Dana’s was heavier yet, but she assured Ellen and her grandmother she would be okay with the weight. When they were all loaded Ellen tied a rolled up blanket on top of each one. They would be awkward but they needed everything they packed. If not on the trip, then when they reached their destination.
Ellen had never said anything about there being a bunker somewhere on the property and she didn’t know if there actually was one. She hadn’t taken the time to look when she went home to board the houses up. Between her Uncle Jerry and her father, they had always assured her that if she needed to come home that they were ready for whatever happened. She could only think that they had to have a bunker somewhere.
Frank came back and asked if they had anything else that Brad and Rosa could use to pack their things in. The boys were the only ones who had back packs and Karen had a book bag, but they were going to have to pack in plastic garbage bags if there was nothing else available.
Ellen thought for a minute and said, “We have the duffle but it still has some of the extra guns in it, but tell them to use their sail bags. We can make straps to tie them on out of the same webbing we use for our jack lines. If they need more sail bags we’ve got two they can use.”
“You’re brilliant. You would have thought some of that would have rubbed off on me by now.” Frank told her.
“Get out of here! We should be off these docks and at least out of town before it gets dark.”
“As soon as they get their stuff loaded they’ll be ready. How are we doing?”
“We…are ready. All we need to do is get them on the dock and try them on. They might be too heavy but we can’t adjust them until we try them on.”
“I’ll have one of the guys haul them to the dock for you. Maybe if I give them a hand we’ll be ready quicker. I just want to have one of them standing watch for us.”
“Who’s standing guard now?”
“Rob and Jamie. I sent Alan over to help them load their things.”
“Okay while you’re over there tell Rosa to bring eating utensils for each of them. We have enough for us but that’s all. And plates and her kettle and maybe another pot or two. We only need them for the trip home. Both houses should be full of that kind of stuff.” She heaved a heavy sigh, under her breath she added, “If someone didn’t beat us there or burn them down.”
“What’s that?” Maggie asked. “I was thinking and didn’t hear you.”
“I was talking to myself. It’s a habit I picked up when I lived alone and can’t seem to break it.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve talked to myself for years.”
Ellen looked around trying to see if they had missed anything. As she looked she felt her eyes tear and her throat tightened up. She looked at Maggie, who must have read her mind because she held her arms out.
“Oh Maggie…this has been my home for so long and now I feel like I’m abandoning her. I have so many memories tied up in her and now I’m going to just walk away. What kind of person does that?” She sobbed into Maggie’s shoulder. “How can I do that?”
“You may think no one understands, but I do. When we left my farm in Eureka, I felt like I lost my best friend. Even my team. Every day I wonder how they’re doing if Jake is feeding them. I lived on that farm my whole life and don’t even have a picture to remind me. All I have is the memory. But it’s enough. We’ll make new memories wherever we end up.” She patted Ellen on the back and sent her away. “Now you grab something to remind you of her.”
Ellen wiped her eyes. She knew she was being childish, but it was going to be hard to walk away. She looked around and tried to see something to remind her of the good times. She looked at the sign above the aft cabin that said, Captain’s Quarters and rejected it. They had never really been her quarters and so the sign meant nothing. If it had been hung over the V-berth, then maybe it might have. She finally gave up and turned to climb the ladder for the last time. It was then she saw it.
She dug through the silverware/junk drawer until she found what she needed, she took the screws out, removed the base from the wall and wrapped the clapper in tissue. She stuffed the bronze ships bell into her back pack.
She heaved the back pack up into the cockpit and followed it up. She saw Frank lifting Alan’s pack to his back.
She almost laughed when she saw Alan’s reaction to the weight. He stumbled forward and she thought he would fall until with Frank’s help he got his feet under himself.
“Whoa…I wasn’t prepared for it to be that heavy.” He bounced as if he was trying to get it up higher on his back. He reached up and shortened the shoulder straps.
“When you do the belt up it will be more comfortable and balances itself out.” Ellen told him. “That doesn’t weigh more than 50 or 60 pounds. It’s nothing you can’t handle. You should try Frank’s on then you could say it was too heavy.”
Frank and Ellen each set theirs on the dock box and stood in front of them. Then as if they had choreographed the movement they shrugged them on. They bent over and bumped them higher. From her bent over position she grunted, “I can always tell a fellow diver.”
“Too many times putting gear on alone.” Frank grunted back and finally stood up to do up the waist belt. He shrugged his shoulders and settled the pack on his back.
Rob had helped Maggie into hers and she in turn helped the girls. Holly wasn’t happy about being confined after her time on the beach the day before. She whined and wiggled until Dana did the buckle up. Then she settled down to sleep.
Hannah had the lightest pack of all. She had been having cramps the past couple of days and no one wanted her to overdo. She had clothing and food with two bottles of water. She carried the AR-15.
Joe, Barbie and Karen had pillow covers full of belongings. While Jamie, Brad and Jesse had the sail bags tied on. Rosa had all their blankets tied in a roll on her back. While it looked heavy she said it wasn’t and that it was only awkward because of the size.
