A houseboat. Finegan Fine

The rest of the children lay down on the straw while the orphan

mistress wafts the now ample blanket supply over them. There is one

blanket left. Finegan, smiling, hands it to her.

And one for the mistress!

______________________________

Finegan and Joey are arriving back at their houseboat, at sundown,

pulling the now empty creaking wagon behind them. Before they cross the

gangplank, Joey throws his arms around Finegan’s waist. Joey has a wet

face, and takes one of his hands to wipe tears from his eyes. Finegan,

wordless, grips Joey’s shoulder with a one-handed hug, looking a little

teary himself.

68

Continuity of Government

The houseboat is approaching a series of islands, a flooded city.

Buildings and streets are on the islands, with the approach to any of

the islands blocked by flooded buildings, which can be seen under the

water. The scene looks almost magical from a distance. Some tall

buildings stick up out of the water despite their foundations being

flooded. In the distance are suburban islands, with only the occasional

house above water. All the buildings have been damaged by earthquake

and high winds, though some walls of the metal framed high rises are

intact. Most of the buildings are sloping in one direction or another,

the result of a collapse. There is no sign of life anywhere.

Joey is pacing back and forth on the roof of the house, pointing now

and then to warn Finegan of a submerged danger. Barney is at the alert

at the front of the houseboat, tail up and tense, sensing the tension

in his crewmates. They hear a shotgun blast. Finegan and Joey dash into

the house and peek out the doorway, Barney in hand beneath them.

Finegan says,

I didn’t see where it came from, did you?

Joey points and says,

Close to shore somewhere, over there.

Finegan says,

Full moon out again tonight too. . . Gonna be

hard to make a getaway.

Finegan is looking concerned, frowning and blinking, processing and

rejecting multiple getaway plans.

Worst case, we may have to slip into the water

at night and go find whoever is doing this. . .

I don’t think we can go underwater and pull the

boat to safety. . . Might . . But those are our

two options, I think.

A rowboat is seen approaching with two men, one rowing, one with a

shotgun across his knees. Neither wears a hat, but both have long

sleeve shirts on with a band of red cloth tied around their upper right

arms. The rowboat pulls up to the houseboat, the man rowing attempting

to latch a rope around one of the posts on the houseboat corners. The

sentry has his rifle pointed toward the door of the houseboat, where

Finegan and Joey were last seen.

69

But Finegan has moved behind some boxes near the front of the

houseboat. Finegan has his rifle resting on a box, pointing at the

guard.

You’re not boarding, and you’re not leaving

either. Toss that rifle into the water. . .

Now!

The sentry hesitates, and is fondling his gun like he is debating his

options. Finegan shoots into the water near them, showing them he too

is armed. The sentry says,

Look, I’ll put it down. If I lose this there’ll

be hell to pay.

The Sentry puts his rifle down on the floor of the rowboat. Both men in

the rowboat are now standing, hands up. Finegan says,

You shot at us!

The sentry replies,

Well you just shot at us!

To which Finegan asserts,

Well, you shot first!

But the sentry protests,

That was a warning shot!

But Finegan counters once again,

So was mine!

Finegan is grumbling under his breath, not wanting to create alienation

but not wanting to be taken advantage of.

Arrrrhh.

Joey is positioned on the other side of the houseboat, also behind some

boxes, with the pistol aimed at the pair in the rowboat. Finegan says,

OK, both you men step onto the deck but move no

further.

The men finish tying the rope around the corner post and pull the

rowboat close, putting one leg each onto the deck and heaving up.

Finegans directs,

You, oarsman, take that tie off your arm and

tie your partner’s hands behind him.

Both men from the rowboat look at each other hesitantly. Then the

sentry shrugs and puts his hands behind his back to be tied. Finegan

says,

OK, both you men sit down on the deck and face

out toward the water. And you, oarsman, put