Lex was so consumed with his prayer he didn’t notice Cleo standing behind him, listening. Not wishing to interrupt his conversation with God, she waited to speak until he’d finished praying. “Found God did ya? Does that mean you’re bloody born again or something?”
“I don’t really know what it means,” answered Lex. “I’m pretty new at all of this.”
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop love, but I couldn’t help but overhear what you said,” Cleo softly whispered, as she sat down next to Lex, her legs dangling over the side of the boat. “I know you’re worried about your mum, but I have an idea.”
“Yeah, what is it?” asked Lex, his heart surging with hope.
“Before we left Clearview, Mason gave me a satellite phone to be used in case of an emergency,” said Cleo. “I was thinking we could call home and talk to Dr. July. Perhaps if we described the symptoms, he could diagnose the illness and tell us what kind of medicine she needs?”
“That’s a great idea,” cheered Lex. “I love you Cleopatra!” The words escaped from his lips before he realized what he was saying.
Mesmerized by his sparkling blue eyes, Cleo blushed and smiled, not sure what to say. Although she liked the thought of Lex loving her, she wasn’t sure if he’d said the words intentionally or if they had just slipped out in all of the excitement. “The phone is below deck,” she said, deciding not to make a big deal out of it. “I’ll go and get it.”
“Thanks,” said Lex, as Cleo stood up and left to retrieve the satellite phone.
“No worries love,” she said with a smile and cast a wink at Lex.
Lex waited for Cleo to disappear below deck before saying, “Lord, I’ve heard that You work in mysterious ways, but that was remarkably fast. Thank you! Thank you so much God! I’ll never, ever, forget this!”
While Lex waited for Cleo to return with the satellite phone, he stared up into the peaceful sky and listened to the waves splashing against the hull of the ship. The worry and fear that he’d felt for his mother began to fade away into the night, replaced with tranquility. From the moment he gave his soul to the Lord, Lex noticed a sense of peace wash over him. It was as though a huge and heavy weight had been lifted up from off his shoulders. He felt calm and relaxed, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Got it,” said Cleo, emerging from the cabin below, a bright orange satellite phone gripped in her hand. “Now remember, we’ve got to keep this conversation as short as possible. Once the phone is turned on, the signal will give away our position to anyone who is looking. So get what you need from the doc as quick as you can and then power it off, okay.”
“Alright, no problem,” said Lex, accepting the phone. “Thanks a lot baby. You’ve no idea how much this means to me.” Lex bent down, swooped Cleo into his arms and kissed her soft, moist lips.
“No worries love,” she giggled, with her arms wrapped around his neck.
“So how does it work?” Lex asked, looking down at the piece of high-tech equipment in his hand.
“Here, allow me,” offered Cleo, taking the phone from Lex and pressing the power button.
*******
Snow fell softly on the sleepy town of Clearview, covering the streets and buildings with a thin layer of white powder. At this late hour only a few houses showed signs of life, their windows illuminated by the warm light within. Mason and Ian were inside the jailhouse guarding the prisoners and playing a game of chess, when Mason’s bag made a noise from the corner of the room. Ian was about to make his move, when the sound of beeping broke the silence and interrupted his concentration.
“What’s that?” He asked, moving one of his pawns forward.
Sitting across from Ian and staring at the embers glowing in the fireplace, Mason was thinking of the flash drive that he and Cleo had stolen from the United Nations. “It’s a satellite phone,” he said, the beeping drawing him back from his thoughts. Mason jumped up from his seat and quickly crossed the room to his beeping bag, which was sitting on a chair beside the door.
Lying on cots in their cells, both of the Russian prisoners lifted their heads at the sound of the satellite phone chirping in Mason’s bag. They exchanged looks but said nothing. From the corner of his eye, Ian caught their flicker of movement and turned to find both prisoners closely watching Mason, as he rummaged through his bag in search of the beeping phone.
“Don’t worry,” said Ian, with a smirk, “it’s not for either of you.”
Realizing that they were being watched, the prisoners looked away, feigning a lack of interest. Yuri, however, rolled onto his side where he could still watch and listen.
Withdrawing the phone from his bag, Mason pressed a button and held the device to his ear. “Hello?”
“Condor, is that you mate?” Cleo asked, her voice broken and full of static.
Ian could just barely hear Cleo’s voice from where he was sitting next to Mason. “Who’s Condor?” he asked, after hearing the name.
