Anchored, page 16
“Where’d you get all this food?” I asked.
“Right after you left, Dylan and I decided to check out some of the larger ships. The decking of the ships were twenty stories tall. Guess it kept other looters away. We had to climb, but it was worth it. We found all this stuff and more. Angelina made hammocks out of the left-over fish net when we ran out of storage space. There are hammocks in the berths and head too.”
I ran my hand over the carton of orange juice. “I haven’t had orange juice…This is wonderful. I can’t wait to check out everything you did while we were gone.”
The door to Dylan’s cabin opened and Zoë leaned against the doorway.
“Zoë, I heard your baby is moving.” I grinned. “That’s so cool.”
She gritted her teeth. “What took you so long? We’ve been stuck in this smelly, toxic bay for days. If anything is wrong with this baby, I’ll never forgive you.”
“What?” My jaw dropped. “Well, excuse me. While we were gone, Takumi was shot in a riot. Nick and I were arrested, released from jail, but not allowed to leave the base. What did you think we were doing?”
“All I know is that every breath I take could be… killing my… my baby. And you don’t even care.” She burst into tears and slammed the door behind her.
I sat on the couch, stunned. Rebecca came over and took my hand.
Jervis plopped down at the desk. “She’s been emotional ever since you left. It seems everything makes her cry. Dylan’s beyond stressed out.”
“Great! Perfect timing.” I patted the couch for Rebecca to sit with me. “So, tell me about what the windmills do.”
Jervis gestured as he spoke. “Dylan and I were scavenging and noticed that a lot of the smaller pleasure boats had solar panels and wind turbines on them. Most of the boats were in ruins, but on one we found all the paperwork on how to install both, and then we found…” Jervis pulled off the cushion at the end of the couch and lifted a wooden hatch cover. “Look!”
There was a small machine of some kind down in the hatch. Tubes and wires came and went from it.
“Okay, I give up. What is it?”
“A watermaker. We saw lots of giant ones on boats, but this is the smallest we found. It was on a commercial life raft. We worked for a day and a half connecting it to a battery that was connected to a wind turbine, but when we were done, it actually worked. This little machine makes six gallons of fresh water a day. We draw sea water to it, and it pumps fresh water into our water tanks.”
“Wow!” I threw my arms around his neck. “This is so awesome!”
“Dylan was a big help.” Jervis went on to point out the various parts of the machine and explained what each did.
I pretended to be interested in the details, but I wasn’t. However, I was truly excited to have the watermaker on board. Finding fresh water had been our biggest problem, and now it was solved. Then I remembered Major Conrad. I hoped we’d be able to keep the boat long enough to appreciate the new power sources and the watermaker. I must have made a face.
“Is there something wrong?” Jervis stepped back.
I glanced at Rebecca. She was very mature for an eight-year-old.
“Rebecca, will you go up top and check on the girls?” Jervis asked.
I gave Rebecca’s hand a squeeze. She sighed and left.
Jervis covered the watermaker back up. “Okay, what’s going on?”
I gave the short version of what had happened at the base, ending with what we’d just learned. That Kevin and Sassy were here to check out our boat.
“The military might want Whistler?” Jervis looked doubtful. “They have all kinds of huge ships. Why would the Navy want a little sailboat?”
“There are big ships stuck out at sea. They were damaged during the tsunami, ran out of fuel, or lost their engines. That’s why the Navy is looking at sailboats. Sailboats don’t need fuel and can travel great distances. They need sailboats to rescue the stranded sailors. I don’t know the plan exactly, but I’m afraid we don’t have much time. And Jervis, Mexican sailors have been shooting Americans trying to cross the border. Who knows what will happen if we sail into Mexican water.”
“What? When did this happen?”
“At the border crossing.” I thought for a moment. “You and your sisters should go with Kevin and Sassy. They could take you to the camp that’s being set up. You’ll be safer there.”
“I’m not going to let you guys risk your lives without me.”
“It isn’t just you anymore, Jervis. You have to think of your sisters. If you come with us, you would be risking their lives.”
