End of the Line (Book 2): Stuck in the Middle (5 page)

             
The whales sang again.

             
The salon was empty as I waked through it. One lantern was still on, so I got some illumination. I made my way to the suite. I didn’t flash my lights on the bed, instead went directly into the bathroom. I heard Mike snoring slightly. I know that Mike and Hannah did watches together to have some alone time. They could close the door to the other suite, you could still hear everything.

I only had to pee so I didn’t flush. We don’t waste water, so if it’s yellow let it mellow. 

              I tiptoed out of the room back into the salon and planned to go back to bed when the whale sang again.

             
Instead of going back, I went to the stove and put on the tea kettle. I waited five minutes to boil and put some in a mug with instant coffee and powdered cream. I would go to the bridge to see the whales, not that I could see much in the dense blackness, on the pretense of giving coffee to Dave.

             
I put on the coat Jim got me yesterday that was now hanging on a hook by the door and switched my slippers for my boots. The door of the deck was littered with boots but I found mine easier, the one for the giant feet. I didn’t put on my hat and would probably regret it. I opened the door to a biting wind and the stronger smell of sea air. I flashed my light outside. The sea was slightly rough but not that rocky.

             
Then I saw a silhouette of a man standing at the bow of the ship.

             
“Dave?” I said, flashing my light on him.

             
The man turned around.

             
It wasn’t Dave, but Keith. He was wearing a flimsy coat that I think belonged to Henry and no hat or scarf or anything. I thought he was locked in the storage room. I realized I didn’t lock the door after I left him food.

             
“Keith?” He didn’t respond. I walked to him, got up beside him. He didn’t move. “What are you doing?”

             
“Listening. Their song is beautiful and haunting.”

             
“It’s freezing out here, let’s listen inside.”

             
“I wanted to join them.” My heart began beating a little faster. Did I interrupt Keith planning to kill himself?

             
“Keith, were you going to jump?”

             
He didn’t respond. He stared at the black ocean but made no attempt to go overboard.

             
“What happened?” I said, touching his shoulder and he flinched.

             
He pulled away, not to jump but to move from me. He didn’t go far, enough that I could still hear him over the sea wind. It chilled me even through my coat.

             
“Please Keith, tell me.” I don’t know why I asked. I rather give Dave his coffee and go back to bed, but I worried that Keith might do something stupid.

“You won’t want to hear it, Annemarie.”

“Try me.”

“I have a terrible secret. I can kill you all
. I don’t want to. I just want the hunters to leave me alone.”

             
“What hunters? Keith, stop being cryptic.”

             
“They know about the people with the special blood. They want to kill the zombies and us.”

             
I paused for a moment and let what he said sink in. Originally I thought they were rambling delusions of frightened kid.

             
“You’re a carrier?” I could barely see Keith’s face in the light but he looked confused then startled.

             
“Keith—“

             
“I wish I hadn’t said anything—how did you know about carriers?”

             
“Rachel—the leader before Tanya was one.”

             
Keith didn’t respond right away. He looked around the deck like he was searching for someone. “I didn’t meet a Rachel. She’s not here now?”

             
I wasn’t sure how much information to tell him. That Rachel passed the virus on or that she committed suicide because of it. Keith might hear from the others, but maybe not. We avoided the subject.

             
“How’d she die?”

             
“Suicide,” I admitted. “She did it because she was depressed for a long time. She used to be our leader and a lot of us got killed fleeing from the zombies.” That sounded better than the truth.

             
“It was so strange,” he said not looking at me. “I got bitten by a zombie, thought about killing myself, but I couldn’t. I was surprised I didn’t turn—that nothing happened. I got a little sick, but that was it.  Please Annemarie, you can’t tell anyone—People who know my secret end up dead.”

             
I didn’t like hearing that, now that I knew his secret. I didn’t like being his confidant either. At least now I knew how Jim felt. I should have never asked but it was too late now.

             
“I don’t know if I can.”

             
“Please—Annemarie. I shouldn’t have told you, but now you know you can’t tell anyone.” I didn’t
like keeping secrets from Tanya. She would become pissed off if she found out but Keith looked at me like a wounded animal. What was I to do?

             
“Whatever you do, do not have sex with anyone.”

             
“I don’t even like using the same bathroom. I scrub the toilet down every time I use it. I don’t know why I got this curse.” He looked down into the water. The whales had stopped singing. Were they scared of our voices?

             
“Go back to bed. I have to bring coffee to Dave.”

             
“Thanks, Annemarie,” he said moving away from the bow.

             
“I’ll see you in the morning.”

             
“Maybe I shouldn’t stay. Maybe Mike can take me back to shore in the morning.”

             
“Stay for now. For the winter at least. We’ll talk again.”

             
He didn’t respond. I watched him go back into the salon. I wasn’t sure what to do. It was hard to keep a secret here. I did swear to Tanya I’d warn her about trouble, but also promised Keith, I wouldn’t snitch.