Frank led the way up the dock to the gate which surprisingly was still on its hinges. In front of them was the club house and they had to pass through it to get out of the marina.
Someone had broken the windows out of the doors and the large picture window overlooking the dock. Other than not being able to see in the restrooms or behind the counter they could see the building looked empty.
Someone had trashed the place and you could see where a campfire had been set on the terrazzo floor. Garbage was strewn all over. The building stunk of overflowing toilets and the sweet smell of rotten meat hung in the air.
One by one they hurried across the foyer to the exit door. Frank was first through and checked the immediate area. He saw no one and stepped out. He turned to wave the next person through.
It was Ellen behind him. He looked at her and his eyes locked with hers. She frowned because he was just standing there and not waving her through as they had talked about. The sun made a golden glow around his body and it reminded Ellen of her premonition on the boat. This was exactly what she had seen then.
He lifted his arm and she was sure he was going to wave her forward and actually took a step. He held his hand up to stop her, his other reaching up to his neck. Before his hand reached it his knees crumpled and he twisted as he fell. The handle of a knife was buried to the hilt in his neck. Bright red blood began to soak the collar of his shirt.
Ellen stood there as if her feet were cemented down. She frowned waiting for him to get back up. She turned and looked behind her. Maybe this was some kind of a joke they were playing on her. They all stood there the same look of horror on all of their faces.
Ellen shook her head in denial and then threw herself across the room. Frank’s arm was lying on the floor inside the building and Ellen grabbed it and began to pull him back in.
Chapter Thirty-eight - A Viking funeral.
“Don’t you do this to me! Frank! Don’t you dare…” She pulled his into her lap, bent over him and howled. “Why God why?” she sobbed out.
Alan pulled Ellen to her feet. Franks blood had soaked the front of her clothing. He held Ellen until she was done crying. They stood around unsure what to do. All of them including Ellen had looked to Frank for guidance. While he and Ellen always talked about their decisions and she always agreed with him he had been there to say yes or no. She may have been the hull carrying them along, but he was the rudder steering them in the right direction.
When Ellen finally pulled back out of Alan’s arm’s she stood for a moment looking at Frank. Someone had pulled his pack off and it lay beside him. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose on the edge of her tee-shirt.
“I want to take him back to the boat.”
“What? Why?” Alan asked puzzled.
“I’m not leaving him laying here. Just like I would do the same for you or anyone I care about.”
The kids had been herded into the corner, guarded over by Maggie and Rosa. They were all crying. Maggie had her gun in her hand and it was obvious she was standing between them and any more trouble. Rosa was on her knees giving comfort to Olivia.
Brad, Jamie and Jess were positioned at the missing windows with their firearms ready. Ellen looked at each of them, “I have to take him back to the boat. Now you can either help me or stand guard but Frank…” Her voice broke and she put her hand over her mouth as if to stem more sobs. “I want…he needs to be put on the boat. Please.” She looked around to see if one of them would step up to help her.
“I’ll help you Ellen and so will Jamie.” Brad told her.
She smiled through her tears filled eyes. “Thank you.”
She went to pick up Franks shoulders when she realized someone was missing. “Where is Rob? Why isn’t Robbie here?”
Jamie stepped up, “He said he’d be right back and he went out the back.” He said and pointed out the way they’d come in.
Ellen looked at Maggie who only shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. “I didn’t know he was gone.”
Ellen went and knelt down by Frank. With the tips of her finger she closed his eyelids. “I love you. I’ve loved you since the day I met you. I just didn’t realize it until yesterday and now it’s too late for us.” She leaned over and kissed him for the last time.
Brad bent over and lifted him with his hands under Frank’s arms. Jamie and Ellen each carried a leg. Alan stepped out with the AR in his hands and scanned the area. He led the way back to the gate. It had closed behind them and locked. They didn’t have the code to get through it. Hannah walked up and used Frank’s shot gun and blew the locking mechanism completely off the frame. It also told anyone who got close enough to throw another knife they would be ready this time. She racked another shell into the chamber. They had to rest half way to the boat and Ellen talked to Frank the whole way. No one could hear what she was saying because she spoke under her breath.
When they finally reached the boat they had to lift him over the gunnel and into the cockpit.
Where do you want to put him Ellen?” Brad asked. “I’m not sure we can get him down the ladder without dropping him.”
Ellen studied the cockpit trying to decide. “Lay him on the bench.” she said and pointed at the seat on the starboard side. I’ll be right back. She went below and came back with the sleeping bag they had wrapped up in the other night. “Let’s tuck this around him.”
As soon as they were finished and no part of him showed she told them, “Untie the dock lines when I yell.” She grabbed the diesel jugs and walked up to the bow. She walked back pouring diesel all the way. She walked up the other side and did the same thing on the way back. The remainder of the jug she poured on Frank and around the cockpit. She stepped off onto the dock, “Turn her loose.”
She was sobbing silently. She held the Annie-C with one hand and took the barbeque lighter out of her back pocket. She set the flame to the diesel and flames ran up the side. She held the flame close to the bag and jumped back when the diesel caught. Black smoke began to rise straight up. She pushed the Annie-C away from the dock.
