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MYSTIC:
Josh hears someone climbing the stairs to the bridge, and notices Okana’s irritated expression as he comes up and sits on one of the chairs. “You look a little peeved.”
“Dieter is getting on my nerves. Too bad Blacktooth didn’t get rid of him.”
“I was just thinking about Alex. It must be getting cold on that little rock he’s on.”
“How much longer until Bett gets back?”
Josh glances at the chronometer on the wall. “Another fifteen minutes.” He reaches over and turns on the small television screen. “I’ll go down and try to pick up a satellite signal for a news report. This has to be affecting the mainland.”
“Good idea. I’ll take over.”
Josh goes down the stairs and into the lounge. Dieter is still sitting at the table with his bottle of vodka, and Rita and Lisa are in the recliners. Behind them on the floor, a large crimson stain is soaking through the blanket. He walks over to his desk, sits in front of his computer, and turns on the television. A moment later, he has a signal of a news broadcast from the satellite dish on the roof of the bridge.
A woman reporter is seated at a desk, and behind her, a large image shows global weather patterns swirling across the planet. In the upper corner of the television screen, a red sign reads SPECIAL REPORT. The background changes, showing the central United States and Josh turns up the volume.
“This incredible change in the size of the polar ice cap has authorities baffled, and the temperature in the northern latitudes around the world is dropping dramatically. Extremely cold air flowing down from Canada through the central plains is meeting an increased temperature flowing up from the Gulf of Mexico creating a steady cycle of new tornadoes ripping through the heartland of North America. In France and England, that same warm water from the gulf is flowing north and meeting the frigid arctic air creating massive hurricanes along the western shores of Europe, devastating coastal towns and reaching inland to Germany.”
Josh stands and goes to the table, then sits across from Dieter. “I forgot to ask. Did Alex find what he wanted on that island?”
“You heard what Blacktooth said. What do you think?”
“I’m talking about a way to stop that device, you greedy bastard.”
“He seemed happy before he was marooned.”
The intercom speaker clicks and they hear Okana’s voice. “The helicopter is back.”
Josh gets up and looks at the women. Rita indicates she’ll stay with Lisa, who is temporarily distracted by the woman announcer. He leaves Dieter at the table and walks up to the bridge.
Okana stands when Josh comes up and they stare through the rear window as Bett makes her approach from the stern. As always, she lightly sets down and shuts off the engine.
Okana and Josh walk outside and go down to the deck as Mike and Bett climb out of the helicopter, and they all have broad smiles as they meet. Bett wraps her arms around Josh’s neck to pull him down and gives him a passionate kiss.
Mike holds his hand out to Okana. “I owe you.”
“Not a problem. I’m glad Bett was with you.”
“Yes, me too. What happened to Blacktooth and his men?”
Okana fills Mike and Bett in on what happened after they left in the helicopter. “Lisa is still shaken up, Mike. You should talk to her.”
“I will. So what’s our plan? Go back for Alex, right?”
“That’s the plan,” says Okana.
Josh lets go of Bett. “I’m glad my gal got you back safe, Mike.”
“You should have seen her in action. I’d better go see Lisa.”
***
Josh looks at Okana. “Give me a hand with the helicopter so we can get out of here.”
With Bett’s help, they are done in fifteen minutes and the trio goes up to the bridge. “I’ve got it,” Okana tells them. “You two go on down and I’ll holler when we get close.”
When Josh follows Bett down the stairs, Okana enters the coordinates into the computer, engages the jet pumps, and the Mystic swings around in the direction of the island. He shoves the throttle forward and quickly increases her speed to seventy-eight-knots.
***
Mike goes into the lounge and sees Lisa and Rita watching the news broadcast, and Dieter sitting at the table. He takes off his coat and tosses it onto a recliner as he strolls over and sits across from Dieter.
Dieter slides the bottle of vodka across the table. “Have a drink, Mike.”
Mike stares at him for a long moment, then slowly slides the bottle back. “Why didn’t you trust me, John?”
Dieter feels a little high and chuckles. “It had nothing to do with trust, Mike. It had to do with money. You do not care enough about it, and I do.” He turns and stares out the window.
“I would have helped you, John. Like you said. I don’t care about money. The adventure of the search is motive enough for me.”
Dieter turns to face him. “I know that now. I am sorry I caused this, Mike.”
Mike gets up and looks down at the splatter of red dots around the bloodstained blanket, then back to Dieter. “As soon as we reach a port, pack your things and get off my ship.” He walks to the recliners and sits next to Lisa.
Lisa turns and looks at Mike. “I’m glad you’re back.” She points at the television. “The weather is getting bad all over the world.”
Mike sits back and watches the newswoman, but it only lasts a few moments before they lose the signal.
***
THE MOTORBOAT:
The outboard motor coughs and sputters, then shuts down. Alex looks at the fuel gauge and the needle is below the red line. He realizes since they were only going to the island, no one bothered to fill the gas tank. A cold north wind blows the motorboat sideways across the turbulent water, tossing the watercraft around like a toy.
He stands and clings to the windshield for balance while looking for land or a ship, but there is only the horizon in all directions. He left the canvas top down to reduce the drag, but now he needs the protection against the cold wind. He raises the aluminum frame to stretch out the canvas, then fastens the straps and snaps.
Much better. He sits on one of the wide bench seats while staring out through the plastic windows. He remembers Mike giving the portable radio to Josh before they went to the island. Who could have guessed he would need it? He doesn’t even have his satellite phone.
He shoves his hands deep into his coat pockets and stares at the whitecaps on the water. This could get bad. With the wind driving the boat south, he will be too far off course when the Mystic tries to find him. He leans his head back and closes his eyes. Will I die out here? The corners of his lips move up in a skeptical grin. Not for a while, anyway. I’ll just have to wait and see where the rest of the day will take me.