Kimberly was now eyeing everyone as they moved to get into their bunks. It was as though she hadn’t heard a word of their plans and didn’t care.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Overnight, the seas had become rougher and rougher, and the engines had slowed. Whoever was driving the boat had to take on the waves one by one and not worry about getting to their rendezvous point.
As the morning sun brightened their cabin, Frank noticed the boat was not lurching as much and, in fact, the engines had increased in speed. He looked through a small porthole on the hull and saw there were blue skies.
“The worst is over for now. Don’t know where we are or how much farther it is, but I think we are going to initiate our escape soon,” he said.
“Okay, let’s line up and see how this plan will roll out. We just can’t afford for anyone to be in the way of myself and Frank and Yuto,” Irving said. “This has to go smoothly. The second guy will be mine. I will throw the first toward you, and then one of you must grab his head, jerk it back, and the other cuts his throat. The other must wait to see if the goon’s hands go up to his neck or if he is trying to get to his gun. His hands to his head must be stopped. If he is more interested in his gun, grab the gun and hold it steady until his throat is cut. Got it? Remember, the AK needs to be vertical, up and down, right? Let’s go through it slow motion.”
Frank gestured how he would cut the throat, and Yuto nodded. Irving faced them and pretended to be off balance, stumbling toward them. Yuto could not get out of the way fast enough, and Irving stood upright.
“That’s not going to work, Yuto. You must be totally out of the way. Stand up against this side of the door and wait until you can direct the gun up as he passes you,” Irving said.
Yuto nodded again.
They went through their plan of the attack over and over until Irving felt they had the gist of it. “Now practice it more when you can. It has to go right,” said Irving.
Then, a knock on the door, and Hector said, “Banos?”
It was time for the usual bathroom breaks. Irving grabbed his knife, gave it to Frank, and positioned himself at the door. Yuto stood against the sidewall, Frank a few steps behind him.
“Okay,” said Frank.
“Envía a las damas primero (Send the ladies first). Solo mujeres (Only women)! Wee-man.”
Irving quickly looked at Frank and Yuto and whispered, “No go!”
Then he waved to Frank to hide the knife and pulled Helen and Soo Mi from their bunks and led them to the door. Just as the door opened fully, Kimberly bolted from her bunk, knocking aside Helen and Soo Mi, screaming expletives and ripping violently at the pirate’s clothing and then his face. He backed up, off balance, and fell on his back as she landed on top of him. She was acting crazy— kicking, screaming, and scratching the camouflage-dressed man below her.
He quickly rolled over, pulled out a pistol from his right hip, and placed it to her head. “Detenlo ahora (Stop it now). Ahora (Now)!”
But she did not react to his order and kept flailing all over him. She was in such a trance of excitement, she clearly never saw the gun. The gun exploded into the left side of her head, and blood immediately blew out of her forehead on the right. She fell to the floor, lifeless. The man back-peddled on his buttocks away from the still body while pointing the gun at the rest of the awestruck passengers in the cabin doorway and then scurried up the stairway.
Frank couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed. All were acutely without words. Helen and Soo Mi had their hands over their mouths as tears rolled down their cheeks. They grasped one another and held on.
Irving drooped his head and gave a glance up at Frank and Yuto. “Jesus, what the hell was that? I knew she was losing it, but, now, this surely has put us in one big pickle, for sure. They are not going to trust us at all from now on.”
“My God, Irving, have you no heart? Kimberly was just murdered!” Helen said aggressively.
“I do have a heart, Helen. Kimberly has been losing it for some time now. I didn’t send her out there. She did it herself. We all need to get home. That’s all I’m trying to do. I’m sorry if that makes you think I’m heartless,” Irving said.
“Good she not in our plan,” Yuto said softly.
Helen and Soo Mi looked at both men with disdain, but, deep inside themselves, they surely knew Kimberly was going to do something stupid, but, on the other hand, they had just witnessed her murder in cold blood.
