Joshua had an excellent sense of direction and took the shortest route to his suite. It led him past the children’s arcade and play area. A rather harried looking woman in crew’s uniform was chasing a laughing three or four-year-old child down the passageway. Another darted out of the play room. Joshua swept the little girl up and swung her in her arms the way he had done with Precious when she was little.
The little girl squealed in delight. The crewperson returned carrying her captive, who was not looking happy at the moment. Another female crewmember came hurrying up and took the girl from Joshua. “Thank you,” the first woman told him.
He read her nameplate. Patricia Paine – Youth Activities Director “Looks like you have your hands full.”
“Yes, we are quite busy. If you’ll excuse me…” She hurried back into the play room and got the little boy involved in a toy before he began crying or screaming. There were a dozen children in the play room and at least that many older ones in the arcade. All of them seemed agitated.
“Feeling the tension of the adults,” Joshua thought to himself.
Only Patricia and the other woman were in evidence. Another child headed for the door, but stopped and stared up at Joshua. Joshua guided him back to the toy box and helped him select a toy as Patricia arbitrated an argument in the Arcade.
It was midnight when the last child’s parents stopped in to pick him up. Joshua had stayed the entire time, helping. Joshua was leaning against the door frame when Patricia came out of the Arcade with the teenage boy.
“Fallout yet, Dad?” he asked.
“No, son. Still no sign. Your mother and I have been keeping watch.”
“Sure wish we could have brought our BOB’s,” he said as he followed his parents out into the passageway.
Patricia came up to Joshua and thanked him profusely for his help that evening. “Any time,” Joshua replied. “Any time.”
He went to the suite, undressed, and climbed into bed by Sue, wondering what the next few days would bring.
As beautiful as she could make herself, Sue was not a pretty morning person. She seldom let Joshua see her until she’d showered and had on makeup. It usually wasn’t a difficult task. Joshua normally got up early and went for a run each morning. He was still in the suite when Sue woke up, groaning.
He went to the door of the bedroom of the suite and asked, “You okay this morning?”
“Yeah. Yeah. What happened last night?”
Joshua explained it to her. He wasn’t sure she believed him, but she nodded and went to the bathroom. He went to the sitting room and waited for her. She took her usual hour to get ready. They were late for the dining room breakfast, but were able to get something at the buffet.
Watching the people moving around, Joshua decided many of them were in denial. The routine seemed normal for a cruise. It was the same with the crew. Most were acting as if nothing had happened. But as the day wore on, people began to talk. The Captain had not addressed the ship again.
The crew was still not letting anyone on deck. Sue asked for more casino money. He refused. Sue got an ugly look on her face, but it was gone in an instant. Joshua wasn’t even sure if he’d seen it.
“Is it okay if I try the ATM? They have one, you know. I checked.”
“Sure,” Joshua responded. He didn’t bother to tell her it wouldn’t be working. “I couldn’t get a run this morning. I’m going to get some exercise, walking the corridors. I’ll meet you at the dining room for lunch.
“Whatever,” Sue called over her shoulder, already headed for the ATM near the ship’s bank. The card didn’t work. She looked around to make sure Joshua wasn’t anywhere around. She went to the bank counter and signed for cash on Joshua’s shipboard account. She did have signatory power, so she got the money, no questions asked.
Joshua strolled firmly, corridor after corridor, staircase after staircase. He found himself at the Arcade and Children’s play room. There weren’t as many children about, but Patricia was busy with the ones that were. She smiled and waved at him. Joshua gave a smile and small wave back.
He stayed on that deck and made several circuits, stopping at the play room each time. Finally, he had a chance to lend a hand. Patricia smiled her thanks and went to change one of the babies.
Joshua stayed there, helping with the children. Patricia had quit trying to get him to go along and let them deal with it, but more parents brought more children. Patricia admitted they were shorthanded. One of the crew in her department hadn’t showed up for the cruise.
He left, reluctantly, to meet Sue for lunch. She was beaming, talking to a group of people about her own age. She ran over to Joshua when she saw him and wrapped her arm around his. “I won! Big! Almost a thousand dollars!” She didn’t tell him she’d spent twelve hundred to make the thousand.
Joshua was surprised. He’d been sure the ATM wouldn’t work.
She was bubbly all through lunch, telling him about the people she’d met in the casino. They had invited her and Joshua to go dancing with them that evening after dinner. Joshua was disinclined, but Sue got him to agree the same way she usually did. Bedroom antics. Joshua had just stepped out of the shower, afterwards, when the public address system chime sounded and the voice of the Captain began speaking. Sue had already left the suite.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the Captain speaking. I regret to inform you that my supposition that World War Three had begun last night has proven to be true. My communications officers have been trying to make radio contact all night into the morning. They were finally successful after the ionization of the atmosphere lessened.
“Both the United States and Europe have been devastated. Canada much less so. I have decided to make way for Canada after we get reports that the radiation that does exist on the eastern side of the nation has diminished. I assure you, we have enough provisions for a substantial wait. Over two weeks. There have been no signs of radioactive fallout. You may now use the regular outside decks. Please stay calm. The medical staff is available for those that may have problems dealing with this. More later.”
