Megalodon Riptide

by Watts, Russ

  I couldn’t resist having a look and turned to see Chelsea and Ava laughing over something. It was good to see Chelsea laugh. There hadn’t been enough of it lately. After the Stamford came down there hadn’t been any laughing. I noticed how Ava tried to cover her mouth with her hands when she laughed. It might be like a nervous tick or perhaps she was still shy around Chelsea. Still, it was damn good to look at her. I must’ve held my gaze a little too long because Jonah gave me a prod in the shoulder that felt like I’d been punched by a heavyweight.

  “Don’t even think about it,” said Jonah earnestly. “She’s like a daughter to me. We look out for one another out here. When you’re on my boat you’re part of my family. And that means no funny business. Got it?”

  “Got it.” I sheepishly turned back to watch the last high-rises in the city fade toward the horizon.

  “I ain’t saying you’re going to get along with everyone in my crew, but they’ll do their part and make sure you’re safe.”

  “Yeah, Gills already helped us with Manny. He’s a good man, I can tell.”

  “Damn right. Gills and Weir have worked with me longer than I care to remember.”

  “Weir. He doesn’t like me. I get the sense that he would rather we weren’t here.”

  “True, I won’t deny it, he was against me picking you up. But don’t take it personally. He’s been out on the sea so long he doesn’t know any different. He mistrusts anyone from the land. He’ll be fine. It’s not him you have to worry about.”

  “I guess not,” although I wasn’t sure what Jonah was getting at. Was he going to admit he’d seen the giant shark?

  “Not everyone is as hospitable as me, Luke. As long as you’re out here you’re going to have to learn a few things. The Tukino is a well-run machine and I can find a few jobs for you to help me with. Truthfully, we don’t really need any more hands. The fishing business is gone. There ain’t no restaurants left anymore, so we fish now and again for ourselves. That’s all. My main problem are the pirates. I could do with a spare pair of eyes. If we can spot them early, we can avoid them.”

  “Pirates? Out here?” I couldn’t believe what Jonah was saying. “I thought they were history, the sort of kid’s stuff they made films about.”

  “It’s different now. Pirates have always existed, but this is the end of the 21st century. They don’t wear eye patches or have parrots on their shoulders. Today’s pirates won’t make you walk the plank, they’ll just shoot you on sight. Cutlasses are so yesterday. Today they’re armed with guns and grenades. Marauders would probably be a better term for them. I’ve seen them in action. Merciless. They take whatever you have, kill your crew, and scupper your boat. Trust me, we do not want to run into any.”

  Pirates. Just when I thought our situation had improved he hit me with a bombshell like that. Quite how I was supposed to tell Pippa about them, I didn’t know.

  “I’ll fill in Pippa and Manny,” said Jonah. He pulled his oilskin up around his neck. “I’m going to head in. Getting cold out here.”

  “Um, Jonah, what about sleeping arrangements? If you’ve some spare blankets we can probably make do upon deck or in the wheelhouse. If that’s okay? I’ve already asked too much of you. I don’t want to put you out.”

  Jonah chuckled again. “Right little stress-head aren’t we? There are quarters downstairs. My cabin is marked Captain, so keep your eyes off that one. Next to it you’ll find two rooms with bunks for four people in each. They’re pretty cozy but they’re warm, and there’s enough room to stretch out for a good night’s sleep. I mean, there’s always the fish hold but I wouldn’t recommend it.”

  “Eight beds? Is the rest of the crew down there already?”

  “No, what you see is what you get. The crew used to be a lot bigger back in the days when this was a working ship. I run a skeleton staff these days. Some of the crew left, some of them…” Jonah chewed his lip thoughtfully. “Well, like I said, the ocean is a dangerous place. You’ll see one room plastered with photographs. That one is for Weir, Gills and Ava. They’ve settled in together and I don’t want them upset. I figure Manny can take the fourth bed. The second room can be for you, Pippa and Chelsea. That’ll do for tonight. If you want, we can talk about it again in the morning?”

  “Sounds great. I wasn’t sure we would have a bed at all.”

