Noah's Ark: Survivors (22 page)

“Flynn, you’re scaring me!”

She dug the heels of her shoes into the bed, pushing herself away from him, but in vain. He was far stronger than she, and he simply tugged her back towards him. He reached over her head and picked up a large white pillow. It was embroidered with the name S
pirit of Arcadia
, and the logo of Pelagios Line.

“Hush now, my love. It’s alright, I forgive you. And He forgives you, too. He loves all of His children. You will find peace in Heaven.”

“Flynn, no!”

But her words went unheard as the pillow covered her face. He held it down, a hand on each side. She writhed and kicked, and nearly broke free. But he sat astride her, pinning her down. It didn’t take long; her struggling quickly abated, and then she lay motionless.

Forty-One

T
HE
SILENCE
THAT
had engulfed the bridge since Lucya had left was broken by a knock at the door. Neither Martin nor Jake responded. Then a second knock came, more insistent.

“Who is it?” Jake asked wearily.

“Melvin.”

He got to his feet with great effort, still feeling somewhat groggy from having fainted earlier. The subsequent events had taken any energy that might have been left, right out of him. He shuffled to the door and pulled it open.

Melvin strode in, followed by another man that Jake didn’t recognise. An older man. He was carrying a gun.

More men filed in behind him. Including Melvin, Jake counted fourteen in total. There were no women. The man with the gun shut the door to the bridge and sprang the bolt, locking out anyone who might have a key.

“Sit down, Jake,” Melvin said.

He didn’t really understand what was going on, but he was in no mood to argue. He went back to his captain’s chair and sank into it.

“So, is this mutiny?” he asked.

“No, it’s more democratic than that.” As Melvin spoke, the man with the gun stepped up to his side. The others remained silently at the back of the room. “You made a promise. If there was no longer any chance that the owners of this ship had survived, there was to be an election.”

Martin looked on, saying nothing.

“From what you and your men have reported from your landing expedition,” Melvin continued, “we understand that time has come. There are no more survivors. The world, as we know it, is gone. You and your crew are no longer employees. We are no longer customers. We are all equal. We are all simply survivors. And it is therefore right that we choose who is to be in charge, a leader.”

“You’re right,” Jake said.

“The election is to be held today, immediately. You will put out a call instructing anyone on board who wishes to participate to go to the theatre, cinema, and casino. We have people in all three locations ready to hand out ballot papers.”

“No,” Jake said simply.

“I’m sorry?”

“I said no.”

“What happened to ‘you’re right’? Do we need to force your hand?” Melvin glanced at the men behind, and the man with the gun stood next to him.

“Nope. No force necessary. And no election, either. Well, unless you want to run against anyone else. But not me, you’re not running against me. I’m done. You’re right, I’m no longer an employee, I no longer represent the owners of this ship; there are no owners now. I have no more right to be in this chair than you, him, or anyone else.” He pointed at Martin, who continued to remain silent. “To be honest with you, Melvin, I didn’t want to be in charge. I never had any grand aspirations to climb the career ladder as far as captain. I certainly don’t want the responsibility for three thousand souls given what’s out there now. Our days are severely numbered, and you are more than welcome to see out those remaining few from this seat.”

He got up and walked towards the door, patting Martin on the shoulder as he passed by, but without looking at him.

“Wait!” Melvin stepped to the side, blocking Jake’s exit. “You can’t leave the bridge. I need a pilot, and you’re the best qualified.”

“Well it’s like you said, Melvin, there are no employees anymore. I don’t work for you, or anyone. You’re in charge now, so that can be your first decision, can’t it? Choose who you’re going to hire. I’m not applying for the job, by the way. Pedro’s good, and I think a couple of the junior seamen survived. I’m sure they’d be happy to interview for the position, or ministerial post, or whatever you decide to call it. Have fun.”

He walked around Melvin, unbolted the door, and left without looking back.