As they all sat on their bunks, Frank had forgotten the door was still ajar.
Suddenly, the boss appeared at the door, his face red with anger, and he yelled, “How you say? Estupido, esa mujer (Stupid, that woman)!” as he pointed to the dead body behind him. “You no do again!” he barked and pulled his pistol from its holster and placed it on the side of his temple. “You do, and bang, bang! Entiéndeme (Understand me)?”
He moved forward into the cabin, and Irving stepped up to meet him. Before anyone could react, the boss lifted his rifle butt and smashed Irving across his face. He fell to his knees with his head bowed. The boss kicked him in the chest, and Irving’s body flung backward. With one final motion, he grabbed the barrel of his gun and belted Irving’s body three or four times for good measure.
“Entiéndeme (Understand me)?”
Yeah, I understand. You aren’t long for this life, mi amigo. Now, I can live the life I want—killing. No more cutting up dead people. I’m going to enjoy this.
The boss slammed the door behind him then stomped up the stairs.
A few minutes later, one of his crew returned, opened the door, and without warning, threw a bucket in the cabin and shouted, “Sin baño para nadie (No bathroom for anyone). Poo poo en see cangilón (Poo poo in the bucket)!”
“They’re pissed now. Christ Almighty. All of us pissing and shitting in a bucket. Goddamn it, Kimberly! Now we need a new plan,” Frank said.
Helen and Soo Mi could only hang their heads as the men searched each other’s eyes for ideas.
“We still have a plan. It is not lost. We need to be ready. We were caught off guard by that bastard and Kimberly. That will not happen again. Will it?” Irving asked, clearly not expecting an answer.
No one responded. They all looked at him and shook their heads. Everyone seemed to know that they were lost without Irving and his battle and special ops experience. He was their only hope, and it was imperative that they follow his orders.
~~ ~~ ~~
Kimberly’s death had been unbelievably traumatic. The quickness of it all was incomprehensible to those who had never seen battle, guns, or fighting situations. As they laid in their bunks, Frank went over the details of the event leading to Kimberly’s death. What could they have done to stop it? What could each have done to prevent Kimberly’s depression? As time passed, Frank realized they could have done absolutely nothing to save her. What he did realize was their lives, too, were in danger, and their captives had no qualms with killing them if the situation warranted it. They were essentially pieces of meat, flesh dressed as humans, and to be sold to the highest bidder. They had no lives if this entire scene played out the way the captors wanted. They all had to do something. Waiting for servitude or death was their only option.
As if the captors wanted the passengers to know how evil they were, Kimberly’s body was heard being dragged up the stairs, her head, going by the sounds, bouncing on each step until they reached the deck. Frank then faintly heard the straining of the guards as they must have lifted her body up and threw it over the side of the boat. The body seemed to land in the water just outside their cabin. Soo Mi sighed heavily, Helen cried, and the others bowed their heads. Irving sounded as though he was saying something in Hebrew, but Frank didn’t understand what he said.
Night was nigh. The usual food for dinner was never served. No one came to the door. Their only solace was the bottles of water in the cabin. Dehydration certainly had to be avoided if these animals wanted to deliver their prey safely to others. Wat
er was an absolute must, but, for now, food was being withdrawn as a punishment and a sign of things to come if they didn’t heed their captives.
Just as Frank thought they were alone until morning, the key turned in the lock, and three men came in. Two of them stood at the door, and Hector pulled out some long, thick zip ties. He turned Frank around, grabbed his hands, and placed them behind him and tied them together tightly. He did the same with Yuto next and then Irving. He lined them up and motioned them to sit on one of the bunks, never speaking a word. He looked at the women who were cowering on the opposite bunk. Soo Mi was crying and shaking profusely, and Helen was trying to comfort her but sniffled as well. The pirate must have figured they were no threat, especially after they had seen what he and the others were capable of by killing Kimberly. He snickered and then brought out one more zip tie, grasped the right hand of Helen and Soo Mi’s left hand, and tied the two women together. He revisited the zip ties of the men, checked the one on the women, glared around the cabin, and then gestured for the other two thugs to leave and exited the cabin. Again, one of them locked the door behind him.
