Dead Tropics (34 page)

"Captain, do you honestly believe we would take a boat all the way out here on a whim?"

"As I don't know you at all, it's possible. However, it is far more likely that you are confused and mistaken."

"Confused!" I exploded, surging to my feet. "I saw with my own eyes people die of horrendous wounds and then get up and try to kill me. We all have. What part do you think we are confused about?"

From the corner of my eye, I was aware of Joe staring at me. I guess I didn't really sound like the amiable sister he had left behind.

"I don't know." The captain looked discomforted - and a little desperate. "Maybe this is just your idea of a practical joke."

"I don't think you really believe that." Kaye interjected quietly from beside Andy. "You just can't bring yourself to accept it. Do you have family in Cairns, captain?"

He nodded jerkily.

"I'm sorry." She murmured sympathetically. It was as if she had slapped him. The colour drained from his face.

"I'm returning to Cairns now." He spoke woodenly. "If you do not wish to come, you are welcome to return to your speedboat."

The captain turned to go. I stood up without conscious thought and pointed my pistol at his back.

7

"Lori!" Joe's aghast cry brought the captain about. His eyes widened as he saw the gun aimed at him.

"I'm sorry, captain." I said steadily. "We're not going anywhere. Going back to Cairns is a death sentence and the speedboat cannot carry all of us to safety. You leave me no choice."

The captain held my gaze for a long moment.

"You would not kill an innocent man." He said confidently.

"You're right." I agreed with a calmness I didn't feel. "But to save my family, I am perfectly willing to shoot an innocent man in the leg." I adjusted the aim of the gun slightly.

"And as I am a nurse, I can ensure the wound is treated properly so the risk of death will be low." I hoped I sounded a lot more confident than I actually felt. "If you - and anyone else- are determined to return to Cairns, in spite of all we have told you, then
you
can take the speedboat. But
this
boat is not going anywhere."

"For God's sake, Lori, put down the gun!" Joe hissed, appalled.

The captain nodded slowly, his eyes holding mine. "I see."

He glanced at the other men. "Any of you want to go back to Cairns?"

Two of the men in the fishing expedition stood up and joined him. One looked back at us and shrugged helplessly. "If what you are saying is true, I have to go back and try to find my family."

I nodded, keeping the gun raised. "Good luck to all of you."

Silently, we watched them climb into the speedboat and head into the horizon. I knew we would not see them again.

Long after they had disappeared from sight, I stood at the back of the boat, staring into our wake as Ken guided it in a long arc down to the town of Townsville.

Joe came and stood silently beside me. As the stillness between us lengthened, I forced myself to face him. "I'm sorry, Joe, but I couldn't let him take us back or force us onto the speedboat. You don't understand what happening back there! I had to protect my family first and foremost."

His face was somber. "I know you did, Lori. I'm just having trouble coming to grips with...everything."

"Do you believe me?" I asked in a small voice, dreading the answer. I couldn't bear the thought of losing my brother's regard.

He sighed, resting his elbows on the railing as he gazed out to sea. "You cut off your daughter's arm. Either you're crazy or you're telling the truth."

He looked at me, a wry look in his eyes. "Of course I believe you."

I closed my eyes. "Thank you."

Joe squeezed my shoulder. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that by yourself. I should have been there."

Not
completely by myself
, I thought with deepening sadness.
Could I have made it this far if I hadn't had Mike's steady hand at my back? It seemed like I had met him at exactly the moment I most needed him in my life.

Joe continued, "I had no idea... it was only on our way back that we began to even have a
clue
that something was wrong. No other boats, no radio contact, no satellite phone...nothing."

"I'm glad. If you had come back early, God knows what you would have sailed into." I shivered at the thought.

Joe wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "One of these days you are going to have to tell me the whole story. Some of the things Michele has told me...well, I'm sure she must be exaggerating your exploits somewhat."

I laughed. "Oh, is that right? You don't think I'm capable of handling myself, mister?" Giving him a shove, I glared at him with mock outrage. Joe stepped back with a grin, hands raised in surrender.

"Well, come on, we are talking about you, Lori. You are the most harmless person I know. Although after seeing you with that gun..." He stopped abruptly, the blood draining from his face. Slowly, I turned around. The horizon was aglow, a glorious crimson false sunset.

"My God," Joe murmured, eyes wide with disbelief. "They really did it."

All I could see, as I stared at the hauntingly beautiful and dreadful sky, was Mike's face. My heart ached with the knowledge that he was gone. Really and truly gone. Mike with his dry wit and laconic smile would never make me laugh again or give me comfort just by his presence. It seemed unreal.

I'll never forget you,
I promised him silently.

One by one, the others joined us to stare at the glowing horizon.

"Do you think it will work?" Michele asked quietly. "You know, get rid of all the zombies?"

I blinked and dragged my eyes away from the picturesque sky. It still seemed impossible that our government would choose to explode a nuclear bomb in their own country.

"God, I hope so, Michele. If they destroyed our town with all those innocent people, for nothing...it doesn't bear thinking about."

I thought of Travis and his group, of the school hall full of kids - now probably nothing but ashes.

"What if it doesn't work?" She asked in a small voice. Kaye and I exchanged a glance. It was a thought that had occurred to both of us.

"Then we find somewhere safe and hole up." I answered steadily. "We've survived this long by ourselves. We can continue to do so."

A gloomy silence fell over all of us. I sighed and shook myself. "Is anyone looking after the babies or are they running riot downstairs?"

"I'll go check." Michele said and headed below decks with Lucas close behind. Smiling, I tried to remember the last time I'd seen them apart.

I looked at Kaye as she hovered nearby, looking like she had something to say. Years seemed to have fallen off her since she'd been reunited with Andy.

"It still feels unbelievable, us all being here together again. It would never have happened if it hadn't been for you, Lori."

I blinked. "It wasn't just me." I muttered, pain flitting across my face at the memory of those we'd lost.

"I know. But you were the driving force behind us. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." Impulsively, Kaye hugged me. "I don't think I would have had the strength to face what we went through if you hadn't been there. I wouldn't have survived and neither would my kids. But now we're all together - and safe. I just wanted to say thank you, Lori, for everything."

I nodded mutely. With a smile, she headed downstairs as Michele returned.

"Jessie is keeping them entertained but you better not take too long. They're getting pretty excited in there!"

Joe flung an arm around Michele and me and pulled us in close. "I'm so glad you guys are okay." He whispered fiercely.

"Aw, Uncle Joe." Michele wriggled happily. "Puh-lease."

My eyes blurred. Michele had already lost a father she worshipped - I was so grateful that Joe was here to fill that void.

****

Below decks, Jessie and the dog were keeping my babies happily amused, bouncing together on the double bed. I winced but let it go - there would be time for rules tomorrow. Kaye was right. I had a lot to be grateful for. I had my family - and they were
safe
. For the first time in days, my family was safe. I felt that awareness seep through my body, allowing the tension I didn't even know I was holding, slip away.

Laughing, I threw myself on the bed in the midst of the kids. I grabbed Jessie and tickled her until she squealed in delight. Alex and Sarah demanded to join in while Phoebe the dog hopped around the bed and barked hysterically. It was bedlam - and it was wonderful.

Was the danger posed by the virus truly gone? None of us could truly know what tomorrow would bring, but if the last few days had taught me anything, it was to live for today. And today I had my family. And that was enough.

THE END

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