Long chapter coming up! So much has to happen! I hope it doesn't make you too impatient!

Chapter Eight

"I knew we were getting close," Ann said quietly. "I could feel it. I still… can… feel it. It's so near now.. The island…"

Jack glanced at her worriedly. The two of them stood on the deck, facing the dark horizon. The ship's engines had stopped, but it was still drifting toward the fog. Jack reached to take Ann's hand. He wasn't sure what to say to make her feel better. As if anything anyone could say would ease her nerves… They were going back to Skull Island, for heaven's sake!

Ann moved closer to her husband. "Are we going to stop in time?"

Jack put his arm around her. "I don't know."

"I thought we weren't supposed to get here until tomorrow," Ann whispered.

"We all did." Jack frowned. "I have a feeling that Wilson has been sabotaging this mission from the beginning. He's probably been messing with the maps and charts and all that."

"But it doesn't make sense!" Ann exclaimed. "He's working for Mr. Atkins! Wouldn't Atkins want the mission to rescue his godson to go smoothly?"

"I think it's Carl that Wilson works for," Jack said angrily.

Suddenly, Carl came up behind them on the deck, wearing a smug smile.

"Proud of yourself, Carl?" Jack asked, motioning to the darkness ahead.

"Because of me, we got here even faster than we hoped to, didn't we?" the shorter man replied. "You should be thanking me."

"We had planned to go through tomorrow morning, and--"

"Let me guess--then you were going to leave this ship and get in the rowboats and row through the rocks to the island and split up to look for David Seaborne."

"That's what we're still going to do, if you don't ruin things," Jack replied. He glanced nervously ahead. The ship was still drifting toward the fog, as if somehow drawn to it.

(LINE)

"We're going to have to reverse the engines and fight the current," Englehorn announced on the bridge, where he stood with Clytie, Darby, and Jimmy.

Darby quickly reversed the engines, and the captain held the wheel steady.

Clytie held her breath, nervously rubbing her fingers together. She wished she could be helping in some way, doing something, anything besides standing here watching.

"Clytie, stand outside the window where I can see and hear you," the captain ordered abruptly. "You may have to be my eyes if I can't get us out in time."

Clytie nodded, glad to be of use, and hurried to her position.

"Jimmy--crow's nest," Englehorn added.

Just like last time… Jimmy thought, hurrying to obey.

Darby stared with worry at the darkening horizon. "Captain, I don't think it's just the fog making it so dark," he said quietly. "I think there's a storm behind us--and it's coming up fast."

"I agree, Mr. Galyon," the captain replied.

"So… it's either storm or fog we're going into…"

"Yes. And I believe we will be safer going into the storm."

"Captain!" Clytie called. "We're not going anywhere!" Her voice was high-pitched and shaky.

The ship was trapped. Even though the engines were pushing it back from the fog, the currents and the storm were pushing it forward.

"Mr. Galyon, full speed ahead," Englehorn said suddenly. "We're turning around and heading into the storm."

"Aye, sir." Darby quickly changed the speed and direction of the engines, and the captain began to turn the wheel, easily to that the ship wouldn't tip.

Standing outside, Clytie felt the first few drops of rain. "It's raining!" she called back to the bridge.

Englehorn tightened his grip on the wheel, not looking forward to steering his ship into a storm. He glanced out at Clytie, who was standing in the rain, looking ahead. "Mr. Galyon, get her a jacket," he told his First Mate.

(LINE)

Carl Denham crept quietly down into the hold, stumbling occasionally from the rocking of the ship. In his pocket, he carried a small pocketknife. He had used it before to pick locks, and he was going to do it again. Slowly, he made his way to the locked cage which imprisoned Joe Wilson. "Joe!" he whispered. "It's Carl!"

The big man sat up slowly. "Carl? Are you getting me out?"

"Just as I promised." Carl began to work on the lock. "Unfortunately, you'll have to sneak back in here once the distraction is finished."

"Fine. As long as you eventually get me out for good… What's going on? Why is the ship rocking like this?"

"We've reached the fog," Carl explained. "And now we're running away from it--into a storm. Aha!" Carl had sprung the lock. He quickly opened the door. "While they're distracted with the storm, we can get the equipment ready."

Wilson stepped out of the cage and looked down at Carl. "Where is it?"

"In my cabin. Come on. Let's try not to be seen."

(LINE)

Ann, Jack, and Preston sat together in the galley. They had stayed out on the deck until it started to rain. Now, they were huddled together at one of the tables, waiting.

"If we survive this, we'll be at the island tomorrow," Preston spoke up.

The ship lurched suddenly, and they all grabbed onto the table.

