He pointed to Alan and Hannah and with a flick of his wrist dismissed them. “Take these two away. They are of no consequence.” The two guarding the door stepped forward, one to open the door and the other directing with his chin, indicated they were to go out it.

  Alan was going to be difficult; Ellen could see it in his eyes. “What about her?” he asked looking at Ellen. “We came in together and we leave together.”

  “I’m fine. You two go and find Dan. I will catch up with you.” Ellen told him and hoped she was right. Other than he hadn’t asked what she did when she worked she couldn’t imagine what else he wanted. Alan looked as if he wanted to protest again, but he must have remembered the guard’s earlier treatment. He rubbed his jaw tenderly, put his arm around Hannah and led her out the door.

  A minute later both guards were back in the room, one on each side of the doorway.

  When Ellen looked to the Major he was staring at her hard. She wondered if he was trying to read her mind and almost smiled at the thought. However, she must have given her thoughts away, when the Major brought the palm of his hand down on the counter with a loud smack.

  She jumped at the sound, because she felt he wanted her to. He would find a submissive Ellen more to his liking she thought. She was going to accommodate him for the time being. Or at least until she found out what was going on.

  Before he had a chance to ask, she said, “I write.”

  “You write? You write what?”

  “I write travel guides. You know, about marinas and anchor spots for sailors and cruisers. Places for people who enjoy the water to go to.”

  He seemed to relax and leaned against the counter. With slow deliberation, he crossed his legs at the ankle and then crossed his arms as well. His posture was not fooling Ellen, because she could read his eyes. Cold ice blue eyes stared at her. His hair was shaved close in a military manner. It was as if he didn’t want any distraction from his eyes. His face was a mask of old acne scars and he had a square jaw line presently clenched tight. His nostrils flared with each breath making his nose look flatter and wider than it was.

  He appeared to consider her words and then said, “Good. You will write for me. You will record our history.”

  “Wait. What? What history? In case you didn’t know it, history is something that has already happened.”

  “Enough! You will document what is going to happen here so that someday the whole world will know that great men came together in this place to make the new world.”

  Ellen laughed. “You’re kidding right?” She stared at him and realized he wasn’t kidding at all.

  Thinking fast she told him, “Look, I don’t write that kind of stuff. I only write about places that people go to visit. I wouldn’t be good with the kind of writing you need. Hell, half the time I wonder if people even read the drivel that I write.”

  “Oh, you will write these things. The alternative would not be so appealing to you. These words you will write will say how we began again, one great nation forged by men who had foresight and the authority to make this happen. This is what you will write about.”

  The hair on the back of Ellen’s neck rose with fear. Her thoughts ran rampant…this guy was crazy. She wondered who he meant by great men and starting over. Better still, who was coming to the Dry Tortugas for this meeting? She was going to find out, before they left.

  “Okay, say I do write this…history for you, what then? When does this meeting take place? Who are these great men and why here of all places?”

  “Oh…you will write it; of that I am sure. You will be told when the time is right. You may now go. But, do not think you will be leaving here. These sails of yours have already been confiscated. You will stay in a room here in this fort.”

  “What do you mean confiscated? You can’t do that! If I am going to write for you, I will not do it under duress. I will stay on my boat, with my family or I don’t write.”

  He seemed to consider her words, “You stay on your boat but no sails. I see inside of you, your thoughts. You will not be allowed to leave until this meeting is over. Now go.”

  Ellen wasted no time standing and knocked her chair over in her haste to leave. Before the guard could open the door for her, she grabbed the knob and was out it.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Holy crap! Girl what have you jumped into the middle of?” she mumbled to herself. Her mind was going three different directions and she stumbled in the sand. She had made it to the beach and was surprised to not see the dinghy. Shading her eyes from the sun with her hand, she saw that Dan’s dinghy was tied to the stern of the Annie-C. Apparently he had taken Alan and Hannah back to the boat.

  The Major had not been lying about her sails. The jib was gone and as near as she could tell so was the sail bag that held the storm jib. She only hoped they had not discovered her spare sails. She had an old furling sail that she had replaced with her new genoa and had always meant to have the old one repaired, but never got around to. It would no longer fit on the new track for the new sail because she had replaced the furling gear, but it would do in a pinch if she needed it. She knew she could make it work and there was an old spinnaker too. If they hadn’t found and taken them.

  But, first she was going to find out what the hell was going on. Who was the Major talking about? She had tried to stay away from the conspiracy bullshit, but as much as she didn’t want to think that way, it was beginning to seem like that was exactly what was going on. She would run it by the others to get their thoughts.

  Ellen waved her arms trying to catch someone’s attention. Dan, Alan and Hannah were sitting in the cockpit with their heads together as if they were sharing secrets. She waved and hollered again. Finally, Hannah looked up and saw her. She said something to the other two and pointed to shore.

  Dan rose to his feet. With a wave at Ellen acknowledging her, he climbed into the dinghy and began the row in.

  Ellen not wanting to wait waded into knee deep water, caught the bow and turned his dinghy around. She bailed over the pontoon and told Dan, “Get me out of here! Crap, Dan…you would not believe what’s going on here.”

