“Damn, how could they do this? I thought Dan was a friend or at least he acted like he wanted to be friends. I knew something was going on. He was too evasive yesterday and never really volunteered anything about having plans.” She sank to the cockpit seat.

  Hannah stood on the ladder in the companionway. “Maybe he thought he had to leave. Remember what you said about protecting your own? I guess we now know how far a person goes to save their family.”

  Hannah was right, but Ellen still didn’t understand why he wouldn’t have said anything. Had he thought they wouldn’t have helped him and how had they gotten their boats out without sails?

  “Get dressed guys. We’re going to shore.” Ellen announced. She wondered how this move by Dan would affect them.

  Ellen was ready and waiting in the cockpit in less than two minutes. She had been studying the Choy Lee trying to figure out why she was apparently sitting on the bottom. It was an old boat, so maybe one of her thru holes had failed. Without electricity her pump wouldn’t work, but wouldn’t the guy have bailed the water out?

  Alan appeared in the hatch first, “Want me to lower the dinghy?”

  “Sure, sorry I should have been doing that instead of daydreaming. I’m trying to figure out why that guy let his boat sink?” she said pointing at the other boat. “Why haven’t we seen any of the people from the other boat either?”

  “Oh man…that reminds me, where are the campers? I saw several tent setups yesterday but no people. Hannah and I walked from one end to the other and never even thought about the lack of campers.” His face drained of color and he sat abruptly. “Oh my God. The garden. Someone had been digging a garden by the buildings inside. I thought it was strange to put it where they had, so far from the water source and why it was so small. Maybe it’s not a garden at all.”

  “Come on, don’t be getting all paranoid on me. There is probably a good explanation and we are going to find it.” Ellen rose and turned to go back down below. “Get your pistol and hide it on you.” She looked at his t-shirt and a pair of shorts someone had left on the boat. “You might want to put on more clothes.”

  She looked at herself and realized she would follow her own advice. Her tank top and shorts would conceal nothing.

  “Uh…all I have are my polo shirt and kakis from work.”

  “Good enough. Go change.”

  Ellen changed quickly into a pair of multi pocketed cargo shorts and an over-sized t-shirt. Her Taurus fit nicely into a large front pocket. The rumpled look of her shorts and the t-shirt, kept the gun almost undetectable as long as no one executed a hands on search.

  Ellen almost laughed when she saw Alan. He looked like a clean-cut young man in his work uniform; he also looked much younger than his age. His blonde hair was neatly parted on the side and plastered down with water. He didn’t have enough whiskers to require shaving very often, so a few sparse hairs were the only detraction from his good looks.

  “What?” he asked seeing Ellen looking at him with a thin lipped smile. “I said this is all I had to wear.”

  “Actually it’s perfect. There is no way they could see you as a threat.” Seeing Hannah standing behind him on the ladder she said, “Hannah, I think you should stay on the boat.”

  Hannah immediately looked alarmed. “Why? I want to go with you.”

  Hannah’s bruises and burns had been healing nicely and she had pulled her long hair into a pony tail of sorts. Even with the scaring she was a beautiful young woman. Ellen was afraid for her safety is the guards saw her looking like this.

  “For your own safety and we need someone to watch our backs. You know where we stashed all those guns we got and more importantly, you know how to use them. If you see us running back it will be up to you to cover us.”

  “Oh…I thought. Never mind. I wasn’t thinking clearly.” She followed Alan into the cockpit. “Just please come back safe.”

  In the dinghy Alan claimed the seat letting Ellen sit on the front pontoon, He unlocked the oars, turned and began to row. “Thanks for getting her to stay. My mind would have been in the wrong place if I had to worry about her too.”

  Ellen pursed her lips in contemplation, “I actually meant what I said about guarding our backs. These guys are not going to be happy when they realize Dan and his bunch are gone. I don’t know how it will affect us either. I wish Dan had said something. I still can’t figure how they managed to pull it off. With you sleeping in the cockpit, you should have heard them.”

