Sedulity (Book One) Impact

by David Forsyth

  “That is distressing news, Fox, especially for anyone listening in Southern California. On the other hand, we understand that people still have more than ten hours to evacuate before the tsunamis strike California. What advice can you offer them?”

  “From what we have seen so far, many of the roads and all of the freeways are impassable. I would suggest using bicycles or simply walking towards high ground, depending on where they are. There’s really no telling how far inland these waves will go. Even if you live miles from the ocean, it would be best to get to the highest ground possible in the next ten hours.”

  “That’s good advice, Fox, but what are your plans for evacuating the GNN studios?”

  “I don’t think I should share too much about our personal evacuation plans, but I can tell you that we’re already moving people out by helicopter. We have set up a remote satellite link at the Griffith Observatory overlooking the Los Angeles Basin and should be able to offer continuous news coverage from there and our helicopter as this disaster unfolds.”

  “I can’t say we are looking forward to that, Fox, but it is certainly good to know that you have survived the earthquake and have an evacuation plan in place. It’s also important to keep everyone informed about even the worst news, so we all applaud your dedication to bringing us the news.

  “Now we shift to more breaking news in the Pacific Northwest where a series of earthquakes seem to have triggered volcanic activity in the Cascade Mountains. Over the past hour scientists have recorded a minor eruption on Mount Saint Helens and disturbing releases of high pressure gas on Mount Reiner, not far from Seattle, Washington. Residents of that city are now caught between two disaster warnings. They were first instructed to seek high ground because of the tsunami warning. Now they are warned away from the mountains near Mount Reiner due to the threat of volcanic activity. This looks like a catch 22 situation. Local, state and federal authorities are scrambling to redirect evacuation routes away from mountains that many residents saw as the safest place to escape the incoming waves.”

  Amanda couldn’t listen to any more of that. She clicked the remote until another channel came in: The Discovery Channel. And what were they showing? A program about an asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs millions of years ago. It would have been an interesting source of trivia, if not for the very real possibility that mankind was currently walking in the same footsteps. Amanda watched a computer simulation showing the ancient asteroid unleashing global devastation when it fell upon Central America and the Gulf of Mexico. Instead of being interesting and instructional this program was suddenly prophetic and terrifying. She watched in horrified fascination as the narrator described the global effects of the ancient asteroid strike, from the blast wave to earthquakes and tsunamis. She became even more fearful as the program explained that the most deadly effect, the thing that really killed off the dinosaurs, was the global ice age triggered by all the ash and water vapor thrown into the atmosphere. Is that what lay in store for mankind? No wonder Kevin seemed worried even after the ship survived the asteroid strike. Could it be possible that the earthquakes and tsunamis sweeping around the Pacific Rim were only the beginning of something far worse? Amanda turned off the television, but would find no escape in sleep that night.

  Chapter 17:

  The tsunamis arrived at the Hawaiian Islands right on schedule, bashing first against the evacuated south shore of the big island, then growing larger as they crossed the shelf towards the smaller and more densely populated islands of the archipelago. Fifteen hundred foot high waves rolled right over the little islands of Kahoolawe and Lanai before smashing into Maui and Molokai. Many residents of those islands who sought refuge in the mountains survived the tsunamis, but were shocked by the unimaginable size and power of the waves. Tens of thousands of people who didn’t go high enough into the mountains perished. When the water receded the survivors realized that it had swept away seventy-five percent of all the buildings and left most of the rest in a shambles.

  Oahu took the worst hit. The shallower shelf of the archipelago extended for many miles in front of Waikiki Beach and Pearl Harbor. This caused the waves to slow and grow to colossal size. The wave that hit Diamond Head was close to half a mile high, breaking over the extinct volcano. Equally high waves smashed down upon the hotels lining Waikiki Beach. Not all of the tourists and residents of Honolulu had been able to evacuate in time. Many of those who remained had evacuated vertically, to the top floor bars, restaurants, and rooftop pools of high-rise hotels and condominiums. Most of those people couldn’t imagine waves that could reach thirty or more stories high, let alone threaten to bring down such solidly constructed buildings. They were woefully mistaken. The tsunamis ripped through Honolulu, engulfing even the tallest buildings and bringing most of them crashing down into the moving mountain of whitewater.

  Pearl Harbor was almost devoid of vessels and people when the waves destroyed it. The Navy had scrambled to put every ship and submarine to sea in the hours before the tsunamis arrived. It was an exercise that had been planned and practiced countless times since the surprise attack of December 7, 1941. They sought the safety of deep water off the North Shore, placing the island between themselves and the monstrous waves. The ships were loaded with all the Sailors, Marines and their families who could get aboard in time. This was the result of a spur of the moment decision by the Admiral in command. It probably saved thousands of lives because most of the warships were actually able to ride out the blunted waves and remain afloat. Those who remained ashore and did not reach high enough ground were doomed.

  There were reports of survivors in the foothills of Oahu who brought surfboards and used them as personal flotation devices. One of them later claimed to have actually surfed the killer waves and survived. There is no substantiated evidence to support that assertion. Nevertheless, for every million confirmed deaths there were at least a few miraculous stories of survival.

