Chapter 12
Night had already fallen, but it wasn't a while longer before enough people were in bed for them to make their move. Nate was feeling a little better now, and he stood outside the large tent that Hort had given them to sleep in. Shatner knelt just inside the tent, along with everyone else, who was packed and ready to go.
"What are we waiting for?" asked Pandora, standing far enough back as to not be in the way.
"He's got to be ready," said Nate, "The coast has to be CLEAR!"
"Haha, 'coast'," laughed Leo, "Because we're ON the coast."
Shatner and Pandora gave him a disappointed look, while Iawn began to laugh to himself.
"Now I get it," said Iawn, laughing to himself, "That's good."
"Hmm?" asked Charles, who had half awoken from his sleep, and looked around, trying to get what he missed.
"Hey," said Pandora, hitting Charles, "You need to stay awake, I don't want to carry you."
"Thanks for volunteering," answered Shatner, "You make sure he makes it."
"What? Oh, come ON!" said Pandora.
"Shh," said Nate, "God… damn, people. Grow up. You don't want to get CAUGHT do you?"
"What ARE we waiting for, though?" asked Shatner, "What's the signal?'
"There," said Nate, pointing.
Next to the docks, a small guard tower stood. This was multi-purposed in the settlement, but now it acted as a signal, a figure with a flashlight stood upon it, and he made circles with his flashlight. Nate nodded, and held out his hand.
"Stay here, I'll go first. Let's do this as sneaky as possible," whispered Nate, then he turned around again.
Scanning the entire settlement that was in his view, Nate began his sprint to the first lodge. Pressing his body against it, he ducked down from the window, and slowly leaned over the corner and brought his rifle up to bear. After a slight scan, he slowly began to scuttle his way down the side of the building. Nate stopped at the end, and dashed from one hut to the next. Making his way down the side of the second hut, he dived and rolled into a cart.
Nate swung his rifle onto his back, and grasped the cart, filled with some sort of soil. He lightly began pushing it, taking care to stay concealed in its cover. After some time, he hit a shack at the docks. He stood up, getting his rifle out again, and he observed the docks. A lone figure stood by a boat, looking out to the sea. Nate did a quick check around him, and then lightly started walking towards him. He slung his rifle on his back and grabbed his pistol from its holster. Nate took a deep breath, before raising the pistol by the barrel over his head and waiting just a moment before slamming it down with… a lot of his might. For some reason, something held Nate back from exerting full force.
The man staggered forward, and clutched his head, before turning around. Nate looked in surprise at his failure, and spun his pistol around, ready to fire if needed.
"What the F*** man," cried Kevin, holding his head and howling in pain.
"Oh…. Hey," said Nate, replacing his pistol in his holster, "What are you doing not on the tower?"
"Waiting for you! What the f*** did you hit me FOR!" cried Kevin.
"Checking your vigilance," said Nate, standing up straighter, "And quiet down, don't be such a baby. Now get up to your post and signal the next guy."
"What are you TALKING about," said Kevin.
Nate was about to reply, when he noted that the boat theyw ere standing besides had a lot of people in it. Iawn and Leo wrestled on the floor of the boat, while Charles and Pandora discussed some unheard topic, Shatner stood at the end of the boat, shaking his head at Nate and Kevin.
"What…. How?" sputtered Nate.
"We just walked over, you idiot," said Shatner, "It's late night after a massive party, everyone's either passed out, drunk, or already in bed. Nobody cares. What you were doing would only waste time and draw attention to ourselves."
Nate stood there, slowly shaking his head, and he looked at Kevin who rubbed his head next to him.
"Yeah…" said Nate, then he sighed and said, "What are you whining about? Get on the boat."
"Ok, guys, listen, please," begged Kevin, "This is my dad's PERSONAL boat, from before the war. We need to be careful on it. Don't touch ANYTHING!"
"Not touching a THING," said Nate, "Ok, let's cast off, me hearties!"
Nate and Shatner jumped into the boat, Kevin right behind them. Kevin made his way to the cabin, and started up the motor, taking off into the night. Nate smiled, and Shatner even managed one himself.
