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11:00 PM. PRINCE RUPERT:
The light from tall lampposts pierces the fog and illuminates the damp wooden fuel pier. A long flatbed truck backs up close to Mystic’s stern within reach of the hoist which Okana extends over the top of the truck bed. The driver attaches the straps to a twenty-foot by ten-foot wooden platform, and Okana swings the load from the truck around to the stern and sets it on the deck. He locks the platform tight against the ship with pressure from the end of the hoist, and Alex’s project is ready.
He stares back along the pier until the truck vanishes into the fog, wondering how long it will be before Alex and Mike return and they can leave. Being a wanted man is stressful. Once Alex and Mike left the ship, the rest of the group had gone below to get some sleep, leaving Okana alone with his thoughts in the cool night air.
He sets the control pad for the hoist into the storage locker and grabs the fiberglass door, then freezes. Footsteps slowly approach across the deck from behind him. He slowly closes the door and tightens the latches, then places his hand on the pistol tucked into his belt.
The footsteps stop and the air is still. He hears someone breathing behind him and lightly taps his fingers against the butt of the pistol and waits for the person to make a move. The far off ringing of a bell is muffled by the thick fog and a dog barks somewhere on shore. He spins around and pulls the pistol, aiming it directly at Dieter’s head. “Going somewhere?”
Dieter sets his suitcases on the deck. “I was asked to leave the ship once we reach port.”
Okana slips the pistol back into his belt. “Don’t you mean, ordered?”
“Whatever you wish, Okana. I just want to get off.”
“Not until Alex and Mike return. Just a precaution.”
“You are a suspicious man. Mike could easily have me arrested, so why would I aggravate the situation? I only want to leave.” Dieter sees red and blue flashing lights approaching through the fog. “Maybe he is going to have me arrested after all.”
Okana spins around to look at the lights. “It’s not you they’re after.” He turns back to Dieter. “Some of your friends filed a murder charge against me.”
Dieter grins. “The turn of a page, Okana.”
Okana stares at him. “You owe me, Dieter.”
Dieter turns serious. “You are right. Blacktooth would have used me for bait. Find someplace to hide and I will cover for you.” Okana doesn’t move. “Go, before it is too late!” He waits while Okana sprints across the deck.
Dieter conceals his suitcases behind the wall, then walks across a short blue fiberglass gangway from the ship to the pier. A moment later, a Prince Rupert Police car emerges from the fog and stops alongside the Mystic. Dieter watches two officers climb out, inserting their black clubs into their utility belts as they walk over and stop in front of him.
“Is this your ship, Sir?”
“I am the Captain. What can I do for you?”
“I’m here to take custody of one of your crew. A Mister Okana.”
“He left the ship hours ago.”
“When will he return?”
“He will not be returning. I fired him for insubordination.” He waits while the officers talk to each other. “You are welcome to come aboard and see for yourself.” He steps back and holds his breath while one officer stares at him for a long moment.
“Did he mention where he was going?”
“No. Back to the United States, I would imagine.” They confer with each other and he overhears them mention the border.
The officer nods his head in appreciation. “Thanks for your help, Captain.”
Dieter waits until the patrol car disappears into the fog, then walks across the gangway onto the ship. He looks into the lounge, then looks down the stairs. There is no one around, so he quietly goes to the stern and grabs his suitcases.
“Hey, Dieter.”
The suitcases slip from his hands and he spins around. “Damn it, Okana!” He pauses to catch his breath. “Where were you?”
“In the sub.”
Dieter regains his composure. “Very funny. Can I leave now?”
Okana slowly nods it’s okay. “Try to stay out of trouble.”
Dieter picks up his suitcases and walks off the ship.
***
PRINCE RUPERT AIRPORT:
The VIP reception area is attached to the back of a private aircraft hangar and comes with a self- serve bar. Seated comfortably on a pair of bar stools, Alex and Mike watch updated news bulletins about the extreme weather conditions while waiting for Henry and David to arrive. A satellite image of the expanding ice on one side of the planet is on the television screen behind a news commentator.
“Our specialists say this could cause an imbalance to the planet, and it could begin to wobble. Blizzard conditions in the northern regions are delaying the planting of crops, and if conditions do not change soon, it could cause a famine later this year with the potential to kill millions. News reporters around the world are calling it the Snowball Earth Effect and predict the planet will eventually be covered with ice if the freezing continues.”
The sound of jet engines makes them turn from the television to look through the window into the hanger. The white Gulfstream jet rolls noisily across the gray concrete floor and stops thirty-feet from the glass before the whine of the engines drops to silence. When the side door opens, Henry comes down the steps with David right behind. The co-pilot follows them down, pointing toward the VIP room.
Alex stands and moves to the door. While he holds it open, he’s greeted with smiles from his friends as they come into the lounge. “Thanks for coming on such short notice.”
David cannot stop smiling. “Are you kidding? I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t invited me.”
Henry grabs Alex’s hand. “I just hope we can complete our mission before it is too late.”