  ****

  Hank Donner watched the destruction of Hawaii on live TV with more than a thousand of the ship’s horrified passengers and crew gathered in the theater. Night had fallen in Hawaii, which mercifully hid much of the destruction, but it also made the string of headlights and taillights on the crowded roads and highways stand out on the images relayed from helicopters to the GNN satellite. When the waves rolled over the islands it was heartbreaking to realize that every little light that disappeared signified one or more human life being lost too. Hank didn’t have any friends in Hawaii, but he had vacationed there more than once and it was still part of the good old USA. This wasn’t like watching some disaster in Haiti or India, or some other godforsaken place he didn’t care about. He was truly distressed to witness the destruction of Hawaii and decided he needed a stiff drink. He waved to a crewman who was also watching the news with a slack-jawed look.

  “Excuse me,” Hank called out. “Can I get some service over here? I need a double Jack on the rocks real bad after seeing that.”

  “Get it yourself, mister,” the crewman answered with a scowl. “I’m watching the news too, you know? And what I’m seeing tells me that I won’t be kissing ass to passengers like you anymore.” Hank wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that, so he simply exchanged bewildered looks with another passenger who had overheard the exchange. The crewman who was dressed like a waiter and had what sounded like an Australian accent continued, “That’s right, don’t look surprised or offended. What do you expect? That we’ll all just keep serving you like nothing has happened? Think again, mister. I lost a lot of friends on this ship tonight and I’m watching millions of other people get hammered by the same waves we went through. For all I know my own home and family are already gone. So I’ll be damned if I’m going to run off to get you a cocktail.” The man sneered at Hank before turning his attention back to the television.

  Hank was outraged, but held his tongue. Part of him could understand the crewman’s perspective, yet he expected to be treated with more respect by the hired help.
Hank was a paying passenger and thought the crew should be bending over backwards to make him and the other guests comfortable in the midst of this crisis. Hank wished the Filipino bartender hadn’t run off. He was pretty sure that Armando would still pour him a drink, but the guy had run out of the theater after watching just a few minutes of the news.

  Ignoring the rude crewman who continued to give him snide glances, Hank rose from his seat and walked down front to speak to the officer in charge. He’d set things straight and organize some proper service for the passengers sequestered in the theater. The officer looked like he could use a stiff drink too. “Excuse me,” Hank said as he approached.

  “Yes, Mr. Donner, what can I do for you now?” Lieutenant Reiner responded as he turned away from the projection screen to face Hank.

  “That’s just the thing,” Hank said with a cocky smile. “I asked one of the waiters for a drink and he was quite rude. What’s the chance of getting some bar service here?”

  “Slim and none, Mr. Donner,” Reiner answered coldly. “As you can see we are in the middle of a crisis, not only aboard this ship, but around the world. Nobody is going to wait on you tonight. In fact, I won’t be surprised if most of the onboard amenities and services are suspended indefinitely. We won’t let anyone starve, but the days of all you can eat buffets and free room service are over. I expect the Captain to institute rationing too. From what I can see, there won’t be many intact ports in this part of the world. So you would be well advised to adjust your attitude from that of a pampered guest to being a survivor who wants to pull his own weight. I’m afraid that those passengers who can’t, or won’t, make that mental transition will have an even harder time.”

  Hank’s jaw had dropped open and he stood there in silence, glancing up at the projection screen that continued to show scenes of devastation. What the Lieutenant and the waiter had said suddenly made a horrible sort of sense. Why should they continue to cater to every whim of the passengers during an apocalypse? Hank wouldn’t do it. Only a fool would. The crew of this ship were not fools, or they would already be on the bottom of the sea. Hank realized that he would indeed need to change his attitude and approach to this situation. He looked back to the officer and nodded.

  “Maybe I should go back out there and help more of the injured, or help the crew clean up the mess,” he said. Reiner gave him a questioning look, unsure of his sincerity, then nodded and returned his attention to the distressing news on television. Hank left the theater, telling the crewman at the door that the officer said he could assist the crew and other passengers in the rest of the ship. He did plan to do that, right after he stopped off at the bar in the casino to grab a bottle or two of booze. He also patted his jacket pocket as he walked through the mall, confirming that he still held close to ten thousand dollars in cash. It represented his stake in the high roller poker tournament that he had to assume would be cancelled.

  Guest Services aboard might decline in the wake of this catastrophe, but Hank Donner knew how to take care of himself and convince others to serve him too. A hundred dollar bill or two should still buy good service from some of the crew. It was stunning to realize that the crew might not continue to offer the level of service and deference that Hank was accustomed to, but he would take it in stride. He smiled when he remembered that he had another leg up on the rest of the passengers too. No matter where the ship ended up, Hank’s cargo container was still secured in the hold. Its contents and his skill at using them would secure him a comfortable position almost anywhere. Hank smiled and looked around with a new appreciation of the situation as he walked towards the casino, hoping to spot that Filipino bartender.