Jervis paced the cabin, back and forth. He rubbed his hand over his long thick hair. Finally, he stopped. “But, what about, Angelina and Makala?” He stared up at the cockpit opening.
“I know!” I patted his shoulder. “But think about it. What would your mother want you to do?”
Before he could respond, we heard Dylan’s voice raised in anger. The little girls scurried one by one, down the steps. Makala was the last.
“Dylan’s grouchy. Can we eat now?” Makala asked.
I left Jervis down below to think about what we said as he fed the girls. I found Dylan leaning over the stern rail and yelling down at Sassy and Kevin. I was surprised they were still in the dinghy. Takumi and Nick were trying to get Dylan to stop.
“What’s going on?” I yelled. “Dylan, back off.”
“No way.” Dylan shoved Nick aside. “You can’t tell me they want to steal my boat, and then expect me to invite them onboard.”
“Sassy and Kevin don’t want to steal our boat,” I said softly.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell him!” Kevin shouted.
“That’s not what Takumi and Nick said.” Dylan stood with his back to the dinghy.
Nick threw up his hands and made his way to the bow.
“What did you tell him?” I asked Takumi.
“I told him that we think Major Conrad wanted our boat checked out. Kevin and Sassy offered to wait until they got back to give their report. If we take off soon, we can be out of the bay and in Mexican waters before the military knows anything.”
I pulled Dylan toward Nick and the bow.
Angelina took my place in the stern. “I invited both of you to have dinner with us. If you were a danger to us, I know Toni, Nick, and Takumi would not have brought you here. Please come aboard and let us discuss this over dinner.”
“Thanks, but we can’t stay for dinner. We have to get back,” Sassy said.
Kevin added, “We didn’t come to here to make problems.”
“No, you just came to steal our boat,” Dylan shouted.
“Dylan, stop it. They’re our friends. We need their help.” I squeezed his arm.
He was so angry, as he spoke, spit flew in my face.
“How can you even think of turning Dad’s boat over to the Marines?”
“I don’t plan on turning our boat over to anyone, but they have their order. We need to leave this harbor as soon as possible. Our next task is to get Angelina and Makala to their grandparents.”
“Fine!” Dylan stormed back to the stern. “Hand me all your weapons. You have five minutes onboard our boat, then you’re gone.”
“Hand, you, our weapons?” Sassy’s eyebrows cinched.
Kevin held his hand over his pistol. “We don’t give up our weapons.”
Takumi stepped in front of Dylan. “Okay, okay. How about this. Sassy, give your gun to Kevin. Then come aboard alone, and check things out. Kevin, stay on the dinghy with all your weapons. Does that work?” He stared at Kevin and then at Dylan.
Dylan scowled. “I guess. But Kevin, if you try anything…”
“Knock it off.” Takumi yelled at Dylan. “Are we good?” he asked Kevin and Sassy.
Sassy tossed her gun to Kevin.
“I’ll show you around.” Angelina reached out to help Sassy on board. The girls walked around the upper deck, examining the sails, the anchor, and then they went below.
Five minutes later, Sassy and Angelina appeared back on deck. I was still arguing with Jervis about leaving.
“What’s going on here?” Angelina asked.
“Mexican sailors are shooting Americans who try to sneak across the border,” I said. “I told Jervis that thought that he and his sisters should go to the camp with Kevin and Sassy. There’s no reason to risk any more people than we have to.”
“You should go with the Marines, Jervis. I don’t think this will be as dangerous as Toni says, but there is no reason to take an unnecessary risk. Your sisters need you to protect them,” Angelina said.
“And you and Makala don’t?” Jervis’s face contorted with pain.
Angelina moved to him and put her hand on his arm. “My sister and I will always love you, Jervis. You are family. But in a couple of days, we’ll be leaving the boat anyway. We have Mexican passports and will be welcome in Mexico. But there is no reason to take a chance with your sisters.”
“You want me to just leave. Go off and… never see you again.”
Sassy passed by on her way to the swim step. “Jervis. Nick told us that your dad was in the Army. We might be able to help you locate him. If you come with us, I promise I’ll try.” She gave me a quick hug and jumped into the dinghy.
