APRIL 20TH –DAY 18
“So you finally have a crew?”
“Yes sir. We’re taking Frank Wadding and Mike Oldegard, of course.” The man nodded in approval. “They’ll be on the bridge. The other four helped prepare her. They think the ship is on a scientific expedition to the West Coast of Africa.”
“What are you going to do when you get there?”
“We’ll develop a problem with the ship and park it in a cavern on the island and get ‘rescued’.” Johnson made a quotes sign with his fingers. “It’ll work.”
The man gave him a long look. There was a trace of a smile on his lips. “I’ve assigned a regular Navy crew to the phony USS Washington. They’ve never seen the original ship and won’t know the difference. What about the crews of the other ships?”
“The Seaview will retain her normal crew. We’ve modified her navigational system so we can control her from the real Washington.
“The radar on the phony Washington has been reprogrammed, and we’ve made sure that certain items are missing from her inventory to hinder visibility from the deck. The Seaview will develop rudder problems and her crew will lose control of the helm. The Washington won’t be able to see her on radar until it’s too late. They’ll collide, and both ships will sink. We’ll then sail to the rendezvous point.”
“You insured the survival of the crews of the ships, of course?”
“Yes, sir. Everything is set up to give them time to abandon the ships.” He shook his head, a sneer twisting the side of his face.
“You don’t like that, Mr. Johnson?”
“It does leave some untidy ends, sir. If any of them are suspicious, it could blow up in our faces, especially since we have to give them time to get off the ship. We control their radar as well, so they’ll be a lot closer to the Washington than they think they are. A small explosion underneath the bridge should suffice to create a little confusion on the Seaview, but we’ll have to cut it close so they don’t get a chance to override the controls we’ve installed. That may make it difficult for some to get off.”
“There must be witnesses that USS Washington went down, Mr. Johnson. If you do your job right, the crew will survive. I assume you can handle that.”
“Yes sir.”
“What about this island? Are you positive it’s uninhabited? We don’t want anybody to find the ship.”
“We were on the island for a whole week. No one showed up while we were there. And there’s no sign of habitation. The cavern is on the north side of the island. You can’t even see it unless you’re right on top of it. Even if someone does, we’re covered. The ship’s registry is traceable to a shipyard in Dakar. We updated their records, but I doubt they’ll even know the difference.”
“Any idiot can tell the difference between a war ship and a freighter.” The man paused and stared at Johnson. “Well, what is her name?”
Johnson squinted at the strong sunlight behind the man. “Bright Moon, sir.”
Matthew pushed the disk down the alley in an attempt to knock his opponent’s disk off a triangle. Instead, he succeeded in pushing the disk onto a higher number, while knocking his own out.
“All right!” shouted Jeff. He gave a high sign to Rick Madsen, his partner.
Matthew’s partner, Dave Bristol looked disgusted. “Nice shot. They didn’t win. We lost. That’s three in a row. Maybe we should get them to spot us on the next one.”
“I don’t think there’ll be a next one for me. I can’t seem to get into it.”
Dave looked disappointed. “Well, sorry about that.”
“Maybe I’ll try the pool. See you later.”
“Hey, Steve,” shouted Dave as Matthew left. “I need a partner.” Steve jumped up to join them.
Like Dave, Steve Molleti had grown up on New York’s south side. Both hated losing, and when playing against one another, reveled in the other’s defeat. This was the first time they would be playing on the same team. Rick and Jeff were good, but they were a little smug and could use a beating. Steve and Dave were happy to oblige.
Steve’s wife, Jo Ann watched from the sidelines with Marie and Dave’s wife, Roberta.
“Your husband seems to be enjoying himself,” Roberta commented.
“He’s better than he was,” Jo Ann replied, then added sarcastically, “By the time we get off the ship, he might be glad we came.”
“Well, Dave didn’t want to come either, at first.”
Marie laughed. “Neither did Matthew. We had to talk him into it. But I think he’s enjoying himself. The captain is an old Navy buddy. And Dave looks like he’s having a good time.”
