Shipwrecked-Chapter 4
The rolling clap of thunder brought Della out of a sound sleep. Slightly disoriented from the unfamiliar surroundings, she reached out for the lamp on her nightstand only to feel nothing but air. Then it came back to her. She wasn't i her apartment. A second roll of thunder decided her. Casting off her covers, she was about to climb out of bed when the boat gave a violent lurch and she was thrown against the wall, the momentum causing her head to impact the wall.
Jarred, she was momentarily dazed until another sudden movement, convinced her something was wrong. She scrambled out of bed, wobbled, the righted herself. Her first coherent thought was for him.
"PERRY! Perry, where are you?" Della was trying to walk but with every step, the boat movement threatened to throw her down. She had finally managed to switch on a lamp when she heard Perry's voice.
"Della, don't move. I'm coming to you. Stay still," his magnificent voice answered.
She knew he had shouted the words, but they sounded muffled and far away. A minute later, Perry entered the cabin, immediately taking her in his arms.
She clung to him, trying desperately to keep her feet under her. "Perry what's happening?"
Perry was about to answer when he saw the trickle of red on her forehead. "Sweetheart, you're bleeding." He took his handkerchief, dabbing at the blood.
"I…the boat moved and…".
Della found she couldn't form a coherent sentence. Perry had never used such an endearment before. He was gently dabbing at the small cut on her temple.
"There. We'll find a bandage in a minute. But first I'd better get topside and see what's happening."
When Della just kept looking into his eyes without saying a word, he asked tenderly, "Della?"
She was dazed, definitely dazed. Then realizing he was looking at her in concern, she forced herself to reply.
"Yes, Perry?"
Another violent swing of the boat sent them both tumbling to the bed.
Perry's first thought was controlled completely by his lower region. He immediately thought of Hamilton Burger's 'Incompetent, Irrelevant and Immaterial' to tamp down his growing desire. As much as he wanted to stay there and explore the possibilities, he knew something was terribly wrong on the boat.
"Della stay right here. I need to see what's wrong," he managed to grit out.
She smiled at him. "Okay. But please be careful."
Perry gave her a quick kiss, then walking as best he could, he headed for the stairs.
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Once Perry reached the deck, he knew they were in serious trouble. The cold rain was coming down in sheets. Lightening slashed the sky, followed by a nearly deafening clap of thunder. Perry was almost immediately soaked to the skin. There was no sign of Jack, the boom was swinging freely and the wheel was no longer locked.
"JACK?!"
Perry struggled to get the wheel into a locked position. Once he accomplished that, he tried to get the boom under control. He managed to get the boom line secured, another flash of lightening revealed that his hand had blood on it. Running his hand along the wood, he came to the spot where the boom must have hit Jack. Realizing his friend had to have gone over the side, he wondered how long ago it had happened.
He went back to the wheel, trying to see through the dense rain, but he couldn't make out anything in the dark. His clothes were sticking to his skin, and he was starting to shiver.
"Perry?" Della was standing in the stairwell.
He might have known she wouldn't stay put. She had managed to dress and somehow found his windbreaker. She came up onto the deck, helping him into the jacket.
"Where's Jack?"
Perry drew her next to him. "I'm afraid Jack's gone. The boom came loose in the storm and he must have been trying to fasten it down and it struck him," he swallowed, then finished, "knocking him overboard."
"Oh Perry!" She buried her face against his chest.
His arm moved protectively around her. "I know. But right now our current situation is a lot more dire. I'm not sure how long he's been gone or how long we have been adrift in this storm. So I have no idea where we are. The compass heading is southwest but I'm not sure how far south we traveled."
Della looked up at him, understanding in her eyes. "So, we're 'lost at sea'?"
Perry actually laughed. "Yes."
Della was about the respond when she saw the large dark mass to the side.
"Perry!" Too late, Perry tried to spin the wheel. As the boat slammed into the cliff face, they were both thrown to the deck. Perry had kept his arms around Della, keeping her from harm, but he felt his left shoulder dislocate.
The collision slowed the boat and it continued a short distance, sliding along the cliff face, before running aground on some underwater obstruction, jarring them both. It settled at a slight tilt to starboard.
Della was the first to recover. Looking over at him, she asked, "Perry? Are you alright?"
Perry struggled to a sitting position. "My shoulder's dislocated." He winced, then grimaced. "What about you? Are you okay?"