  Jonah shrugged. “No problem, Luke. I guess you have a lot to think about. Like how long do you want to keep your family out here? Life on the ocean has its ups and downs, that’s for sure.”

  Literally, I thought, as a wave crashed against the boat and my stomach flipped.

  “And if you don’t like fish then you are shit out of luck. But it’s a life and that’s more than a lot of folk have these days.”

  Jonah yawned. The dim light hid the bags under his eyes.

  “It’s been a long day. We’re almost there. Weir will get us to Atlantic Bay shortly and we’ll drop anchor for the night.”

  “The city is still there?” I asked eagerly. Was it too much to ask? Jonah soon shot down my hopes.

  “No. I guess we still use it as a point of reference. There’s a sheltered area we found, out of sight of prying eyes. It’s safe. Gills will cook us up a good feed and then we can get some shut eye. I suggest we all try to get some rest.”

  As Jonah turned to leave I caught his arm. “Jonah, just one more thing. Back in the city, when our apartment collapsed. Did you see… did you see anything… unusual?”

  Jonah looked at me with tired eyes. “Apart from everything?”

  “I mean in the water? Did you see what was beneath us, what came up and killed Mr. Johnson?”

  Jonah frowned and the shadow on his face made it look like he wore a hood. “Luke, there are things out here in the ocean you don’t ever want to meet. There are things that will snap you in half or devour you whole given half a chance. Most of them stay at the bottom of the ocean. I’ve seen creatures that will give you nightmares for weeks; giant squids and great whites that almost took the Tukino down. Weir believes he once saw a… well, never mind. But there was nothing in New York. The streets are too tight for them to navigate. Don’t let your imagination get the better of you. What happened back there was traumatic for everybody. We got snagged on a truck and Manny was lucky you were there to help him. You should concentrate on Pippa and Chelsea. They need you, Luke. They need to know you’re looking out for them, not sea-monsters and pirates. Don’t worry about things you can’t control.”

  I nodded, feeling suitably admonished. Maybe I had built it up in my memory. Maybe the shark was just that, a shark, and in all the drama of the building collapsing I had mistaken it for something it wasn’t. I should be more concerned about the pirates Jonah had mentioned. Guns and grenades were not what I was expecting.

  Jonah offered me a reassuring smile and looked up at the blue sky. It was starting to turn a rich, deep blue and the stars were beginning to appear. “Don’t stay out here too long. Dinner will be served soon. Come down into the cabin when you’re ready. We all eat together down in the galley. It’s right next to the bunkrooms. Trust me, you can’t get lost down there. It’s…” Jonah searched for the right word. “It’s—”

  “Cozy, right?”

  “Cozy.” Jonah waved me goodbye as he departed for the warm cabin. “You can take that to the bank.”

  I looked up at the sky and exhaled slowly. The sun seemed to have set so quickly that I hadn’t really noticed it. Jonah was right, it was getting cold. I leant over the railing and looked at the water churning beneath us. Could I really do this? Could I live out on the ocean? Would Pippa even want this for her and Chelsea? The warmth of the cabin was beckoning me and I heard Ava and Chelsea giggling their way past me. It was hard to believe what had happened. When I woke up that morning I hadn’t reckoned our lives would become so complicated.

  I knew that the mainland was out there somewhere, but as I scanned the horizon it was hard to find. Even the horizon was becoming a blur as the
hazy blue sky met the ocean. We hadn’t sailed far out since leaving New York and if we were heading for Atlantic City then we were probably following the coastline. But where there should’ve been scores of beachfront houses there was just water. Occasionally I saw some land, a rocky outcrop of something protruding above the water like a beacon. The moon and stars were beginning to take over from the sun and my stomach growled. It was time to eat. I still put off going into the cabin. I suppose I was nervous. I was nervous of what conversations might arise from our presence, and if the rest of the crew would really be as welcoming as Jonah. I was nervous about what Pippa would say to me and what Manny might ask. More than anything I was nervous about what answers I might have – or not.

  Over the vast ocean, I looked west and scanned for signs of life. Finally I saw a light. It was just a twinkle, a faint dot too far away for me to possibly work out where it was coming from. It was motionless and had to be from a floodlight or perhaps a stadium. I’d heard they still had electricity in parts of the mainland, the parts far enough inland to have escaped the waters. Our apartment had consisted of several candles and wind-up torches. We relied on the natural light of the sun for light and warmth.