“Oh, he loves the vacation. But he’d rather take a plane. Anything faster than a ship. He doesn’t know how to relax, but he’s learning. So will Steve.”
“If he’d just loosen up a little,” said Jo Ann. “We’ve never done anything together as a family, even when the kids were growing up. We needed to do something together before we grew too far apart. He works all the time –shift work. I feel like I never see him.” She paused and sighed. “It’s not the money. He’s just mad because he feels I pushed him to this.”
Roberta smiled. “It wasn’t easy to get my husband to take the trip. But I convinced him that it was his idea.”
“How did you do that?”
Roberta laughed. “If I knew that, I could get him to do anything. I just said the right thing at the right time and Dave took off with it. I had to talk him into the cruise, but he thought the vacation idea was great.”
“Steve would rather save the money or put it into the house.” Jo Ann paused. “He thinks a vacation is a waste of time. Actually, I shouldn’t complain. At least he’s starting to act like he should get his money’s worth.”
“Well, Rick is having a great time,” said Jessica. “We never got to go on a real honeymoon. Our anniversary is May first, and we’ve been saving for this trip a long time. This is the first time we’ve been able to do anything without the kids.”
“Your anniversary?” asked Marie. “Hey, why don’t we throw a party? We can have it on the deck. I’m sure the Cruise Director will help us. If we each invited another couple, we could have a great time.”
“That would be great,” said Jo Ann. Roberta and Jessica echoed their agreement.
“How’re we gonna do it?” asked Jessica.
“Just leave that to me,” said Marie. “I’ll take care of everything.”
Su Li readjusted her lounge chair. She tried to concentrate on the book, but she kept thinking about her meeting with Matthew that morning. When he stared into her eyes, she’d felt exposed, as though he knew everything about her. Strange, it hadn’t bothered her. For a moment, she’d thought he was going to invite her to breakfast, and she had been disappointed when he didn’t. She was in the middle of that thought when Helen showed up.
“Hi, Su Li.”
She and Helen had almost nothing in common.
They were chatting civilly when Matthew appeared. The two women watched as he dove into the pool. He swam with strong strokes to the other side and pulled himself out. Diving in again, he swam the width of the pool under water, turned and kicked against the side and swam back to where he had started, not surfacing for air until he reached the other side. He sat on the edge of the pool, facing away from them.
Su Li exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath. She noticed that Helen must have been doing the same, because she, too, was breathing a little deeper.
“That’s the guy who was in the navy with the captain,” said Helen.
“Umm…” Su Li’s attention was on Matthew.
“Wait a minute. Wasn’t he the guy you were talking to this morning?” Helen looked intently at Su Li. In the three years she had known Su Li, she had never seen her actually converse with another man. Did she have competition? “What’s he like?”
“I have only talked to him a few times.” Su Li didn’t trust Helen.
“You’re blushing. You are interested in h
im.”
“I hardly know him.”
“Uh huh.” She did have competition. “Then you won’t mind if I talk to him. That is, unless you have dibs on him.”
“Dibs? What does that mean?” Su Li had never heard that word.
“It means that you already have a claim on him… Do you?”
Yes, I do. “No –I don’t.”
“He’s had some exciting experiences.” Helen tapped her chin for a moment. “Maybe I’ll invite him for a tour in the next port.”
Su Li glowered. “He will not go with you.” How could she know that?
“How would you know?”
“I just know. He is not the type.” Su Li averted her eyes. Helen was very alluring in the tiny bikini she was wearing. Su Li could never have worn something quite so revealing.
“Come on. I’ve never known a man to turn down an invitation from a woman.”
“He will say no,” Su Li shot back.
Helen paused to study Su Li. Su Li seemed different somehow. “I thought you didn’t have anything going with him.”
“I do not have anything going with him.” Su Li brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. “But you are wrong about him. He will not go with you. He wants something more permanent, not a – a–”
“One-night stand?” Helen laughed at Su Li’s angry attack.
“Yes, one-night stand. He prefers a permanent stand with an honorable woman.”
