by Mark Goodwin
Everett held the gun and let Courtney place the food and water in the container. Everett confirmed the two were in the rear of the container, then grabbed the privy buckets.
Before the doors were shut, Maria yelped in pain. “Oh! My leg! It stung my leg!”
Lars swatted at several locusts. “My hand. Oh, it hurts!”
Everett slammed the door shut and shook his head. By the time he had the privy buckets thrown overboard, the container was echoing with cries of torture. He walked by the other two containers and explained to each of them the situation. All inside had listened to the cries of Clark for the last three days, and vowed to ration the supplies they had on hand rather than have the doors opened.
Everett and Courtney managed to get back inside the door to the bridge castle with only two locusts following them in. The first was apprehended and dispensed with in short order. The other flew into the vent.
The next several days would be spent making slow progress toward Mersin and being certain the rogue bug didn’t find its way to the bridge.
One week later, Everett stood on the bridge at the beginning of his shift. The sun shone through the smoke and cloud more brightly than any day since the comet. “Good morning.”
Williams forced a smile. “Good morning, sir.”
“Morning, Everett.” Sarah stood up from her chair.
Everett looked at the radar. “It’s clearing up. Do you think we could pick up the speed today?”
“I’m running at ten knots at this moment. I think we’d be safe at fifteen, at least during the daylight hours.”
Everett looked back at the mattress where Lui was sleeping, then up at the section of bed sheet duct-taped over the air vent to prevent the rogue locust from finding its way to the bridge. “How long till we get to Gibraltar if we stay at fifteen knots?”
“If the air continues to clear, and we can get back to twenty-five knots, we could pass through the strait on Saturday.”
“I want to go through the strait during daylight hours. Even if it means moving slower. We’re a big, slow target that anyone can hit any time of day. I want to be able to see if I have to return fire.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How long from Gibraltar to Mersin?” Everett asked.
Sarah lowered an eyebrow. “Are we still going to Mersin?”
Everett tapped his finger on the AIS. “According to this thing, that’s the only place we’re authorized to go. If we change course, every ship in the Mediterranean will know.”
“What if the AIS had been knocked out by the wave?”
“Then we’d probably get boarded before we ever passed Gibraltar.”
Sarah called Everett out into the stairwell so they could talk privately, yet still keep an eye on Williams. “Could we go anywhere else?”
Everett watched through the narrow pain of glass. “Jerusalem is a long walk from Mersin. If we don’t go through the Med, you’re talking about crossing continents.”
“Mersin it is, then.” Sarah opened the door and turned back to Everett. “But you’re joking about walking, right? You do know that’s like 600 miles.”
“I hope so.” Everett followed her back in.
“Still going to Mersin, sir?” Williams asked.
“Yeah, how long from Gibraltar?”
“Roughly three days.” Williams glanced at the radar sweep. “If we have near perfect conditions.”
Everett scoffed. “That’s highly unlikely, but we can always hope.”
Fair conditions persisted for the remainder of the trip across the Atlantic. Williams paced the journey to arrive at the Strait of Gibraltar just after sunrise on Sunday morning, March 17th. As they passed through the strait, Courtney remained on the bridge. Everett would monitor the starboard side of the vessel, facing Morocco. Sarah kept watch on the port side, facing Spain. Each had several M72 LAW rockets armed, and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice if they were to come under fire.
Everett’s radio squelched. “All good on this side. How’s starboard looking?”
He pressed the talk key. “Calm. Just like it looked right before the comet hit.”
“Why did you have to say it like that?” Sarah’s voice came back.
“Guess it’s the realist in me.” He released the talk key.
Three Global Republic Coast Guard boats zoomed up toward the Madison Maersk from the starboard side of the ship. All three boats were light-weight, semi-inflatables with fifty-caliber machine guns mounted on the bow and stern of each vessel. Peacekeepers manned all six guns. Everett stepped up to the rail of the ship, looking down and making eye contact with the peacekeepers who looked straight up at him. Everett saluted the men as they slowed down by the boat. Then, as quickly as they’d appeared, the three semi-inflatables disappeared around the stern of the Madison.
Everett rushed over to the port side where Sarah was stationed. He knelt down, far enough away from the side to not be seen if the inflatables were to pass by her side. “You might have some goons coming around. Just salute them or give them a wave. No radio contact until we know they’re out of range.”
“Roger.”
Everett heard the inflatables buzzing by and saw Sarah wave as he retreated to the starboard side of the ship. He spoke low to himself. “That’s probably the first and last time I’ll be thankful to see the GR.”
Everett saw several other GR patrols in the area. No other boats came close to the Madison while they passed through the strait.
An hour later, they were in the wide-open waters of the Alboran Sea, and on their way to the Mediterranean.
Everett called Sarah. “I think we’re in the clear for now. I’m going to take water and food to our guests in the containers while we don’t have any bugs around. If you want to give me a hand, we can call it a day once we’re finished.”
“I’ll see you at the door.”