"What if that boy's not alive?" Jack wondered aloud. "What if we're going through all this for nothing?"

"It's not nothing," Ann said quietly, touching his shoulder. "We all have to go back. It's like we're being… drawn back. We need to face our memories, our nightmares." She shook her head. "We can't stop now. We have to keep going."

Jack nodded. "You're right, darling," he said, squeezing her hand.

Jake Atkins and Bruce Baxter suddenly staggered into the galley, taking their seats at another table. "Safety in numbers, eh?" Bruce said lightly. Then his face paled as the ship rolled slightly to one side.

"Why are you even coming, Bruce?" Preston asked abruptly.

Bruce lifted his chin. "I went through all that, too. I'm one of you guys. And anyway, Carl…" He paused, then cleared his throat, knowing that what he was about to say was not going to make these people happy. "Carl wants to shoot some more footage. I agreed to be in some of it."

"Ah, great!" Jack exclaimed. "Here we go again!"

(LINE)

Here we go again… Clytie thought, staring down from the top of yet another huge wave. She fought the urge to close her eyes and scream as the ship plummeted down. She had been through storms at sea before, but nothing like this. "There's another big one fifty yards ahead!" she called back to the captain as soon as she caught her breath.

Soon, the Venture was slowly climbing the monstrous wave of water. They were almost at the top when the ship stopped moving. God save us… We're gonna fall back down… Clytie gripped the railing with all her strength.

"Hang on!" she heard Englehorn shout from behind her.

But the ship didn't fall backwards. Instead, the wave sank down, and the Venture plunged down the other side. As it hit the bottom of the wave, a huge wall of water broke over the bow of the ship.

Clytie held on with all her strength, but it wasn't enough. She was knocked back against the window, her breath ripped away. Lungs burning, blinded by water in her eyes, she tried to regain her balance, but it was useless. Her feet slipped in the water, and she fell. For a moment, she just laid there on the soaked deck, stunned and breathless.

"Clytie!" the captain's voice called. "Clytie, are you all right?"

She couldn't get enough breath to answer him. She could hear him yell to Darby, "Galyon, take the wheel!" Unable to see or speak, she sat up on one elbow, gasping for breath.

Suddenly, arms wrapped around her and a hand was wiping the water from her eyes.

Clytie looked up. Englehorn was kneeling beside her, one arm around her shoulders.

"Clytie! Are you all right?"

She nodded, still hardly able to breathe.

"Come on." He stood and pulled her to her feet beside him, half dragging her toward the doorway. Just as they reached it, the ship plunged down again, and they were nearly knocked off balance. But somehow, they managed to stagger onto the bridge, where Clytie collapsed to her knees, panting.

Jimmy's voice drifted down from above, nearly drowned out by the roar of the wind and the waves. "Is everyone all right?"

"We're fine!" the captain called.

Clytie wondered how Jimmy managed to hang on up there in the crow's nest. She tried to stand up, but grew dizzy and sank back down to her knees. Englehorn knelt beside her. "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked.

"I'm… fine… Captain," she managed, leaning against the wall.

The captain stood and took the wheel from Darby.

"Looks like we're breaking through, Captain," the Irishman commented.

Clytie managed to get shakily to her feet. She turned to face the horizon. Darby was right. The storm was breaking up. There were still some big swells ahead, but none as big as the last few. She sighed audibly with relief.

In little time, the Venture was sailing slowly through slightly choppy waters.

Englehorn leaned back from the wheel and closed his eyes momentarily. "Full stop, Mr. Galyon."

"Aye, sir." Darby pulled back the levers with shaking hands.

The captain turned to Clytie. "I was worried that we'd lost you, Miss Seaborne," he said simply. He was barely able to control himself from shaking. The moment she'd disappeared from view, he had felt like someone had punched him in the gut.

Clytie smiled awkwardly and attempted to smooth her wet hair, which was all tangled up around her hair clip. "Well… Here I am. I made it." She smoothed down the raincoat Englehorn had sent Darby to give her, wincing when the water slapped the floor loudly.

Abruptly, the captain burst out laughing.

At first, Clytie was a bit hurt, but then, she smiled, and soon was laughing with him.

Darby glanced from one to the other, wondering if they had gone mad. Then he got it. "I'll just go… check on the crew, Captain," he said quickly. Then he left the bridge.

"Here. Let me fix that." Englehorn stepped close to Clytie and with surprising gentleness, worked the hair clip free from her hair. "There." He stepped back and looked at her. Her hair hung wet and loose just past her shoulders. He gave her a slow, crooked smile, then turned back to the wheel. "Miss Seaborne, since Mr. Galyon is checking on the crew, do you mind checking on your fellow passengers?"