Yuri’s head snapped to attention at the sound of Mason’s codename. If he was only half listening before, the conversation now had his complete and undivided attention. He turned his head to the side, where he could hear more clearly. Condor was the name of the man he’d been sent to kill, but who was he? Without any verifiable pictures of the secret agent, his identity was completely unknown. Was it the brutish, dark man standing before him, or perhaps the person on the other end of the line? Yuri had no way of knowing for sure, but before doing anything he must first locate the stolen flash drive.
Neither Mason nor Ian noticed Yuri’s interest, but Sasha did, and he too began listening intently to the American’s conversation.
“Cleo, is that you?” asked Mason, momentarily ignoring codenames.
“You’re bloody right it’s me,” said Cleo. “I need to talk to the doc.”
“Why, are you hurt?” Mason asked, instantly worried for his partner’s safety.
“No, I’m fine. Its Beth, Lex’s mum. She’s really sick and we’re not sure what’s wrong with her, or what type of medicine she needs.”
Mason didn’t hesitate. “Ian, run and fetch Dr. July will you, and hurry!”
“Yeah, for sure,” said Ian, leaping from his chair and bolting from the room.
“Where are you guys located?” asked Mason, once Ian had left.
“We’re on a sailboat in the Pacific Ocean,” answered Cleo, “headed north up the California coast.”
“So the mission was a success?”
“Yes, we…” the reception turned to static for a moment before Cleo’s voice returned, “other than the fact that she’s sick. If she doesn’t make it this trip was for nothing.”
“She’ll make it,” said Mason, trying to sound confident.
“I hope so! You wouldn’t believe the conditions in those FEMA camps mate. Each camp holds thousands of American civilians, many of whom are too sick to walk. They suffer from malnutrition and dehydration, among other things, and they’re being kept against their will. It’s bloody disgraceful! People should be warned not to enter those camps willingly!”
“We’ll spread the word,” said Mason. “Listen Cleo, we need you and Lex back here as soon as possible. There’s another battle coming our way and we’re gonna need as much help as we can get. When do you think you can get back?”
“I’m not really sure. We’ll get there as soon as we can, but it’s not gonna be easy. The shore is swarming with enemy troops and the coastline is being heavily patrolled.”
“I understand, just do what you can.” The door to the jailhouse swung open and Ian walked in, followed by a flurry of snow. Dr. July and his niece Jessie followed behind. “Alright Cleo, the doc has just arrived,” said Mason. “I’m giving him the phone. Good luck!”
Dr. July accepted the phone from Mason and held it up to his ear. “Hello Cleo, this is Dr. July. How may I be of service?”
“Hi doc. I’m gonna give you over to Lex and let him explain.”
“Doc?” asked Lex, after taking the phone from Cleo.
“Yes Lex it’s me. What seems to be the problem?”
“It’s my mom doc, she’s really sick. If we don’t get her some medicine soon I’m afraid she isn’t going to make it, but I’m not sure what she’s sick with or what type of medicine she needs.”
“I understand,” said Dr. July. “What are her symptoms?”
“Well,” began Lex, “she’s got a really bad fever. She’s shaking like a leaf but her body feels like it’s on fire.”
“What else?”
Lex continued to describe all of Beth’s symptoms while the doctor listened closely. When he’d finished listing them he added, “Doc, she said they forced everyone in the camp to take a shot. You don’t think this is…Chimaera do you?”
“Don’t worry Lex. It sounds like a bacterial infection,” said Dr. July, after hearing all of the symptoms.
“So what can we do doc? What type of medicine does she need?”
“If you can get your hands on some penicillin, or any type of anti-biotic, that should do the trick,” answered Dr. July.
“Where are we gonna find that out at sea?” asked Lex.
Jessie grabbed the phone from her uncle’s hand and asked, “Where are you at right now?”
“We’re off the coast of California headed north,” answered Lex. “Who is this?”
“It’s me, Jessie. I used to work at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco and you can definitely find penicillin in the pharmacy there. You’ll want to sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and dock near the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. From there head south on Hyde Street and you’ll find the hospital. The pharmacy is located on the main floor. Of course that’s assuming it wasn’t destroyed by one of the nuclear bombs.”
“Thanks Jessie,” said Lex, grabbing hold of the railing to steady himself. The waves seemed to be growing larger, as though a storm was coming. “What about radiation from the fallout?”