The two of them went through the process of feeding, watering, and providing clean buckets to the crew members in the containers. Clark was in no condition to help with those chores, and Juan seemed to be having a rough time being pinned up with Clark and his incessant suffering. But, Juan was caring for the deckhand as best he could, so Everett didn’t change the sleeping arrangement.
Everett quickly shut the door to container three after placing the food and water inside. The continual moaning of Maria and Lars was more than he could handle.
Sarah walked next to Everett on the way back to the bridge castle. “I feel so sorry for them.”
“I do too, but it’s God’s judgment, not mine. The angel in Revelation 16 says righteous are your judgments. So, I’m not going to argue.”
Courtney’s voice came over the radio. “Everett, get up here fast!”
Everett flung the door open and rushed up the stairs. “What’s happening?”
“The locust, it chewed through the sheet over the vent. It just stung Williams!”
Everett could hear screaming in the background. He pressed the talk key as he hustled up the stairs. “Tell Lui to lock himself in the bathroom until we’ve got the bug contained.”
“Roger.” Courtney’s response was brief.
Everett turned to Sarah. “Get me the hammer from the maintenance room.”
She turned from following him up the stairs. “Be right there.”
Everett removed his shirt while he cleared the last flight of stairs. He charged onto the bridge. “Hold my rifle!” He passed his weapon to Courtney and hurried toward Williams who was face down on the floor with his hands over his head and crying out in torment. Everett saw the locust, which landed on Williams back. Everett watched as the scorpion-like tail arched over the locust’s back and stung Williams on his lower back near the spine. Everett threw the shirt over the bug and pulled it off.
Williams yelped in pain as the stinger came out of his back. Everett held the creature, wrapped in the shirt until Sarah arrived on the bridge.
Sarah walked in, winded from running up the stairs. “Here’s
the hammer.”
“Give it to me, I’ve got a knack for killing these things.” Courtney took the tool.
Everett held out the knot of the shirt containing the locust. “Watch my fingers!”
“This ain’t my first rodeo.” Courtney smacked the knot with the hammer, then took two more solid swings.
Everett loosened the knot and shook it.
“Is it dead?” Sarah watched in abhorrence.
“Yeah.” Everett looked over at Williams who was writhing in misery. “We’ve got to get him off the bridge.”
“Where do we take him?” Courtney asked.
“We have to put him in a container. I’ll get a mattress and put him with Clark.”
Sarah watched the man rolling on the ground. “Lui can’t dock the ship.”
“We’ll bring him back up when we get to Mersin, but we can’t listen to that for the next three days.”
Courtney huffed. “It’ll be more like four days without an acting captain.”
Everett knew she was probably right. He turned toward the door. “I’ll get a mattress set up and come back up to get him in a while.”
CHAPTER 14
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Matthew 6:25-30
Three and a half weeks had passed when the Madison Maersk finally arrived at the Port of Mersin at dusk on Thursday. Everett brought Williams back up to the bridge, but his pain persisted. Sarah gave the acting captain a shot of morphine from the sick bay.
“How are you feeling?” Everett patted Williams on the back.
“Awful.” He gasped for breath. His face was swollen and red from a sting on his left cheek.
Everett passed him a bottle of vodka scavenged from Petrov’s stateroom. “Are you going to be able to get us into the port?”
Williams took a deep drink, winced, then handed the bottle back to Everett. “I will try. I’ll need Lui, and I’ll need one of you to watch from the far side of the bridge.”
“Whatever you need. Another drink?”
Williams chugged the bottle again, then handed it back. “Thank you.”
Everett coordinated the team as Lui brought the ship through the giant breakwater and toward the dock. Once they pulled up to dock, Williams took the controls.
Sarah watched from the far wing of the bridge. “You’re too close! You’re too close!”
BANG! The ship stopped suddenly as it slammed into the side of the dock.
“That’s gonna leave a mark.” Everett managed not to lose his balance.
“Okay, you’re good, you’re good.” Sarah watched.
Everett gave the command for Sarah and Courtney to follow him. He ripped the mic from the radio so Williams or Lui wouldn’t be able to call out after they’d left the bridge. Everett pointed his rifle at the two men. “Give us ten minutes before you start yelling for help, or I will kill you.”
“Yes, sir. Lui don’t tell anybody, thank you for let me live. I’m very appreciate.” Lui put his hands together and bowed.
Everett knew Lui’s gratitude was as shallow as the threat of killing them if the team was caught. Now it was time to move, and they had to go fast. The team hustled down the stairs to the gangway where their packs and duffles were waiting for them. Everett now wore Lieutenant Baard’s uniform. No more Second Lieutenant.
Everett stormed off the gangway with a snarling scowl, pointing at the sergeant standing guard. “This captain is drunker than a skunk! Get your men up there and arrest him this minute!”
“Yes, Lieutenant.” The sergeant saluted Everett and stormed up the gangway.
“Slow down! I need immediate transport to Ankara, and I’m already two weeks late. Where is the GR commandant for the port?” Everett barked.
