Read Online Landfall: Islands in the Aftermath (The Pulse Series Book 4) by Scott B. Williams - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Scott B. Williams
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aboard.
Nine
R USSELL WAS QUITE CONTENT to stay on the beach and work with the girls on the placement of the fenders. He followed Jessica, the brunette that had caught his eye from a distance, seizing the opportunity to talk to her by offering to help her. The other girl, Casey, and the blonde named Tara, who owned the other boat, were busy getting their half of the fenders ready for the other hull.
“So where are you from, Jessica?”
“L.A.” She said, without asking him the same.
“Wow, you are a long way from home then. How did you end up on a boat in the Bahamas? Were you in L.A. when the pulse hit?”
“No, I was in New Orleans. Casey and I were roommates there.”
“Cool! I love New Orleans. I used to go every chance I got! It’s a party town.”
“Not anymore, it isn’t.”
“No, I guess not. I didn’t realize until I talked to Larry that the effects of this thing went that far. What about the West Coast? Have you heard from anybody back home?”
“How would I?” Jessica asked, giving him a look that suggested she didn’t want to talk about it.
“Sorry, I guess that was a stupid question. Nobody’s got a phone that’ll work. I just thought you might have gotten word somehow.”
“No, and I’m just trying not to think about it. I don’t know what will happen to my parents and my other family and friends out there, or if something already has. I’m afraid it’s as bad as New Orleans, or worse.”
“Yeah, big cities are the worst in something like this. That’s why I didn’t want to go back to Florida when it happened. Some people living on boats in Nassau said that’s what they were going to do, but I knew it was crazy. We’d already heard from others who’d arrived from Ft. Lauderdale since it happened and they said things were insane on the mainland. I wanted to stay the hell away. That’s why I waited until I could find a ride with somebody going to the out islands. I knew it would be better to be somewhere with fewer people and where the fishing was good. You guys did the right thing, coming here.”
“We never planned to stop here. It was just dark out and we didn’t see the island.”
“Maybe it was just fate then,” Russell grinned at her. “I’ve been waiting all this time for a boat to show up, and now, there are two. What are the odds of that?” When Jessica said nothing, Russell went on.
“I hope I can get a ride with you guys. I’m a good sailor. I can help Larry with everything. You think he’ll agree to that? I’ve got to get off of this freakin’ rock. Wherever you guys are going is fine with me. I don’t even care. I’ve just got to get back on a boat. It’s in my blood and at sea is where I belong. I’ll sail anywhere , just as long as I’m moving, I’m happy.”
“You’ll have to ask him. All I know is that our boat is already too crowded as it is. We never planned to sail with another boat, but he wanted to help Tara out because she was alone with her daughter, and she had her own boat. But they didn’t plan to stop here at this place anymore than we did. Larry only did because they had engine trouble.”
“I can help him with that, no problem. I’m a good mechanic; gas engines, diesel engines, all of them. I’ve never run across one I couldn’t fix! I’ll help him get it going just as soon as we get this catamaran out of the water. I’ll show him what I can do. He’s going to want me as crew when he sees, believe me.”
Russell was excited. So much was happening in one day after all those days of nothing. Now, not only was he no longer alone on the island, he had the prospect of a ride off of it. And on a sailboat with Jessica, at that. Russell had a hard time keeping his eyes off of her as he stood there in the knee deep water beside the hull, waiting on the boat to start moving. He heard the clicking of the winch on deck above and saw the main anchor rode from the bow begin to vibrate as it went taut. Before starting
Nine
R USSELL WAS QUITE CONTENT to stay on the beach and work with the girls on the placement of the fenders. He followed Jessica, the brunette that had caught his eye from a distance, seizing the opportunity to talk to her by offering to help her. The other girl, Casey, and the blonde named Tara, who owned the other boat, were busy getting their half of the fenders ready for the other hull.
“So where are you from, Jessica?”
“L.A.” She said, without asking him the same.
“Wow, you are a long way from home then. How did you end up on a boat in the Bahamas? Were you in L.A. when the pulse hit?”
“No, I was in New Orleans. Casey and I were roommates there.”
“Cool! I love New Orleans. I used to go every chance I got! It’s a party town.”
“Not anymore, it isn’t.”
“No, I guess not. I didn’t realize until I talked to Larry that the effects of this thing went that far. What about the West Coast? Have you heard from anybody back home?”
“How would I?” Jessica asked, giving him a look that suggested she didn’t want to talk about it.
“Sorry, I guess that was a stupid question. Nobody’s got a phone that’ll work. I just thought you might have gotten word somehow.”
“No, and I’m just trying not to think about it. I don’t know what will happen to my parents and my other family and friends out there, or if something already has. I’m afraid it’s as bad as New Orleans, or worse.”
“Yeah, big cities are the worst in something like this. That’s why I didn’t want to go back to Florida when it happened. Some people living on boats in Nassau said that’s what they were going to do, but I knew it was crazy. We’d already heard from others who’d arrived from Ft. Lauderdale since it happened and they said things were insane on the mainland. I wanted to stay the hell away. That’s why I waited until I could find a ride with somebody going to the out islands. I knew it would be better to be somewhere with fewer people and where the fishing was good. You guys did the right thing, coming here.”
“We never planned to stop here. It was just dark out and we didn’t see the island.”
“Maybe it was just fate then,” Russell grinned at her. “I’ve been waiting all this time for a boat to show up, and now, there are two. What are the odds of that?” When Jessica said nothing, Russell went on.
“I hope I can get a ride with you guys. I’m a good sailor. I can help Larry with everything. You think he’ll agree to that? I’ve got to get off of this freakin’ rock. Wherever you guys are going is fine with me. I don’t even care. I’ve just got to get back on a boat. It’s in my blood and at sea is where I belong. I’ll sail anywhere , just as long as I’m moving, I’m happy.”
“You’ll have to ask him. All I know is that our boat is already too crowded as it is. We never planned to sail with another boat, but he wanted to help Tara out because she was alone with her daughter, and she had her own boat. But they didn’t plan to stop here at this place anymore than we did. Larry only did because they had engine trouble.”
“I can help him with that, no problem. I’m a good mechanic; gas engines, diesel engines, all of them. I’ve never run across one I couldn’t fix! I’ll help him get it going just as soon as we get this catamaran out of the water. I’ll show him what I can do. He’s going to want me as crew when he sees, believe me.”
Russell was excited. So much was happening in one day after all those days of nothing. Now, not only was he no longer alone on the island, he had the prospect of a ride off of it. And on a sailboat with Jessica, at that. Russell had a hard time keeping his eyes off of her as he stood there in the knee deep water beside the hull, waiting on the boat to start moving. He heard the clicking of the winch on deck above and saw the main anchor rode from the bow begin to vibrate as it went taut. Before starting
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