~~ ~~ ~~
In the darkness of the cabin, Soo Mi daydreamed of the time when she was a child, being told of the deaths of her grandparents at the hands of evil people in their government. She could only imagine how they’d died, but she was told they were tied up and shot. Now, the reality of their deaths became crystal clear. After seeing how Kimberly’s body had instantly stopped moving and became lifeless, she knew her grandparents never felt pain or fear of death by their executioners. She opened her eyes, stared at the bunk above her, and finally felt peace for them but fear for herself and her friends.
Chapter Thirty
Frank flopped onto his bunk, and in no time began that slow descent into a deep sleep where memories and fears were waiting.
Frank hurried to set the table for his bride and himself. He had their very own special wine ready to serve when she got home from shopping. She had thought he was taking her out for dinner since she had been so busy today. She seemed relieved this was happening. She said she couldn’t stand to have to make dinner tonight. Frank had everything ready: appetizers, a main course of beef Stroganoff over rice, and her favorite dessert. He had even thought of the sorbet in a small glass to cleanse the palette between dinner and her tiramisu. The candles were placed perfectly on the table, and he had sprinkled rose petals on the white table cloth. He was ‘The Man’ tonight.
He hustled over to the oven to check he hadn’t overcooked the appetizer, stirred it for a moment, then placed it back in the oven and turned down the heat. He was so excited as he went back to the table to pour the wine, glancing at his watch to see what time it was. Kate had told him to be ready as soon as she came home at six-thirty.
He ran over to the bay window of the living room to be sure she wasn’t early and, not seeing her car, returned to the table to tidy up the tablecloth. No wrinkles for him. Everything had to be perfect. Then he heard a car entering the driveway. He hurried over to the window again, and there she was, getting out of the driver’s side carrying some shopping bags.
She’s gonna love this!
He looked through the window on the side of their front door, trying to see where she was so he could open the door as soon as she arrived in front of it. He timed it perfectly. He flung open the door, she looked up, he put his arms around her waist, and they kissed for a long time right there on the front stoop. She dropped her bags and threw her arms around his neck and held him there for even longer. He then picked up her bags, ushered her into the living room, sat her down, took off her shoes gently, and massaged her feet for her. Then he hurried over to the table and brought her a glass of wine and sat next to her with his, kissed her on the cheek, and said, “Dinner will be served whenever you want.”
“We’re not going out?” she asked.
“Nope, I’ve done it all for you.”
“You shouldn’t have…”
“Oh, yeah, I should have, for sure. Now drink up.”
The dinner was a success if not an unexpected, wonderful surprise. They sat on the sofa, her head on his shoulder and her leg over his. Both slowly sipped their after-dinner drinks. Frank stroked her bulging tummy, lowered his head, and spoke adoringly to the little life within his wife’s belly. He even sang a few bars of a lullaby he knew. The baby didn’t move. He tried again and felt for the baby’s movement, looked up at Kate, and she smiled. He felt again and again, tried pushing in a little to rouse the baby to move. It didn’t.
Kate said, “Frank, I love you.” She smiled again, totally at ease now.
Frank answered, “But the baby?”
“Never mind the baby, Frank. It’s just us now.”
Frank didn’t understand. “What?”
Suddenly a gush of red fluid poured out with such a force, Kate’s dress flew up and seemed to remain there forever as blood carried on flowing. The blood had pieces of white material within it and seemed to form an image of a gun. Frank pushed himself up and over her, only to see her smiling as the blood continued its course all over her dress, him, and the floor. He tried to hold Kate but couldn’t. His hands were not there. He could see his arms but no hands!
He sprang to a sitting position, banging his head on the bunk above him. His eyes were wide and searching. “Kate? The baby?” he said.
