Read Online Voyage of the Dead - Book One Sovereign Spirit Saga by David Forsyth - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: David Forsyth
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arrived, he stepped up and presented his short term plan, starting with his reasoning behind it.
“Now that most of you have a better idea of what is going on in the rest of the world, I’d like to let you know what we will be doing to keep from suffering the same fate. First, as the Captain explained earlier, that decision will be his and mine to make. But we are open to suggestions. And this will not be a prison ship. You are all free to go whenever and wherever you like, as long as it does not involve stripping the rest of us of the tools and resources that we will need to survive. At the same time, I strongly suggest that we all stick together.”
George Hammer was scowling and looked ready to argue. Scott forestalled any outburst by raising his hand in a calming gesture and continued, “Nevertheless, I have taken Mr. Hammer’s concerns and wishes into account and I am willing to drop him and his wife off in Cabo, if that is what they really want. I can make arrangements for anyone else who wants to join them too. But I would like to take just another moment to express my own concerns for the safety of anyone who chooses to leave us there. And offer an alternate plan.
“First, Southern Baja is basically a desert. When the water system fails, if it hasn’t already, it’s a slow death sentence for almost everyone there. Secondly, since guns are illegal in Mexico, the only people capable of fighting these zombies effectively will be the army, police and criminals. The local hospitals are not very advanced either. So, if the infection is there, it is probably spreading quickly. You would have no way to defend against the infected maniacs, or the disease itself. You would also be surrounded, if not by zombies then by tens of thousands of panicked tourists, plus all of the locals who no longer have any good reason to care about what happens to a bunch of gringos. Soon they will all be fighting for supplies that won’t last long without resupply from the mainland. Finally, without a boat or plane, the only way out of there is a thousand mile drive up the wasteland of Baja.
“However, I am sympathetic to Mr. Hammer’s concern for his family waiting for him there. As I said earlier, we cannot afford to take them or any other refugees aboard until we are certain that they are not infected. And that includes letting Mr. and Mrs. Hammer back after they come into contact with anyone ashore. So that leaves us with something of a dilemma, because I can’t just abandon them there in good conscience either.” Mr. Hammer was about to speak up when Scott raised his hand again, and this time it was accompanied by a sly smile on his face. That shocked Mr. Hammer long enough for Scott to get to his main point.
“Luckily, I think I’ve come up with a plan that might solve the problem and even help all of us in the long run. As Mr. Hammer knows, I keep a fishing yacht called the Expiscator in Cabo San Lucas Harbor. He’s even used it for a couple of fishing trips in the past.” George Hammer looked a bit perplexed as he nodded. “So, here’s my proposal, Mr. Hammer,” explained Scott, “I’ll fly you to Cabo and help you look for your family using the helicopter. If we find them, or you want to keep looking, I’ll drop you off on the beach and I’ll even give you a gun to defend yourself. OK, so far?”
“Yes, sir,” Hammer agreed with more than a little suspicion in his tone.
“Then, if you and your family can get to the Expiscator in the harbor, you can use it to get the Hell out of Cabo and rendezvous with the Sovereign Spirit. However, you and whoever comes with you will not be allowed to come aboard this ship until we are absolutely sure none of you are carrying the infection.
“Now that most of you have a better idea of what is going on in the rest of the world, I’d like to let you know what we will be doing to keep from suffering the same fate. First, as the Captain explained earlier, that decision will be his and mine to make. But we are open to suggestions. And this will not be a prison ship. You are all free to go whenever and wherever you like, as long as it does not involve stripping the rest of us of the tools and resources that we will need to survive. At the same time, I strongly suggest that we all stick together.”
George Hammer was scowling and looked ready to argue. Scott forestalled any outburst by raising his hand in a calming gesture and continued, “Nevertheless, I have taken Mr. Hammer’s concerns and wishes into account and I am willing to drop him and his wife off in Cabo, if that is what they really want. I can make arrangements for anyone else who wants to join them too. But I would like to take just another moment to express my own concerns for the safety of anyone who chooses to leave us there. And offer an alternate plan.
“First, Southern Baja is basically a desert. When the water system fails, if it hasn’t already, it’s a slow death sentence for almost everyone there. Secondly, since guns are illegal in Mexico, the only people capable of fighting these zombies effectively will be the army, police and criminals. The local hospitals are not very advanced either. So, if the infection is there, it is probably spreading quickly. You would have no way to defend against the infected maniacs, or the disease itself. You would also be surrounded, if not by zombies then by tens of thousands of panicked tourists, plus all of the locals who no longer have any good reason to care about what happens to a bunch of gringos. Soon they will all be fighting for supplies that won’t last long without resupply from the mainland. Finally, without a boat or plane, the only way out of there is a thousand mile drive up the wasteland of Baja.
“However, I am sympathetic to Mr. Hammer’s concern for his family waiting for him there. As I said earlier, we cannot afford to take them or any other refugees aboard until we are certain that they are not infected. And that includes letting Mr. and Mrs. Hammer back after they come into contact with anyone ashore. So that leaves us with something of a dilemma, because I can’t just abandon them there in good conscience either.” Mr. Hammer was about to speak up when Scott raised his hand again, and this time it was accompanied by a sly smile on his face. That shocked Mr. Hammer long enough for Scott to get to his main point.
“Luckily, I think I’ve come up with a plan that might solve the problem and even help all of us in the long run. As Mr. Hammer knows, I keep a fishing yacht called the Expiscator in Cabo San Lucas Harbor. He’s even used it for a couple of fishing trips in the past.” George Hammer looked a bit perplexed as he nodded. “So, here’s my proposal, Mr. Hammer,” explained Scott, “I’ll fly you to Cabo and help you look for your family using the helicopter. If we find them, or you want to keep looking, I’ll drop you off on the beach and I’ll even give you a gun to defend yourself. OK, so far?”
“Yes, sir,” Hammer agreed with more than a little suspicion in his tone.
“Then, if you and your family can get to the Expiscator in the harbor, you can use it to get the Hell out of Cabo and rendezvous with the Sovereign Spirit. However, you and whoever comes with you will not be allowed to come aboard this ship until we are absolutely sure none of you are carrying the infection.
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