch had seen something.
Tanya already had her boots on, so she grabbed a jacket and headed above deck.
“What’s going on?” Keith asked.
“Something out there,” I explained. “Most likely a zombie.”
“In the ocean?”
I didn’t respond. I got my boots on and grabbed my coat.
Keith put on the work boots he wore yesterday. I didn’t know if they were warm enough for snow. I reminded myself to tell Jim to get a pair for him in the next supply run but I don’t know if there would be one before spring.
I walked to the deck followed by Keith and found Tanya at the bow looking at the water.
I followed her gaze and saw it.
It was a floater.
Not a piece of shit or something easy to deal with, but a floating zombie.
The one thing I was always grateful for was that when zombies go in the water, they bloat, and then float instead of sinking. I couldn’t imagine them at the ocean floor.
It was at the end of summer with still a few hot swim days left. The boat had a swim deck in the back.
One day the weather was perfect. Everyone put on their bathing suits or shorts and we hung around the deck. Jim found the boat had an Mp3 sound system with preloaded songs. We blasted pop music, had warm beers, and it seemed almost a party of friends rather than a refuge boat. Even Grace wore a skimpy bikini widening the eyes of every man but Jim and Eric. I think Mike was in the doghouse for a week for staring. Even though, I caught Hannah checking out Jim in his short shorts. I guess she thought it was okay because Jim was unavailable, but I don’t think Grace had any interest in anyone but herself.
It didn’t matter; we were having a great time. I almost stopped dreading the upcoming winter. I didn’t have a bathing suit so I wore shorts and a tee. The water felt refreshing on such a hot day.
That stopped when Henry screamed, so terrifying I thought he was drowning until I heard the moan. That’s when we saw the floater. It nearly ran into Henry and caused a panic with the other three people in the water: Jim, Hannah, and Dena.
Good thing zombies can’t swim. All four safely made it back into the boat while Grace shot it. She had her rifle even as she sat sunning herself on a lounge chair.
We never had a day like that again. We only had two more hot days and that involved quick dips. Grace, Mike, Tanya or me watched with a rifle. Henry wouldn’t even do that. He refused to swim again. Jim came out wearing boots and an open coat.
“Where’s Grace?” I asked.
“She knows. She’s coming.” He began buttoning up his coat. I felt the chill of the morning and the sea wind.
We all took shooting lessons from her, but when we needed a quick shot, Grace did it.
I looked at the zombie, then Keith. He didn’t look scared. Neither was I. One thing a zombie can’t do is climb a ladder and the swim deck was closed. We were safe in the boat but it could get tangled up in the engine and if we didn’t kill it, it would stay with the boat and continually moan. We found that out the hard way. On a morning watch a few weeks ago, Dave saw a floater too far to take out. It was lost when we moved but showed up a day later, moaning and it brought two more with it.
I looked back to it. The scary part is it looked fresh, a new zombie rather than an old one. I couldn’t tell the gender because of the bloating and the gray skin, but it looked like it wore jeans and a t-shirt.
I heard the door of the below deck open. Grace came out with no coat, and still wearing her Jimmy Choos. She hadn’t changed from when I saw her in the bathroom. She had her pretty rifle on her back. She went to the bow, looked at the zombie, raised the gun and fired.
The zombie’s head vanished, but the bloated corpse stayed above water which it would briefly than sink. Gross. Grace put the gun down. She didn’t say a word, she walked back below deck. She didn’t even look like she was cold.
This was going to be a very long winter.
Chapter 3
Keith fit in quickly and Tanya wasn’t so hard on me for leaving the door unlocked. I told her I blew it, she told me it shouldn’t happen again. That made me feel guilty about keeping Keith’s secret.
He stayed quiet like Eric, Grace or Simon except he didn’t have Grace’s sarcasm or Eric’s moodiness. Jim added two game nights, one night of poker for candy and another for monopoly, but I was still bored and depressed. Tanya announced we were casting off and heading a mile off the Hamptons where we would stay for the winter. Grace knew of a dock big enough for the boat to fit, in case of emergency. I was happy to leave the boat now.
It was cold with a bitter wind, but I sat above deck watching the ship crash against the waves and the cold wind blow the sails. Grace was sailing but Tanya was with her getting lessons. We would have to ride around Orient beach and Plum Island. Plum Island was one of the places Jim’s suggested but rejected. The island was home to laboratories and who knew if anything nasty got released.
I wore thermals, jeans, a tee, a sweat jacket, the winter coat, scarf, hat, gloves and a hood but I was still felt chilled to the bone. Everyone else was inside, probably thinking I was crazy.
It was when we passed Orient that I saw the people.
There were two of them standing on the beach: A younger black woman and an older Hispanic man. Neither wore coats. They were waving at us frantically. I waved back and they waved again, still frantically, jumping up and down with their hands in the air. I think they needed help. I ran up to the bridge to let Tanya know.
“Yeah,” she said as soon as I got inside. The warmer air was a godsend. “I see ‘em.”
“We need to stop. We should at least talk to them.”
“In the spring maybe. Not now. Keith’s our last passenger. We can’t take on anymore and we can’t dock, which mean someone’s gonna have to take the dinghy out in this cold, and I ain’t risking that.”
“But what if they just need supplies? I could go.”
“We can’t help anyone right now,” she said. I looked at Grace and she seemed uninterested.
Angered, I chose not to respond, instead I left the bridge. The people were already gone in the distance. I waved but I don’t think they saw
me.
I heard the door open and Keith came out. He had two steaming mugs.
“Hi,” he said. “Thought you might like coffee.”
“I saw people at Orient beach,” I took one of the cups. I sipped the lousy coffee but I didn’t mind because it warmed me up.
He looked out onto the water but they were long gone. “We aren’t the only survivors.”
“I know, but I feel like we should start talking to other people—“ I paused. “But then there are hunters.”
He looked flustered. “I shouldn’t have told you, Annemarie,” he looked down. His eye glasses hit the edge of his nose.
“Too late for that.”
“Don’t let my problem get in the way. I’ll move on in the spring.”
“You don’t have to. The hunters, do they know you?”
“A man came to the camp, asked a lot of questions about carriers.”
“The camp at Northport?”
“I told two people there a zombie bite couldn’t kill me. I needed to tell someone. Felicia, she was the leader, and one of the soldiers kept it secret until the man came asking about carriers. The soldier, Manny, thought this guy might be trouble. He said I should split, so I did.” I remembered Felicia’s story about someone like Rachel who had left the camp. Anyone from that camp might be able to identify Keith. That meant if we went looking for Aisha, he had to stay behind.
“I met Manny. He seemed like a good guy.” I said, remembering the Hispanic man who showed us around the camp.
“He didn’t want me to go but that guy unnerved him.”
“Keith, we are good people. We’re a family, good, bad and ugly but we don’t turn our back on each other.”
“I’ve only been here for three weeks. I’m not part of your family.”
“We don’t let a good person get murdered.”
“How do you know I’m a good person?”
He got me there. I didn’t know if Keith was joking. “You haven’t hurt us.”
“Not yet. Tanya would kill me if I did.”
“She won’t.”
“I figured Mike would leader, not Tanya—she seems—“
“Tanya is new at leading. If you can believe she used to deal drugs and steal cars. But she knows what’s best for us.”
