Chapter Nineteen

Day Nine, Morning

Kate prepared breakfast, deciding on a hot meal. She used three fuel cans to make cooking go faster. She opened a can of potatoes, diced them, and fried them. She also cut thin strips from one of the larger roasts, which had completely thawed, though it lacked the unpleasant odor of the other smaller meat choices in the freezer. Using the third fuel can, she boiled water and made enough coffee to get them through the morning.

She'd slept surprisingly well between the checks on the engine compartment and felt more in charge now. The doomsday feeling in the pit of her stomach also left and she looked forward to the large breakfast. She'd eaten more than Sam the past few days but not nearly enough so being hungry was a relief.

Even Sam managed to eat more food than he'd eaten since the attack though it exhausted him and he fell asleep shortly after finishing half his plate. Ryan had no problem gobbling her food. She even gave a small, unlady-like belch when she finished.

"Excuse me," she said and drank the last of her water.

She helped Kate clean the galley and get everything in its proper place. They were crowded enough with the seat cushions on the floor where they'd joined Sam for the meal and it was essential that Kate had room to move around.

The night flare from the previous evening had yielded no results. As disheartening as it was, Kate wouldn't give up; her family depended on her. She could pump water from the engine room herself, but she still needed Ryan to haul it to the bathroom, and worse, Ryan had to go down and flip the toggle that released the gray water into the ocean.

Scared and appearing as if she might throw up, Ryan voiced her fear, close to tears. "What if the shark breaks through?" she asked.

"I would never send you down if I thought the shark could get you," Kate assured her. "You are the most important person in my life and I will always protect you. If you can't do it, that's okay," Kate said, hugging her in reassurance.

Ryan took a moment to decide. Once the decision was made, her small shoulders pulled back, and her spine straightened.

"I can do it, Mommy."

The use of the words "mommy" and "daddy" showed the overall impact their predicament had on Ryan. She was holding herself together by a thread. Kate suspected Ryan didn't want her parents to know how terrified she truly was. The last thing Kate wanted to do was add to Ryan's stress, but she had no choice.

Kate felt the loss of her legs more now than at any time since the accident. She loathed her inability to help herself, and an unreasonable hatred for the shark grew with each passing hour.

"I'm ready, Mommy." Ryan's voice broke into Kate's moment of self-pity, and it was her turn to square her shoulders and show the same bravery her daughter displayed.

Ryan stepped down into the engine room slowly. Kate moved into position with her head over the hatch and held a solar light as soon as Ryan was on the floor.

"You've got this, Ryan. Mommy's here," Kate promised as her daughter tentatively placed a foot into the water in the engine compartment.

Ryan slugged along and followed Kate's directions until she found the correct switch. After her success, she splashed toward the ladder and launched herself up the steps in seconds, barely allowing Kate time to move out of the way.

"I did it," she cried and threw her arms around Kate. "I don't want to go down there again," she whispered.

"I'm so proud of you." She couldn't give Ryan the promise she wanted. Kate couldn't think of another reason to go down there, but she couldn't risk promising and then reneging. "Now I need your help hauling water. Does that work for you?"

Ryan nodded with relief.

It took two hours to remove another six inches of water. Kate had to face facts. A rescue team arriving in time looked more dismal with each passing hour. Sam's condition had deteriorated rapidly, and without medical intervention, he would die. If he were the one to take the Sea-Doo, he would eventually fall off and drown. And no matter how she tried to play it in her head, he was the logical choice to go.

While she pumped the water, Kate tried to think of ways to make him safer, even though she knew she was fooling herself. Taking the Sea-Doo out was a huge risk, and she didn't feel good about it.

She pulled herself up to the main deck to speak with Sam and get his input.

"Duct tape," he said when she told him the Sea-Doo had to be used. "We'll tape my leg using a plastic bag so there's no blood in the water. I'll use your wheelchair to get to the Sea-Doo and send Ryan back for you before I take off. You and Ryan will toss meat off the platform and keep the shark's focus on an easy meal." He'd put as much thought into it as Kate.

"I'm still worried you'll fall off," she said truthfully. "We have some rope. What if we tied your hands to the handles?"

He thought about it before shaking his head. "I need my hands free to put more gas in the tank. If I feel unwell, I can slow down or even stop and rest. That's the worst-case scenario." He smiled to alleviate her worry, but she didn't return his grin. "Trust me, I can do this," he said, squeezing her hand.

She looked at him for a long time and then leaned in. His arms enclosed her, and her growing panic lessened. Sam would bring help back. This entire voyage would be a footnote in their life—an exciting one, but one they wouldn't want to revisit. Kate pictured them in side-by-side wheelchairs, wheeling their grandchildren around. A small grin tipped her lips up. She squeezed him extra tight.

"I need two pain pills to get out to the deck," he said after pulling back slightly. "I'll take added pills with me. Water, something salty to snack on, and extra gasoline for the jet ski will get this done. I'm sorry I'm not much help. If you could get me the pills first, I want them to take effect before I move."

Kate worried two pills would make him groggy, but then decided not to argue. Adrenaline should keep him awake. It unsettled her stomach to think about what he was going to do. It would be easier if it were her.

"Have you told Ryan?" Sam asked when she returned with the pain pills.

"No." Kate had delayed it as long as possible.

"Send her in here; I'm the one who should explain what I'm going to do," he said.

"She's having a rough time," Kate admitted.

"I know. It's been so long since she's called me daddy; I'd forgotten that she had."

"I'll send her in," Kate said. She would give them time to say goodbye and for Sam to assure Ryan he would be okay.

While Sam and Ryan spoke, Kate stayed busy gathering the supplies he would need. She went onto the deck and examined the Sea-Doo. It was a high-end model; no part of Sam's body would touch water. It had a top speed of 65 miles per hour. Kate doubted he'd driven it that fast before, but the main goal was to get him far enough from the boat so the shark wouldn't care. Hopefully, the meat in the freezer would be the target.

She went back to the galley and ran into Ryan as she was heading to Sam's berth.

"Daddy wants his good luck hat that I got him for father's day," she said.

"That's a great idea. He definitely needs his lucky hat."

She wheeled up to Sam after Ryan ran off.

"She seems okay," Kate said.

"My leaving didn't go over well. The hat was a desperate measure, but I don't think the joy will last." He lifted his hand and Kate took it. "I promise to do everything in my power to save us. I'm sorry I haven't been any help up till now."

"That's ridiculous," she told him. "You took care of me for months. It's my turn, and besides, you get to be the hero and I'm slightly jealous."

He laughed and pulled her in for a hug. "I love you and Ryan. It will all be okay."

In his arms, Kate fully trusted that Sam would pull them from their real-life horror film.