She didn't answer; instead, she immediately began to examine him. Then with a voice laced with years of office authority, she ordered, "Don't move. I'll be right back."
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Because the waves were slapping against the boat, Della used the walls to help her descend the steps. At the bottom she saw the water was rapidly pouring in through a gash in the side of the boat. She stepped into the knee-high water, waded into the salon, and searched the galley, finding a first-aid kit and a bottle of scotch.
Returning to the deck, she knelt next to Perry. Thankfully, the rain had abated to a light drizzle. The lightening was still terrible, but even in low visibility, she could tell Perry was soaking wet. Even his jacket was now soaked.
She examined at his shoulder, knowing she had to pop it back into place. Her father had done it once, back a lifetime ago when her brother had fallen off a tractor. She had been standing by, helpless to help back then. But she had watched, and she had learned two things: it was necessary to get it back in place and secured, and, it was going to hurt like hell.
Della's mouth straightened into a line and her eyes reflected her determination. But it was the no-nonsense tone of her voice that told Perry she was up to the task.
"Perry, I need to pop your shoulder back in place."
"I know. And I know how badly it's going to hurt." Reaching up with his good arm, he gently caressed her cheek. "But I trust you."
She handed him the scotch, watching as he took a large swallow. She placed one hand on his shoulder, the other on his wrist.
"Better take another drink."
She waited until he had taken a drink, then pulled. Perry couldn't stop the scream. Della immediately wrapped her arms around him, kissing him.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
Perry managed a pitiful smile.
"You make a wonderful nurse, Miss Street."
Della smiled at him. "So you think I missed my calling? I should make you a sling so you don't injure it more."
Perry tried flexing his arm, deciding if he didn't move too suddenly, it didn't hurt. Much. Right now he had to figure out where they were, how to get them going again and…
Della's look turned serious. "Oh, by the way, we're sinking."
Perry was surprised at the calm way she made that statement, as if she had just informed him he had a phone call.
"Della…".
But Della stood and walked to the rear where Jack had stored the Zodiac they used to go ashore in Coronado. Luckily, it didn't appear to have suffered any damage, although with the list, it was going to be difficult to get it in the water. But she also knew she had to try.
"I'm sure I can get this in the water, but do you think you can help me get it started and steer?"
Perry struggled to his feet, joining her at the rail. Noticing the angle the Zodiac due to the list, he considered it. If they lowered it carefully, it would be okay. His one concern was that the front of small boat might dip forward, causing it to take on water.
Making some mental calculations, he decided. "Okay, Della. You need to get in the Zodiac and sit at the back. That way I can lower it slowly and it should land straight in the water."
Della just stared at him. "But you can't lower it with your arm. You aren't thinking! How will you get off the boat? No, Perry."
"Sweetheart, listen to me. This will work. And I'll be able to get down the ladder to the dive platform and join you. Now please, do as I ask." Pulling her close, he gave her a lingering kiss, then helped her into the small boat.
Della sat in the back of the Zodiac as Perry had instructed, wrapping her hand in the rope that ran around the side. When she looked at Perry, seeing the pain on his face, she almost went back to him.
"All set?"
She nodded and gripped the rope tightly. Perry started lowering the rope as slowly as he could. He could feel his strength draining, but getting Della off this boat was all that mattered.
Finally, finally, he felt the rope slacken, meaning the boat was down. Looking over the rail, he saw that it was indeed, sitting safely in the water.
"Perry? Perry answer me,". Della demanded, her voice drifting up to him through the remnants of the storm.
"Della, I'm fine. I'll join you in a minute."
Perry headed to the stairs, being careful not to hit his arm. Once he was in the salon, he discovered the water was now waist deep. He struggled to get into the aft cabin. Thankfully the bed was still dry and he grabbed the blanket and searched in the closet, coming out with a jacket Della had thought to bring with her. Then he made his way to his cabin, grabbing another blanket.
Wading back through water to the stairs, he climbed back to the deck. Heading to the rail, he slung the jacket and blankets over his uninjured shoulder and started down the ladder to the boat.
Because he was favoring his shoulder, it was slow going. When he reached the dive platform, he felt Della's hand on his leg, guiding him into the boat.
"Perry, thank God. I was almost ready to climb up and find you."
As Perry sat heavily on the seat, he passed the jacket and blankets to her.
"I thought these might come in handy. Now let's see what we can do about finding some dry land."
As luck would have it, the outboard motor started with a single pull. Della sat next to Perry, helping him steer.