“And I’m not an honorable woman?” Helen was still smiling.
Su Li stammered, “I –I am sorry. That is not what I meant.”
“That’s okay. It’s true,” Helen said with a laugh. “I’m totally dishonorable. See you later, Su Li.”
Su Li watched as Helen approached Matthew. He would not go with her. She was certain of it –almost.
Matthew was looking for a lounge chair when a voice startled him.
“Hi. Enjoying your trip? Sorry if I scared you. I didn’t realize you were so pre-occupied.” Helen sat beside him.
“It’s all right.” Her voluptuous figure was barely covered by a tiny bikini. He tried to concentrate on her deep blue eyes but it was difficult. He felt familiar, old stirrings. He shifted his attention to her blond hair.
In turn, Helen studied him. When it became clear that he wasn’t going to say any more, she spoke.
“I can see that torture isn’t going to make you divulge more than your name, rank, and serial number.” He smiled and relaxed a little. Nice smile. “Are you alone on the ship?”
“Not exactly. I’m traveling with my sister and her husband. They’re sort of on a second honeymoon. I’m just tagging along.”
“I thought you looked a little lost.”
She reminded him of Kathy. Not in looks, although Kathy had been a pretty woman. No, her personality was similar to Kathy’s –right up front, the type who knew what she wanted, and went after it. Right now, it seemed like she wanted him.
“I’m doing okay.”
“I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”
“Oh?”
“I heard you won a medal in Vietnam.”
“So did quite a few others on the same ship. I didn’t do anything special.”
“That’s not what the captain said, and I believe him. He said you saved the ship.”
“There were five thousand men on that ship.” Uncomfortable with the conversation, he fidgeted in his chair. “I hardly think I saved the ship by myself.”
Helen changed the subject. “I heard you were offered Chief Engineer Leary’s job when he retires. Are you going to take it?”
He relaxed somewhat. “I haven’t decided. I’m not sure if I’ll like working on a cruise ship. How do you like it?”
“It’s great. I get to meet a lot of interesting people.” She batted her eyes.
She was talking about him. “What do you do?” he asked.
“I work in the accounting department. And I’m the stewards’ supervisor. I like that part of the job. I guess what I like the most is that I get to travel. I love it, but I’d give it up for the right guy.” Her eyes looked at him intently.
Wow! She didn’t waste any time.
“I’m familiar with the port. Why don’t I show you around?”
The offer caught him by surprise, and he hesitated before he answered. “I appreciate the invitation. It’s very tempting, but I think I’d rather find my own entertainment. Thanks just the same.” Did he really say that? He stood up.
“I have to go. The water’s great. You should try it.” Matthew turned away, and left Helen with her mouth gaping open. On the way out, he saw Su Li sitting on one of the pool lounges and reading a book. Her sunglasses hid her eyes, but the almost imperceptible movement of her head as she glanced down at the book, made him think she had been watching. No, she must have been smiling at something she read.
He went to his room, turned on the TV, and changed out of his trunks. A review of the ship’s local channel told him that nothing of interest was happening aboard. Except for that anniversary party Marie was throwing on May first. Marie was always organizing something.
He’d hardly seen her and Jeff the last week. They’d been leaving him alone. Although that’s what he’d wanted them to do, he felt annoyed. And he couldn’t figure out why.
He met Klein around 7:45 that evening. As usual, the meal was exceptional. The dessert and coffee added a nice finish. “Good night Durante.” Matthew gestured a toast to his friend and took a leisurely stroll back to his cabin.
APRIL 30TH –DAY 28
The ship left Gran Canaria at five PM. Around six thirty, Helen went up to the bridge.
“Yes, Helen.” Klein interrupted his conversation with Leary.
“Captain, Wu Ching hasn’t returned to the ship.”
“Oh?”
“According to his roommate, John Slater, he packed everything and left yesterday morning.”
“He packed everything? Did he give notice?”
“No, sir, not a word.”
“Thank you, Helen.”
“Yes, sir.” Helen left.