Jervis looked over at me, desperate for an acceptable solution. “I can’t let you all go into danger…”
Angelina smiled. “My grandfather is a powerful man. I know Toni is worried about sailing into Mexico, but when I explain to the Mexican sailors that I am the granddaughter of Fernando Torres de Loreto, we will be given a warm welcome. I would never ask you to risk Whistler or your lives if I didn’t believe this to be true.”
I took Jervis’s hand. “We all knew this time would come. If Sassy and Kevin can help you take care of your sisters and find your dad, you have to go.”
“What about Nick?” Jervis said loud enough for Nick to hear.
Nick stared at Angelina. “I plan to go ashore at Loreto. As soon as I know that Angelina and Makala are safe, I’ll hike to the border and find my family. If I’m not allowed ashore, I’ll take one of the kayaks and paddle to the border. But either way, I’ll be getting off soon, too.”
Kevin put the oars into the oar locks. “Okay, everyone. I hate to rush you, but we need to get going. I don’t want to hike in the dark. Are you coming or not?” He stared at Jervis.
Jervis bit his lip. “Let me get our stuff.” He went below deck and came back with three packs, a pillow case full of supplies, the dome tent, and sleeping bag.
“Girls, come here.” He strapped the sleeping bags to the bottom of their packs. In his free arm, he carried the tent. “Are you okay if we borrow this camping gear? I grabbed a couple of flashlights, too.”
“Anything you need.” My voice choked.
“Take some food, too.” Angelina hurried below to gather up another pillowcase full of supplies.
Takumi was the first to say goodbye. He handed Jervis one of the radios. “Remember to call us on channel eighteen. We’ll monitor it at ten and four every day.” The guys embraced.
Dylan started to shake his hand, but Jervis pulled him into a hug. “Thanks for taking me with you on Whistler,” Jervis said. “Your family and this boat saved my life.”
“We’ll miss you.” Dylan took a step back.
I threw my arms around Jervis. “We never would have made it without you.” I kissed his cheek. “We’ll see each other again. I promise.”
Jervis’s eyes welled. “I’m holding you to that promise.”
And then it was Angelina’s turn. “Makala and I owe you so much. You made Dylan bring us on the boat that first day, remember? Find your father, Jervis. Take care of your sisters. Be happy.”
“’ervis!” Makala stood sobbing.
Jervis knelt and took her into his arms. “Love you, munchkin.” Makala buried her head into his shoulder and clung tight. Angelina pried her sister’s thin arms from around his neck. As soon as Makala’s arms were free, she grabbed onto his leg. Finally, Angelina carried her below deck kicking and screaming.
Jervis wiped his eyes. “Come on, girls … into the dinghy.”
Kevin and Sassy helped Jervis’s sisters get settled, and stashed the gear.
“Glad we got to know you, Takumi and Toni.” Sassy’s eyes narrowed. “Dylan. You, not so much.”
I smiled through my tears. Takumi wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I knew how Makala felt. It hurt so much to see him go. Takumi and I were both struggling not to cry.
As soon as Jervis and Nick were in the dinghy, Nick picked up the oars, and started rowing the boat ashore.
“We’ll shove off as soon as you get back,” Dylan told Nick.
I heard a sniff, and swiveled to face the cockpit. Zoë stood on the top step. Tears streaked her cheeks.
She hadn’t been given a chance to say goodbye.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
How had we forgotten to wake up Zoë? I headed to the rail to call the dinghy back, but it was almost to the shore. I was too late.
Dylan moved to Zoë’s side. “Babe, I’m sorry. Jervis told me to say goodbye. You were resting, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Zoë angrily wiped her eyes. “It wasn’t worth waking me to save our baby?”
Dylan glanced at me, confusion clearly written on his face. “They were in a hurry to leave, and…”
“Whistler is sailing to a place that is too dangerous for Jervis to take his sisters, but not too dangerous for our baby?” Her voice had grown shrill.
“No, that’s not… I mean, I didn’t think…” Dylan shook his head.
I tried to help. “Angelina’s grandfather is an important man in Mexico. He’ll be looking for us. Jervis mostly left because the Marines offered to help him find his father.”