"Once again, things worked out," said Nate, smiling even bigger, "And now, we're on our way to France. Now, I want you to know something, Shatner."
Leo was thrown backward, suddenly, and slammed into the side of the boat, barely catching himself and staying onboard.
"You twit, you almost through me overboard!" yelled Leo.
"It's survival of the fittest, Mister, and I'm the fittest!" retorted Iawn.
"Iawn, I'm not the weakest link, you ARE!" replied Leo, "Good-Bye!"
Iawn lunged at Leo, but Leo was able to counter, and appeared to be attempting to throw Iawn off the side as well.
"Stop, before someone goes overboard," said Shatner, "Any of you fall off, you can swim back because we are NOT GOING BACK!"
"Yeah, so if we're loosin' one, we're loosin' ALL of you," said Nate, "It's the BIG leagues now. I'm going to be very agitated for a while, so PLEASE… if you throw off Leo, then make sure you throw Iawn off too… and you, Charles," Nate's finger went from one to the other, before landing on Pandora, "You… you're Ok, for now. There's still a chance for you. But the rets of you, you've chosen to be apart of THIS CREW! So… BE-HAVE!"
He looked at Shatner, who shook his head.
"You done?" Shatner asked Nate, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," said Nate, "A Little…"
"Ok," said Shatner, and he headed towards the cabin, Nate on his trail.
They walked into the cabin and observed Kevin fiddling with the controls of the boat. Nate leaned against the side, a forced smile on his face. Shatner eased up a little, and clasped Kevin on the shoulder.
"Nice job, my friend. Thank you, for your risk," said Shatner.
"It's really no problem," said Kevin, "With luck, I can get back before anyone truly notices, but in reality we might just be at the French coastline by morning."
"Is it just me, or does that seem pretty fast?" asked Shatner.
"It's my dad's boat," said Kevin, nervously smiling, "It's pretty good."
"Ok, can we talk a little, now?" said Nate, trying to get Shatner's attention.
"Of course," said Shatner, "What's on your mind?"
"Well… there's something you need to know," said Nate, taking a deep breath and rubbing his forehead, "I… I have a severe hate of the French."
Shatner laughed a little, and even Kevin shared in his fit of chuckling and even laughed at Nate's surprise at their reactions.
"Who doesn't?" asked Shatner, "Besides, you hate everyone. First it's the Brits-"
"No, you don't understand," said Nate, "It is NOT the same. I like the 'Brits', they just annoy me sometime, especially our Brits. The French are another story."
"Ok, fine," said Shatner, giving into Nate's "confession" by raising his hands, "Thanks for the warning."
"No, you don't GET it," said Nate, "I'm going to be agitated, a lot. I mean… A LOT! If we meet anybody… UGH! God Help them."
"Are you… serious?" asked Shatner, beginning to get a little worried, "You're going to openly shoot a French citizen… for being French."
"No…" said Nate, "I'm just saying…"
"That's wrong, dude," said Kevin, giving off a yawn, "That's just wrong."
"Look, we're NOT picking anyone else up on this trip," said Nate, "No one. We're bad enough with the Brits and Kevin and maybe Fred89's crew."
"I wasn't 'picked up'," said Kevin, cocking his eyebrows.
"89fred is NOT being picked up either, he's picking us up," said Shatner, "And Don't worry, we're not picking anyone else up."
"Good," said Nate, "The last thing we need is a damn Frenchy on our tale."
"Ok," said Shatner.
Kevin yawned again, a huge and very bear-like yawn. Scratching his beard and all, he returned his eyes to the sea and he played with the ship's wheel. Nate and Shatner looked at each other awkwardly, and exchanged looks of fright.
"Uh… Kevin… you feel ok?" said Nate, finally.
"Yeah, a little tired, why?" asked Kevin.
"How about you're yawning… a lot," answered Shatner, "That's kinda scary."
Kevin turned around and crossed his arms, "Well, what you expect? It was a long guard watch last night and then today we partied hard and now I'm stressed. I. Am. Tired!"
"Well… stop being tired," said Shatner, "You're driving the boat."
