Chapter 2

Thomas grabbed Philip's leg and pulled him under. Then he worked him further down with his arms, putting his weight behind it. He laughed loudly as he pushed Philip once more under water.

"Leave him alone, Thomas, you've been a pain in the ass to him whole day," said John, and he slapped the big guy.

"Fuck off!" answered Thomas. But he let go of Philip and swam away.

John helped Philip catch his breath.

"Fucker's been onto you all day! I don't know how you stand it, I would've kicked him in the nuts a long time ago."

"I think..." Philip started, "I think he's mad about something, or just bored. I dunno."

"Yeah, well, let him try picking on me for while, I'll teach him!"

Philip nodded in approval.

"I've had enough," he then stated and headed back to the boat.

"I'm with you," said Ethel and followed him. When she swam next to him, she touched his back and when he looked at her, she winked.

Blue-eyed Tony saw Ethel and Philip head for the boat and rose to his elbows.

"Looks like two are coming back."

Emily didn't react; William opened his eyes and turned his head.

"My guess is they've had enough," he stated.

"Smart ass!" Tony reacted, but he was too lazy to give dumb William a smack on his head.

Emily rose to her feet and went into the small cabin. Tony watched her go, admiring her perfect legs, her bikini and what was underneath. He sighed.

"I'll get her out of her clothes and in my bed within one day when we return," he fantasized.

Fred awoke as Emily's walking and Ethel and Philip's getting aboard rocked the boat. His eyes opened, but his hat still covered them. He took a deep breath and stretched his long limbs. After that, he removed the hat from his face and put it properly on his head. A look at his watch told him he'd slept an hour.

"Time for a bite," he said to himself. He put his feet to the floor and rose.

A scream came from the cabin. Fred raced to the door opening and jumped inside. His feet hit the floor, but on it was a layer of water. One step in front of him was Emily.
"The boat is taking water!" she yelled and pointed towards the fore.

Fred could see waves of water rushing inside. An surge of adrenaline went through him.

"Get outside!" he told her, and pulled her back. He took a look around and saw some legs on the bench. Taking another step, he saw it was Edward. With two more step he was at the bench, and he shook the limp body.

"Get up! We're taking water!"

Edward mumbled a bit, but didn't move. Fred shook him even harder, and slapped Edward on his head to wake him.

"Err.. what? Cut that out!" he said, his voice still a bit slurry from the booze.

Tony lifted Edward upright.

"Get out of the cabin!"

"What?" Edward asked, then realization hit him. "Oh, right!" he said and got off the bench. He walked, using his hands to keep his balance.

Fred continued towards the fore, looking for what was going on exactly. He could see the waves in the water. There was definitely a leak, and it wasn't a small one.

"Damn!" he said. He looked around but found nobody. He checked the head and found it was unoccupied. Meaning everybody was on deck, or outside.

He tried to find the source of the water, but he couldn't tell anything more than that the water came from under the floor on the port side of the vessel.

His mind raced. The boat was taking water. There was too much to bail out. Everybody was outside.

Fred walked back, now feeling the boat was starting to tilt, and went outside.

"We're making water! Abandon ship!" he yelled.

The others were looking at him in disbelief, stunned and immobile.

"Move!" Fred yelled, "This isn't a joke - the boat is sinking, get into the water and swim!"

He pushed Emily and Philip, who stood closest to him, towards the water.

"Abandon ship!" he called again, and pushed the two in the ocean. He turned and motioned for the others to get off the boat as well.

Edward was the last to jump into the water. Fred looked to see if everybody was in the water. Luckily, it was so. He remembered the life preserver and threw it towards Edward - he'd need it. Then he jumped in also.

"Swim!" he yelled. "There's an island over there!"

As they swam, they often looked behind. It was a matter of minutes before the fore of the vessel was under water, and the aft up in the air.

"Damn!" said Fred.

He watched the ship go under. When he turned to the island again, he saw the devastated faces of the others.

"Come on, swim!" he encouraged them. "Last one on the island buys me a bottle of scotch!"