Skip asked, “What if we can’t? You said we might be able to do that. Suppose we don’t make it?”
Vanessa shrugged. “Then we hit Tobago, I suppose. Richard?”
“Or Trinidad. Most likely of all, we ground somewhere on the north coast of the South American Union. I’m not going to write that down, because it’s almost the worst thing that could happen, in my opinion. Not quite as bad as sinking, but close. It’s what will happen if nothing we try works.”
Chelle’s hand found Skip’s. “What if we rush them and win? Could you repair the rudders?”
“The steering gear. They haven’t done anything to the rudders themselves. The steering gear’s electric, and all they had to do was pull a couple of wires, or cut them. It should be easy to fix.”
“Then that’s what we do, damn it!”
Vanessa’s voice was almost a whisper. “With you out in front, darling?”
“Damn fucking right, Mother!”
“In that case, I vote against it, Richard.”
Skip said, “So do I.”
The captain laid down his pencil. “We’re not voting yet.”
Vanessa edged her chair nearer his. “You’ve got an idea, and I’ll vote for it. Whatever it is.”
Skip nodded. “What is it, Captain?”
“Let me lay a little groundwork first. For years now, northern South America has been a disaster. Revolution and banditry, crime and corruption, every kind of hell. We’ve steered clear of it, and so have the other cruise lines. The Caribbean islands have been relatively safe up until now. If that weren’t true, we wouldn’t have put in at La Glaise.”
Skip said, “Where you were blindsided. I understand.”
“Grenada has been another regular stop. It’s EU, not SAU.”
“EU?” Chelle said. “Over here?”
“That’s right. There are a few EU islands. Jamaica’s the biggest. Grenada’s the nicest, in our opinion. We’ve never had trouble there, and it’s in their interest to have as many cruise ships stop off there as possible. Tourism’s the main industry. I want to try it.”
Chelle said, “If we can get there, sure. Maybe they can front us a little tear gas.”
Skip nodded. “I agree, Captain, but I have a question.”
“So do I,” Vanessa said, “and I think it’s the same one. You’re the captain, Richard, so why ask us? Why don’t you just do it?”
The captain drew a deep breath. “Because I need your cooperation—all three of you. Lieutenant Brice is in the infirmary, and some of the best people I had are dead. I don’t want another fight with the hijackers before we make port there. It would be a fight we might lose.”
He paused, then spoke to Chelle. “You’re headstrong, Ms. Blue. I don’t want you to organize an attack on your own, and after what I’ve seen you do, I’m afraid you might do it. You’re a soldier? That’s what Mr. Grison told me.”
Chelle made him a mock salute. “Mastergunner Blue at your service, sir.”
“I certainly hope so. We’ve quite a few vets among the passengers, and Mr. Gorman tells me that they—and you—were our best fighters. Would they follow you if you tried to surprise the hijackers?”
“Absolutely. Every one of them.”
“I want you to give me your word you won’t do it, at least until we reach Grenada—or fail to reach it. Will you?”
“You’ve got it, Captain,” Chelle said.
“Thank you. I’m deeply indebted to you.” He turned to Vanessa. “You’re Ms. Blue’s mother, Virginia? That’s what Mr. Grison told me, although you seem much too young.”
Vanessa’s smile would have charmed a man far less susceptible. “I was a mere infant of twenty-three when Chelle was born.”
“But if Ms. Blue here fought…?”
Chelle said, “You’re right. I was gone over twenty years, Earth-time. My mother’d be pushing seventy now if she hadn’t been up in space herself. She won’t talk about it, damn her. Not to me and probably not to you.”
Vanessa smiled again. “My lips are sealed.”
“I understand,” the captain told her. “You were a civilian employee of the government. We’ll leave it at that.”
“As I said, Richard, my lips are sealed.”
“Not where your daughter is concerned, I hope. You’re bound to have a good deal of influence with her. I’d like you to exert it to prevent a premature attack. That’s why you’re here.”
“I’d do it even if you hadn’t asked, Richard. I’d rather die myself than see Chelle killed.”
No one spoke until Skip said, “What about me, Captain? Why was I invited?”
The captain seemed to hesitate. “You’re an attorney, Mr. Grison? I believe you told me so.”
Skip nodded. “Burton, Grison, and Ibarra. Chet Burton’s our senior partner, but he’s retired.”
“You do the senior partner’s work without the senior partner’s pay.”
“If you want to put it that way. I’m doing all right financially.”
“I imagine you are.” The captain cleared his throat. “You and Ms. Blue are an extraordinary couple. We’re very lucky to have you two on board.”
Chelle said, “Thanks.”
“I feel blessed in all three of you.” The captain studied their faces before he spoke again. “Something was said earlier about Mr. Grison’s jumping the railing. Like a tiger was the way you put it, Mastergunner Blue. I was nearer than you were, and I confirm it. He realized—he’s told me this since—that they were shooting at you.”
Vanessa said, “You must have gone over that railing too, Richard. You were on deck with two empty pistols when I got there.”
The captain nodded. “Thank you. That brings me to my point, and I didn’t know how I was going to get there. I’d never have gone over that railing if Mr. Grison hadn’t done it first. As it was, I followed him without thought and without hesitation. Are you—”
As the captain spoke, the door opened. Achille looked in and made an odd, urgent gesture.
Skip said, “We’ll be through in a moment.”
When the door had shut, the captain said, “I was about to ask whether you were the leader of the passengers.”
“No. I don’t think they have a leader.”
Chelle said, “He is, Captain.”
“That is my impression as well. Whether you’re their leader or not, Mr. Grison, I know you have influence and I want you to use it.”
Soon after that, the meeting ended. The captain and Vanessa left together, going up the stairs to the signal deck. While Skip and Chelle made their way forward, she asked, “What do you think Achille wanted?”
“I have no idea. Something was wrong with him. Did you notice?”
“Sure. One side of his face was swollen.”
“You’re right. He’d put a hook through the face of one of the hijackers, and they beat him for it. That’s not what I was getting at, though. I lost track of him when the shooting started, and he looks different now. It took me a moment to put my finger on it.”
“Maybe he took a bath.”
Skip was silent.
When they had passed a dozen weary doors, Chelle asked, “Where are you going?”
“To our stateroom. I thought Achille would be waiting outside. He wasn’t and I’d like to be where he can find me, at least for the next hour or two. I’ll probably go out on the veranda and read. What about you?”
“Going down to the second-class bar. I just decided.” Grinning, Chelle raised her larger hand. “I swear I won’t have more than a couple of beers, and I won’t cheat on you. Trust me?”
Skip nodded. “I love you too much not to.”
“Okay. I need to talk to the guys and tell them to lay off the rough stuff until we get to that island he’s heading for.”
“Grenada.”
“Yeah, that was it. I’ll circulate and pass the word. Then I’ll come in and make you drop your book.”