“Where’re you going?” Mike asked.
Gripping the edge of the schooner’s side rail with his toes, Tommy poised for a dive into the ocean. “Dude, I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m ready to hit the beach.”
Nancy recognized her opening and perked up. She pushed her way through a growing crowd of the living, ignoring their murmurs about a momentary chilled breeze coming in off the water, and dove in.
A small pile of assorted shoes appeared at the very point of the bow. The water parted nine more times in tiny splashes as the few forward passengers pointed and wondered what kind of fish could be jumping.
Their clothes dripped as the deadheads walked up onto the beach. Everyone but Marvin stripped and hung their soggy apparel over low-lying foliage to dry. He wanted to stop Jenna from following the crowd in disrobing but managed to seal the thought in his brain before it could start an unsavory argument; one he knew he would lose in the end, anyway. His already cool body chilled further in the slight breeze that wafted down from the crest of the small island, and he shivered.
“You’ll dry faster if you take these off,” Jenna said as she grabbed the bottom hem of his polo shirt to lift it over his head. She tossed the shirt over a low palm frond and reached out to unbutton his pants.
“Don’t do that.”
“Come on, Marv, don’t be silly. Nobody here cares.”
“Besides, dude, we’ve all seen what you got.”
“She hasn’t.” Marvin pointed to Diane and, pointing to Davy, added, “Neither has he.”
Diane rolled her eyes and tossed a droll response over her shoulder. “Oh please. Like I’d be interested in what you have.”
Davy was too enamored of the island to even respond. Slack-jawed and eyes wide, he gawked around in awe, as the sprout of an idea formed in his mind. He peered up at the groupings of palms, the other trees and shrubbery, gazing from one end of the small crest to the other, and took note of the clear areas. “How big is this thing?”
“Come on, I’ll give you a tour,” Dennis offered with a beckoning wave.
The two headed off along the beach. Exchanging a shrug, Mike and Tommy followed. The powder-soft sand parted under their feet leaving four sets of barely-noticeable prints.
Nancy’s stomach did a few somersaults but she forged ahead. “Let’s go for a walk,” she said to Jenna and Diane. “You two should see the view from the center up there.”
“Well, that leaves the three of us to man the watch,” Connie joked. “Marv, how about you take the first stretch while Carla and I wander around?”
“Whatever,” Marvin said, snuggling down into the still warm sand. He was well aware that Nancy had been part of the group last year and included in the plans for this repeat, but questions nagged at the back of his mind. He couldn’t shake the gnawing at the pit of his stomach that there was more to her last minute appearance than joining the group for another cruise. Oh, Jesus H, stop it already, he told himself to fight off the urge to follow and eavesdrop. He shivered at his next thought. You’re beginning to sound like your mother.
-23-
Jenna didn’t know exactly what her punishment would be, but Marvin’s distinct shudder when she had asked him to recount his experience was enough to tell her it might be gruesome. She and Diane stood side by side under the copse of trees, silent and trembling, and waited for Nancy to speak.
Nancy looked out over the glistening water to gather her thoughts as well as to steel her resolve. If Jenna tried to escape, there would be no choice but to take her to Jason by force. Being caged with the boy she’d killed would be a horrendous experience and Nancy hoped she could avoid needing to do that. “You have to be made to understand that what you’ve done cannot be tolerated. It has to be talked about.”
“You know I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“But it did. How many times were you told, and by how many people, not to interfere with the living? Yet you not only kept at it, you practiced, and you plotted.”
“To help those people. To save them from pain, not to cause it.”
Turning her eyes on Diane, Nancy said, “And you … I know you weren’t given the same warnings but you’ve been on this plane of existence, this world, long enough to know this kind of thing is not allowed. I’m sure Jason will agree with my decision to let you off the hook.”