Forty-Two

“L
ADIES
AND
GENTLEMEN
, can I have your attention please? This is an important announcement that concerns everyone aboard this ship. My name is Melvin Sherwood. For the last two days, I have been representing the interests of passengers on the
Spirit of Arcadia
. Today is one of the most important days in the history of the human race. Today, we start over. A new community. A community of survivors.
 

“You will no doubt already have heard certain rumours regarding a landing party that was sent to the town of Longyearbyen today. Their mission was to discover the fate of the world. What they found was not good news. I will not lie to you, and this is difficult to hear and to accept, I know, but the town and everything in it have been destroyed. The landing party’s findings show beyond all shadow of a doubt that, as we feared, the world as we know it has ended. Anyone who survived the heat and storm of the asteroid itself must surely have perished in the highly toxic ash that it deposited. Maybe, somewhere, there are survivors who made it to some kind of shelter. But even they are unlikely to survive an encounter with the ash when they resurface. We are forced to conclude that the population on board this ship are the sole survivors of the human race.”

Melvin paused, partly for effect, and partly to gather his own thoughts, unaware that every corner of the ship had fallen silent as people listened to his crackling voice on the PA, hanging on his every word.

“Most of us joined this cruise as paying customers, passengers. We were looked after by crew members. Now, there is no distinction. We are all survivors. As many of you know, it was my intention to stand in an election against Acting Captain Jake Noah, as the person who would represent the people, and lead us in our quest for survival. Captain Noah has chosen not to stand. Indeed the captain has, I am sorry to say, abandoned his seat with immediate effect.

“Every community needs a leader, and we must choose one as quickly as possible. I am therefore calling for a debate about the immediate direction we should take, and for an election to choose a new captain. Anyone who believes they are the right person for that role may present themselves. Everyone over the age of sixteen years should have a vote. I extend an invitation to all aboard to join with me in the theatre this evening at nine, where those wishing to stand can make their case, and we — as a democratic community — can decide our destiny.

“Make no mistake, the times ahead will be difficult for us all. We will have to make some tough choices, unimaginable choices. History may not look kindly on the decisions we will make, but we must do what is necessary in order to survive.

“Thank you for listening.”

Forty-Three

J
AKE
LOOKED
AT
the speaker inset in the ceiling above his bed. It had just fallen silent.

“Hardly Churchill,” he said to himself.

He rolled over and tried to go to sleep.

Someone had other ideas though, and within minutes, a rapid knocking at his door arrested his slide into unconsciousness.

“Go away.” He didn’t want to see anyone.

“Jake, you’d better open up and tell me what on Earth is going on.”

Maybe, he decided, he could make an exception for Lucya. Besides, she was the most stubborn person he knew; there was no way she would leave him in peace. He forced his eyes open and went to let her in. She barged past him and stood at the end of the bed, hands on her hips.

“What are you doing in here? I mean, I am assuming you did hear what Melvin just said? Why aren’t you going upstairs to kick his ass? Come on! Jesus, Jake, if you’re worried about Tania, don’t be! She’ll have to look out for herself!”

“Lucya, calm down.”

“Calm down? Have you completely lost it? Kiera said you got a bump on the head. Did it knock all sense out of you? We need to go and stop him! Set the record straight!”

“The record is straight. There’s nothing to get worked up about.”

“He thinks he’s in charge!”

“He is in charge.”

A stunned silence. Lucya dropped to the bed, mouth open. She tried to speak, then realised she didn’t know what to say.

“Melvin’s right,” Jake said. “I have no more right to be in charge than him or anyone else. So I let him take over.”

“Oh, really? No more right, perhaps, but a lot more qualification! What does he know about running a ship? You think he understands everything it takes to keep this place going?”

“Of course not. But he doesn’t need to, there are plenty of people who do. Martin, Silvia, Claude, you.”

“Don’t count on me. I’m not spending a second helping him out.”

“It doesn’t matter, Dave probably will. And even if he doesn’t, we can’t go anywhere, anyway. You know we’re all dead, it’s only a question of time now.”

“So that’s it? You’re just giving up?
 

“What else can I do, Lucya? What else can any of us do?”