Mason took the phone from Jessie and said, “Don’t worry about the radiation Lex. It’s virtually gone from the air within two or three days following the explosion. The only radiation left behind will be in the soil and on the surface of anything that was exposed. So be sure to wear gloves and touch as little as possible. If you do that you should be fine.”
“Alright,” said Lex. “That’s what we’ll do then. Once we have the medicine we’ll continue up the coast and…”
Mason heard a loud explosion and the line went dead.
“What was that?” asked Jessie.
“I don’ know,” replied Mason, as he tried to call them back, but without success. “It sounded like canon fire from another ship.”
“I guess we’ll just have to pray that they’re okay,” said Ian, holding Jessie’s hand and smiling down at her.
“Yeah you do that,” said Mason condescendingly. “Let me know how that works out.” He then turned and left the jailhouse. Mason prided himself on being able to control his emotions and he didn’t want anyone to see how worried he was about Cleo. She’d been with him for many years and he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her now.
“Excuse me,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kye Williams, as he entered the jailhouse. “I just heard that there’s a military detachment heading south towards Vegas. I’m stationed in Texas and was hoping to catch a ride. I’d like to rejoin my squadron as soon as possible and get back in the fight.”
“Major Conrad and his Marines have already left,” explained Ian. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you’re stuck with us. But don’t worry, if it’s a fight you’re looking for, there’s one on the way.”
World War III – Day Fifteen
The Shooting Star, Pacific Ocean
Lex stumbled and nearly fell overboard, when a shell splashed into the water nearby, causing the sailboat to rock violently. The explosion sprayed water in every direction, accompanied by a thunderous roar. Lex dropped the satellite phone, as he reached out with both hands, frantically trying to grab hold of the railing.
“What the bloody hell was that?” asked Cleo, lying on the deck where she’d fallen.
“I don’t know,” answered Lex, peering into the darkness. The only available light came from the moon and stars above, and it wasn’t very much. “I think we’ve been fired upon!”
“No kidding!” exclaimed Cleo. “But from where? Do you see anything out there?”
“No, nothing,” answered Lex, as he helped Cleo to her feet.
“Jesse! Start the engine!” Cleo shouted, as she and Lex made their way aft to where Jesse stood gripping the helm.
Jesse quickly turned the key in the ignition and the small engine began to hum.
“Won’t the sound from our engine help them find us?” Lex asked, gripping the railing with one hand and Cleo with the other.
“They’ve already locked on to our location,” explained Jesse. “We need to get out of here, and fast! Keep an eye on the port-side. I need to know which direction that shell came from so I don’t steer us toward them!”
“Which side is the port-side?” asked Lex, confused.
“Left,” shouted Jesse, “the left side of the ship!”
“Okay,” replied Lex trying to catch his balance. “You could have just said left,” he mumbled, as he made his way to the left side of the vessel.
“What?” Jesse asked, struggling with the helm to turn the ship.
“Nothing,” shouted Lex, peering over the port-side railing into the darkness. “I don’t see anything out there, but…”
A bright flash suddenly lit up the night, as another shell was fired from a destroyer to the west. The shell fell short, landing in the water off the port-side of the vessel with a huge splash. A loud boom from the destroyer’s gun followed an instant after the detonation.
“There!” Lex shouted, pointing to the west. “I see them!”
“Good,” said Jesse. “Now come give me a hand.”
Lex spun around a little too fast, slipping and falling to his back on the wet deck. He slowly got to his feet, struggling to regain his balance. The Shooting Star pitched back and forth violently, as Lex made his way towards the helm. The waves were growing in both size and force. He glanced back toward the enemy destroyer and saw dark, storm clouds rolling in on them from the west.
“What’s going on?” asked Jillian, popping her head out from the berth below.
“Stay below babe, we’re under attack!” Jesse shouted, struggling to turn the sailboat.
“What is it?” asked Beth, when Jillian returned, securing the hatch behind her.
“We’re under attack!” Jillian said, as she began to fasten down anything that could move, but it was hard with the boat pitching back and forth.
“Oh dear,” gasped Beth, both of her arms wrapped around Duke, who barked and wagged his tail. Pots and pans were tossed about the cabin from the ferocious waves, forcing Beth to duck several times to avoid getting hit. She immediately began helping Jillian to secure any loose items. The angry and wild storm quickly grew in strength, as one brutal wave after another crashed into the hull of the ship.