Zoë put her hands on her hips. “I heard everything. They’re shooting Americans in Mexico. Dylan, take me ashore. Now!”
Panic washed over Dylan. “What? I can’t leave the boat.”
Zoë burst into a sob.
“Babe, think about it. I can’t let my sister sail Whistler all alone.”
“She won’t be alone,” Takumi said softly.
I chose my words carefully. “Takumi and I can handle the boat, but if you stay on shore here, we’ll have to come back to pick you up. If Major Conrad wants Whistler, when we return for you, we’ll be practically handing it over to him.”
Dylan turned to Zoë and pleaded. “Did you hear what Toni just said? She will be risking Whistler if she has to pick us up. We need to stay on the boat.”
Zoë closed her eyes, and breathed deep through her nose. When her eyes opened, they were narrow and clear. She looked at Angelina, and then me. “I know what you all think of me and I don’t care. Yes, I do speak my mind. But this is about my baby.” She grabbed Dylan’s arm. “Our baby.”
Dylan’s voice became a whisper. “Don’t make me choose between you and my sister.”
Zoë let go of Dylan and stepped back. “Your sister isn’t the whiney little girl she used to be. She can take care of herself. Our baby can’t. Do you think I want to go to a crowded, dirty camp? But a camp surrounded by the U.S. Navy sounds a whole lot safer than being on a sailboat in a hostile country.”
Angelina held her hands up. “Stop. It’s okay. All of you, just stay on Whistler. Makala and I will get off. Then, you won’t have to sail into Mexico. Makala and I can hike to the border. I’ll ask the Mexican sailors to contact my grandfather. If we don’t reach him, we can always walk to Loreto.”
“Loreto is hundreds of miles away. Is there any way you can contact your grandfather now? Maybe he could meet us someplace closer?” I asked.
Angelina’s brows furrowed. “I’ve tried, but I haven’t been able to reach him. Cell phones don’t work, and we’re too far away for the radio. I’d planned to try every frequency on the radio as soon as we sailed into the Sea of Cortez. But don’t worry about us. We’ll figure it out.”
I thought for a moment. “You are not walking to the border. It’s too dangerous. There are crazy people out there.”
Angelina gestured at the dinghy Nick was securing on the beach. “Nick knows the way. I’m sure he’d come with us, if I asked.”
On the distant shore, Jervis was lifting Naomi out of the dinghy. “Without a passport, Nick would be a target. Even with one, he might be. He isn’t Mexican, and sailors are shooting and asking questions later. And you know he’d insist on staying with you,” I told Angelina. “No. you’ll be safer out at sea. We’ll make sure we don’t step on land or drop our anchor until your grandfather is there to vouch for us. We’ll be okay. And you can keep trying to radio your grandfather. Maybe he’ll hear you and arrange to meet us before we go too far.”
“But, you’re risking the military taking your boat when you come back?” Angelina glanced at Zoë.
I shrugged. “Look. If Major Conrad and the U.S. Navy want our boat, there’s no way we’re going to keep it. And I’d rather lose the boat than you.”
Dylan rubbed his face and tried one last time. “Zoë. Please. We’ll be just fine on Whistler. I promise.”
Zoë squared her shoulders and faced Dylan. “You can’t make that promise. You don’t know. You’re going to be a father soon. You cannot put your child in danger.”
I put my hand on his arm. “It’s okay, Dylan. Go. I promise we won’t take any unnecessary risks. We’ll stay as far off shore as we can.” I checked the dinghy. Kevin was pulling it up on the beach. “If you’re going to leave, you need to go now before the Marines and Jervis take off for the camp.”
Zoë spun around and raced below deck.
I turned to Dylan. “Go! Grab some camping gear. The settlement isn’t set up yet.”
I stepped closer to the rail. Nick had already dropped Kevin, Sassy, Jervis, and Jervis’s sisters off and was rowing back to Whistler. A lump formed in my throat at the sight of Jervis and his sisters standing alone on the beach.
“Nick,” I managed to yell. “Dylan and Zoë are going ashore too. Tell Kevin and Sassy to wait.”
