Landfall: Islands in the Aftermath

by Scott B. Williams

  The work of unloading the Casey Nicole began shortly after everyone was awake and moving about. Larry said that the boat had to be lightened as much as possible by removing her stores and gear. They did this by passing things from the deck to the beach, stacking it all above the high tide line. The next step, after that was done, Larry said, was to get the catamaran out of the water as well. Jessica wasn’t sure how that could be done, but she knew if anybody could do it, Larry Drager could. He had built the boat, after all, with Scully’s help and his own two hands.

  The work was strenuous and monotonous, and Jessica would have preferred to wander off and explore the lovely beaches of the island alone with Grant, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. At least she was near him, even if he was on the deck with Larry and Artie while she, along with Casey, Tara and Rebecca were wading back and forth with the things they handed overboard to them. As she worked beside her, Jessica was bothered a bit by how her thoughts of Casey had changed. It made her feel bad, knowing inside she would have preferred if Casey were not there at all. She should be glad to see her friend again, but now Grant was a wedge driven between them, and Jessica feared it would only push them farther apart. She found herself thinking this way more and more and couldn’t help it. It made her want to physically keep herself between Grant and Casey as much as possible, as if that would change things. The feeling was so strong that she realized she was moving more stuff to the beach than Casey, simply because she wanted to be the one he handed things to more often than her. If Casey had been on the deck with him instead of in the water with her, Jessica would have been furious. She tried to remind herself she had gotten closer to Grant than Casey, at least as far as she knew. He had opened up to her and returned her kisses, but still…

  Her thoughts of this dilemma were interrupted when the stranger appeared later that morning; surprising them all after thinking they were alone there. She watched and waited in the shallows beside the catamaran as Larry, Grant and Artie went to meet him, keeping him at a distance until they determined whether or not he was a threat. Jessica certainly hoped not. She’d thought they’d put all that behind them once they left Florida and the rest of the U.S. astern. The point of coming here to the Bahamas in the first place was to find a refuge from the violence that seemed to be everywhere back there. Jessica hoped none of them would have to use their guns again, but she was glad they were all well armed when they walked up the hill to greet the guy.

  Jessica judged him to be not much older than her or Grant, maybe in his late twenties. He was shirtless, wearing only surfer shorts and sandals, and was carrying nothing but a fishing spear. The guys talked to him for a few minutes, and then Grant returned to the boat, saying they were going to give him some food.

  “He says his name is Russell. I don’t think he’s dangerous. He’s just stranded here and he’s hungry. Larry told him he could join us for breakfast. The guy’s been living off whelks and raw fish for weeks. He doesn’t even have a way to start a fire.”

  When Larry and Artie returned to the boat bringing Russell with them, Jessica thought he seemed friendly enough upon first introduction, but she could tell he had an obnoxious side too. Maybe it was just that he’d been alone here for so long and was so starved for conversation that he wouldn’t stop talking once he started, but it seemed to be more than that. Maybe it was the way his eyes locked on hers for a long, intense moment and then quickly took in the rest of her body, whether he was conscious of it or not. Jessica was used to men looking at her that way, it was just a fact of life for her because so many of them found her attractive. She saw Russell checking out Tara and Casey too, but he had been alone for a long time so it was understandable that he must have dreamed about girls the way any normal young man would. But even as he looked at them and wolfed down the oatmeal Casey gave him, he talked and talked and talked, rambling on about every detail of his ordeal there and asking endless questions about their boats and where they’d come from and what they knew of the situation.

  “That’s sick, man! You mean it’s really that bad way up in New Orleans? And all the way down to St. Thomas? Shit, man, I was hoping it was just a small area, like maybe the Bahamas and south Florida? Do you really think it was just a solar flare? I know that’s what everybody’s been saying, but the more I hear about it, the more I think it wasn’t. And then what you said about those ships. I’ve been suspicious that’s it’s something our own government did. Maybe they’ve been planning it all along. Break everybody down with this and then set up the new system they’ve been preparing for.”

  Larry waved this off and tried to change the subject, but Russell was persistent.

  “Look, man. They can totally do something like that! I’ve read a lot about it! They may even have some kind of weapon in orbit we don’t know about. Some way to send an EMP pulse that could wipe everything out and make it look like a natural event. Natural solar flares aren’t strong enough to do the damage that’s been done. Not to kill all the cars and everything! After what you’ve told me about the ships being there, I’ll bet that’s what it was! They waited until a real solar flare happened before they pulled the trigger, so they could blame it on a natural event, then they did it. Just like that! Then they just sat back and waited long enough for things to break down so they could come in and mop up. Finish the job and establish their New World Order! I’ve been thinking about it a lot while I’ve been here. I already had it figured out, and now with what you’ve told me, I know I’m right! It all makes sense. That’s why I wouldn’t go back to the U.S. now for anything! Anyone who doesn’t go along with the program is going to be slaughtered.”

  “That’s crazy,” Grant said. “There’s no way the government would do something like that, even if they could. People are dying by the thousands, maybe tens or hundreds of thousands, because of this.”