Back on deck, Lex was finally able to reach Jesse and Cleo at the helm, although he almost fell overboard several times during the attempt. “What can I do?” He shouted over the howling wind.
“Perhaps another prayer,” shouted Cleo, holding on for dear life.
“Take the helm,” shouted Jesse, “and point us in that direction!” He pointed towards the west, in the direction of the storm and the enemy destroyer.
“But that’s where the enemy is!” Lex shouted, as he grabbed hold of the helm and struggled to keep the ship pointed in the direction that Jesse instructed. The helm jerked back and forth from the violent force of the wind and waves. Lex had to use all of his strength to keep the vessel straight.
“Perhaps those islands would offer better cover from the destroyer and the storm!” Cleo shouted, pointing at a few dark shadows in the distance.
“No!” Jesse shouted. “The reef alone would tear us apart! The best place for a boat to be during a storm like this is far from the shore!”
“Where are you going?” asked Lex.
“We’ve got to get the sails down before we sink!” Jesse shouted. “It’ll only take one good gust of wind to roll the ship upside-down! Remember to keep the boat pointed into the waves! If you allow us to turn even a little, the waves will capsize the ship!”
“Alright,” Lex shouted, “but you’d better hurry! I can already feel the wind trying to turn us!”
“I’ll help him!” Cleo shouted, as she followed Jesse with both hands gripping the railing.
“Be careful!” Lex shouted after her. He glanced longingly towards the islands in the distance. Oh how he wished he were on dry land right now. He hadn’t even noticed the islands until Cleo pointed them out. They just looked like a couple of dark splotches on the surface of the water.
Jesse and Cleo were securing the mast and sails, when another shell landed nearby, this time on the starboard-side of the vessel. A few feet closer and it would have been a direct hit. With the downpour of rain and constant barrage of waves crashing over the side of the ship, the splash from the shell went unnoticed.
All of a sudden, a giant wave struck the port-side of the vessel, sending Jesse and Cleo rolling and sliding across the deck. They clung to the starboard-side railing with their legs dangling in the churning sea, when another large wave crashed against the ship and sent them sliding back across the deck.
Lex focused on Cleo and despite the dark, stormy night, he could see fear in her eyes. Both she and Jesse were hanging on to the wet and slippery railing, with their feet once again in the water. Lex quickly found rope in a nearby compartment and used it to secure the helm. “Hold on baby, I’m coming!” He shouted, as he half crawled and half slid to the railing where Cleo clung for dear life.
Wrapping his legs around one of the railing bars, Lex reached down and grabbed hold of Cleo’s wrist, an instant before her hands slipped and she lost her grip. One second later and she would have disappeared into the dark water below, never to be seen again. Lex reached down with his other hand, securing his hold on Cleo’s wrist. Then in one fluid motion, he swung her body to the side.
Cleo didn’t need to be told what to do. As Lex swung her body, she hooked her legs around one of the railing bars and with Lex’s help, climbed onto the deck. “Thanks,” she gasped, trying to catch her breath.
“Hold my feet secure!” Lex shouted, as he reached down and grabbed hold of Jesse. The Marine was a lot heavier than Cleo, but he also had more upper-body strength. While Cleo held his feet secure, Lex lifted with all his strength. With a grunt, he lifted Jesse from the water and pulled him onto the deck.
“That was close!” Jesse said, wiping water from his face.
“Too close!” said Lex. “Cleo, take the helm!” He shouted, pointing at the rope which was beginning to unravel. “I’ll help Jesse with the sails!”
Cleo nodded and carefully climbed to her feet. With both hands gripping the railing, she slowly made her way towards the helm. She was almost there, when the rope securing the wheel came loose and the helm started spinning out of control. The Shooting Star began to turn, heading straight towards one of the nearby islands and the jagged rocks that surrounded it. They could hear the roar from another shell as it splashed into the ocean behind them, landing directly where they would have been had the boat not suddenly turned.
Lex and Jesse struggled on the slippery deck, trying desperately to find secure footing. Both of them kept a diligent eye on the ocean around them, searching for another rouge wave.
“We’ve got to get her straightened out!” Jesse shouted, over the storm’s deafening roar. “Go help Cleo!”
Lex immediately spun around and headed for Cleo, and the out of control wheel. He was almost there when he saw Cleo reach out and try to grab the helm with both hands. She screamed in pain, as the force from the wheel tossed her aside.
