Deluge: The Conqueror Worms II

CHAPTER 84

They sailed on, and over the next few days, the mood of everyone aboard the ship became even tenser and more paranoid. On the first night, only a few hours after Simon and Novak lured the crew of Locke’s ark into a trap, Henry snuck onto the bridge and tried to radio the vessel while Novak and Simon were asleep. Mylon stopped him before he could warn the survivors. In the ensuing scuffle, the radio was smashed beyond repair, as were the older man’s two front teeth. After that, Henry and Gail began spending most of their waking hours apart from the others. Novak insisted they not stand guard together, suspecting that the two of them might try to attempt further mischief if given the chance. Gail was assigned a shift with Novak. Henry stood watch with Caterina. When Sarah tried to talk to the teen and explain her reasoning, Henry rebuffed her. He grew sullen, and began spending most of his time sleeping in his rack, when not on watch.

The rest of the crew pulled away from each other, as well. Sarah noticed that the decision had effected Gail and Novak’s friendship in much the same manner as it had impacted her and Henry’s. They seemed to avoid each other whenever possible. Caterina and Mylon stood their watches without talking to each other, or anyone else. What few meals the group ate together were uncomfortable and silent. Even small talk seemed forced and futile.

Simon kept entirely to himself, explaining that he needed to fast and meditate before arriving at their destination. He sequestered himself in the ship’s aft section, demanding absolute privacy. He took no meals, and as far as Sarah could tell, didn’t even emerge for water or a bathroom break.

And all along, the rain continued to fall.

Standing watch the third day, Sarah noticed how most of the debris had disappeared from the water’s surface. She’d grown used to seeing cars, trees, corpses, and even entire buildings floating in the grayish-black surf. It had been especially bad in Baltimore. Now, all of that was gone, melted away by the white fuzz. She wondered if it was growing on the ship’s hull, and if so, how long they had before the boat dissolved, as well.

Before the radio had been destroyed during Mylon and Henry’s altercation, they had received a faint signal from Drammen, Norway. The broadcaster’s English had been good enough for them to understand that he was reporting a series of earthquakes. He had insisted the mountains in his region were melting. The crew hadn’t discussed it much, other than the fact that if an earthquake triggered a tsunami in their region, there was no way Novak’s boat would survive it.

Sarah thought about that radio call now as she stared out at the sea. They were sailing right over the Appalachian mountains. There should have been peaks sticking out of the water—lonely, scarred mountaintops, perhaps hosting survivors as Bald Knob had hosted her, Kevin, and Henry. Instead, there was nothing.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing his throat behind her. Sarah turned to find Novak. Rain dripped from the hood of his jacket.

“We’re here.”

“We are?”

He nodded. “At the coordinates Simon gave me. Although I’ve gotta be honest. It doesn’t look much like Pennsylvania to me.”

It took her a moment to realize that he was making a joke. When she did, Sarah smiled.

“I’m going to let Simon know. I’ve sent Mylon to wake the others. You okay on watch by yourself for a minute?”

Sarah was about to respond when a hatch squeaked open and banged against the bulkhead. A rain-coated figure stepped through the door.

“I already know,” Simon said, throwing back his hood. “I sensed our impending arrival a little while ago. You can be sure that others have, as well.”

“What kind of others?” Novak asked.

Before Simon could answer, all three of them heard voices carrying across the waves.

Female voices.

Singing.