Joshua dressed and headed for the open air. He breathed deeply, feeling more free than the situation warranted. He began to stroll the decks. There were many conversations about going to Canada, but he stayed out of them. He felt sorry for the Canadian citizens on board. They were being bombarded with questions.
He was going to go in and see if Patricia needed help in the Playroom, but ran into her on deck, supervising a group of youths playing shuffleboard. Joshua took a deck chair nearby and watched the children play. And Patricia. There was something about her, though Joshua couldn’t define it. She wasn’t stunningly beautiful the way Sue was, but she was very pretty. And carried herself very professionally.
She saw him finally and came over to thank him again for his help the night before and this morning. She had to go back to tend to the children. Joshua stayed and watched. He noticed a group gathering nearby and wandered over to see what was going on.
“I tell you they are!” said a woman, vehemently. “We have to do something about it.”
Joshua had missed the first part of the conversation. He whispered to one of those on the perimeter of the small crowd. “What’s going on?”
“She says the crew is beginning to lock people in their staterooms. People just wanting to find out what is going on.”
Two ship’s officers were approaching and Joshua saw the woman push through the small crowd and go up to them. They had to stop or run over her. “I demand to know why people are being locked up!”
“Madam,” said one officer, “People are not being ‘locked up’. There have been a few people restricted to their staterooms, but only on doctor’s orders. Not everyone is handling this situation rationally. We are trying to keep panic down, and worry to a minimum. Just keep listening to the Captain’s announcements. He will notify the passengers as new information comes in. Now if you will excuse me, I have duties to perform.”
&nb
sp; The woman didn’t look happy as the two officers went around her and continued on their way.
“I figured as much,” Joshua said to the man he’d asked about what was going on. “By the way, I’m Joshua Hardcastle.”
“Jerry Bastigone. What do you think of all this war stuff? You think it’s real?”
Joshua was shocked. How could the man not believe it was real? “I do believe it. I was sitting in the dining room and saw the explosions on the coast.”
“Yeah. I know. Just wishful thinking on my part. What do you think the Captain will do?”
“I’m sure he is developing plans. I think going to Canada is a good start.”
“I guess so. Have to make the best of it. Mostly I’m worried about my wife. She’s not taking this well. I can’t get her to come out of the stateroom. I just wish I knew what to do.”
“Have the doctors’ check on her. Maybe they can give her something.”
“I think I will. Thanks. I’m kind of jittery, myself. You seem to be calm enough. That’s a big help to me. I’ll see you around. I’m going to go check on my wife.”
Joshua nodded and decided he’d better go check on Sue. He tried the stateroom first, knowing the chance of finding her there was slim. She wasn’t there. What was there, slid under the door, was the previous day’s financial accounting summary. It was normal procedure for the cruise line to provide each passenger a summary of their purchases using the onboard credit system.
He found he wasn’t that surprised when he saw the withdrawal from the deposit account. Sue was at it again. “I knew that ATM wouldn’t work,” he said aloud. He headed for the casino to find her, but he suddenly detoured to the ship’s bank. He withdrew the entire deposit, except for one hundred dollars and then continued his journey to the casino.
“Oh, good!” Sue said, when Joshua went up to her at the roulette table. “Honey, I need a little more cash. I’m right on the verge of winning.”
“Sue, Sweetie… I need to talk to you.”
“But I’m so close!”
“Please, Sue.”
Sue frowned but followed Joshua out of the casino. As soon as they were through the fancy double doors, Sue asked, “What is it, Sweetie? You in the mood again? That’s okay. You know me. I’m always ready.”
Joshua decided to let her think that. It would get her to the stateroom without a scene. She was already unzipping her skirt when Joshua unlocked the door to the stateroom.
“No, Sue. No. I didn’t bring you down here for that. Not this time.”
Sue let the skirt drop anyway. She’d always been able to manipulate him through sex. No reason she couldn’t do it again.
“Sue. Stop that,” he said, rather forcefully for him as Sue began to unbutton her blouse seductively.
Her hands dropped to her side, clinched into tiny fists. “What is it, Joshua?” Her anger was beginning to show through.
“It’s your spending. Don’t you understand what has happened? World War Three is raging right now. We’re off on this cruise with nothing but the shirts on our backs. And a little money.”
“You have plenty of money!” Sue laughed. “You’re stinking rich!”
“Not any more, Sue. Don’t you get it? My book wealth doesn’t mean a thing now. I can’t sell a few stocks to get you a new dress every week. All I have left is what I brought with me, and what is at the house, if it is even still there. Kansas City was probably a target. Money might not even be any good now. But as long as it is, we have to conserve what we have. It may come down to selling our jewelry.”
“Like hell! I’m not selling anything! You gave those things to me. I won’t let you take it back! If you can’t take care of me, I’ll just find someone that will!” Sue stormed out of the stateroom.
On a hunch, Joshua followed her, staying well behind. It was as he suspected. She’d headed straight to the ship’s bank. Joshua watched her find out there was only a hundred dollars left in the deposit account. She was livid and began to curse. The bank clerk hurriedly gave her the hundred, to get her to quiet down, since she did have signatory powers. Joshua shook his head. Precious had been one-hundred-percent right about Sue. He’d been a fool not to listen to his daughter. Now he was stuck with her. It wouldn’t be right to abandon her, as tempting as that would be.