“Ouch!” She said, rubbing her wrists where the spinning wheel had hit her.
“Are you alright?” asked Lex, bending down beside her.
Cleo nodded. “Be careful when you grab the wheel,” she cautioned, still rubbing her wrists, one after the other.
Lex stood up and turned to face the spinning wheel. He watched for a moment as the helm spun round, his eyes fixated on one of the nobs surrounding the wooden wheel. He suddenly reached out with both hands and grabbed hold of the nob.
The force from the spinning wheel was so strong that it almost broke his arm. But Lex held on tight, pressing his feet against the side of the sailboat for extra support.
Seeing that Lex needed her help, Cleo sprang to her feet like a cat and grabbed hold of the wheel, which was no longer spinning. Between the two of them they were able to slowly turn the wheel back in the opposite direction, steering the ship into the wind and away from the dangerous reef surrounding the island. Salty spray from the rising waves splashed over them, as they stood side-by-side, steering the craft into the unyielding tempest.
“Woohoo!” Lex shouted, grinning.
“What are you so excited about?” Cleo asked.
“It’s my first time sailing,” he said, flashing a boyish smile. “What a rush!”
“You’re a foolish boy, living in a grown man’s body,” she teased, returning his smile.
“A fool in love maybe,” corrected Lex, as the Shooting Star climbed over another massive wave.
Jesse finished securing the last bit of sail near the bow of the boat and slowly made his way back towards Lex and Cleo.
The enemy destroyer appeared to have lost sight of the sailboat, but that didn’t stop them from launching a constant barrage of cannon fire into the sea around them. Without a clear line of sight, the destroyer’s shots went wild, landing farther and farther away from the smaller vessel. The squall, although deadly in itself, arrived just in time to save the Shooting Star and its occupants from certain death. Lex couldn’t help but wonder if this was another one of God’s mysterious and glorious miracles.
“I think we’ve lost them!” Cleo shouted, above the roaring storm.
“So what now,” asked Lex, “should I stay on this heading?”
“Why don’t the two of you go below and check on your mom. I’ll take the helm,” offered Jesse.
“I could use some dry clothes,” agreed Cleo, ringing water out of her shirt.
“Jillian knows where my grandpa’s clothes are if you guys want to change,” suggested Jesse.
“Thanks,” said Lex. “Once I’m changed and dry I’ll come back up to relieve you so that you can do the same.”
“Sounds good,” replied Jesse, reaching down and scooping up the rope that Lex had used to secure the wheel. He fastened one end of the rope to the sailboat and tied the other end around his waist. “From now on anyone who’s above deck needs to be tied on, at least while this storm is still raging!” He shouted above the howling wind, when he noticed Lex watching him.
“Good idea!” Lex shouted back. “I’ll let Jillian know that you’re alright!”
“Thanks!” Jesse guided the boat into the wind and found that steering the vessel was much easier now that the sails were down. He kept a constant watch to the left and right, searching for rogue waves that might strike from the side and roll the boat.
Lex followed Cleo below deck, securing the hatch behind them. The cabin was a disaster, with pots and pans scattered about. Jillian was trying desperately to secure any loose items, but despite her attempts there were still many flying objects.
Beth was sitting on the couch with Duke lying at her feet. Although she’d tried to help Jillian secure the cabin, seasickness got the better of her. In her lap was a large bowl, which she gripped with both hands.
“Are you alright mom?” Lex asked, as he ducked to avoid a flying coffee mug, which narrowly missed his head.
“I’ll be fine,” said Beth, bowing her head over the bowl, as her stomach expunged the contents of her last meal. When Duke saw Lex he lifted his head and wagged his tail, but he too was seasick and had no intention of rising to greet his old master.
Lex and Cleo quickly set about helping Jillian to secure the cabin. While picking up items from off the floor, Cleo found a small bottle of Dramamine. She opened the bottle and handed Beth a pill. “Take this,” she said, “it’ll help you feel better. That is if you can manage to keep it down.”
“Thank you dear,” said Beth, accepting the pill, but waiting to swallow it until after she vomited again.
Once the dishes were secure, Jillian began rummaging through the drawers in the master cabin, searching for dry clothes. “Here you go,” she said, handing Lex and Cleo some of the clothing left by Jesse’s grandfather. “They probably won’t fit very well, but at least their dry.”
“Thanks,” said Lex, accepting the clothes. “Do you have any slickers or ponchos, anything to keep us dry up top?”