The tenseness in Diane’s shoulders eased. But the past few months hanging out with Jenna had been fun, and concern for a newfound friend replaced her usual haughty tone. “And Jenna? You can’t mean —”
“It’s not up to me.” Nancy let out a soft sigh. “I wish it was because, believe me, I understand what you’re trying to do. But Jason is not so lenient.”
“Don’t I even get credit for saving some lives? All that counts with him is that one man died, is that it?” Jenna’s voice found strength and grew from its previous whisper. “It was unintentional and he knows it.”
“He’s old, Jenna. Very, very old. He’s been the head of our Council on this continent for eons and he will not be easily swayed.”
“There’s got to be a way to make him understand,” Diane interjected.
Jenna’s shoulders lifted and her back straightened. “What you’re saying is that he’s too old to change with the times. Then he shouldn’t be in the —”
“I’d be mighty careful if I were you,” Nancy warned. “That’s a dangerous attitude to adopt. You have no idea what he’s capable of, the power contained in that body or that mind.”
Jenna ratcheted down her tone a notch. “I just meant that he needs to listen to reason.”
“No you didn’t. You meant exactly what you said, and it was disrespectful. Now, you listen to me, both of you. I’m trying to help you here. So, stop fighting, all it can do is cause more damage.”
Jenna’s voice contained apology but retained an underlying desperation. “I’m sorry, but there has to be a way to convince him.”
“Jenna, let her talk.”
With hands together placed against her lips, almost in a position of prayer, Nancy dropped her gaze to the sandy loam for a minute. Her voice was quiet, blending with the night breeze that floated off the water. “There are millions, men and children included, who suffer at the hands of others. The people who commit atrocities against their own … Well, it’s our job, the job of Keepers, to reign them in. But, we do it only in death. We know about them, the cruelty they harbor inside, and we keep watch over them. We’re there when they cross over, ready to take them. Just like you didn’t have a choice but to obey when I issued my orders behind that store, they can’t avoid the fate they’ve earned.” Nancy paused to let the knowledge sink in. “You know I’ve been charged with watching you, Jenna. I’ve had plenty of time to think about what you’re trying to do, and I understand it. I know there’s no malice behind your intent, either of you, and I hope that makes a difference. But, ultimately, it’s up to Jason. When we get back, my orders are to take you to him.”
“Both of us?” Diane’s voice rose incredulous.
“No, just Jenna.” Nancy nodded at her. “Jenna, I’m sorry.”
Jenna’s heart plunged and met her lurching stomach somewhere behind her diaphragm. Tears welled in her eyes. She turned and ran.
“Wait,” Nancy called out. “Jenna, come back.”
Marvin heard her sobs before she hit the expanse of beach where he’d buried himself. Forgetting his nakedness, he rose up out of his warm cocoon of sand, caught her in his arms, and rocked her, stroking her hair. He saw Nancy running down the slight slope and raised a hand to stop her from intruding. Then, keeping an arm wrapped around Jenna’s shoulders, he led her away.
Diane came to Nancy’s side and they watched the two figures walk along the beach toward the southern tip of the island.
After she figured Marvin and Jenna were out of earshot, Diane asked, “How awful will it be?”
Nancy shook her head. “I don’t know.”
As much as she hated to a
dmit it to herself, Diane’s opinion of Jenna had risen substantially with each victim she managed to help, and now the realization hit right in the gut: Diane wanted to help. “Isn’t there anything we can do?”
“We’ll see. I have something rattling around in my head. If we play it right, maybe…”
***
The tour of the island had taken a long time. Davy ooh-ed and aah-ed with each new view, and more than once he uttered a quiet “Hush, I’m thinking,” when Mike, Dennis, or Tommy questioned what he was up to. With arms folded across his chest and a hand held to his chin in thought, every so often he mumbled, “That could work…”
When they hit the windward beach, Tommy yelled, “Last one in wears combat boots,” and ran into the water. Mike and Dennis followed, leaving Davy standing under a small group of palm trees staring up toward the center of the spit of land. He walked to his left, stopped to study the view, returned to the trees, walked to the right to appraise the angle, and again returned to the deepening shade to study some more.