David wraps his arm over Henry’s shoulders. “Our mission, Doc? You sound like a spy. We’re here to save the planet.” He notices the rips and stains on Alex’s white coat. “What happened to you? It looks like you wrestled with a wild animal.”
“I was attacked by blackberry vines.”
Mike walks over, holds out his hand, and introduces himself. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll take you to the Mystic.”
Alex notices a metal case in Henry’s hand. “What’s in the briefcase, Doc?”
“Something marvelous, Alex, but you will have to wait until I can open it on the island.”
“All right. Let’s go.”
***
MYSTIC:
Bett, Rita, and Okana finish cleaning out the cabins for their new guests and dump the contents into the dumpster on shore. Josh is still asleep after staying on the bridge until they tied to the pier, and Lisa has stayed in her cabin since they left the island. Mike calls to explain they are on their way, so the group migrates to the bridge and watch for headlights in the fog.
Okana explains what happened with Dieter and looks at Rita. “You looked like a seasoned combat veteran in the lounge today.”
A smirk forms on her lips. “I did a short stint in the military.”
Okana stares at her for a moment, his curiosity now peaked. “Come on, we know Bett was a helicopter pilot. What did you do?”
“I could ask you the same thing. You can handle yourself.”
“No problem. I was a Navy Seal. Your turn.”
Lisa comes up the stairs onto the bridge and yawns. “I thought you and Alex were spies.”
“That’s right. It was part of our job.”
“Do you know when they’ll be back?”
“They’re on the way, Lisa.” Okana tells her. “How are you holding up?”
“Much better.”
“Mike wanted me to ask you something when you woke up. He wonders if you want to go home. We all understand what you went through and we won’t blame you for leaving.”
Lisa feels a little bewildered about the choice and stares out the window. “I need to see my mom, I guess. I’ll ask Mike about transportation when he gets back. I’d better get packed.”
When Lisa goes down the stairs, Bett opens a fresh piece of gum and trades it for the old one. “Poor thing. Scientists aren’t supposed to experience those kinds of horrible things.” She suddenly stands up. “Here they come.” She walks to the outside door and down to the deck, with Rita right behind.
Okana hurries down the inside stairs and looks down the lower stairs to the cabins. “Hey Lisa. They’re here.” She is suddenly running up from below while he waits for her, and together they go out to the stern. He nods hello to Mike and a short, gray-haired man as they move past him on the ship.
Alex grabs Henry’s suitcase and waits while David grabs his own, then shuts the hatch. He leads the way across the gangway to Lisa. “David, this is the scientist I told you about, Lisa Harding. Lisa, this is my good friend, David Conway.”
David feels a small lump in his throat. “Nice to meet you, Lisa.”
Lisa stares at David. He’s not even close to what she imagined. A shy grin creeps across her face as she reaches out to shake his hand. “I’m Lisa. Lisa Harding.”
David smiles warmly and takes her hand in his. “Yes, you are.”
Lisa turns to look up at Alex. “I’ll show David where we’re sleeping. I mean, to his cabin.”
“Great. See you when we’re underway.”
Okana notices Lisa and David smiling at each other as they stroll across the deck, and he stops next to Alex. “A little while ago she was packing her bags to go home. Is she going to stay onboard now?”
“I think so. I thought she and David might hit it off.” He goes over to the platform being held in place by the arm of the hoist. “I see my dock arrived in one piece. I guess we’re ready to leave. Who’s got the first watch?”
“Bett said she’d take it so you and I can get some sleep on the way back. I could use it, too.”
“Good. I’ll tell Bett we’re ready while you get us untied. I’ll meet you in the lounge when we’re underway.”
Alex carries Henry’s suitcase into the lounge and sets it near the short wall by the stairs. Mike, Henry, and Rita are sitting at the table, so he walks over to join them. “Where are Bett and Josh?”
Rita points up to the bridge. “She wanted to be ready, and Josh is still sleeping.”
“That’s where I’m headed next.” A small lurch tells them the Mystic is underway just as Okana comes in to join them.
Okana sits down next to Rita and looks around the table. “What’s our next move?”
Alex stretches his arms out and yawns. “Sleep. I can’t think straight right now. Wake me just before we reach the island and I’ll tell you my ideas so we can brainstorm a plan.” He stands and walks across the room, then waits for Lisa and David to come up the stairs before he can make his way down. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”
Okana yawns and stands to leave. “My turn. See you guys.”
Rita notices Doctor Heinz’s tired eyes. “Come with me, Doctor, and I’ll take you to your cabin.”
Henry stands and smiles. “Splendid idea, my dear. Call me Henry. After you.”
Rita grabs his suitcase on the way out.
David realizes he is tired. “I’m going to bed, too. See you in the morning.”
Mike gets up. “Me too.”
Lisa watches them walk away. She doesn’t feel the least bit tired, so she walks up to the bridge to keep Bett company on the ride back to the island.