  “Don’t put it past them!” Russell said. “That kind of thing has happened before.”

  Jessica didn’t say anything, but she thought it was crazy too. Russell had been stranded here alone for too long. Maybe all the sun and solitude had made him crazy. Maybe he was already crazy before any of this happened? He seemed obsessed with his idea though, and looking at him, she figured he’d probably done a lot of drugs in his day and would now if he had them. Just as she was thinking that, he finished his breakfast and immediately turned to Larry with another request.

  “Hey man, you haven’t got a joint you could spare have you? I haven’t had any smoke in over a month! It’s crazy! But I know you’ve got weed on the boat.”

  “Nope!” Larry said. “No weed on board. I’ve never allowed it on any boat I sail. I’m a professional skipper and can’t risk it. I might burn one now and then ashore with my Rasta buddy, Scully, but we don’t bring it on the boat.”

  “Man, that sucks! I was really hoping when I saw the two boats. Are you sure you’re not holding out on me? I’m not asking for much. Just a toke or two would be awesome!”

  “Sorry, but I’m not kidding. There’s nothing to smoke on the Casey Nicole.”

  “If you say so man, but I still think you’re holding out. What about the other boat? Somebody’s got a stash on board that one, I know it!”

  “No,” Tara said. “The Sarah J. belongs to my retired parents. They don’t smoke marijuana, and I don’t either.”

  Jessica saw that Russell looked completely dejected. It was like he wanted a joint worse than he wanted food, after being stuck here all this time without it. He reminded her of her stupid ex-boyfriend Joey, who was the same way about beer. And as if reading her thoughts once again, alcohol was the next thing Russell asked for.

  “What about a shot of rum… or whiskey? Brandy? Or anything? I know you’ve guys have to have a liquor cabinet on board!”

  “Look, Russell. We’ve got our hands a bit full right now. As you can see, the tide is already starting to come in. We’ve got to finish unloading this boat so we can get set up to haul her out when it peaks. You’re welcome
to the food we gave you and you can eat with us again too, but nobody’s interested in drinking at this hour.”

  “It’s cool, man. Sorry! I’ve just been stuck here so long! You have no idea how glad I am to see you guys!”

  Jessica felt his eyes sweep her entire body again and lock on for a moment as he said this. It gave her the creeps, but she looked away and pretended not to know he was staring at her.

  “What can I do to help? I’m ready to work! Just say the word, man, and I’m on it.”

  Eight

  LARRY HAD TOO MUCH on his mind this morning to give this Russell guy much thought. He didn’t mind sharing a little food with him, since it was obvious he was indeed a bit desperate and was telling the truth about being stranded on Green Cay. Anyone could look at him and see this was so. Even though Russell looked like the perpetually skinny type, you could see that he had been living even leaner for a few weeks. Larry could tell too that Russell had probably always been a bit of a pain in the ass. It was understandable that he was starved for conversation and human contact, but it was more than that. Larry pegged him as the type that was always running his mouth, telling anyone who would listen about everything he’d ever done and offering his opinions whether they were solicited or not. Larry didn’t have time to hear any of it right now, and the last thing he needed was a drunk underfoot all day when they had critical work to do. He wouldn’t give in to Russell’s request for a drink until that work was done, but figured he would probably share a bit of rum with him tonight if all went as planned.

  It took another hour and a half, but once they had everything off the boat that could be removed without tools, Larry was ready to begin setting up the tackle to haul her out. That he considered it doable at all was largely because of the ideal slope angle of the beach above the tideline, and the fairly good tidal range for these latitudes, judging by the high water marks on the nearby rocks. There was just enough room on the powdery sand of the beach directly ahead of the Casey Nicole’s bows to accommodate her full length, which would get her high hulls high enough to dry out at low tide. All he wanted to do was fully inspect them and lay up some fiberglass reinforcements over the cracked and damaged areas. It was important to keep the water out of the plywood core under the fiberglass, so these kinds of breaks in the sheathing had to be dealt with as soon as possible.

  “Is it going to work?” Casey asked him as Larry double-checked the set of his anchors on the high ground beyond the beach while they waited on more water.

  “You can count on it, Casey. She’ll come out the same way she went in. Once we start winching her up, she’ll have no choice. We’ll put the big fenders under the bows and then more under the keels as she goes. It’ll take a lot of fiddling back and forth and we’ll have to go slow, but we’ll have her high and dry before the tide goes out again.”

  “That’s good to hear. I’m so glad the damage wasn’t worse.”

  “Me too. The reefs just a bit to the north would not have been as kind to her.”

  “I wish Scully was here, Uncle Larry. I don’t like the idea of you sailing back to Florida after what my dad said about that gunboat.”

  “I don’t like it either, Casey, but you know I’ve got to find him. Scully is like a brother to me. I’m not leaving him behind, but I’m not going to put any of you at risk to look for him either. I’ll do it myself.”

  “How? You can’t go back there all alone! You know that. I’ll go with you if you like. You’re gonna need help sailing the boat.”