“It’s going to be the most gorgeous wedding the world has ever witnessed,” he said to himself. Then he turned to find three heads bobbing in the ocean. He called out to them, “Guys! This is it, it’s perfect.”
“Well, look who finally woke up,” Mike said.
“Dude, come on in.” Tommy issued a wave of welcome. “There’s nothing like skinny-dipping to relax the mind.”
Already as naked as the rest, Davy waded out to them. By the time he stood with them, he had to be on his toes to keep his head above water. He grabbed Dennis around the waist to keep from drifting with the current. “Move in a little closer so I can touch bottom.”
Dennis carried him toward shore and set him down. “Better?”
“Much. Now, look. Right up there.” Davy swept a hand upward. “What do you think?”
After they all stared for a minute, Mike said, “Uh, okay. So what?”
“So what? It’s perfect.” Davy beamed with pride.
“Perfect for what, dude?”
“Marvin and Jenna’s wedding, of course.”
A smile slowly spread across Tommy’s face. “Describe it.”
Davy laid out his plans for the entire event in intricate detail; where each thing would take place, the reception, the way the whole island would be lit up for a ceremony at dusk. When he finished, Dennis whistled long and low. “Wow. It sounds spectacular. You wouldn’t need an assistant, would you?”
“Maybe.” Davy turned to assess the man as well as the offer. “Sure, why not?” Jenna had been pretty glum the entire trip and, thinking his ideas might cheer her up, he made his way out of the water. “Dennis, if you’re going to assist me, let’s go.
Following Davy’s lead, Dennis swiped as much ocean from his body with his hands as he could, and asked, “Where to?”
“To get the bride’s approval, of course.” Davy’s excitement mounted but he kept it under control. There was no flapping or waving of the hands, he was all business as he strode down to the beach where they’d landed and found Nancy, Diane, Connie and Carla sitting on the sand, huddled in a circle. “Where’s the bride and groom? I’ve got some excellent ideas…”
Nancy looked up at him. “This is probably not a good time right now, Davy.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Sit. I’ll explain.”
Nancy went through the story once again, and finished with, “I think what she’s doing is a good thing, but Jason isn’t convinced.”
“Obviously I do, too, or I wouldn’t have been helping her,” Diane interjected. “Not that he ever took a swing at me, but that bastard husband of mine could use a lesson or two.”
“But even if we manage to talk Jason into letting her go, he can’t make autonomous decisions. He may head it up, but he still answers to the North American Council and, ultimately, to the World Council.”
Davy squirmed a bit. “Well, that could blow a big hole in the wedding plans, couldn’t it?”
After a nudge from her partner, Carla stopped drawing mindless circles in the sand. “Connie and I are willing to help. What can we do?”
***
They had all dressed and regrouped on the beachhead by the time the morning sun glowed pink on the horizon. At one point or another through the night, everyone had tried to engage Jenna in conversation. She responded with one-word answers or silent shrugs. Now, they all sat in a row on the sand and watched a dinghy, loaded with supplies for the day’s festivities, drop from the side of the schooner and the crew rowing it toward shore.
“Will they go back for passengers?” Jenna asked.
“They’ll be back and forth, they’ve got a lot to bring over,” Mike replied, squinting into the sliver of light that had risen directly in front of them. “Why?”
“I don’t feel much like partying now. I think I’ll go spend the day on board.”
“Dude, what gives?” Tommy nudged an elbow into a silent Jenna. “Anything I can help with, you just say the word.”
She replied in a quiet voice, “I’m okay. Really.” Then she wandered away to sit on some rocks, her feet washed by waves.
Mike leaned in to Marvin, who had been more morose than usual, and whispered, “Is it bad, Brody?”
Marvin nodded. “I think so.”
“What can we do to help?”
“I don’t know, you’ll have to ask her,” Marvin snarled, and jutted his chin toward Nancy.
