the boat again just as we slam down another wave and the landmass looms larger, a murky sun behind its silhouette. The island seems fairly big, though with the way the boat is moving, it’s hard to say. In the distance I can see another glimpse of a much smaller island.
But it’s the reef that terrifies me. The way the waves are breaking, indicating how shallow it is. In fact, the body of water between the reef and the island, the lagoon, isn’t as rough as it is out here in the deep.
The deep.
I feel so scared I might pee my pants.
“We’re going to collide soon, another twenty metres,” Tai yells at us, going back toward the life raft, which is housed in a large cylinder. “If anyone is clipped in, you need to unclip now. We can’t afford to be dragged if that’s the case. We need to get in the raft, now.”
“Hold on!” Richard yells, and with a groan flips open the bench seats, revealing the storage underneath. He grabs a fishing pole.
Tai nods at him. Good idea.
Meanwhile I’m thinking our survival might depend on Richard’s fishing skills.
Then Tai lifts up the life raft cylinder, which must be at least four feet long and wide as a tree trunk, and raises it above his head with a huge feat of strength, tossing it in the water where it’s immediately swallowed by waves.
It pops back up, and Tai begins to tug on the line attached to it as it drags behind the boat
“Come on, come on!” he yells, yanking at the line, trying to get the cylinder to open and inflate.
“Tai!” Richard yells, and then his words disappear as the most horrific screeching noise, the sound of wood splintering and fiberglass being punctured fills the air and I am thrown to the floor.
I land on the bench just opposite of the one Richard opened, my hands trying to break my fall as the waves start washing over the boat as it starts to pivot to one side. The sound continues to fill my head until I think that’s all that’s left of the world.
Then I hear screaming.
Lacey!
I manage to get up and look to see her slipping off the side of the boat, one hand desperately reaching for the railing before she goes over.
Without even thinking I lunge forward, landing on my elbows and sliding forward on the teak deck, splinter city, as the waves rock me in her direction. I reach for her hand, grasping it.
Then she throws her other arm up and I grab the other hand.
Her legs are in the water when the waves hit and my grip is slipping.
So am I.
I’m tumbling, almost going over the railing and losing my contact with her but I manage to keep my ass low and place the soles of my feet at the railing bars for leverage.
I pull her up as much as I can, straining, using every inch of my underused abs and muscles for balance and strength.
Then, just when I think my legs are going to give out, Richard is behind me, pulling me back by the waist. It gives me enough momentum to pull Lacey back on board and into the cockpit.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, even though it’s obvious none of us are okay right now and that all looked rather painful.
She nods, giving me a meek, grateful look. Then she looks over at Richard in surprise.
One of the lenses in his glasses has cracked, blood pouring out of his mouth.
He smiles at her in relief.. He’s missing a front tooth.
“Get in, get in!” Tai yells from the back of the boat, distracting us from Richard’s face, and motioning down into the water. “Now!”
Oh my god.
No.
I can’t do this. I can’t leave this boat and get in a raft. I can’t!
But then I get a good look at the boat.
We’re no longer moving forward which is good, but we’re twisted enough to the side that the waves keep crashing over.
Then there’s the matter of the inside.
I stumble over to the stairs leading into the cabin. There’s at least two feet of water down below, sloshing to the level of the couches, cushions starting to float. The water seems to be coming from the fore cabin, the door twisted off.
Oh god, it’s sinking.
We’re sinking.
“Come on!” Tai yells. “Abandon the fucking ship!”
Lacey pulls at my arm and it’s enough for me to snap out of it.
I follow her and Richard down the cockpit to the