  “No, Casey. You’ve got to stay here with your dad. We’ve put him through enough worry already. Practically all he’s been doing since the grid went down is looking for you. Now that you two are together, you are staying together! I can do this alone. All of you can wait right here on Green Cay.”

  “What about this Russell guy? He gives me the creeps. Jessica said the same thing.”

  “Yeah, I know, but I’m pretty sure he’s harmless. I’ve seen his type at every marina and boatyard I’ve ever been to. Typical know-it-all boat bum. Likes hanging around boats but has never managed to own one. I’m keeping an eye on him. I don’t know yet what we’ll do about it, but we’ll deal with that later. I’m sure he’s hoping for a ride off the island.”

  “Right now it sounds like all he wants to do is get high,” Casey said. “And he’s had an eye on Jessica since he saw her. He was looking at me and Tara too.”

  “Well, you can’t blame him for that,” Larry grinned. “He has been stranded on a desert island for weeks, you know.” As he said this, Larry saw that Russell was sticking as close to Jessica as he could, while she was in turn doing her best to make sure she was following Grant with every move he made. Casey wasn’t oblivious to that either, and had to comment to her uncle about it:

  “I gather that Jessica would have preferred to keep sailing with Grant. I see she’s doing her best to pester the hell out of him.”

  “Well, from what your dad said, he had every opportunity if she was what he wanted, Casey. They’ve been at sea together long enough. I don’t see him hanging all over her the same way though. I think he still likes you better.”

  “Maybe. I just wish Jessica wouldn’t act so stupid sometimes.”

  “Women!” Larry laughed, touching Casey’s shoulder as he did. “Some women. Not you! I guess Tara’s happy to see that I’ve got my own boat back. I’m sure she was just elated that I wasn’t on board the Sarah J. last night.”

  “If so, it’s her loss, Uncle Larry. But I think she’s forgiven you by now. Maybe you two are just too much alike. Do you really think two captains with two boats can ever agree on anything?”

  “Hell no! But I would have enjoyed making up after the fights! Maybe the two boats part would have made it work. We wouldn’t have to deal with each other until we made port. Then when the fun was over, we could set sail again!”

  “It’s a nice fantasy Uncle Larry. I’m sure the two of you would get along better that way. Maybe it could still work out?”

  Larry didn’t get a chance to answer before Russell made his way into the middle of their conversation, hitting Larry with half a dozen questions at once about the design of the catamaran, while at the same time telling him what he would have done differently if he had built it.

  “I don’t like that idea of tying the beams to the hulls. That looks pretty sketch to me. I would have glassed them in and made it all one piece. And dude, you’ve got all that deck space. Why not build a big main cabin over it? Think of all the room you’d have! If the beams were glassed in, the deck cabin could open into the hulls. Most catamarans I’ve seen are like that. Every been aboard a Gemini?”

  Larry did his best to ignore Russell’s questions and comments. He’d heard them all before when he was building the big Wharram cat on Culebra. Most people didn’t get it, but he didn’t care about that. He had his reasons for liking the design and the last thing he had time for was discussing the intricacies of multihull parameters with a typical boatyard know-it-all.

  “If the hulls were round-bottomed, it’d be a lot easier to haul her out. She would draw less with centerboards that could be lifted than with those deep Vs. It’s going to be hard to get her up on the sand, the way they’re going to dig in. That’s why they got damaged on the reef in the first place.”

  “We’ll get her out, don’t you worry,” Larry said.

  “Yeah, and I’m going to help you do it. I’m just sayin’. Could be a lot easier with a few small changes. That’s just the way I would have done it. And it’s what I’ll do when I build my boat.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got it figured out then,” Larry said.

  “Yeah, man. I’ve been around boats all my life. I’ve seen all kinds come and go. Got a feel for what works and what doesn’t. That’s what I’ve been doing; studying them and keeping the best ideas I’ve seen in my head. I didn’t want to compromise with my own boat, so I’ve been biding my time until I’m ready. When I build one, it’s going to be the best! T
hen, I’ll circumnavigate on her. That’s always been the plan.”

  “Is that so?” Larry asked. Russell’s spouting off was going in one ear and out the other. Larry didn’t care what his plans had been or what he thought of the Casey Nicole or anything else for that matter. But as long as he stayed out of the way and maybe provided a bit of extra muscle when they began winching her out, he could tolerate his presence to a degree.

  “Looks like we’re about ready, little brother,” Artie said, checking the taut anchor lines that were in place.

  “Yep. When the tide peaks, in less than a half hour, we’ll start cranking the big winch and see if we can make this happen. If you and Grant don’t mind, you two can help me with that. We can spell each other when we get tired. I’m still working with one arm, you know, Doc.”

  “Yes, I do know. And if you’d listened to your doctor and kept it in a sling to give it more time to heal, you’d be farther along the way to recovery than you are now!”

  “Probably. Kinda hard to do though, you know, the way things have been… gunfights… storms at sea… getting beaten up by an angry mom….”

  “Dude, somebody nearly cut your arm off!” Russell said, noticing the long scar where Artie had sewn up the gaping machete wound that had indeed cut nearly halfway through his arm just below the elbow.