فصل 2

2

How Many Elgen Does It Take to Screw In a Light Bulb?

After all the physical and emotional stress they’d been through over the last week, their exhaustion finally took over and they slept more than eighteen hours. Jack was the first to wake. He looked around the dark room lit only by the glows of his electric friends. With no portholes there was no way of knowing if it was day or night.

He climbed down from his bunk as quietly as possible, then walked back up to the Conn. Welch looked up at him as he entered. Jack had bed hair, the bulk of it pressed to the right side of his head.

“Looks like you got some rest,” Welch said.

“Yeah.”

“Anyone else up?”

“Not yet.”

“We probably should wake them in the next hour or so or they’ll be up all night.” “There is no night and day down here,” Jack said. “What does it matter?” “We need a schedule,” Welch said. “Cassy and I are going to need sleep.” Just then Tessa, Zeus, and Ian walked into the Conn. “We can watch the Conn,” Zeus said.

“My men need sleep too,” the COB said.

“We can’t stop sailing,” Welch said.

“We don’t need to. The Joule’s completely automated. We can program our course, and she can run on autopilot. If there’s a problem, she alerts our room.” Ostin, McKenna, Abigail, and Tara walked in.

“Everyone’s up except Taylor,” Tara said.

“Let her sleep,” Welch said. “Cassy, you can go rest.” “No problem,” she said, yawning as she stood.

“Tara, would you mind showing them to the dining room?” Welch asked.

“I can,” Cassy said. “I think I’ll get something.” She turned to the others. “Let’s go.” Cassy led them down a ladder and then in the opposite direction of the bunks to the Joule’s dining area. Like the rest of the boat, every inch was used as efficiently as possible. Against one wall were bins of dried fruit and grains. Jack opened a canister that read: DRIED MANGO. He grabbed a handful of the dried fruit and tossed it into his mouth. The others followed his example, opening other bins of fruit: pineapple, guava, and apple. They were hungrily devouring the fruit when a young Fijian girl walked into the room. She stopped near the door, looking at all the people. “Cassy?” “Hey,” Cassy said. She turned to the others. “Guys, this is Kiki. She’s the ship’s cook. We didn’t think she would be safe with the Elgen, so we kept her with us.” “Welcome to the Joule,” Kiki said with a slight British accent. “The new captain Welch asked me to prepare something for you to eat. I’m making spaghetti for tonight. For now, I have baked rolls and meats for sandwiches.” “What kind of sandwiches do you have?” Jack asked.

“We have fish, pork, Vegemite, and Nutella.”

Jack squinted. “What’s Nutella?”

“It’s chocolate spread,” Tara said. “It’s good.” “A chocolate sandwich,” McKenna said. “It’s about time someone invented that.” “I think you all must be very hungry,” Kiki said.

“Starving,” Ostin said. “We haven’t eaten anything for more than a day.” “I will fix that.” Kiki opened a cupboard and brought out a basket filled with scones. “The Elgen liked my scones with papaya jam and cream.” She set the container on the table. “I also have fruit salad.” She took out another bowl and set it on the table. Then she brought out a stack of bowls and several handfuls of utensils. “Please, help yourself. Eat.” Taylor walked into the room. She hesitated near the doorway. McKenna thought she looked a little better. Not good, but better.

“How are you?” McKenna asked.

Taylor shrugged.

As she walked over and sat down next to McKenna, Kiki began boiling water for tea while Cassy cut the homemade bread into slices and then brought out plates and what they needed for sandwiches: grilled pork steak, salted mackerel and tuna, lettuce and tomatoes grown on the islands, mayonnaise, mustard, Vegemite, and a large plastic container of Nutella. Everyone ate ravenously except for Taylor.

McKenna said to her, “You need to eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“That’s why you need to eat. We don’t know what’s ahead, and we all need to keep our strength. If you won’t eat for yourself, eat for the rest of us.” Taylor looked at her. “If I slow you down, you can leave me.” “You know we would never do that.” McKenna gave her a slice of bread with Nutella. “Please. Eat something.” Taylor just looked down at the sandwich.

“What would Michael say?”

Taylor erupted. “Nothing! He’d say nothing! He’s gone!” Everyone stopped eating and looked at Taylor. Taylor looked around, then said, “I’m sorry.” McKenna touched her chest over her heart. “He’s not gone. He’s here.” She touched Taylor’s chest. “And there. He will always be there.” Taylor dabbed at her eyes with a napkin. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” McKenna hugged her, and Taylor put her head on the other girl’s shoulder.

“You don’t need to apologize,” McKenna said softly. “We understand. Everyone understands.” After a few minutes Taylor stopped crying and sat back. Then she lifted the bread and took a bite.

“Thank you,” McKenna said.

“Thank you,” Taylor said. “You care more about me than I do about myself.” * * *

A few minutes later Cassy said, “The tea’s ready. Help yourself. I’m going to bed.” “Wait,” Kiki said. “I have a surprise.” She opened a cupboard and brought out a cake topped with baked pineapple. “The Elgen were celebrating a birthday and made me bake a cake for them. They never got a chance to eat it.” “That makes me happy on two accounts,” Jack said. “You, Kiki, are the best thing that’s happened to us for days.” “With the days you’ve had,” Kiki said, “I don’t think that would be very hard to do.”