  I heard a cough behind me and was surprised to find Ava stood on the deck.

  “Evening, sailor,” she said, holding out her hand. “Ava.”

  “Luke,” I replied shaking her hand. Jonah was right. Her skin was perfect.

  “I know, Chelsea told me. You’re her Uncle, right? She told me a lot about you.”

  “Oh dear.” I was beaming, but I couldn’t help it. I felt slightly ridiculous and forced my eyes up to the sky. After all that the day had thrown at me, after all I had seen, the death of Mr. Johnson and the narrow escape from our building, I felt as nervous as I did on my prom night. It had been a long time since I’d spoken with a pretty girl. “The stars are amazing. And it looks like it will be a full moon tonight, right?”

  “Yeah, looks like it,” replied Ava. “When you’ve been out here as long as I have you don’t notice things like that anymore. I guess we just take the stars for granted.”

  “There’s a lot we used to take for granted. Still, we’re here now. That’s what matters, right?”

  “Right.”

  I looked at Ava. She had removed her oilskins and replaced them with a light sweater and skinny jeans. I guessed it was knocking-off time. She still had her crimson beanie tugged down tightly over her head to keep the chill away, but I could see lockets of her hair poking out from underneath. In the dim light she looked stunning.

  “Sorry, I actually came out here to say that supper will be ready. Gills is a good cook. You should come in.”

  “Let me guess. Steak?”

  “How did you know?” Ava smiled.

  “Mushroom sauce?”

  “And a nice bottle of red to go with it.” Ava laughed and raised her hands to her face, hiding her mouth.

  “Sounds like we’re missing out, Ava,” I said, wishing she wouldn’t hide her lips. I held out my arm. “Care to join me? I have reservations for two at La Maison Tukino. I hear the chef does the perfect steak.”

  Ava linked her arm through mine and I caught a faint smell of perfume as she stood next to me.

  “As long as it comes with fries.”

  Laughing, I led Ava toward the cabin. Before we entered I caught sight of Weir. He was up ahead in the wheelhouse standing by the console. I smiled at him but he simply returned my smile with a glare. As I ushered Ava inside I had the feeling it was going to be a long night.

  CHAPTER 5

  The unsettling rocking motion of the boat left me feeling sick. Ava had been right about Gills. With a few simple herbs and spices he had turned what would have been an otherwise bland fish dish into something quite delicious. There hadn’t been a scrap left after we’d eaten. I don’t remember what type of fish it was, but after what we’d been living on, tins and stale food, it felt good to have a full belly. After eating our fish supper, Weir was true to his word and dropped anchor somewhere near Atlantic City. Jonah retired early and told us we’d best do the same as he intended to be up at dawn. I should’ve listened. Instead, we sat around talking, discussing our lives and getting to know one another. Weir was the only exception. He stayed quiet and when asked about his past retired to his bunk too. Gills told us that even he didn’t know much about him, despite working together for years. Weir was a man of few words.

  I tried to prise Gills’ real name out of him, but he refused to spill it. He said he had spent so long on the ocean that he couldn’t remember it anymore, but I could tell he was playing. He had been given his moniker on account of how he could hold his breath for so long. Only a week after joining the crew he had fallen overboard and they thought he was gone, only for him to turn up a couple of minutes later. This was all out in the middle of a freezing ocean. So, Gills had earnt himself an appropriate nickname and a place in Jonah’s crew.

  Ava opened up about her brother and parents. I guess it was healthy for her to talk about it. There weren’t too many career choices left open for young people so she had decided to stick it out with Jonah. He’d looked after her and taught her how to fish, how to run the trawler. He’d taken her under his wing and I could tell how protective he was of her, and her him.

  Eventually, Ava winked at Gills and then opened up a cupboard behind her. She pulled out a bottle of red wine and made us promise not to tell Jonah. They’d been saving it a while and finding alcohol was getting harder. After having to leave Manny’s beers behind, we’d had little hesitation in polishing it off. Getting to relax and drink was a rare opportunity. Ava insisted we all share in it, and even Chelsea had a small glass. Soon, we all felt tired and with a full belly I crashed, sleep engulfing me quickly.