Klein turned to Walter Leary. “That man will never work on another ship if I have anything to say about it.”
MAY 1ST –DAY 29
Marie entered her cabin, and shut the door behind her. “Everything is all set for tonight. I talked with Su Li. She’ll get the tables set up. The speakers are connected to the lounge, so we’ll have music. She said she would come up and check on us.”
“Is Matthew coming?”
“He said he’ll join us after his walk, but he’ll stop in to say hello first.”
“Wait a minute! Why does Su Li have to check on us?”
“It’s her job to make sure we have everything we need. She told me she could take some extra free time during the day.”
“Just when is she coming?”
“Around 9:30,” answered Marie with a sly smile.
He gave her a knowing look. “Right. Just when Matthew starts his walk.”
“She suggested it herself.”
“And you did nothing to encourage it, of course.” His frowned at her. “They’re adults, Marie. They don’t need a baby sitter.”
“I’m just helping. I asked him to invite her, but he said he didn’t feel right.”
“Stay out of it, Marie. They don’t need your meddling.”
“Well, somebody has to help them. Otherwise they’re gonna leave the ship without even getting to know one another. Look. I’m just going to delay Matthew until she comes, and then I’ll leave them alone. Once they start talking, they’ll do the rest themselves.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Marie smiled and began to play with the buttons on his shirt. “I’m not going to play cupid, Jeff. I just want to give them a little push.”
Marie and several guests were chatting when Matthew appeared at the top of the stairs. He walked toward them.
“Hi, Matthew.” Marie pointed to one of the two empty seats. “Grab a seat.??
?
“I’m just going for a short walk. Be back in a bit.” He glanced at Ron. “How’re you making out, Ron?”
“I’m doing fine. You?”
“Fine. Catch you later.” Matthew turned to leave and Marie got up to accompany him.
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Yes. Thanks for pushing me into this cruise, Marie. I’m glad I came.” He started down the steps and stopped when he saw Su Li coming up.
“Hi, Su Li,” Marie said behind him. “You don’t have to come up. We have everything we need.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Everything’s great.”
“I can check back again later, if you wish.”
“Don’t worry about it. Perhaps you could join us after your walk.”
Su Li gave a slight smile. “Thank you. Perhaps.”
Matthew looked at his sister. She had set this up.
Marie kept a straight face. “Bye, Matthew. See you later.”
Rick and Jessica sat with Dave and Steve and their wives. The three women got along well, but Rick had nothing in common with the men except that he and Steve were mechanics. Fortunately, Steve and Dave did most of the talking, which saved him from having to join in. Jessica said she wanted to dance. He could handle that.
The dance was a slow dance; an old Beatles song, PS I Love You. Rick and Jessica were a few years over thirty, born ten years after the birth of rock, but they loved the old songs from the fifties and sixties.
“Happy anniversary,” he whispered in her ear as they danced.
“Why thank you, Mr. Madsen.”
He held her close and nuzzled her neck when he caught the scent of her perfume. “You smell so nice.” She gave him a squeeze. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Um. You know I am.”
“Miss the kids?”
“Of course. Don’t you?”
“Yeah, but not enough to go home yet.” This time she looked at him and smiled.
“You just like having the bed all to yourself.”
“You’re early tonight,” Matthew said to Su Li when he reached the bottom of the stairs. “Almost fifteen minutes.” They walked toward the railing.
“Are you checking up on me?” Her half-smile made him decide she was teasing.
“No.” He chuckled. “I thought my watch was wrong. You’re normally so precise.”
She grasped the rail. With the grace of a dancer, she raised up on her tiptoes, stretched and looked out over the ocean.
“I had to work late today. I combined my evening walk with my work.”
“Is this what the Assistant Cruise Director does? Set up parties?” He leaned on the rail beside her.
“It is part of my job to set up entertainment so the passengers have something to do.”
“Sounds interesting.”
“Sometimes very boring. It is the same for every cruise; the same entertainment; the same problems with the passengers. Are you with a group?”