  Alan looked sheepish and admitted, “I drank one of your beers before I went to sleep. I don’t really drink much and a beer usually puts me out. Sorry!”

  “Well it doesn’t matter now and we probably couldn’t have done anything to stop them. It just pisses me off that he didn’t say anything.”

  Alan rowed them right onto the sand and before Ellen had the chance to jump out and help, he had them resting safely above the high tide mark. He tied the bow-line tightly to the no swimming sign.

  They walked towards the fort expecting to be met by one of the guards. Alan tapped her arm to get her attention.

  “The cutter is gone. So that would explain why no escort.”

  “True, but it looks like we rank higher than a mere private anyhow.” Ellen said with a nod in the direction of the fort. She plastered a smile on her face and walked to meet the Major. “Good morning.”

  He looked disgruntled, a frown marked his face, his hands were clasped tight behind his back and he walked towards them with a purpose. It appeared as if he had had a rough time shaving as well. Small blood colored cuts from perhaps a hasty shave marred his left jaw line.

  “I can see I was right about you. You are a smart woman.” He glanced at Alan and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. You would stay also. Our friends…they are not so smart. They should not have tried to flee.”

  “When did they leave?” Ellen asked, not expecting an answer, but surprised when he did.

  “In the early hours. It was quite hilarious actually. To see them rowing their small boats, pulling the big ones. However, they will not get far.” From his tone, he was actually enjoyed telling them and he fully expected his men to bring the escapees back.

  “But why would you not just let them go? They have done you no harm. They were probably just trying to get their families somewhere safe.”

  The Major apparently didn’t want to hear any explanation from Alan. He whirled to face them and his index finger practically poked Alan in the nose. Alan flinched back almost tripped and latched onto Ellen to regain his balance.

  “You do not speak to me without my permission,” He yelled, spraying Alan with spit. For some reason, the man had a barely controlled dislike for Alan.

  To Alan’s credit, he did not make a fuss. He stepped back far enough to not get hit by flying spittle. His jaw was clenched as were his hands. It was obvious he wanted to hit the guy.

  “They have proven they are not to be trusted and they will pay the price. You however, are smart. Maybe you see the future such as we do? You will see, because it will be brilliant. Once we have dealt with the insurgents we will be ready.”

  “Major? May I ask when your…meeting will take place?” Ellen hoped he was going to be more lenient with her than he was with Alan. He had seemed to appreciate her previous up front approach.

  “Soon. Very soon. You will do as I have asked?” It was more of a statement rather than asking and she and Alan both knew he was talking to her.

  “Yes, of course I will. It sounds to me by what you have said that this…meeting will be for the betterment of our country. I will do whatever I can for America.”

  Major Markowsky threw his hands up and wheeled to face Ellen, but this time his finger was not pointing. “There is no America! America was useless. Can you not see what you people have done to your precious country? You have killed it. You wallow in insurmountable debt; you stand around with your hands out for free government services. Your President was weak. He did not deserve to run this land.”

  He began pacing again. Back and forth covering little ground. He appeared to be lost in thought for a moment.

  He finally stopped in front of them. “We work together for the New World Coalition. Together we will make a new beginning. No more will we tolerate this debauchery.” He was looking into the distance and his words were barely audible. Without another word, he turned and marched back to the visitor center.

  “Well, I guess that gives us some idea what is going on, and what we have to do.” Ellen watched the Major as if she expected him to turn and come back. He had apparently forgotten they were there.

  “It does?” Alan asked puzzled. “I really don’t like that man. And a New World Coalition? What the heck is he talking about? He makes it sound like something has happened to the President. Did you notice he used past tense when he was talking?”