  “Yes I would. I’ve heard most of it already. They intend on conscripting anyone who has a useful occupation into their so called army. That’s why I didn’t tell him I used to be a cop. I want no part of whatever they’re planning.”

  Ellen had been looking at the other boats and saw they too were missing their sails, effectively preventing anyone who relied on wind power from leaving. She sat turning over and comparing what she knew, and what she didn’t know but only suspected. She really hadn’t learned anything of value from the Major.

  As Ellen climbed aboard the Annie-C she remembered something. “Dan, where are all the Park Rangers and the campers? Have you seen anyone else?” She had a hold of his bow line and pulled the dinghy close to the stern.

  “When they told us we were to be given rooms to stay in we refused. That’s why they confiscated our sails. The Major told me the campers had been delegated rooms which they chose to accept rather than stay in their tents, but you couldn’t prove it by me. We haven’t seen anyone. As for the Park Rangers, we haven’t seen any of them either. I was beginning to think that we were the only outside people here.”

  He thought for a minute and then added, “Except for the Choy Lee. I think that guy is still on his boat, but we haven’t talked to him at all. If Millie hadn’t caught a glimpse of him the one time I would have said it was abandoned too.”

  “Something doesn’t feel right here. The state keeps the Rangers here year-round to look after the park and the camp grounds. Unless they were forced out they had no reason to leave that I can see. And besides that, how could they leave? Maybe they’re holding them prisoner or something.”

  “I just don’t know. I’m surprised they even let us stay on the boats even without the sails. I guess they think we’re harmless and I don’t know about you, but I’d like to keep it that way.”

  “I can’t believe they took our sails,” Alan said in disgust. “Now we’re as stuck here right along with you guys.”

  “I guess it could be worse. You could be dead or stuck back on the mainland.” Dan grinned at Alan when he said it, taking the sting out of his words.

  “Don’t remind me,” Alan answered. “I think I’d rather be here than there. Less chance of getting killed.”

  Ellen had sat half listening to Dan and Alan. She was trying to put together a plan in her mind. She knew they didn’t want to even consider staying here. “Did the soldiers go down below?” Ellen asked Alan.

  “Nope they looked through the hatch and asked if we had any more sails. I said no and showed them and told them about the burnt one. They didn’t seem interested in anything else we have.”

  “Good. No need exposing our hand before we have to,” Ellen replied. She was looking at Dan, wondering what his plans were. He hadn’t really said anything about what his intentions were. As she had not and would not tell him of their plans either.

  She wasn’t going to say anything to Dan until she knew him better. He had mentioned the conscription of people, but nothing about any meeting. He hadn’t mentioned if he or the others were still armed so just maybe he was being as cautious as she was.

  “I think we need to find a way for all of us to get together. As you probably know already they are planning some kind of meeting here. I am afraid of what this meeting holds in store for all of us. I don’t just mean all of us here, I mean for all of us as Americans including all those we left behind on the mainland.” Dan was grim faced as he spoke.

  “So you do know. I was wondering if they had said anything to you. Something tells me, and I don’t mean to play the conspiracy card, but something tells me our so called government has a hand in this.”

  “Okay, let’s try and set something up and get together. Maybe we can pull off an impromptu gathering on the beach without arousing suspicion.”

  Before he began to row away she told him, “Okay Dan, let us know and we’ll be there. Just so you know, Alan was in art school and Hannah was going to be a teacher. I told him I write, but that may not have helped me at all. But we’ll talk later.” She threw the dinghy line on the pontoon and watched as he rowed away. She still wasn’t sure of his motives and until she was, she would keep their plans between themselves. If he divulged anything, she would consider sharing with him.

  “Ellen, why did they want to know what we did? And why did you lie to them?” Hannah asked.

  Ellen studied Hannah and Alan wondering how much she should tell them of what she thought. “Well, I lied about Alan because I didn’t want them drafting him into their new military, and I lied about you because that was the least unappealing profession I could think of on such short notice.” She laughed with little humor and added, “And because I had no idea what you did before.”

  Hannah looked at Alan, surprise on her face. “You really didn’t tell her?”

  “Nope, I told you it is your story and it is up to you to tell it.”

  “Tell me what?” Ellen asked, curious what they were talking about.

  “My Mom was married twice. I took my stepfathers name when I turned thirteen, because he is the man I thought of as my Dad. My paternal parent was Dick Callahan.”

  “Oh my God…are you kidding me? Governor Callahan? As in the Dick Callahan from New Jersey? The man who will probably be the next President?”

  Hannah hung her head as is ashamed, then nodded slowly. “That would be him. But please don’t judge me by his standards. I don’t even know the man, nor do I want to.”

  “Sorry Ellen, but I thought it was her place to tell you not mine. Besides, I don’t think it matters much anymore.”

  “Well he must be a bigger asshole than I thought for his daughter not to claim him. Most girls in your place would be taking advantage of his lime-light.” Ellen reached over and touched Hannah’s hand. “Honey, I am so glad you are who you are. It says a lot about your character and your Mom’s. I don’t know why you feel this way, but let it be our secret. If the lights were to come on tomorrow, it would make no difference…you would still be our family.”