He went to the ship’s library and started researching Canada and possible routes to Kansas City. Precious was a resourceful young woman. There was an excellent chance she had survived. Joshua planned on finding her. He began to plan what he would do when they got to Canada.
One of his problems was solved, he discovered, when he went to dinner in the dining room. There was Sue, draped on the arm of an elderly gentleman, beaming and laughing with those around her as they went into the dining room together. Sue had found another Sugar Daddy.
The talk at the table he shared with three couples was all about what was to be done now that the world was at war. Joshua stayed mostly silent, speaking only when one of the others spoke directly to him.
The consensus was that the cruise line had an obligation to take care of everyone on the ship for the duration. It was all Joshua could do not bellow with laughter at the naivety of the group.
After dinner Joshua went to the Smoking Parlor for a cigar. He ran into Jerry Bastigone having a cigarette. “How’s your wife doing?” Joshua asked.
“Same. I tried to get her to go to the infirmary, but she refused. I don’t know what to do. She can’t stay in the stateroom forever. Going to have to quit these things. May not ever be a supply again.”
Jerry lit another cigarette from the first one, belying his words. “What are you going to do when we get to Canada?” he asked Joshua.
“Head for Kansas City to find my daughter.”
“You sound so certain. I don’t have a clue what we will do. Try to settle down. I’m from New York. Not going to even think about going home. I’m sure I don’t even have one, now. Probably have to go back to working with my hands to pay my way. Own… Owned a construction company, but it’ll be back to hammer in one hand and nail in the other.” When Joshua didn’t comment, Jerry drifted away, leaving Joshua to his thoughts.
After his cigar, Joshua headed down to the Playroom and Arcade. Perhaps he could be of help again. There were only a couple of children, including the one young gentleman that had been the last to leave the other night. Joshua saw him in the Arcade. Patricia wasn’t there. Since they weren’t busy, she was taking a break. Disappointed, Joshua went out on deck. It was a bit cool this far north.
He took a turn around the deck. When he approached the stern of the ship he noticed their wake. It was curved. The ship was making a wide, sweeping turn, apparently heading for the Canadian coast line. Joshua went to the stateroom. Sue’s belongings were gone. Including her jewelry from the safe. So much for his responsibility for her welfare. She was now someone else’s responsibility. Joshua undressed and went to bed, thanking his lucky stars he’d taken his own things from the safe after he’d discovered the spending summary.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Joshua went to the dining room for breakfast the next morning. There weren’t that many eating in the dining room. The buffet had been busy when he passed it on his way down. Joshua started to take a bite of his Eggs Benedict when he heard something. He put down his fork. He knew that sound. It was a CF-18 buzzing the ship.
Like most of the others in the dining room he left his breakfast behind and went out on deck. A second CF-18, or more accurately, a CF-188, the Royal Canadian Air Force version of the F/A-18, flew by at ship’s stack height.
The two aircraft joined up in formation, made a wide sweeping turn and came toward the ship from the side, well ahead of the bow. When they were close, the lead plane fired a burst from the 20mm cannon, which was part of its armament.
People screamed and dashed away from the bow as the aircraft cut across it. Joshua couldn’t believe it. The Royal Canadian Air Force was warning them off. They weren’t going to be
allowed to disembark on Canadian soil.
The Captain confirmed Joshua’s thought just after the jets took to a high altitude watch flight pattern. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I regret to inform you that we are not going to be allowed to make landfall on Canadian soil. A boat will be sent out for our Canadian passengers. They will be allowed to disembark the ship and go home. I will advise you of our next course of action soon. Stay calm and do not despair. We will find a safe place to put to shore.”
There was pandemonium throughout the ship, passengers and crew alike. People were yelling epitaphs toward the unseen shoreline. Some people were just screaming. Others were crying. A few were trying to calm the others down.
Joshua turned and helped break up a fight. Two men had taken umbrage apparently with a Canadian passenger that was trying to defend Canada’s actions. Members of the ship’s crew rapidly hurried the Canadian away.
It was an hour before a Royal Canadian Navy patrol vessel rendezvoused with the motionless Elite. Many of the passengers and even some of the crew yelled more epitaphs and curses at those leaving the Elite and the crew of the patrol boat picking them up.
Joshua thought he was going to have to defend himself when he commented that he could understand why the Canadians were doing what they were doing. “Can’t really blame them,” he said. “Over two thousand people all in one place in the aftermath of a nuclear war? I don’t think I’d want them coming to my home, either.”
He made himself scarce as the ship began to move again. He wasn’t about to get into a fist fight over his opinion. Joshua started to head for the Smoking Parlor, but shook his head. “Jerry is right about quitting smoking. He might as well give it up now as later. Instead of the Smoking Parlor he went to the library. Canada was out. The New England states were out unless he really missed his guess.
Hopefully the Captain would announce where they were headed soon. For the moment Joshua would do a little general research on the southeast coast of the US. He found what he could on the area and then went down for lunch.
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