  ****

  Armando was grieving in the lifeboat. His pain was both mental and physical. The burns on his face and chest felt like they penetrated all the way to his soul. His hands were swelling to the point of uselessness. When he ran out of tears Armando pulled himself to his feet and stared out the window at the steaming downpour. The heavens were weeping for his family too, as well as countless others whose lives had been cut short by the damned asteroid.

  He knew he should go back inside the ship and decided it was probably time for him to get in line with the other injured down in the Med Center. The throbbing in his face and hands was becoming unbearable. Armando looked down at the Iridium sat phone and wondered if he should put it back where he found it. Then he thought of all the other passengers and crew who would never see their own families again. Armando felt blessed to have been able to speak to his parents one more time, even if it had only been to say goodbye forever. He decided that he should offer the same blessing to others. He placed the phone back in its waterproof case and clutched it to his chest as he wrapped the plastic tarp around his burned head and body.

  Once he gathered his nerve Armando pushed open the hatch on the side of the lifeboat and leapt down the ten foot drop to the deck. He rolled with the landing, getting scalding water inside the tarp and forcing a brief yelp of pain, before stumbling to his feet. At first he thought he had broken his ankle, but it supported his weight when he limped to the door leading into the Martini Bar. Once inside he shed the steaming tarp and collapsed against the closest wall, still cradling the case with the sat phone. Taking deep ragged breaths, he willed the pain to pass and his strength to return, but was afraid he would pass out instead.

  “Jesus-H-Christ! What the hell happened to you now, barkeep? You look like you jumped out of the frying pan and straight into the pot!” Hank’s voice was something Armando never thought he would want hear again, yet he couldn’t help but offer a weak smile and halfhearted wave. The big Texan was standing over him holding a bottle of Jack Daniels which he offered to Armando.

  “Thank you,” Armando said as he fumbled for the bottle with swollen hands, letting the sat phone case clatter to the deck.

  “Let me help you,” Hank said with a hint of compassion. He opened the bottle and tilted it gently to Armando’s lips. The bartender took several large gulps of the straight whiskey before starting to choke. Hank pulled the bottle away with a grin. “That’s the ticket,” he said. “Best medicine this side of the Rio Grande. Say, what’s in the case?”

  “Satellite phone,” Armando choked out. “I used it call my parents in the Philippines.”

  “Hot damn! No shit? And they were okay?”

  “They were when I called, but I’m afraid they are gone by now.” Armando’s grief was apparent even to the likes of Hank Donner.

  “I’m sorry, little buddy,” Hank said without derision. “At least you got to talk to them. Does that thing still work?”

  “Yes,” Armando nodded. “I brought it in from a lifeboat so others could call their loved ones too.”

  “Now that’s a mighty fine idea, barkeep,” Hank said approvingly. “You mind if I make a quick call?” Armando gestured for him to proceed and Hank opened the case, extracting the Iridium phone and setting it up with ease. “I’ve used these a lot on drill sites around the world,” he said. “Handy little things. Who’s paying the bill?”

  “The cruise line,” Armando said with a painful shrug.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll keep it short and sweet,” Hanks said while dialing. “Hello? Marge? Yeah, it’s me, Hank… Am I watching the news? Hell, darling, I am the news. This ship was close enough to spit at that asteroid. We’re lucky to be alive. So listen, I just want you to tell the investors that I am alive and the cargo is safe. It looks like all the ports around these parts have been wiped out, so I don’t know where the ship will end up. What I do know is that I’ll find a contract for the Armadillo wherever we hit land. You just keep the office open in Houston and wait to hear from me. Go ahead and take all the cash out of the contingency fund right now. You might need it. Okay? Right, you take care of yourself too. This is some crazy shit. Give my best to the rest of Texas. Gotta go now, sweet cheeks. Bye.”

  Hank put the phone back in its case and said, “Thanks partner. That was my secretary. Just making sur
e they don’t write-off old Hank Donner as a goner just yet. Now let’s get you down to see the Doc. Those burns look even worse than before.” Armando didn’t argue when Hank helped him to his feet and towards the stairs.

  “I’d love the let some of the inured people in the hospital use this phone to call home too, but it won’t get any signal down below. After I get you in to see the Doc I’ll take this phone back up to the officer in the theater so some of the others can use it,” Hank assured Armando. “I’ll be sure they know you brought it in too. And I’ll tell you this, barkeep, you turned out to be quite a hero tonight.” Armando had no response to that. He was too physically and emotionally drained to care.

  ****

  “This is Captain Krystos aboard the Sedulity. With whom am I speaking?”

  “Commander Anders of the Australian Navy, captain of the frigate HMAS Bounder. I understand that your ship is the closest vessel to the impact site.”

  “Far too close for comfort, Commander. We estimate that we were about 100 miles away at the time of impact. We have been approaching the impact zone slowly since then, taking measurements of weather phenomena and ocean temperature.”

  “Excellent, Captain. There are a lot of scientists around the world begging for data like that. Did your ship happen to pick up any solid matter ejecta from the asteroid? Dust or small rocks falling from the sky after the blast?”