             
I headed to the bridge and climbed the slightly rusted metal stairs to the upper deck. The boat had been left out the elements for almost a year allowing rust to form in a lot of areas above deck including the stairs, parts of the mast, and the deck chairs.

             
The bridge was made entirely out of glass and while not bulletproof was pretty strong. It was lit up with several lanterns. Dave sat in the leather captain’s chair that was dead center in the room, and looked asleep. Now I know why he hadn’t seen Keith. His dog Olive was asleep on one of the leather seats. She was a sweet terrier and the only one who adored Dave. I don’t even know if Tanya liked him or just wanted sex.

I knew a lot of people fell asleep on watch, me included, so I wasn’t mad. Not much to do but watch the dark. I loudly
opened the door to wake Dave. Olive woke up too, ran to me and demanded affection. She licked my hand twice before going back to the chair.

             
“Hey,” I said.

             
“Hey,” he said, pretending that he wasn’t asleep. He yawned and stretched.

             
“I was up so I bought you coffee,” I said, handing him the cup. I worried it might be cold.

             
The whale began singing again.

             
“They must like our boat.”

             
“Maybe they miss us.”

             
Dave didn’t respond. I think he was disappointed that when I was bed hopping, I never went to his. He sipped the coffee. If it was cold, he didn’t complain.

             
“I’m going back to bed. Have a good night.”

             
“Can you stay for a bit? It gets dull overnight. What time is it anyway?”

             
“I don’t know, I’m kind of beat. I just got up to use the bathroom when I heard the whales.”

             
“How about a half hour until the coffee kicks in.”

             
“All right,” I said. I yawned to show that I was tired. I wasn’t lying though. I thought about Keith and about the other carriers and about the hunters who killed them. I wondered how the hunters knew about it.

              When I woke up, it was cold and I pulled the blanket around me tighter. Mike rationed the fuel so it should run out mid-March but he often lowered the heat overnight. On mild nights, we used less to use more on very cold nights. At least the sun shined through my port window. I looked at my wind up clock: 7:08 am just at the edge of dawn. Henry wasn’t next to me. I guess he got tired of lying in bed. I got up, put on my robe and went to see if anyone was in the bathroom.

             
There was a short line. Dena and Jim were ahead of me.

             
“Who’s in the bathroom?”

             
Brie sat on the bed reading a picture book and occasionally giggling. I loved hearing her laugh. Despite all she’s been through, losing her natural parents and three adopted ones, she seemed to have bounced back nicely. I only hoped nothing happens to Hannah. Simon was also on the bed playing silently with two toy dinosaurs.

             
“Grace,” Jim said and rolled his eyes.

             
“How long?”

             
“Five minutes.”

             
“Jim,” I said, annoyed, probably still pissed with her for yesterday. “We made a deal, toilet only unless it’s allotted shower time. We all have basins.”

             
Jim knocked on the door. “Grace, come on out.”

             
“One moment,” she said, her voice annoyed.

             
He knocked again. “Princess, get out here.”

             
I heard the toilet flush, so it wasn’t mellow. A minute later, the door opened and Grace came out. She looked flawless with a dash of makeup. She wore a Ralph Lauren jacket over a black shirt and jeans. On her feet were Jimmy Choo slippers. Dena went in before Grace said anything.

             
“I was in fact only using the bathroom, James. Sometimes even a Princess’ needs more than 5 minutes.”

             
“Try to save your shits for later.” Jim rarely got angry but usually when he was, Grace set him off.

             
Grace scowled and left the room.

             
“How’s Keith?” Jim asked me while we waited for Dena.

             
“I’m checking on him after I use the bathroom. I think he’s trustworthy. I don’t think he’ll be trouble.” Bring trouble maybe, if the hunters found us.

             
“I’m glad. We can use an extra hand in the spring. Maybe he’ll have time to rest and be okay by then.”

             
“I hope so.” I thought about our conversation last night. I hated keeping this secret.

             
“What’s the matter, Annemarie,” he said and smiled. “You look distracted.”

             
“It’s nothing. It’s cold and I’m not looking forward be cooped up on this boat for the next three months.”

             
“I’m going to try to think of entertainment. Charades? I spy something with my little eyes, it’s blue and goes on forever.”

             
I laughed and when I did, Brie cracked up.

             
“Besides we can still make trips on mild days.”

             
“I hope so.”

             
“Are you sure you’re okay?”

             
I shrugged. I wanted to tell him. Everyone trusted Jim but he wouldn’t keep the secret if the pressure was on. “Who’s okay in this world?”

             
“No one.”

             
Dena came out of the bathroom, no flush. It’s mellow. Jim went in.

             
“Damn it, Dena!” he yelled. Or maybe not.

              After I used the bathroom, I headed to the crew quarters to check on Keith but found him in the salon with Tanya. I guess he knocked. Then I realized I forgot again to lock him again last night. Tanya raised her eyes to me. I think I was in trouble, but she would let me have it when we’re alone.