Part 28 (1/2)
”Jack, it wouldn't be the sa-”
”I know you've said that, but I can't believe it. I think it's worth at least a try.”
”And if we try and it turns out bad?”
Never in a million years. ”It won't.”
She shook her head. ”You can't guarantee that.”
”Sure I can. I-”
Brogan moaned.
Jack pulled away from him so fast he d.a.m.ned near squeezed the trigger on the gun. With the size of the gun, he might've blown a hole in Brogan and himself with one shot. Shaking, he scrambled to his feet and pointed the gun at Brogan's head.
”Oh, Jack, for heaven's sake.”
”I do not want him to wake up while the two of us are all cuddly-wuddly.”
”You had a gun barrel in his ear. That should protect your manly reputation.”
Brogan moaned again and his eyes fluttered open. Then they closed again.
”What do you think?” Jack murmured.
”The bleeding's about stopped,” Gen said. ”And his skin feels warmer, so I think he's doing better. You'd better go get the cord and we'll tie him up before he comes completely awake.”
”Good idea.” Jack walked over, picked up the blood-encrusted cord, and remembered how it got that way. He hurried back over to her. ”Gen, let me look at your hand.”
”It's okay.”
”Let me see it.” He crouched down beside her and took her left hand in his. Even with blurry vision, he could tell it was a ma.s.s of dried blood. ”s.h.i.+t. Stop nursing this maniac so we can go down to the water and soak your hand.”
”There's no time.” She pulled her hand away. ”Let's roll him over and tie him up so we can get another load of guavas before dark.”
”I'll tie him up. You go rinse your hand in the water.”
”It's all r-”
”Gen, do it.” When he saw all that blood on her he wished like h.e.l.l that he could choke the life out of Brogan. He didn't trust the gun to finish him off, but choking would be an excellent alternative if the gun failed. Too bad he'd promised Gen not to kill the guy. He had promised, though, so Brogan got to live a little longer.
He tied him up good and tight, yanking on the cord a little harder than necessary, because it made him feel better.
”Jack!”
He glanced up to see Gen running back toward him. He leaped to his feet. ”What's the matter?”
She was panting. ”I just saw that scruffy old trawler. Nick's pickup men are coming this way.”
Although still far from land, Matt had to slow the boat considerably so he didn't run up on any submerged reefs. The albatross got way ahead, and he wasn't sorry to see the bird go. This trip was already spooky enough.
Eventually Lincoln returned, looking subdued.
”How's your mom?” Matt asked.
”Okay, I guess. She's all, I'm fine, I'm fine. Go back up to the c.o.c.kpit and get the sandwiches while I make some new ones. But she's, like, still freaked. And it's my fault.”
Matt took pity on the kid. ”Don't be too hard on yourself. I can see why you got so excited about the albatross. I flipped out the first time I saw one.”
”It's a big honkin' bird, isn't it?”
”Yep.” Matt decided not to go into the bad luck thing.
”Well, I'd better get the eats shoveled up. At least Mom didn't, like, break the plate.”
”I think it's that stuff that doesn't break, but it wouldn't have mattered if it broke.”
”Easy for you to say. I'm all, There goes my allowance if it breaks.” He started tossing ham, bread, and lettuce back on the plate. ”Can I throw this over the side? For the fish?”
”Why not?”
Lincoln picked up the last of the spilled food and stood. ”Isn't there something spooky about an albatross? Like a superst.i.tion or something?”
Matt glanced at him. ”Seamen believe it's bad luck to kill one.”
”Well, duh. It should be. They're beautiful. But it's not bad luck to, like, see one, is it?”
”I don't think so. And at least we know there's land not far away, even if we can't see it. That's kind of rea.s.suring.”
”Yeah.” Lincoln glanced around. ” 'Cause we're like a toy boat in the middle of a freakin' big ocean.”
”I know where we are, so don't be scared.”
”I'm not scared, dude.” Lincoln tried to look c.o.c.ky. ”I was just asking about this albatross deal.”
Matt was guessing the kid was at least slightly scared. ”Well, an albatross is kind of like a black cat. Some people say they're bad luck, but personally I like black cats.”
Lincoln nodded. ”Me, too. I wish I could have a cat. Or a dog. But Mom's all, n.o.body's home enough to take care of a pet, which is true.”
”What you do is get two cats, so they keep each other company.”
”Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about.” Lincoln sighed. ”But that's twice as much food and stuff.”
Matt's thoughts leaped ahead. He and Lincoln could get a couple of kittens at the pound. Matt would keep them, so Annabelle wouldn't have the bother or cost, but Lincoln would have visiting privileges whenever he wanted. Then again, Annabelle would probably nix the whole thing.
”Guess I'll go dump this over the side,” Lincoln said.
”Okay.” Matt glanced at the sun and estimated about two hours of good light remained, just enough time to make it back to Kauai. They needed to turn around and abandon this wild-goose chase. Nothing was here. The only other vessel he'd seen was an old trawler, which shouldn't be fis.h.i.+ng because it was a protected area. But Matt didn't have time to play wildlife cop. Other than the trawler, which he'd spotted about thirty minutes ago before it motored out of sight, they were alone.