Chapter 15

Returning from talking to the Captain, Nico called out, "Please move down here, we need to be out from the lightning," and ushered them all into the cabin. Despite the rocking of the boat, Jonathan stood to his feet. He turned to help Jennifer up, but the waves crashing against the side of the vessel made it difficult for her. She stumbled into his arms, and he didn't let go. Jennifer was feeling dizzy and nauseous. The rocking of the boat was not helping either. As the group crammed into the small room below deck, Jonathan eased Jennifer onto the bunk, and taking note; she still had her wetsuit on her legs.

The engine roared to life. Captain Paul began to push the boat through the waves, against the rain, to move them around the edge of the islands. He knew what should only take 30 minutes was going to be longer as they fought this storm. His goal was to keep it under an hour.

"Darling," Jonathan said gently, holding Jennifer back from actually sitting on the bed. "We need to get you out of that suit, so you can fully dry off and warm up." He assisted in the removal of the garment, leaving it in a pile on the floor. Then he pulled off his shirt and slid up against her body before he rewrapped the sleeping bag around both of them.

Jennifer lifted her head and mumbled something in Jonathan's direction. He couldn't hear her over the clamor of conversation and rumbling motor. She let the cover drop from her shoulder and shivered. "Darling, please keep that around you." He pulled her back against him, this time held onto the cover and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and covered her head.

Paul looked at Jonathan in shock. "How, man, are you not dead? We all saw the lightning hit the water while you were under."

Jonathan shook his head, careful not to shake Jennifer. "Luck?" He grinned. "Actually, scientists don't fully know what happens when lightning strikes the water. The theory is the strength of the electricity dissipates as it moves through the water." He paused, thinking of what could have happened. Laughing, "I guess that makes me something of an experiment. One thing I can tell you for sure, I'm crazy sore. Major compression under there."

"Wow…" Jonathan wasn't sure if the man was impressed or skeptical. "You spit that information out quickly. Were you hoping to be in a lightning storm?"

Jonathan laughed at the notion. "No. I happen to read about a study in a science magazine a few months back. That particular article struck me."

"Not as hard as the lightning did," Paul quipped.

Jonathan laughed as he shook his head, "That is for sure."

As the boat came around the edge of the island and hit the full force of the storm, Captain Paul powered up the motor, fighting the wind with everything the smaller ship had to offer. The boat struggled against the waves crashing against it when the engine lurched and sputtered to a stop. Down below, the group struggled to hold on and not slam into each other with every wave strike.

"What the…" Jonathan questioned. He looked for Nico and spotted fear in the other man's eyes when he found him.

"I'll go check the engine." Nico said as he hurried out of the room.

Jennifer lifted her head and looked at Jonathan. She seemed to read his mind. "Go, Darling. I'll be fine."

He stood up, wrapped the bag back around her, and grabbed his shirt. "I'll be right back, Darling."

"I'll go with you," Paul volunteered. Jonathan and Paul stepped out into the driving rain. The two men found Nico and Captain Paul at the back of the boat, with the hatch to the engine compartment open, smoke billowing from what had been the motor.

Nico turned to see the men walking towards them. "Looks like it threw a rod," he hollered above the wind.

"Now what?"

"The Captain has dropped the anchor. We need to keep off the rocks." He pointed to the edge of the island.

"I'm going to radio for help," Captain Paul said as he turned back towards the bridge.

"Will the anchor hold?" Jonathan asked Nico, looking at the jagged rocks outlining the coast in front of them.

Nico frowned. "Honestly? In this wind? Not for long."