Clytie hesitated for a moment. She felt strange. What had he meant to accomplish by fixing her hair? She blinked at him, disappointed for some odd reason. "Uhm… Yes. I mean, no… I don't mind… sir." She slowly walked toward the doorway.

"And while you're at it…" He gave her a slow, appraising look. "Change into something dry. I wouldn't want you to catch cold."

Clytie raised her eyebrows at him. He was a bit soaked himself. "You, too, Captain," she said quietly. Then she left the bridge. She headed immediately for the galley, sure that at least some of her fellow passengers would be there. She found all of them but Carl. "Is everyone all right?" she asked, avoiding meeting the eyes of Jake, who was staring at her.

"We're fine," Jack answered. He frowned. "But where's Carl?"

(LINE)

Carl and Wilson had just finished packing away Carl's film equipment in easily portable containers. Carl was a bit shaken by the storm. "That was kinda rough, eh, Joe?" he remarked to the big sailor, wiping his brow.

Wilson shrugged. "I'd better go back to the cage, Carl," he said. "That is, unless you need me for anything else."

"Nah. Nothing I can think of." Carl grinned. "Not yet."

(LINE)

Clytie quickly changed into her favorite black dress. It was one of her only articles of clothing that was both dry and clean. The dress suited her well, falling to her knees, with cap sleeves, a V-neckline, and low waist. After changing, she attacked her tangled hair with a brush and hurried back to the deck. She quickly mounted the steps to the bridge, where she spotted Darby at the wheel.

"The captain's in his cabin. He said to tell you that you can give him your report there," Darby explained.

Clytie felt the color drain from her face. Wilson's comments mocked her. "Have you asked her to your cabin yet?" "Uhm… Okay."

Darby tilted his head to the side and studied her. "Don't worry about what Wilson said, Clytie," he told her.

"All right." She smiled wryly. "Thanks, Darby." Then she headed for the captain's cabin. The door was closed, so for a moment, she stood there awkwardly. Why did she feel so shy all of a sudden? Sucking in a deep breath, she knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Clytie opened the door and stepped inside.

The captain was sitting at a desk, his back to her.

She cleared her throat… No response. "Captain Englehorn?"

He turned quickly. "Clytie."

I should start making bets with people over whether he's going to call me Clytie or Miss Seaborne when we talk… "Everyone seems to be all right… Well, I'm not sure about Carl. No one seems to know where he is."

"Perhaps we got lucky, and he was washed overboard during the storm," Englehorn said, smiling crookedly.

"Perhaps." Clytie hesitated. "Uhm… Thank-you for… for rescuing me." Once again, Clytie, you get points for originality.

The captain was quiet, momentarily looking away from her and staring at something far away, probably nonexistent. Then he looked back at her. "You're welcome." He stood and hooked his thumbs in his belt, studying her. "I'm glad I was able to get to you in time. I can't afford to lose you, Miss Seaborne."

Clytie wasn't really sure what to say.

Englehorn waited, as if expecting her to reply, then simply nodded. "Dismissed, Miss Seaborne. You may go rest." He turned, hesitated, then sat back down at his desk.

Clytie just stood there, watching him, feeling as if something hugely important had just slipped through her fingers. She suddenly noticed that her hairclip was sitting on the desk, the one that he had removed from her hair. Slowly, she crossed the floor to stand beside the desk. She reached out and closed her fingers around the hairclip, then started to turn away.

Suddenly, the captain's hand closed around her wrist. "Miss Seaborne… Clytie… You have no idea how much it upset me to almost lose you…"

Clytie dropped the clip. "I think maybe I do," she said quietly. "You did leave the wheel in the middle of a storm… just to come after me..." She finally met his eyes.

He stood and linked his fingers with hers. To her surprise, his hand was shaking. "Clytie, you are very important to me."

"You are to me, too." She smiled shyly. "I don't know how I can… every repay you for saving my life."

"Like this," he whispered, reaching with his free hand to touch her face. He bent forward and kissed her on the lips, softly at first, then with passion.

Clytie melted into his kiss, feeling as if this was all perfectly natural and right.

Finally, he released her, and the two of them just stood there, staring at each other. "Go get some rest, Miss Seaborne… Clytie," the captain said quietly. "You've been through a lot."

Clytie smiled at him. "You, too," she said softly. This time, her eyes told him everything. She shyly nodded to him and walked toward the door.

"Clytie."

She turned around.

"You can call me Eric."

She bit her lip, grinning. "All right… Eric." Then she slipped quietly out of the door and disappeared.

Englehorn sighed and leaned back against his desk. What was he doing? No… That wasn't the question. What was she doing to him? "Now that's what I would like to know," he muttered.