Chapter 37
Daniel
Daniel was berating himself for letting Chuck convince him of this insane plan. But it wasn’t until Ore was in the room that he knew he had to abandon the madness. He hadn’t dared to look at her, partly because he really needed to focus on the task at hand, and partly because he feared that if he looked into her deep dark eyes he might melt. Right now, it was only adrenaline and a dash of dissociation keeping him in control and he imagined that a warm smile from her might break him down into a blubbering mess.
As it was, her presence had calmed him, and it wasn’t until she had burst through the door that he’d realised how worried he’d been about her.
‘Captain Wilsons.’ It was the radio again, but the internal channel this time. Even Vicky sounded stressed. It must be bad.
‘I’m hunkered down in the salon on the lower deck with all the guests. Well most of them … Ore is unaccounted for.’
Dudley interrupted. ‘She’s with us.’
‘How the hell did she get up there? Anyway … that’s great, but we can’t find Mel …’ There seemed to be some commotion in the background and the line cut out.
It took a moment for Daniel to even remember who Mel was. He hadn’t seen her in days. She usually kept to herself, slinking around the boat from her room to the gym to the pool and back.
‘I really hope she’s all right.’ Ore’s voice came from behind him.
Then Vicky was back. ‘Chuck is going out of his mind. I don’t know what to do.’ She was speaking quietly, defeatedly.
Just then, a wave flung itself over the cabin again, the clock smashed to the floor and a chair from the corner of the room slid across the floor and slammed into the wall.
Ore yelped.
‘Are you OK, Ore?’ Daniel couldn’t resist anymore. He spun round in his chair. The sight of Ore made his blood run cold. She was huddled in a white robe, and her left side was drenched in what looked like blood. Despite his better judgement, he got out of his chair and knelt in front of her, his eyes wide and full of fear.
‘What happened?’ He reached out for her instinctively, laying his hand on her shoulder and leaning in to look at the wound.
‘It’s OK, Daniel, it’s not what it looks like … It’s just, it’s um, steak juice?’ She looked up at him and the absurdity of the moment was overwhelming. He burst out laughing and soon enough she’d joined in.
‘Guys, I think that this cute moment is going to have to wait until we’re not in the middle of a cyclone.’ It was Dudley, but when Daniel looked over at him, he could see a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he spoke.
‘A cyclone?’ Ore’s laughter evaporated.
‘It’s not technically a cyclone; it’s just a violent storm.’ Ore’sface fell and it dawned on him that for those not versed in shipping terminology ‘violent storm’ didn’t sound that reassuring. It was definitely better than a cyclone though.
‘We’re charting out of it now, so in an hour or so, we should be in calmer water.’
Ore nodded, still looking nervous.
‘Don’t worry, you’re in safe hands,’ Dudley piped up.
‘I know,’ Ore almost whispered looking into Daniel’s eyes. The air between them stilled, and Daniel felt his heart ache.
‘Not as safe as Annie’s but still …’ Dudley muttered under his breath, breaking the trance of the moment.
Daniel was crouched in front of Ore, and another crash knocked him off balance.
‘Daniel!’ Ore reached for him.
‘I’m fine, I’m fine,’ he said, dragging himself back over and into his seat. He was a bit embarrassed, but more than that he was touched by the concern in her voice.
Over the next half an hour the violence of the waves calmed. Daniel decided to check in with the rest of the boat.
‘Vicky, how’s everything down there? I think we’re out of the worst of it.’
‘We’re OK, still no sign of Mel though. I would try and find her, but I need to stay here and keep everyone calm. Some of the greener crew are totally traumatised.’
