6. Overboard
It had to have been at least an hour since they had arrived at the cabin and Larry had been laying on the bed and groaning for just as long. The only time he got up was to run to the bathroom to throw up. Balki wouldn't stop apologizing and Larry was sure that had the cabin a fireplace the Mypiot would have sat in the ashes.
Finally Larry had had enough. There was one thing he could do to make himself feel better. "I need some fresh air!" Larry rose unsteadily to his feet, and with uncertain steps, headed for the door.
"No." Perceiving his cousin's intentions Balki moved in front of the door before Larry could reach it. "You can't go outside. The captain said it was to dangerous."
"Balki, get out of my way."
"The air out there is the same as the air in here." Balki crossed his arms defiantly.
"It helps if I can see the horizon." Larry explained.
"Well there's one right over there." Balki pointed at the seascape painting on the wall. "You can look at that."
"If you don't move I'm going to throw up all over that fancy vest of yours."
Balki frowned and put a protective hand over his vest but he didn't budge.
Larry threw his hands up in defeat and began to walk back towards the bed. "Alright. Alright! You win."
Balki relaxed a bit, relieved that he was able to talk some sense into his cousin.
"Look...uh...Balki, would you mind getting me a glass of water? Maybe that'll help." Larry asked, now standing beside the bed, leaning on the corner for support.
"Of course I don't mind." Balki gave his friend a sympathetic smile and a pat on the shoulder before crossing to room to the sink.
The second Balki's back was turned Larry bolted out the door. The sudden force of the wind as he stepped out of the calm, stillness of the room and into the raging storm nearly knocked him over. But the fresh air was ten times better than the stale, claustrophobic atmosphere in the cabin. He crossed the breezeway and leaned on the rail, still needing some solid support to keep him standing upright. He tried to focus on the horizon, that almost indistinguishable line between the violently foaming gray waters and the dark angry clouds. That stationary point of reference, no matter how vague, helped to ease the nausea.
"You tricked Balki!"
Larry didn't turn at his cousin's outraged voice. He kept his eyes fixed firmly on the horizon. "That's right!"
"Cousin, you're as mad as a hat salesman!" Balki came up behind him and grabbed his arm. "Get back in the cabin." The Mypiot had to shout over the roar of the wind and waves.
Larry tried to shrug him off. "Balki, will you stop it! I'm not a child. This is just a little storm."
Balki looked worriedly into the raging weather, his dark hair swirling around his young face. " 'Little storm'? 'Little storm'? That's the undergarment of the century! This is crazy. We should not be out here!"
"Well, then go back inside."
"Not without you!" Balki reached down and grabbed his cousin around the waist and pulled.
But Larry kept a tight hold on the banister. "I'm staying right here!" This struggle had become more than simply easing his seasickness. Balki was bossing him around like a little kid and it was really getting on his nerves. Now it was a matter of pride!
Getting nowhere with that hold, Balki let go of Larry's waist and reached down and gripped both his ankles. With one swift motion he jerked his cousin off his feet. But Larry's resolute grip on the banister kept him suspended above the deck.
Frustrated by his cousin's stubbornness Balki finally let go and Larry dropped to his knees. "You are falling way overboard with this!"
"I'm not going overboard with anything." Larry insisted vehemently. "I just want to stand on the deck, breathe some fresh air and stare into space. How can that be wrong?"
"Fine!" Balki stamped over to the nearest lifeboat, grumbling in Myposian, rummaged around in it for a moment and pulled out a life vest. "If you're going to stay out here at least put this on."
"Balki, all I want to do is stand here. I'm not planning on swimming."
"Come on, Cousin. Put it on. You never know what could happen." Balki shoved the life vest firmly into Larry's hands.
"Alright, alright! If it will make you leave me alone." He took it and slipped one arm in.
The deck suddenly lurched beneath them as an unusually large wave rolled under the ship. The sudden movement and the slick deck threw Balki off balance and he pitched forward. He threw his hands out in front of him hoping to break his fall but instead he caught his cousin square in the chest flipping him backwards over the rail. Larry's eyes quadrupled in size at the sudden realization and his startled scream was lost in the roar of the storm as he plunged out of sight.
"Cousin!!" Balki leapt to his feet, his heart in his throat. He leaned over the banister and frantically searched the foaming water that tore at the base of the ship fifty feet below. His racing pulse pounded in his ears as the sea roared, empty save the ship. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, but couldn't have been more than a couple seconds, Larry's panicked, thrashing figure appeared above the water. Thankfully he still had one arm through the life vest; otherwise he surely wouldn't have made it back to the surface. White waves pounded him from all sides, crashing over his head, threatening to drown him regardless of the life vest.
