“Sir, where are the other boats?” the crewman operating the skiff asked.
Anders scanned the water and only saw the boat filled with the college kids. They were almost past the reef. The water around the boat burbled, and a long snakelike tentacle exploded out of the water and fell across their boat. It wrapped around and around the screaming mass of people as it dragged it underwater.
“Sir, permission to head for open water,” the crewman asked.
“Permission granted. Hold on everybody,” Anders said, squatting down and pulling two orphaned children close to him.
“He’s leaving us,” Jeremy moaned.
“He’s got no other choice,” Karl told his son. “We’ll just have to hang on until he can send help back. I figure we’ll stick to the rocks. Whatever moves in that sand and water won’t be able to get us here.”
Karl put his arm around his son, and the two watched as the boat sped away. The pilot skillfully maneuvered the boat as close to a zigzag route as he could considering the waves. They pushed past the depth where the other boat had been taken. Anders’s satellite phone came to life. He unwrapped his arms from the two children to send an SOS.
The boat lurched to a stop. Two of the larger kids fell to the bottom of the boat. The water burbled again, and a large tentacle, like the one that had taken the boat of college kids, started to wrap around the skiff. It created a seal, and as it dragged the boat underwater, there was very little if any seawater getting in the boat. The passengers screamed, and their pleas for help and mercy bounced off the metal of the boat before being muffled by the thick skin of the monster that had hold of them.
The crewman produced a knife and raised it to stab at the arm.
“Wait, we’re underwater. We stand a chance once it drags us to land. There must be a reason for not drowning us,” Anders reasoned.
“I’m keeping this,” the crewman said. “I’ll wait for the right moment, and then I’m getting the hell off this island.”
“I’ll be right behind you.”
The sun was heading for the horizon. The Gables mourned the loss of Marie and Bruce. Karl managed to erect a small shelter out of pieces of the marquee that had blown down the beach and smashed up against the rocks. A few ice chests ended up there too. Unfortunately, all they had in them was a few wine coolers and malt beverages. Jeremy was plowed by the second beverage. Karl limited himself, trying to keep his wits about him. He had just settled down under the awning when sounds of industry started coming out of the jungle.
An old boat was being dragged out of the foliage by two men. They pulled the boat across the sand towards the water. The two men looked over at the Gables.
In the fading light, Karl could have sworn the tall one was the Event Manager. But how could this be? He saw him drown.
“Hello!” the EM shouted. “We found this boat. We’re going to try to make St. Kitts. We could use two more oarsmen.”
“How did you get away?” Karl asked.
“It let us go. Seaman Baily and I thought we should take a chance and get the hell out of here.”
Jeremy looked up at his father. “What do you think?”
“We can’t stay up here much longer. Tomorrow’s sun will bake us. Without water, we’re not going to last long,” Karl said before calling to the men, “We’ll go with you for help.”
The two Gables climbed off the rocks and approached the boat. It was a wooden boat more akin to the sixteenth century than modern times. Still, it was a boat. The four continued to drag it towards the water. In the last burst of light before the sunset, Karl looked at the crewman. He didn’t remember a Seaman Baily being in the excursion crew. He now knew why. Bailey was indeed a sailor, but he wasn’t from this time. The setting sun pushed through him. He was nothing more than a phantom. Karl looked at Anders, and although the man was solid, he wasn’t the man who they set out on this trip with. Two bloodshot eyes looked at him, but the irises weren’t the sky blue of the Swede; they were as orange as the setting sun.
“I don’t have to tell you that there’s no use running, but if you’d like to try, I will give you a sporting chance,” the possessed EM promised.
“Who are you?”
“Would it be a better question if you were to ask, what am I?”
“I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”
“Who denotes an entity with a name. I have no name. I’m the demon-with-no-name. Doomed to this island for an eternity. Problem is, I don’t know how I got here or who decided this was a good idea?”
“Why don’t you let us go, and I’ll come back with those answers,” Karl said.
“I’m sorry. As much as it would be worth the gamble, you could also call in an airstrike.”
“I’m a salesman. How would I accomplish this?”
“Don’t underestimate yourself.”
“Dad, if this dude has been stuck on this island, how would he know about airstrikes?”
“Good question. Who’s bullshitting who here?” Karl asked.
“Simple. I keep up to date by probing your simple little minds before I eat them. This is how I know that Marie got it on with Alberto the lifeguard behind the waterslide last night.”
Karl groaned.
“Dad, don’t let him get into your head,” Jeremy said, swinging the oar he had picked up and knocking the EM over.
He scrambled back up the rocks and watched as his
