“Sounds like the best option we’ve got,” Antonio replied.
Following Logan’s lead, they started off at a quick pace towards the extended tree line on the horizon. They constantly scanned around for the sight of anything that could give them any insights into the causes or full state of their current predicament. Their bolstered level of wariness heightened their senses, causing their attentions to snap in a flash towards a singular bird that flew across the sky.
“Well, it looks like we’ve got that little wish that you made last night,” Antonio said, breaking the silence.
Logan rolled his eyes. “Sure did. I bet you are going to tell me to be careful what I wish for. Don’t even say it. I can assure you that this isn’t what I had in mind.”
“I wasn’t about to say it, but I’m frightened,” Antonio admitted.
“And so am I,” Logan replied, his face smiling ruefully at the open admission for just a moment. An edge of grim determination swelled in his voice as he continued, “But I’m not going to give in to this ridiculous event that’s been foisted upon us. We are going to stick together to get through this crazy thing.”
“We’ll stick together,” Antonio echoed, nodding quickly.
For the second time in recent moments, Antonio had the air of a scared child about him.
“Yes, together,” Logan confirmed, before vowing angrily, shouting to the sky, “And I can assure you, that when I find out why this all happened, and who or what was responsible, we are going to set some things straight!”
Logan knew that they both harbored fears of the unknown, but where Antonio was willing to feel fragile and utterly helpless, the sheer fury of Logan’s ire at their undeserved predicament reinforced his chosen course of action.
Fully resolved not to go down without a fight, and with a deep hunger to find out why they had been ripped away from their world, Logan clenched his jaws as he continued to ruminate upon their situation. He was committed to regaining the bearings in their lives once again. Their core foundations, those very elements that helped them rise to face the day from one morning to the next, had been severely violated. Yet as far as Logan was concerned, as a blaze of righteous anger was stoked within him, it would not be irrevocably violated.
JANUS
“This mist is absolutely insane. I can’t see a damn thing!” Kent spat out angrily, cursing as he strained to look forward from the bow of the watercraft.
“We’ll probably have to just cut the engine off,” Derek replied calmly, though a look of concern shone in his eyes.
Janus fully concurred with Derek’s choice, his own concern at possibly wrecking Kent’s father’s boat rapidly increasing. His confounded eyes told him in no uncertain terms that they would be wise to concede for the moment, rather than force themselves to take on any ill-advised risks in trying to blindly navigate through the mist.
The unusually dense fog choked off all visibility. Another boat could easily be just five feet away from them. Janus could only hope that they heard it, as he was certain that they would not see it until it was far too late.
After a moment, Janus voiced his full consent with Derek’s proposition.
“Shouldn’t we try and get somewhere?” Kent countered with a look of desperation. “We could be hit by anything.”
Janus understood Kent’s worries as well, as it was indeed quite unsettling floating about in the water, adrift within the midst of the impenetrable fog. Furthermore, any manner of objects might be close, from docks to shore ground. It was not just a matter of other boaters out on the lake.
“You are right. It’s not just the other boats we have to worry about. I know what you are thinking, Kent. We could be beached any minute without warning,” Janus said gently. “But if we cut the engine, we lessen any risks of damage to your father’s boat, even if we were to run aground. And that way we will also be better able to hear something approaching us, so that we can try and warn them.”
Kent stared at Janus, and then looked to Derek for a moment.
“Yeah, I guess that you guys are right. Damn! Why did this have to happen?” Kent stated in clear resignation. He nodded and gestured to Derek, indicating for him to go ahead and cut the engine off.
When the motor died down, all they could hear was the gentle sound of the water lapping up against the sides of the boat. A foreboding, eerie silence hung heavily in the air about them, the sheer lack of sounds escalating Janus’ tensions. All throughout the sojourn, the wisps of music and laughter had carried through the air from the various houses. It was as if the fog closed off sound as much as it did sight.
For the next several minutes, they drifted idly in the water, listening intently for the sounds of any other boat or person. Kent kept the headlights on full beam, and they honked the horn periodically.
It did not take very long for their frustrations at the situation to mount steadily. Kent was the first to give voice to them.
“So, are we going to sit here all night? Are we?” It was evident that his patience was quickly wearing thin. “All I want to think about is drinking a few more beers, and then crashing for the night under warm covers, in a nice king-sized bed.”
“Would be nice to round out the evening that way. If we could see for even ten feet ahead of us, I think we could go for it,” Derek advised. “With the headlights on, and the horn and us calling out, we might be able to pull it off very slowly. But we can’t even see five feet from the side of the boat. This fog is far too risky to try anything yet.”
“It looks like we are going to have to wait,” Janus added. “I don’t like it either, but you might as well settle in, Kent.”
Kent slumped back down into his chair, shaking his head in disbelief at the sour turn of fortune. “I guess that we are stuck.”
Janus leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. The moist air brushed against his face, and if they had been under any other circumstances he would not have found the feeling to be altogether unpleasant. In fact, its touch under other circumstances would have been rather soothing.
There was not much that he could do for the moment, and his strained emotions had already exhausted him considerably. The sustained idleness quickly added to his weariness, and he felt himself begin to slide towards unconsciousness. With an extended yawn, he slumped his chin down to rest. The tranquil refuge of a dreamless sleep tugged ever stronger at the edges of his lingering consciousness.
Consummately drowsy, he did not know whether he had momentarily fallen asleep, when Kent’s sharp, raised voice roused him back to full wakefulness.
“It’s thinning!” Kent exclaimed excitedly, from where he was still perched at the bow.
Janus leaned back up in his seat, and opened his eyes, feeling a heavy lethargy rooted throughout his body.
As Kent had indicated, the visibility beyond the sides of the boat had now increased to about fifteen feet. They were still surrounded by an outer boundary of dense fog, and could make no sign of the shore through it in any direction.
“Wanna go for it?” Kent queried impatiently.
“We can, but we’ve gotta be really careful, Kent, and do it my way, with horns, calls, and a very, very slow rate of speed,” Derek said with manifest caution in his voice. “We do it systematically.”
Janus had the sense that Derek much preferred to wait and see if the fog thinned out even further.
Kent nodded, “We’ll do it your way, but let’s get out of this.”
Derek frowned slightly as he turned the key again, and the motor rumbled back to life. Slowly increasing the power, Derek set the boat forward once again. They were barely creeping along the water’s surface. That much appeared to relax Kent considerably, who pulled back from his perch on the bow to come over to stand by Derek.