The sergeant looked confused about whether he should obey Everett’s orders to arrest the captain or to provide directions. He stuttered, “Th, th, there’s a white building to the north of the container yard.”
“Carry on.” Everett waved the peacekeeper on and led the team.
“Are we going to the commandant?” Courtney stepped fast to keep up with Everett.
“No, but if anyone asks him where we went, that’s where he’ll send them.” As soon as the team was behind the cover of the containers, Everett broke into a sprint. “I saw GR Coast Guard vessels to the north. We need one of those.”
“How are we going to get a hold of one?” Sarah grunted as she jogged behind Everett. “Never mind. I don’t even want to know.”
After a 400-yard jog, Everett slowed down and regulated his breath. He dabbed the perspiration from his head as he walked up to the Coast Guard office. He pulled the door open. Courtney and Sarah followed him in.
“I need a boat. My corporal saw someone on that large container ship throw something overboard. That ship is full of military supplies, so we’re not talking about heroin or pills.”
The robust Arabic man sitting behind the desk seemed to bite his tongue as he looked at Everett’s rank patch. “We’ll be more than happy to check it out for you. It looks like the lieutenant has somewhere to be anyway.”
“Yes, I was supposed to be securing a transport to Ankara, but instead, I’m doing the Coast Guard’s job because the Madison Maersk had no escorts into the port.” Everett fumed as he pointed to the phone. “Now get me the commandant. I’m going to see this thing through one way or the other. And he’ll know why I’m having to involve myself!”
The fat man in the chair waved his hand to the thinner one who’d been speaking with him. He rattled off some orders in what Everett assumed was Turkish. “Hasan will be happy to take you out on the water. Anywhere you need to go. We are at your service.”
Everett angrily followed the thin man to the dock.
Hasan motioned toward a semi-inflatable. “This boat. We take. You leave bag here. We come right back.”
“No, we’ll take our bags with us. Once we’ve identified what was thrown overboard, you’ll drop us as close to the commandant’s office as possible. I have no desire to run back and forth because you people can’t do your job.”
Hasan frowned. “Yes, Lieutenant.”
They were soon in the boat and speeding away from the dock. Everett directed Hasan to go out past the breakwater, into the Mediterranean, then east.
As they buzzed further east, Hassan turned to Everett. “Excuse me for say so, sir, but I don’t think so ship could be coming from this direction. Perhaps the corporal doesn’t remember.”
“Just keep going a little further.”
A voice, which sounded much like the chubby man in the office, came over the radio. The only word Everett could make out was “Hasan.”
The man turned to look at Everett suspiciously. His eyes grew wider as he looked down to see Everett’s pistol pointed at him. POW!
Hasan dropped to the floor, and Courtney quickly took the wheel. Everett motioned to Sarah. “Help me get Hasan over the side.” Splash!
“Where to?” Courtney kept speeding forward.
Everett scanned the coast. “Get closer to the beach. If we see a river or canal, we’ll turn off. It’s night. We’ve got a good chance of getting away.”
Sarah pulled one of the M72 LAWs out of her duffle. “This might increase our chances if we get a tail.”
They continued to stay
close to the beach for another mile. Everett pointed. “Right there! Take that canal!”
Courtney cut the boat hard to the port side and sped toward the canal. The canal took them roughly five miles inland before it became too shallow to navigate. “Now what?” Courtney asked.
“Take us back to the last bridge. We’ll hide the boat under there so it won’t be visible by helicopters. No one will see it ‘til morning, and we’ll be out of the area by then.”
They stashed the semi-inflatable GR Coast Guard boat and began following the road, which ran north alongside the canal.
Navigating by only the slim glow of moonlight, the team continued walking up the dirt road through an agricultural area.
“These bags are getting heavy,” Courtney complained. “Maybe we should drop the rockets.”
Everett pointed ahead. “See that glow? There’s a city or a town up ahead. It’s less than half a mile. The rockets weigh about five pounds each, and you’ve only got three in your bag.”
“But I’ve got bullets, magazines, food, and clothes. It adds up.”
“You’ll make it, soldier. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.” He walked close to her.
They reached the edge of the city in a matter of minutes.
“We have to find a vehicle. I can’t keep packing this junk.” Courtney repositioned the heavy duffle over her other shoulder.
Everett walked up to an intersection and waved down a dusty, white flatbed truck, stepping in front of it and blocking the lane. “Do you speak English?”
“Little bit. What did I do? Why are you stopping me?” The middle-eastern man held his hand in the air.
“You didn’t do anything. But our vehicle broke down a few miles back, and we need a lift into town. It’s for His High and Most Prepotent Majesty, Angelo Luz.” Everett softened his stern expression. “What’s your name?”
“Ali.” The man looked curiously at Everett and the girls. “I drove this road. I didn’t see GR vehicle.”
“We got turned around, we were coming from the other direction.”
Ali’s face showed that he wasn’t buying Everett’s spiel. “I never see only three peacekeepers in Tarsus. Always I see twenty, thirty together. It’s very dangerous here for you.”