“No, I prefer to find my own entertainment.” Hadn’t he said that before?
“That is good. You do not need others to keep you from being bored.”
“Some people don’t think so.” He looked up toward his sister, who had rejoined the party. “But you didn’t have to set up that party. Marie could organize something like that herself.”
“It was her idea. She asked me to help.”
“Right!” His suspicions were confirmed. “And she asked you to come here around 9:30 to check on them.” He laughed and looked back in Marie’s direction. She was sitting at the table, still watching them. She gave him a broad smile before turning back to the others.
“Yes,” Su Li said. “How did you know?”
“My sister is looking out for me.”
“Oh. Is this –what do you call it? A set up?”
“You might call it that.”
Her expression changed from questioning, to surprise, and then to embarrassment. She opened her mouth to apologize, but he stopped her.
“Don’t worry about it. You didn’t know what she was up to. I believe she likes you.”
“I do not know why. She does not know me.”
“Well, Marie’s a pretty good judge of people, and I think she’s right.” He changed the subject. “It’s a beautiful night isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she said They gazed at the shimmering moonlight reflecting off the rolling waves.
Su Li stepped away from the rail. “You are not angry at your sister?” They continued their walk.
“No. It’s kind of nice knowing she cares. She has the best of motives. Besides, I have a mind of my own.”
“I saw that when you talked with Helen. She is interested in you.” She paused for a moment and then emphasized, “And very disappointed.” She was teasing him again. She had a beautiful smile.
He looked at his watch –9:50. They were amidships, under one of the lifeboats. Su Li stopped and looked down at the water. The music from the party floated over to them. An old Beatles song was playing, Michelle, My Belle. Matthew imagined dancing with Su Li in his arms.
She, too, noticed the music. “I thought that you would go to Marie’s party.”
“I am going –after my walk.” He took a deep breath. “I’d really like it if you joined me.”
“That would be nice,” She answered shyly. They walked a ways in silence.
“You and your sister must to be very close.”
“We are. She’s the one that got me on this trip. When my wife died about three years ago, she helped get me through it.”
“Your wife was a nice woman?” She regretted the question as soon as she asked it. So stupid! It was none of her business. It didn’t seem to bother him, however.
“We had a good marriage.”
A rope over his head attracted his attention. He stared at it, and wondered where it came from. It was dangling from a lifeboat.
“It is good that you have nice memories.”
He gulped. Right then, he couldn’t think of any. He reached for the rope, twisted it around his wrist, and pulled on it as though to check its strength.
She watched curiously.
“And you?” he asked. “No one in your life?”
“No.” She pressed her lips together. He’d hit a nerve. She walked away from the rail toward the stairway to the lower decks. She leaned against the stairway with her back to the rail, facing him. The moon illuminated her face. Her white, silk blouse accentuated the dark hair that flowed over her shoulders.
He let go of the rope. God, she was beautiful.
She appeared to be studying him. “You seem to have led an exciting life.”
“It wasn’t by choice. Things just went in that direction. I can’t say it made my life richer. I didn’t see my family much for the first twelve years. Sometimes it seems I never got to know them. In the last few years, my life has been pretty boring. Actually, it’s been a welcome change.”
“Yes, it is a relief not to have to be so stressed all the time.” She sighed. “My husband liked action and adventure –anything that challenged him. I am very reserved, so he found a woman who gave him what I could not.”
“I can’t believe any man could be so stupid as to leave you just for excitement.”
“I think my life was too simple.”
“You’re Assistant Cruise Director on an ocean going vessel. I wouldn’t call that simple.”
“I was not Assistant Cruise Director then.”
“So what? Your husband was an idiot. I would’ve never let you get away from me.” His tongue seemed to have a mind of its own. Jerk! Why not just come right out and ask her to marry you?
She smiled shyly but didn’t answer. He tried to think of something to say to change the subject.
He never got the chance.
The deck heaved with an explosion. There was a sharp tearing sound. Su Li gasped as she was thrown toward him. His free arm encircled her as they crashed into the rail. He grunted
at the stabbing pain in his side. With his free hand, he grabbed frantically at the rail as another explosion wracked the ship. He heard screaming behind him.