  Hannah smiled and nodded yes. “Thank you, it means a lot to me. Now, you are the only family I have left. I should also tell you that I was going back to school to get my physician’s assistant. I am already a registered nurse.”

  Ellen was shocked. Hadn’t Alan told her that Hannah was going to culinary school? “You’re too young to be an R.N. don’t you have to go to school for a long time. Years even”?

  Hannah laughed and said, “I did go for four years. I graduated from high school on an accelerated program when I was sixteen. Mom and I took a brief trip to France and then back to school. It seems like I have always been in school of some kind.” Her face fell as if she just realized there would be no more schooling. Tears welled in her eyes, she tipped her head forward and a tear dripped off her eyelash and rolled down her cheek. Between soft sobs she choked out, “I guess I won’t be going to anymore classes. Will I?”

  Ellen watched, heart breaking for Hannah as Alan put his arm around her and she clung to him. He was murmuring to her and Ellen could not hear what he said, but Hannah wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand, wiped her nose and her eyes met Ellen’s. “I don’t usually cry over everything. But I promise you, you will not regret letting me come with you. I will do whatever is necessary for us to survive as a family. If it means shooting someone, I will do it. Ellen, you can count on me.”

  “Honey, I already do. I never doubted you for a minute. I’m not sure how or when, but we will get home. I hope it never comes down to shooting at another person, but if that’s what it takes…”

  “Okay you two; let’s get back to the original conversation. Why did he keep you so long and where do we go from here?” Alan must have thought no one had seen him dab at his eyes but both women had. Even if they hadn’t, his gruff voice gave him away.

  “Tomorrow, we install the new parts and pray they work. Then as soon as we can we get the heck out of here. There is something going on that we want no part of. A secret meeting is supposed to take place here. Who it’s between or what it’s about I have no idea, but the Major wants me to record it. I don’t know that I want to be here for it or not.”

  “A meeting?” Alan asked. Maybe we should find out what it is about? Didn’t you say you wanted to know?”

  “I did. But maybe it doesn’t matter anymore. I think we need to concentrate on getting away from here. Get some sleep guys. Tomorrow we will decide.”

  The journal; Day Eight

  It’s hard to believe it is only day eight, and it seems as if we have landed in a kettle of worms. We were excited to finally reach the Garden Key. We took the shortcut in and found a surprise waiting for us.

  I know I said I would leave the conspiracy theory alone, but I may need to pull my head out of the sand. A Major and his soldiers have taken over the fort. Something is definitely not right here though. Dan seems so elusive. Maybe he is planning something of his own. I sure hope he will include us in them. An alliance with them would be far better than just us, alone.

  We were escorted to the gift shop/the new headquarters by armed guards and basically interrogated. I guess that may be a little strong, but they are looking for job specific people to enlist in their cause. Thank God that Dan had filled us in. I feel sure they would have taken Alan from us. His services as a doctor would have been one of the jobs they would be looking for.

  They think they have drafted my skills as a writer, but we all know I won’t comply when push comes to shove. The Major, has an agenda along with these mysterious people who are coming to Garden Key for some kind of meeting. I want to stick my nose in and see what’s going on. If my writing talents can get me through the door, consider me there and listening.

  What I can’t understand is why here? I know why I came here but why would they. This is just a little island sitting out in the middle of nowhere. I have to admit it is easily defendable and would make an awesome place to hide out, but by the sounds of it these guys have no intentions of hiding.

  The biggest question I have is why? Guess you all know how nosey I am, and I have way more questions than answers. I wish I could convey how worried I am about everything that has happened and in the process of happening now, but I am tired and confused. Maybe we should forget all this bullshit and just leave. I am in a quandary as to what to do. I guess the smart thing to do would be to run it by the kids and see what they think and ultimately want to do.

  Tomorrow I will start the repairs and with a little luck we can be mobile and on our way. Or at least be ready if we need a quick exit.

  Almost forgot, our Hannah finally told me who she is. Rather who her male parent is. I am not sure what to make of it at this point, from everything gathered on the news he was the favorite replacement for the Presidency. However, there won’t be an election this year and maybe not for many years to come.

  Wait, does that leave our sitting President in charge? That would really suck, especially if he is one of the guys for this meeting. It sure would lend credence to a conspiracy. I find it hard to believe that he would have the balls to turn the lights out on America. I am laughing because he did say he was going to find a way to stay in office.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Ellen, wake up. They’re gone. Dan, Brian and Jeff are all gone!” Alan hollered from the cockpit.

  Ellen rolled over in the V-berth and saw Hannah sitting up as well. She rubbed her eyes trying to wake up.

  “Ellen come up here. It looks like they left in the middle of the night.”

  She threw the blanket back and scrambled to the cockpit. Alan was right, the other boats were gone except for the old Choy Lee. However, she was lying on her side, anchor line slack. The water was only two or three feet deep, so the majority of her was still above water.