“No, we won’t be able to take that many with us,” Wendy said, picking up the spear gun.
The twins gave a sigh of relief and then moved up behind Wendy, putting on their backpacks. Even though they had been all over the ship, they all were apprehensive as Wendy opened the door each morning.
All of them shook their heads as Wendy opened the door and the powerful stench of rotting flesh flooded their noses. No matter how much they shook their heads, they couldn’t stop the smell.
Moving out into the hall, Wendy watched Sally close the door and make sure it was locked. Giving a nod, Wendy moved down the hall toward the concourse. In areas they used frequently, they had moved the bodies to the side, so they could get carts up and down the hallways. Not having to dodge bodies as they walked was also an added bonus.
Wendy stopped, letting the girls go into a shop they visited each morning. The girls giggled, running into the store and pulling off their backpacks. Each one grabbed a coloring book and put it in their backpack. That’s what they did after playing a board game each night, they colored.
When they came back out putting their backpacks on, Wendy led them through the ship until they reached a large staircase and headed up. Even though she was much better, Wendy knew she was nowhere near her previous health. She got winded much easier and it took her much longer to recover.
Not to mention, she was still fifteen pounds lighter than when she’d boarded the ship. Wendy’s body had always been athletically toned. Now she was thin, but Wendy was just glad to not have the gaunt appearance and most of all, to be alive.
Reaching the upper deck, they all stopped, digging out binoculars and scanning to the northeast. “I don’t see it,” Sally said, standing on Wendy’s right.
“How could a boat that big just disappear?” Jo Ann asked, standing on Wendy’s left.
Lowering her binoculars, Wendy turned to Jo Ann. “Jo Ann, there are several ways,” Wendy said. “One, it could’ve been pulled out to sea and be drifting. What’s another way a ship can disappear?”
“Oh,” Jo Ann mumbled, lowering her binoculars. “It can sink.”
Reaching over and patting Jo Ann, “That’s why we have to go,” Wendy sighed. “We should’ve left days ago, but I’m sorry I didn’t feel strong enough yet.”
“It wasn’t your fault you got sick,” Sally declared, lowering her binoculars.
Laughing, Wendy put her arms around each one’s shoulders. “Girls, I’m going to be honest. The reason I’ve waited so long is to make sure I can fight if we have to.”
“I’m glad we waited then,” Sally said, putting her binoculars up.
Heading back to the stairs, they continued up until they reached the bridge. Walking in, they found a seagull inside. They had moved the bodies out and had left the doors open to air it out. Sally ran over and the seagull hopped across the room and flew out the door.
Moving over to the chart table, Wendy pulled out a small notepad, reciting the trip she would take on the jet ski in her mind. When she was done, Wendy opened the notepad and smiled, seeing she hadn’t missed anything. Then she compared her notes to the map on the chart table.
“Wendy, there is a lifeboat going down to the water,” Sally said behind her and Wendy spun around.
Sally was standing on a chair and looking out to sea with the massive binoculars they’d left on the bridge. Moving up beside Sally, Wendy saw one of the cruise ships a mile away lowering a lifeboat. Pulling her binoculars out, Wendy watched as the boat touched the water.
“There’s still people on the ship,” Jo Ann said beside her and Wendy glanced over to see Jo Ann standing in another chair so she could see out the windows.
Turning back to her binoculars, Wendy zoomed in and could see people waving at the lifeboat as a man climbed out on the roof of the lifeboat. After unhooking the cables that had lowered the lifeboat, the man climbed back inside. Watching the lifeboat pull away from the ship, Wendy gasped while watching someone jump off the ship.
The body missed the lifeboat and hit the water hard. Moving feebly, Wendy watched the body sink and realized whoever it was hadn’t been wearing a life jacket. “Why did they jump?” Sally asked, watching the lifeboat steer for shore.
“I don’t know,” Wendy admitted. “There are other lifeboats.”
“Another one jumped,” Jo Ann mumbled and Wendy lowered her binoculars.
“Sally, can I use those?” Wendy asked, holding hers out.
Sally passed the large ones over while taking Wendy’s. Raising the massive binoculars, Wendy could almost make out faces. “I count seven still on that ship,” Wendy said, moving her gaze to the lifeboat. Through the small windows, she could see a few shadows of heads but not much else. “I only count ten on the lifeboat but can’t see inside. There may be more.”
The lifeboat passed between their ship and the one that had moved closer during the storm. “Should we wave?” Jo Ann asked.
“No, we don’t know what’s going on,” Wendy told her. “They may have left just sick ones on board, but we aren’t taking the chance.”
Following the lifeboat with the binoculars, Wendy saw a small boy’s face pop up in a side window,