  “Yes I did. At least I think I understand. It will not be anything good, but we also need to know what is going to happen here. This could be some kind of a coup d'état. At this point, we can’t do anything to stop them, but we can get the word out to others. We have to remain here as long as we can. Let’s go back to the boat. We have work to do.” Ellen helped Alan carry the dinghy to deeper water and climbed in.

  Her thoughts on the return trip were running in a direction that did not bode well for Americans. She thought that someone had deliberately turned the lights off for the specific reason of taking over the country. But why they would have to destroy it first, she did not know. She had suspicions but no facts. The facts would reveal themselves once this meeting took place. She had every intention of being here for the meeting. If she had to act like his frickin’ secretary to learn more, she would.

  Hannah grabbed the tow line Ellen threw her and tied them to the stanchion. “Is everything alright? I didn’t see anyone but him. Did the rest of the soldiers leave?”

  “Good question. We only saw him, but he is aware of Dan and the others leaving and I think he sent his guys after them.” Ellen went down the ladder and forward to the V-berth. The armload of blankets went on the settee followed by the two V-berth cushions. Removing the hatch board, she lifted out a large Tupperware basket.

  Setting it on the table she began to peel off the duct tape that she’d sealed the lid on with.

  “Alan, there are two smaller baskets and another big one. Grab them would you?” She pulled the lid off to reveal several packages that she had sealed in plastic food storage bags. Back when she was trying for find a way to keep her new replacement parts free from rust a friend had suggested using her seal-a-meal to suck the air out of the bag. The idea had been to keep moisture out and it appeared as if his idea had worked. To be sure she had thrown in a couple small moisture absorbent bags. It looked to her like their combined ideas had worked.

  Alan set the two smaller baskets on the table. His eyebrows had raised after seeing what she held. “We’re going to try the new parts? Can I help?”

  “I think we need to change parts out. We need to hurry and get it done. I have a feeling things are going to go from bad to worse. And yes you can help by getting the other baskets.”

  Alan set the two smaller ones on the salon floor with a grimace, “Holy crap what do you have in these? They weigh a ton.”

  Ellen laughed softly, “Geez…life in school made you soft. They have tools in them. Unwrap them and grab one of the junk towels to wipe them off. They’re covered in WD-40 to keep them from rusting.”

  “That stuff really works?” he asked as he finished pulling off the duct tape. “Ugh…nasty,” he said, as he lifted a set of sockets out. “Hannah, can you get me a towel? I forgot…” He had the sockets in one hand and pliers in the other. He had them out in front of him with no idea where to set the greasy tools.

  Hannah spread a holey towel on the table and folded it over the biggest holes. “Here,” She said. “You lay them out and I’ll wipe them off. You’re acting like they have something contagious and you don’t want to catch it.”

  An hour later everything was unpacked and wiped clean. Alan had another towel and was scrubbing at his hands, a determined look on his face.

  “How were you ever going to be a doctor without getting your hands dirty is beyond me,” Ellen said with a laugh. She shook her head and grabbed a screwdriver and wrench. Okay, I’m going to start with the fuel pump and go from there.” She stopped as if thinking and said, “I can probably do this faster alone, so how about you two sitting in the cockpit and keeping a watch. We don’t want anyone to sneak up on us. But don’t be obvious about it.”

  “Can you do this alone? I was going to help you.” Alan, finally satisfied he had gotten all of the oily coating off his hands, set the towel aside.

  Hannah rolled her eyes and went up the ladder, “I’ll be up here observing,” she said.

  Every day her wounds healed, but she still had not talked about her ordeal to Ellen and she hoped the girl had at least talked to Alan. Keeping that kind of pain locked away inside was only asking for disaster in the future. She had not mentioned her mother in several days and that was another problem Ellen was going to address. She wondered if Alan had given her all they had recovered from the power boat. The little jewel box had to have some kind of special meaning for her. It was obviously meant for a very young girl and she had kept it all this time.

  Alan was still standing by the table, maybe he was taking inventory of the parts, but more likely he was trying to figure out what they all were and where they went. “I would still like to help you. You know, hand you tools and things.”