  When I eventually woke I looked across the room. I had taken the upper bunk and Pippa the lower bunk beneath me. Chelsea had the bunk opposite us to herself, and was sleeping peacefully. The room was dark, and as I sat up I banged my head on the ceiling.

  “Son of a—,” I whispered, nursing my sore head. I’d forgotten just how cramped the bunks were. I swung my legs off the side and quietly dropped down to the floor. My bare feet hit the cold wood and I looked around for my shoes. Chelsea was still sleeping but Pippa was gone. I quickly dressed and slipped out of the room, leaving Chelsea to sleep. The other bunk-room was empty and I went upstairs to the wheelhouse. Jonah and Weir were studying something and greeted me with a smile and a grunt, in that order. I left them to it, not wanting to interrupt their work, and slipped out onto the deck. Ava and Manny were at the stern, and I saw Gills sipping on a cup of what I assumed was coffee. He was leaning back over one of the railings and waved me hello.

  “Morning, sunshine,” said Gills breezily, tipping his hat. “Coffee?”

  “I’d love some.”

  “Wouldn’t we all. This is just hot water. We’re out of tea and coffee. Don’t suppose you brought any with you?”

  “Shoot.” I was beginning to understand how difficult life could be out here. “Any breakfast?”

  “We have cereal but no milk. There’s fresh water down below if you feel like it?”

  Out on deck the air was fresh and I inhaled, clearing my head. The events of yesterday felt like a dream.

  “You ever get to Atlantic City when it was still a city?” asked Gills.

  “No. This is my first trip.” I looked out over the water and imagined what it must have been like. It was all under the ocean now. There was no evidence of a city ever having been there. The boardwalk and hotels were gone, the party atmosphere reduced to a stiff breeze drifting over the rim of the Atlantic. Water lapped gently at the side of the boat and my body was demanding coffee. We hadn’t had any in months, the last of it running out after we’d cleared out the other apartments. Sometimes the body wanted what it just couldn’t have, and I thought of Ava. Jonah was right, I had to get her out of my head.

  “Pippa and Chelsea sleep okay?” Gills finished his
hot water. “The Captain’s keen to get going. Anchor’s up in five.”

  “Right, I’ll go round them up. Any idea what we’re doing, or where we’re heading?”

  “I think you’d best talk to Jonah,” said Gills. He patted me on the back. “Don’t worry. It’s all good.”

  Gills left me to my thoughts and the view over where the city used to be. Jonah was right that the place we had stayed the night was secluded. It wasn’t a natural bay at all, but one forced out of the environment. Two skyscrapers loomed over us, the upper floors poking above the water like Meerkats in the desert. We were barely thirty feet from either one and I could hear them creaking. They appeared to have been gutted by fire at some point as all of the windows had blown out and I could see inside several rooms. Blackened blinds flapped uselessly from some of the rooms and the internal walls were charred. A seagull swooped past me and landed on the sill of one of the rooms. Its beady eyes looked at me and then it took off again. Between the two empty buildings the angle allowed me a view of the mainland. There wasn’t much to see. There were a few other buildings still standing, their upper floors visible and their lower floors submerged, but there was no one living here anymore. It was evident that Atlantic City was now more like Atlantis. I tried to spot dry land, but all I could see was a hill in the distance and a road leading to nowhere. Apart from that, all I could see was water. This new world was going to take some getting used to. It was hard to accept that it was all gone. Even if we could find a way to get inland, what was the point? We had scavenged our own apartment block for food and there was no power. We had been surviving but we hadn’t been living. We’d just been waiting to die, waiting for something to change instead of doing something about our own situation. Standing on deck it felt like that had changed, that somehow we were back in control of our own destiny. If we could help catch fish, find water, then perhaps Jonah would let us stay. I wondered if I should wake Pippa and Chelsea to discuss it with them. We hadn’t thought any further than this. It felt like the Tukino offered a future though, more than any kind of future we could find on land.