Sea Sick: A Horror Novel(29)
“That may be,” the captain surprisingly agreed. “But it is their ship and I am their employee. You, sir, are the only danger here. I’m afraid I must insist that you disembark at Cannes. Until then you will accompany me down to the holding cells. I cannot have you running around my ship spreading your paranoid delusions. You too, young lady.” He nodded to Tally.“Your service aboard this vessel has been grossly neglected”
Jack and Tally both sighed in unison, but neither of them resisted. They could try, all over again, tomorrow.
Day 200
Jack met Tally by the elevators on C Deck. They discussed what to do and both decided that this time they would forget the subtle approach. It seemed the armed guard in the cargo area had free reign to be there and probably even license to kill if he deemed it necessary, so they would only be wasting time trying the gentle approach.
“So we have a plan then,” Tally stated.
Jack nodded. “It should work. Not like we have anything to fear, is it? If we get shot then we’ll try something else tomorrow – or today, or…whatever, you know what I mean.”
They took the elevator back down to the Orlap Deck. When they stepped out onto the walkway, Jack stayed back while Tally headed off towards the cargo area. She made a big show of being there, clomping her feet down on the metal walkway and whistling loudly. Jack crouched down and hugged the walls of the hull, dipping behind various machinery and boxes that littered the metal flooring.
When Tally reached the shipment pallets in the cargo area, she made a B-line for the blue, plastic crates. Immediately she started tugging at one, trying to get it free from the pallet. It was only seconds before the cowboy appeared behind her.
Jack put his half of the plan into action and crept up behind the gunman while Tally distracted him by crying and begging for him not to shoot. As the man tried to reassure Tally that he didn’t intend to shoot her unless she refused to leave, Jack ran up behind him and struck him in the back of the head with his fist. Years of combat training meant that the attack was a guaranteed knockout blow. The man hit the floor face-first and his gun skittered across the metal walkway. The plan had gone flawlessly. Now it was time to get some answers.
***
The first question Jack asked the cowboy once he’d regained consciousness was what his name was. When the man did not answer, Jack pointed the gun and asked the question again. “Don’t make me lose my temper,” he growled. “What’s your name?”
“Caleb Donovan.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “You shitting me? What kind of fruity name is that?” Jack was doing his best bad cop impression, hoping that he could use intimidation whilst Tally used a softer tactic more befitting to her age and beauty.
“My name is Caleb Donovan, and that is all you are getting from me.”
Jack slapped the man with the back of his hand, feeling no remorse. Any bruises he caused would only be temporary. He knelt down and looked the man in the eyes. “Look, Caleb. My friend here can happily go and turn your cargo upside down right now, or you can just tell us what’s inside. It seems a lot less messy if you go with the latter option.”
“Why do you care anyway? Are you here to steal it?”
“Steal what?” Jack asked. “What the hell have you got here? Did you make everybody sick?”
“Sick? What are you talking about?”
Jack slapped the man again, but it seemed to have little effect. It seemed like Donovan’s square jaw was more than capable of absorbing a blow or two. If anything, Jack’s throbbing hand may have been worse off.
“Do not play ignorant,” Tally told the man. “Someone has infected the passengers with a virus, and surprise surprise, you happen to work for a company that specialises in medical research. Not to mention you’re holed up down here on your own, with a gun.”
“It’s my job. I’m paid to be down here with a gun. Ask the captain of the ship.”
“We did,” said Jack. “Doesn’t mean I trust what you’re carrying down here. Why do you need to protect it at all?”
“Why do you think? Pirates, terrorists, opportunistic passengers. The world is a dangerous place, pardner. It needs people like me to keep belongings with their rightful owners. Take this situation for example. Seems I was right to bring a gun onboard.”
“Pity you couldn’t keep a hold of it,” said Jack, waving the revolver in front of him. “But we’re no thieves. I just want to know what the hell is happening onboard this ship.”
The man scrunched his face up in confusion. “Why do you keep saying that? What’s wrong with the ship? It’s cruising along exactly as it’s supposed to be.”
Jack looked down at Donovan and tried to figure out if the man was lying. There were no obvious tell-tale signs that suggested he was being deceitful – no twitches or furtive glances – but, with an adequate amount of training, anyone could bend the truth effectively.
“What’s in the boxes?” Jack demanded.
Donovan sighed. “Look for yourself. I’d rather that then betray my employers.”
Jack nodded. “Fair enough. Tally, go check it out.”
Tally nodded and headed over to the pallet of blue, plastic crates. She clawed at the cellophane wrapping and gradually managed to wrench one of the boxes free. It fell to the floor as the weight came loose, too heavy for Tally to handle it.