  “This is not surgery where I need a nurse to show me how to do it. I’m the one who put this all together in the first place. So it will go faster alone.”

  With a look of disbelief or amazement, Alan turned to the ladder. “Sheesh, I was only trying to learn something new,” he grumbled as he went topside.

  “You can learn later when we have more time,” Ellen told his backside. She set to work intent on replacing the electrical components of her engine.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Ellen, I think the soldiers are coming back. We can hear the sounds of a motor coming this way.” Hannah was standing in the hatchway unable to come down the ladder because it was lying on the floor by the V-berth. “Ellen?”

  On hands and knees, Ellen backed out of the aft stateroom. Her face had smudges of grease and dirt across it as if she has wiped sweat off and applied grime in place of the sweat. However, she did have a satisfied look on her face, and replied, “Great timing. That was the last part. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to try it until it’s time to use it.”

  Hannah acknowledged her words with a nod. “Yeah, but if what you told us about the faraday cage is true and they were protected, I’m sure they will work. If you put the ladder back, I can help clean up in here and make some lunch. Alan thinks his throat has been cut.”

  “Ellen, the boat is back, but I don’t see anyone but the soldiers.” His head appeared in the hatchway. “The Major is on the dock and he doesn’t appear too happy.” He turned at the sound of loud voices. He watched for a minute and his body jumped at the sound of a gunshot. As if his bones had turned to jelly, he sank to the cockpit seat. He looked to where Ellen and Hannah were crowded into the door opening. His face was as white as paper. “He shot him. He just shot one of his own men.”

  Knowing how well sound travels over water, Ellen said softly, “Alan slowly come down below. Try not to draw attention to us, but come down here.”

  Hannah backed down into the salon and sat. Alan, came down the ladder, stopped, shook his head in disbelief and flopped down beside Hannah. “I can’t believe he shot him for no good reason that I could see. He did some yelling at all of them and then pulled just his gun and shot him.”

  “Did you see anyone else besides the soldiers? Dan or any of his bunch?”

  He seemed to think about everything he saw and replied, “No. There were only the soldiers. Do you think they got away?”

  “That’s exactly what I think. It would be easy enough to do. There was no moon last night, with the wind we had in the wee hours and if they had spare sails, they could have made it at least out of sight range.”

  “Would you have left without telling them you were going?” Hannah asked, but before Ellen could answer, Hannah said, “Nope. I don’t think you would have. You care about people even if you don’t know them. Look what you did for me.”

  “Wait a minute. I did nothing for you. That was all Alan and Dan. Actually Alan heard you and Dan went to investigate with him. Please don’t see me as I am not. We cannot know what Dan was thinking when he left. He had small children to think about and a wife. That alone is a ton of responsibility to have on his shoulders. Then you throw in the rest of his family…”

  “Ellen, Hannah’s right. You did rescue me. So if it wasn’t for you neither Hannah nor I would be here. Everything happens the way it does for a reason. Just imagine where we would all be if you had not come in to the harbor that day.”

  “I know I would be dead right now. But it was going to be on my terms though, not theirs. I never believed in suicide, but it would have been better then what they were doing to me. I am pretty sure that under the circumstances God would have forgiven me.” Hannah had unconsciously pulled her hair in front of her face, trying to hide her scars, when Alan reached out and stopped her.

  “Don’t do that. Even with those little marks, you are still beautiful. Isn’t she Ellen? Heck I don’t even notice them until you try to hide them.” Alan seemed to have realized what he had said and crimson began at his collar and filled his cheeks.

  “He’s right Hannah, even if he didn’t mean to say it out loud. However, we need to get back on topic. We need to know what happened out there and what the consequences will be pertaining to us. So, with that said, I think we should all go for a row around the bay and then maybe to shore. On our way, I’d like to get a closer look at the other sailboat.”