"I'm coming, Cousin!" Balki shouted down at him. "Don' worry. I'm coming!" He had to think fast. Larry was drifting slowly but surely away from the base of the ship. He ran to the nearest lifeboat, threw back the canvas cover and leapt inside. He grabbed the end of the rope and gave it a hard yank. The knot disappeared and the rope slipped from his hands and zipped through several pulleys. He gave a startled gasp as the small boat plummeted with dizzying speed. It hit the water with a loud crack, the impact throwing him off the seat and onto his back. The small lifeboat dipped and bucked with the foaming waves and it was a struggle to climb to his feet. "Cousin!" He shouted at the top of his voice, his head whipping from side to side, searching the water around him. There! A small bit of orange amid the churning white. "Hold on!" He cried, hoping his cousin could hear him over the deafening roar of the ocean. "I'm on my way."
Larry fought to hold onto the life vest as each wave tried to rip it away from him. He was afraid to try and put his other arm through lest he loose his grip entirely. Water pummeled him from every angle, trying to beat him under. He could scarcely breathe. It seemed every time he tried to take a breath a wave would pound him down and he ended up with a lungful of water. In those scarce seconds that his head was above water he could see the cruise ship looming over him and he could tell he was drifting away. He wanted to yell for help. But he couldn't. No one could hear him anyway, not over the deafening roar of the storm.
This is it! He realized with sudden clarity. I'm going to die! What an end for Larry Appleton.
Something thin and wet slapped him in the side of the face and landed over his shoulder.
A voice rose faintly above the crashing waves. "Grab the rope!"
It's Balki! He realized with a sudden surge of hope. With one hand he let go of the lifejacket and caught the rope, wrapping it tightly around his hand. But as he had feared the movement caused his arm to slip out of the vest and he lost his grip on it completely and the waves quickly tore it from his reach. Then, separated from his only hold on the surface, he sank.
"Cousin!" A rush of fear hit Balki with near physical force as his cousin's head disappeared below the waves. "Hold on tight!" He shouted as he reeled in the rope hand over hand. The line stayed limp and for a horrible moment he was afraid Larry hadn't caught it. Then, suddenly, it pulled taut. With renewed optimism he redoubled his efforts. He heaved on the line until he thought his arms would give out. Finally, Larry's coughing, gasping figure was pulled to the surface beside the dinghy. Balki grabbed him by the shirt and hauled him out of the roiling water and into the small boat.
Balki threw his arms around his cousin in a tight, soggy embrace, relieved tears slipping down his face along with the poring rain. Larry hugged back, laughing uncontrollably in the giddy exhilaration of simply being alive.
Then, in an instant his face fell and the last laugh caught in his throat. Cold fingers tightened around his heart. "Oh, no!" He broke the embrace and pushed Balki back.
"What?" The Mypiot turned to see what his cousin was staring at. His dark eyes widened in horror at the stern of the departing ship.
"They're leaving without us!" Larry exclaimed.
They both burst into a panicked frenzy of shouting, waving and jumping up and down. They yelled and screamed until their throats were hoarse but the ship continued resolutely on its course, unperturbed by their calls for help. They watched in dismay, the dinghy dipping and bobbing beneath them as the huge ocean liner disappeared from sight, leaving them stranded in the growing storm.
Balki sank sullenly onto the nearest bench. "Babasticki!"
Larry was still shouting and waving a lifejacket.
"Give it up, Cousin. They're gone."
He quieted instantly. His arms dropped to his sides and he let the lifejacket slip from his hand. Larry shook his head slightly, his eyes riveted to the spot where the ship had vanished into the wind and fog. "This…this can't be happening." His voice sounded hollow and removed as if it were all a dream and he was convinced he would wake up at any moment.
"Balki, this can't be happening." He repeated. Just then the dipping and rocking of the tiny boat registered to his body and the seasickness hit him full force. One hand clamped over his mouth while the other went to his stomach. He sank to his knees, bent over the side and threw up.
"Cousin, you're shaking." Balki observed in concern. "Are you alright?"
Larry forced himself upright and glared at his cousin. His whole body was trembling. "I'm cold, I'm wet, I'm sick and I'm lost at sea! Does it sound like I'm alright?!" He groaned and brought a hand to his head. Shouting certainly didn't make him feel better.
Balki's face twisted in sympathy as Larry threw up again.
When Larry sat up a second time all the anger was gone from his voice to be replaced by a frightened whine. "Balki, what are we going to do?"
"First," Despite the intense fear he was feeling Balki tried to keep his voice calm and collected as he pulled Larry to him and placed a comforting arm around his shivering friend. "We need to get out of the rain." He reached over and pulled the large canvas over them, blocking out the driving downpour.
They huddled together in silence for a long time, freezing and soaked to the bone, listening to the howling wind, the rain beating the canvas and the waves splashing against the boat.
"You know, Cousin," Balki remarked quietly. "I'm beginning to think going on vacation with you is not such a good idea."