Oh my God! Marie! Jeff!
The ship listed heavily and he grabbed the rail with both hands. “Hang on.” Su Li wrapped her arms around him, body molded to his. Her eyes reflected his fear, but no panic. The ship hung, suspended almost forty-five degrees. His arms ached. He couldn’t hold on much longer. Smoke poured from the stairway.
Rick was following Jessica to an empty spot on the dance floor when the ship shook from the explosion and listed sharply. He watched in horror as Jessica fell to the deck and slid toward its edge. “Jessica!” he screamed, and hurled himself at her. He grabbed her before she went through the rail and into the ocean. He held the rail with one arm, and Jessica with the other. Gasping in fear, Jessica clutched at him. There was a second explosion.
Dave and Roberta froze in stunned terror as their table overturned and slid toward the rail. Still in their chairs, they slid on the deck with it. It lodged against the rail and they came to rest, huddling behind it.
Steve was sitting next to the wall of the superstructure. He grabbed a pipe that ran up the wall. Jo Ann screamed and grabbed him by the leg.
The table where Jeff, Marie, Ron, and Doris sat was propelled toward the rail. They followed it, arms flailing, as they grabbed hold of whatever they could to keep from sliding over the side. Their table struck the rail and bounced over it into the sea.
Another couple was on their way down the stairway to the main deck. “Chuck!” screamed the woman as she fell against her husband. He grasped the banister with one hand and broke her fall with the other.
The ship began to return to an upright position. Matthew risked a look back toward the party on the forward deck. He couldn’t see anyone, but he heard screaming. Oh, God! He prayed no one had gone overboard.
The ship was almost upright, but something was very wrong; it was sinking.
“Can you get the lifeboat down?” he asked Su Li. She nodded, unable to speak. “Okay. I’ll try to help those people. Hang on to this rope in case the ship begins to go over again.” Su Li let go of him and took hold of the rope attached to the lifeboat. Matthew ran toward the forward deck.
A man and a screaming woman blocked his way up the stairway. Matthew had to pry the man’s fingers from the banister. He pointed them in Su Li’s direction. “Go down that way. Someone will help you.” He watched long enough to make sure they went in the right direction and then sprang up the stairway.
He hit the top of the stairs. “Marie! Jeff!”
People looked at him in confusion. Some sat on the deck, blank stares on their faces. Others looked wildly about, shock written on their faces.
“Get to the lifeboats!” he yelled. At the outside rail, he spotted Rick, still clutching Jessica. He ran to them.
He grabbed her arm. “I’ve got her.” Together, he and Rick pulled Jessica back onto the deck and helped her to her feet. She was shaking, barely able to stand.
“Take her down to the lifeboat,” Matthew commanded. Rick guided her toward the stairs.
Jeff was sitting on the deck behind one of the tables. Blood was running down the side of his face from a cut on his head. Matthew ran to him and grabbed him by the arms. “Jeff! Jeff!” Dazed, his brother-in-law tried to focus as Matthew helped him up.
“Matthew! What’s going on?”
“The ship is sinking. We’ve got to get these people to the boats.”
Jeff’s focus cleared. “Oh God. Marie! Marie!”
“Here!” She stood up, unsteady.
“Get down to the life boat! The ship is sinking!”
“We have to help these people.” She helped a woman to her feet. “Go down the stairs to the lifeboat over there. Someone will take care of you.”
Jeff grabbed Marie. “Get down to the lifeboat!” Marie started to argue with him. “Move it!” He pushed her toward the stairs. She turned toward him., touched his face briefly, then headed to the lifeboat.
Dave pushed Roberta toward the stairway. “Let’s go! Let’s go!” he shouted.
Ron was screaming, “No, no, no.” His terrified wife couldn’t console him.
Matthew grabbed him by the arms. “Ron, Ron! Listen to me.”
Ron stared at him with a fixed stare. Matthew wasn’t sure if he saw him.