They stood and watched as the Annie-C and Frank burned in a halo of black smoke. The tears never quit pouring from Ellen’s eyes but she never made a sound.
Alan stood with red eyes watching them both burn. The boat drifted away from the dock and there was no danger of it coming back and setting other boats on fire.
An hour later the fire had reached the waterline and slowly fizzled out. The last of the Annie-C sank to the bottom.
They turned to walk back up the walkway when from the front of the building they heard someone screaming swear words out. They jogged back through the gate and up the ramp.
Maggie and Hannah herded the kids outside to a bench on the side of the building. Both women were white faced but they didn’t take the time to ask why. Ellen barreled through the door into the dim interior.
Rob had a young man on the floor and was basically wiping up Franks blood with him. When Rob saw Ellen he kneeled on the guy and lifted his face up to Ellen. She thought he was only a kid until she saw the track of tattooed teardrops running from the corner of left his eye into the sparse hair on his cheek. He had a second row from his right eye and the last two looked roughly stenciled in and fresh. They were both scab encrusted.
Rob jerked the kids head up, “Tell her what you did.”
“You the big man. You tell her.” He grunted out. Rob’s weight kneeling on his back robbed him of his breath and he had to force each word out.
Rob pulled on the kid’s hair harder bending his neck back as far as it would go. He screamed at him, “Tell her or I rip your head clean off.”
“Okay! Okay! I put my little pig sticker in him!” He hollered.
“Tell her why.”
“This is our town. We own this shitty little town’ We stick everybody who dares to come here. This is our town now.”
“Where’s your base at?”
“No way man! We don’t tell anybody where we at.”
Rob stuck his Glock in the kids eye. “You tell us or I kill you right now.” He was spraying spittle all over the kid’s face.
“The high school. We got us a base in the high school.” He gasped out, “Now let me go. I told you what you wanted.”
Ellen bent over in front of him, “You killed my friend because you were told to?”
“No bitch! I did it because I wanted to. Nobody tells me to do nothing.” He jerked his body trying to free his hair from Rob’s hand but Rob’s fingers were threaded into the kids dread locks.
Ellen smiled at him. Her eyes were dull without humor. She looked at Rob and pulled her 357 out. The kid saw her and began threatening her with all manners of death. She moved to the side so she wouldn’t accidently hit Rob, put the barrel to the kids eye to make sure he saw it coming and pulled the trigger. The side of his head slapped wetly on the wall and slid slowly down to the ground.
She looked at Robbie. “Can we get this piece of shit out of here so the kids don’t have to see him?”
Rob nodded. She grabbed an arm and Rob grabbed the other. They dragged him out into the parking lot and propped him up against the dumpster.
Ellen looked at Rob. “Thanks. I knew where you went to when you disappeared. Or I was hoping I knew. I wonder how many more of these guys are out there?”
“Just an observation, but all of the buildings that haven’t been burned to the ground are covered in gang graffiti. I think we should move on out of here before someone comes looking for him.” Rob told her. “Something I learned early in life, that where you find one cockroach there’s plenty more hiding.”
She would never pretend to know what he was talking about because she didn’t know and hated it when people said shit like, “I know how you feel or I know what you’re going through” because no one can kn
ow exactly what others are feeling or how their circumstances were affecting them on a personal level. You can compare with your own experiences but no one’s problems are exactly the same.
“You’re probably right. They probably are out there just waiting to strike, bludgeon or murder. Truthfully, right now I just want to crawl in a hole and pull it closed behind me. I don’t know what made me think I could get all of us here and it would be as simple as walking home.”
She turned and looked at the kid leaning on the dumpster. “Who brings knives to a gun fight?” She walked back to him, pushed him over and began to carefully dig through his pockets.
Rob walked over to them, “People who don’t have guns?”
“That’s crazy. Everyone here has guns. Or they used to when I lived here.” Under the kids jacket she found a fanny pack type bag strapped around his waist. She felt for and unfastened the buckle. She pulled it free of his body. Worn black leather held a flat black plastic box. Ellen opened it to show Rob what was inside. There where indents in the molded bottom for three small knives. One indent was empty. The two remaining knives were identical to the one in Franks neck.
Ellen sighed as if a weight had been lifted. “Well I guess that answers the question.” She snapped the lid closed and slid the box into her pocket.
“Yes it does. Don’t ask me how but I knew as soon as I saw him hiding he had to be the right guy.”
Ellen looked at the sky. The sun was already on the downside and she knew it was getting late. “We need to find a safe place for the night. Somewhere away from here.”
“Well you know the area better than any of us. What do you suggest?”
They walked slowly back. The parking lot held a few burned cars and the bike rack was empty. During normal times most everyone who lived on a boat, rode a bike and racks for them were outside every marina gate.
A gust of wind kicked up and Ellen realized the temperature was dropping and no one had appropriate winter clothes. She figured the kids would be starting to get cold.
Dangerous Shores: Book Three; The End of the Road Page 26