Silence and darkness were all around him. There was no sofa, no after-dinner drinks, and no Kate. He laid back down on his bunk bed, tears rolling down his cheeks as he buried his head into his pillow. Sweat beaded out over his forehead.
Kate’s losing the baby, and I can’t help. Kate, please, think of me, keep me in your heart. I’m trying to get home. Hold on!
Chapter Thirty-One
Irving slid off his bunk above Frank, stumbled against the hull, and was able to finally rest on the edge of Frank’s bunk. Both were encumbered badly by their zip ties. Neither one spoke as they desperately searched their minds for some solution to their situation.
“We will be coming to the rendezvous sometime, and we need to be ready to execute the original plan,” said Irving.
“How? These damn zip ties are tight as hell. My hands are getting numb,” Frank said.
“Yeah, me, too,” Irving replied. “Let’s wake everyone and see if we can find anything to snip these things.”
“What about your knife?” Frank asked.
“I’m afraid that would dull the knife we need to cut one of the guard’s throats. We can’t afford to have a butter knife.”
“Okay. Wait! I have something that we can use. My clippers!”
“What are you talking about? You daft?” Irving whispered.
“No, I have some nail clippers in my pocket. If I can wiggle my pants pocket over to your hands, you can get them out. They are in a little sac. I forgot they were there,” Frank said.
Oh, my God, Kate. You saved me. You could be the reason for our escape and rescue!
“Wait a minute,” Irving said, stopping Frank from turning himself. “Do you think those clippers will cut the ties?”
“Yeah, I think so. Even if they can’t cut completely through, they can get a head start on us breaking free from them.” Frank got up and peered out the porthole. It was pitch black. “It’s still really early morning. Way past midnight for sure. I don’t think the rendezvous is tonight. Don’t you think we’d best try to commandeer this boat in the morning when they come for us? Let’s wake the others.”
Irving nodded, got up, and proceeded to wake Yuto as Frank shuffled over to Helen and Soo Mi.
When all of them were awake and sitting on the bottom bunks, Irving said, “We’re going to have to use our original plan.”
“How, we no able to use hands!” Yuto asked.
“Frank has some clippers to cut the ties,” Irving said.
Frank stood and said to Helen, “Use your left hand to get the sac out of this pocket.”
“Which pocket, Frank?” she asked, scanning
all the pockets of his cargo pants.
“The lower left pocket. It has a Velcro flap. Pull it up and get the sac.”
Helen was able to retrieve the clippers, and she started snipping her tie to Soo Mi. The tie popped open. She immediately went over to Frank and cut his ties as Soo Mi moved over next to Yuto and hugged him. Soon, they were all free. Irving went over the plan again and again as explicitly as he had earlier. They all understood the absolute necessity of all of the plan working perfectly. Frank and Yuto looked at one another, clearly searching each other for any trepidation. They must have seen none. Both knew what they had to do. Everyone in the cabin had been emboldened by the purposeful murder of Kimberly and the offensive way they had been treated and tied up. Their lives depended on them performing their plan quickly and precisely. Their fates were in their own hands.
“You guys ready?” Irving asked.
They all nodded. Frank knew the crew was ready mentally, but could they do it physically?
“Okay. I don’t know what time it is or how many hours it will be before the goon or goons come, but I’m going to crouch by the door to hear them coming. When I tell you, get to your positions. Girls, get those strips of sheets ready to shove in the goon’s mouth if he tries to scream out.”
Helen and Soo Mi glanced at each other, gathered their strips together on their laps, sat on the edge of the lower bunks, and readied themselves for what may come.
And, then, they all waited.
Chapter Thirty-Two
A glint of sunlight shone on the floor of the cabin, heralding morning. Irving was still crouched by the door. The women were asleep, and the men were dozing off here and there. Irving got up and stretched from his hunched position that he had maintained most of the night. His motion roused Frank from his daydreaming, and Frank stood and moved to take Irving’s place without saying a word. Irving nodded to say thanks and then laid down on the bed.
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