"Yeah," said Nate, "No one else is…"
He had to stop, looking out the back window. On the deck, all four of the younger ones were asleep. Pandora curled in a ball, Iawn and Charles laying next to each other and tossing and turning, and Leo not far off, leaning against a barrel of some sort, clutching his Crossbow almost lovingly. Nate's face twisted a little, and he checked himself. Nope, not tired.
"Ok," said Nate, finally, "I'd feel better if you go take a nap or something."
"A NAP!" cried Kevin, "No way. What about the boat?"
"We'll take care of it," said Shatner, "Trust me, you want at least me here. Nate… is NOT a sailor."
"But I knew one," answered Nate.
"Knowing a pilot didn't make you any better at flying a damn PLANE!" yelled Shatner back.
"What about a plane?" asked Kevin, suddenly his body was revolting against him, and with the possibility of sleep thrown out, he could neither speak nor stand well any longer.
"Go on, go, you'll be fine," answered Shatner, slowly coaxing him out of the Cabin.
"No, really," said Kevin, "This is… my dad's…"
"Don't worry," said Shatner, "Go on, now. Go on."
Kevin left the cabin, and stumbled down to the deck like the others, and instead of going to the crew cabin, spread out on the deck.
"Only for an hour or two!" he yelled back, "I don't need this small REST!"
Shatner smiled, and turned around, his smile fading. Nate already stood, grasping the giant wheel and smiling heroically. He stared off into the horizon, and seemed to be looking the part of a valiant ship's captain. But Shatner knew better.
"What are you doing?" asked Shatner.
"I'm… sailing," said Nate.
"Listen here, Captain Ahab," said Shatner, walking closer to the wheel, "I wasn't kidding when I said I feel uncomfortable with you in control of this boat."
"Oh, cool it, Shatner," said Nate, "We're in the middle of the ocean. There's no land."
"No, we aren't," answered Shatner, "And there will be, soon, if you don't steer us off-course!"
"Calm down," said Nate, "Look, I puked all my tiredness away! Why don't you go take a small nap and I'll-"
"No," interrupted Shatner.
"But it's just for a-"
"No," answered Shatner, again, "Fool me once, Shame on me. Fool me twice."
"Shame on… me?" said Nate, cocking an eyebrow at the idea of Shatner messing up a saying.
"Look… I'll let you steer the boat… THAT WAY, for a little bit. Ok?" said Shatner, "I'll go just outside for a little… me-time. I need to just… THINK. But I'll be right back in a second."
Shatner walked outside the door, and around the cabin to the bow, Nate watching him the whole time.
"Yeah, right," said Nate, shaking his head, "It's a good thing I'm here."
Shatner found a bench on the bow, so he sat down, and examined the stars. But, as Nate laughed to himself about it, days of little sleep or rest took their toll and Shatner drifted off to sleep. Nate smiled, and stretched his body out. Looking out onto the water.
Another hour or so past, and Nate was still wide awake while everyone else snored themselves to sleep. Up in the cabin, he steered the boat, humming to himself. Suddenly, he tipped down his Fedora's brim and wore a silly smile. Staring off into the horizon, he stood a little straighter, and he grabbed his pistol from its holster and held it up, staring off to the side.
"One man… alone in a post apocalyptic wasteland. A land where the gun is the Bible. Beasts roam free… and terror is everywhere. The only hope for humanity… lies in Africa."
Nate pretended to point his pistol at an unseen enemy, and blow his brains out. Then he brought it back, looking around the cabin as if it was a strange new land.
"Armed with a crew of soldiers, he heads off to save the world, on an adventure full of danger…. Of fear… of… of…"
Nate slunked off, becoming more and more depressed. He replaced his pistol in its holster, and he stared out the front window once more, shaking his head after a bit, and slowly rubbing his head.
"An adventure… a really big… f***in' adventure," mumbled Nate, "A great big adventure."
He slowly continued to shake his head and peer at the stars. He turned from Shatner to the back of the boat. They all lay there, sleeping, all so peacefully. He rubbed his head, and kicked a can that was on the ground in anger.
"What are you doing here?" said Nate, heading back to the wheel, "What are you doin here? What have you DONE?"
Nate laid his head on the wheel, and wallowed in depression for a while longer. The boat tugged along, growing ever closer to the French coast.