“We fight! We work together! We find a way! We have the census. You know who’s on this ship? I’ve seen the lists! There are builders, carpenters, teachers, chefs, farmers, fishermen, mothers, doctors. We have every skill we need to be able to start again. We could build a home, a town. A city!”

“Where? The land is poisoned. There’s nowhere left to go. If the land this far north is like that, there is no more hope.”

“But there must be!” Lucya was crying now. She stood, looking up into Jake’s eyes. “I don’t want to die, Jake. I don’t want you to die! I love you and I can’t let it end like this!”

The two of them looked at each other, motionless, neither sure what was about to happen next. They made up their minds at the exact same instant as they flung themselves together, the stress of the last few days fuelling their frenzied and passionate embrace. Two bodies sank onto the bed, and Jake knew he was no longer afraid of dying.

• • •

He awoke to the sound of Lucya getting dressed.

“No, don’t get up,” she said from the end of the bed. “I’m just going to my cabin to get some things. I’ll be back in five minutes. If you want me back, that is?”

He smiled. “Of course I want you back.”

She slipped out the door and was gone. Jake lay staring at the ceiling, trying to work out how he felt. He had loved Jane for as long as he could remember. They had met at university, got together in the first week. He was devastated when they had separated. But deep down, he knew it was over. He had always known, if he was honest with himself. They wanted different things and had been growing apart for years. He had tried to blame it on the fact he was away at sea for so much of the year, but that was merely an excuse; things were no better when they were together. If anything, they were worse. The cracks were all too obvious. And then there was Lucya. Of course he had known how she felt about him; everyone knew, she was hardly subtle. And he was deeply attracted to her. But their rank on board, and their professionalism, not to mention Jake’s residual feelings for his wife, meant that nothing could ever come of their feelings.

But now? Now the world had changed, in so many ways. Time was running out. They were surely going to end their days on the ship in the weeks to come. So here it was, his last shot at happiness. He had shed his responsibilities, and he knew Lucya would never set foot on the bridge as long as Melvin was in charge. No, they would see out their remaining time as passengers on a cruise ship. They would savour every moment as though it was their last, knowing it really could be.

With that thought in mind, and a smile on his face, he got out of bed and strode into the tiny shower room. A heavy hammering on the door brought him out again.

“Okay, coming. Don’t break the door down! I know you’re eager to get back into bed.” He clasped the handle and swung the door inwards.

It wasn’t Lucya. Instead, he came face to face with two men. One looked Chinese. Shorter than himself, older too, with thinning hair. He was dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts. The other man was about the same height as Jake, but was of a more substantial build. He was blond and blue eyed, with sharp features.

Both men were carrying guns. Jake recognised them as the semi-automatic weapons from the secure cabinet on the bridge.

“Get some clothes on; you’re coming with us,” the blond man said.

He spoke with a clipped accent. German, Jake thought, or maybe Austrian. His mind was set racing. What could they need him for? He’d relinquished control. Did they need someone to pilot the ship? Pedro could do that, or any one of a number of sailors aboard.

“Why?” he asked.
 

The two men looked at each other, then back to Jake.

“Melvin said you weren’t very intelligent. Let’s see, two of us, armed. One of you, naked. I think we give the orders, and that you follow them, yes?”

“Or what, you’ll shoot me? I assume from your being here that you need me, so shooting me isn’t going to help, is it?”

“Not you. But your girlfriend? Ja, I could maybe shoot her.” The blond man smiled, just a tiny bit. “I mean, after I’ve had some fun with her first.”

Jake felt the blood drain from his face.

“Ja, that got your attention, no? So now you’re thinking, maybe we’re bluffing?”

It was precisely what Jake was thinking, or at least hoping.

The blond man continued. “But I can tell you that she left this cabin four minutes ago. Her hair was messy, and she was not wearing shoes.”

“Where is she now?”

“She is enjoying the company of my colleagues. Being reunited with Tania Bloom. So, if you want to see her alive again, I strongly recommend that you follow my earlier instruction.” The smile disappeared. “Get dressed and come with us.”