Chapter 4
Upon hearing the words "Ship abandonment", all the passengers turned white. The vessel's employee endeavored to appease the passengers so that they all respect the rules that women and child should go first on the lifeboats.
The children of the group of friends were no exception to the rule. Indeed, the kids began to freak. Javier gathered them around him before explaining to them what he had said to Kate before. Shortly after, he decided to take them by the hand to install them in the lifeboat which was right behind them.
The children all got into the lifeboat, but they all realized at that moment that there would be no room for everyone. Indeed, there was no place for Javier and Castle who were the last to enter the lifeboat.
"You know", Javier said, "you should on that boat. Don't worry, we'll take the next lifeboat and meet you on the beach."
"I'm not sure it is really a good idea." Answered Kate. "Indeed, we should always stay together. It's safer this way!"
"Don't you worry sweetheart", Rick said to try to comfort his wife, "we'll get whichever boat comes next. You go with the kids and I'll go with Javier. Stay with the children and take care of them. We'll be together before you even wonder where I am, and we'll be able to resume our vacation."
"Kate", continued Javier, "you are my little sister and one of my best friends. I promise you everything will be fine for both of us and even if there was any risk for me or your husband, I remind you that I was in the Special Forces so everything will be fine."
"Ok !" Concluded Kate. "I'll see you on the beach and I want you both to be careful. Rick, I love you and our kids love you too!"
The novelist hugged his wife and kids and then, Javier and Rick watched the other members in their lifeboat as they went down the side of the boat and wandered out into the darkness.
Directly, the two men decided to start looking for a canoe in which they could board into. Already, the deck was almost unloaded, having been hollowed out by all the boats on their way to the shore. It was at this moment one of the cruise ship employees approached them and started talking to them.
"Quite an evening! I'm not supposed to tell you this, but you know, it turns out that in the end, this boat is a floating nightmare. The captain left as soon as he declared the ship abandoned and we're all on our own tonight. In addition, we just found out that the captain thought it was smart to consider simple plastic floaties as real solid lifeboats."
"What does that mean?" Javier asked
"It's easy", the sailor explained, "it simply means that there will be no lifeboats for everyone. As a consequence, because you are both healthy and fit men, I must inform you that you probably can't get off the boat in a boat."
The two men directly realized the only solution they would have to leave the ship would be to jump and then swim.