“Follow those people over there. They’re headed for the lifeboat. Come on. You can do it.” He helped Ron to his feet and steered him toward the stairway. Doris followed.
Matthew and Jeff helped the others down the stairs where Su Li directed them into the lifeboat. Matthew ran to the other boats and began to lower another one. Jeff copied his movements with another boat. Thick smoke hung in the air like a cloud.
Where was everybody? They should be out here by now. He got the boat down and started on another. Where were they? He wrestled the boat down.
“Come on, Jeff! We don’t have any more time.”
Two others ran toward them, Helen and John. Another explosion shook the ship, and threw them against the rail where they hung on briefly before slipping over the side. Three lifeboats broke loose and fell into the sea. Another hung by one of its moorings. The one filled with people held.
“Help those people, Jeff! Get that boat into the water!” Matthew shouted and jumped over the side. He swam toward a floating body. It was John.
A wave slapped him in the face. He swallowed a mouth full of seawater and began to cough. Su Li appeared on the other side of John.
Together, they pulled John, struggling and kicking against the waves which swept them back toward the sinking ship. The ship was going down. Matthew was afraid the suction would drag them with it. Weakened by his coughing, he went under. A hard thrust with his legs and he was above water again. They weren’t going to make it. He shook his head to clear his mind.
Suddenly several hands lifted John out of the water. Matthew hit his head on something hard and went under again, but someone grabbed him by the hair and pulled him to the surface.
Su Li cried out as she was lifted out of the water. Then hands dragged Matthew into the boat. Exhausted, and coughing, he lay at the bottom of the boat. Helen, Jeff, and another were hauled in.
“I’m okay,” Jeff said when Marie went to him. “Take care of the others.”
Someone found blankets. Marie took a few and gave them to Nancy. “Use these. Put one on the floor and the other on your husband.” She handed some to Roberta. “I’ll take care of Matthew and Su Li. Could you take a few for the others?”
“Sure.” Roberta took the blankets and made her way to Helen and John.
Marie spread a blanket on the floor and the side of the boat. “Get on this,” She said to Su Li.
“I must see to the passengers.” She bit off a cry of pain as she tried to get up.
Marie stopped her. “Are you all right?”
“I hurt my wrist.”
Marie examined her wrist. “Can you move it?”
“Yes, it is only sprained.”
“I’ll take care of the others. Get under this blanket.” She covered Su Li. Then she spread a blanket for Matthew.
“How ‘bout you, Matthew?” she asked as she covered him.
“I’m OK.” He coughed again. “I just swallowed some water. What about the two who fell overboard?”
“They’re fine.”
He struggled to get up. His voice was hoarse. “Jeff! We have to make sure we don’t lose those other boats. They may have provisions on them. See if you can find some flares. And we have to set up a watch in case a ship shows up.”
“Okay, Matthew. We’ll take care of it.” Marie pushed him back down on the blanket.
He looked at Su Li. Whatever possessed her to jump in after them? She was shivering from shock and exhaustion.
He opened his blanket and beckoned. “Hey.” Su Li hesitated for an instant and moved under it. He put his arm around her. She trembled against hi
m. A few were crying, but most sat in silent shock.
They were leaning against the side of the lifeboat when another explosion wracked the Evening Star. The ship listed heavily. They watched in horror as it slid into the sea, leaving nothing behind except the thick, billowing smoke.
He looked at his watch –10:05. Less than fifteen minutes had gone by. No one else had come out on deck. He saw the smiling face of Jimmy Klein. He saw his men die in the explosions on the Forrestal. He saw his wife, surprise clear on her face, as she fell slowly to the ground. His wife, good friends, unknown people –everyone associated with him died.
Tears streamed down Matthew’s face. “Oh God, Jimmy.” He sobbed. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
He stared at the spot where the ship had gone down, as if by sheer will he could force it back to the surface. After a long time, he looked at the woman he held in his arms.
“Thanks for your help,” he said softly. He let his head fall against the side of the boat. She lowered her head to his shoulder.