The forward crew member jumped from the dinghy, gripped the bow, and pulled the nose to the sand. The other two handed off crates and chests that were stacked far enough up the beach to avoid the water, though there would be no need to worry about a high tide; there was no such thing in the Caribbean.
All eyes were on Jenna — dead ones anyway — who sat staring out to sea. With the first load done, the crew pushed into the water and began rowing back to the ship for the next load.
Nancy moved and sat between Marvin and Tommy. “I have an idea, if she’d only listen to me. She seems to trust you, would you talk to her, Tommy?”
While the rest of the group rummaged through the trunks left behind looking for items to pilfer for breakfast, Tommy went and settled on the rock next to Jenna. The two sat silent for a long time. Then he found the words to encourage her to open up. “Come on, tell your Uncle Tommy all about it.”
“Marvin’s so disappointed in me.”
“No, he isn’t. What makes you say that?”
“Well, wouldn’t you be? I mean, look at him, sitting over there, shoulders slumped like he’s been defeated.”
Tommy stole a glance at Marvin. “No, I think he’s worried about you.”
“I let him down. We’re finally together again, and I let him down. That’s the worst part about this whole thing.” Tears began to drip down Jenna’s cheeks and she swiped at them with her forearms. “Tommy, I didn’t mean to hurt that kid.”
“I know.”
“Well, that doesn’t seem to make any difference. I don’t understand. Nancy said her cult, or whatever she belongs to, works to keep bad things from happening and that’s all I was trying to do; stop bad people from hurting good people.”
“She’d really like to talk to you.”
“I don’t know what more I can say. She has her orders and, according to Marvin, it’ll be a lot less scary if I go without being forced.”
“I sure don’t have the experience he has on that score.” Tommy lifted his eyes skyward. “Thank God, and he’s probably right. But, it seems like Nancy’s on your side. She’s a good person, Jenna. I mean, look what she did to help Marvin. She talked Jason out of taking him, or doing whatever it is he does. She says she’s got an idea, I think you should hear her out.”
Jenna stood, waded into the clear shallow water, and chased a small fish with her toe. After it wriggled away to hide in the shade of a rock, she tilted her head to one side and asked, “Will you go with me?”
“You know I will. Now, come over here and let your U
ncle Tommy give you a hug.” He held his arms wide and she buried her head in his chest.
-24-
Dennis picked up a plate he’d left on the buffet table for a second, when he decided to grab a hunk of roasted pork. A young woman shook her head to clear it. “What the — I swear there was a full plate of food right there a minute ago.”
“Where?”
She pointed to a corner of the table. “There. But it just disappeared. Didn’t you see it?”
“I didn’t see anything.”
“The sun must be getting to me already.” She wiped her brow with a damp napkin, dug a hat from the bag hanging on her arm and tugged it into place.
Throughout the day, living passengers spotted the occasional odd occurrence; empty bottles and cans dropped into waste bins as if falling from the clouds (though they could have been thrown by another passenger when nobody was paying attention), rings of pineapple and chunks of papaya vanished from the plate of fruit, handfuls of shrimp and chunks of lobster blinked out of sight. Other than those innocuous incidents, the group of deadheads avoided the living, preferring to have a quiet day. Until a game of beach volleyball broke out; guys against the girls.
The deadheads gathered on the sidelines to watch and enjoyed the shenanigans the women used to distract the men. Bikini tops’ straps slipped, every so often one of the women would bend down to provide a good glimpse of cleavage, or spend a little too long bending over, buttocks in the air, to retrieve an out-of-bounds ball. None of it seemed to be working; the men still overpowered them. But even Jenna managed a slight smile at the tactics.
Nancy noticed the subtle change and, thinking to distract Jenna from her problems, nudged her with an elbow. “I think maybe the girls could use a little assistance. What do you think, should we go help?”
[Jenna's] Gang of Deadheads Page 12