Free Burnt Sea: A Seabound Prequel (Seabound Chronicles Book 0) by Jordan Rivet Page B

the single passengers
into the smaller cabins so we can keep families together and possibly pair a
few people up.”
    “That sounds reasonable,” Judith said.
    “The cruise guests aren’t going to be happy about being kicked out of
their cabins.” Nora peeked over the top of the computer at the women with the
baby.
    “It’s for everyone’s good,” Judith said. “People will have to make
sacrifices until we get back to shore.”
    “Yeah, but how do we get them to agree?” Nora thumbed at her mace-head
earring. There was a tiny silver tortoise beside it.
    “We don’t give them any other option,” Judith said. “Let’s get everyone
assigned and sent on their way before they have time to complain.”
    “All right. We’ll need a full list, though,” Nora said.
    “People will come up for the food,” Judith said. “We can get everyone
sorted out over lunch.”
    “Roger that.”
    The nurse, a squat woman in a floral sundress, bustled
back into the reception lobby . She had a threaded needle laid out on a
tray. She passed the tray to Bernadette, pulled out a huge syringe, and leaned
toward the woman on the couch. Judith blanched. She turned quickly to Nora.
    “Let’s head down there now. We can let people know what we saw on the
news.”
    “Good idea,” Nora said, eyeing the medical preparations. “Let me just
shut the computer down. We’ve got to save power.”
    They left the reception lobby, Nora clutching printouts of the ship’s
rooms in her hands, crumpling them slightly. They didn’t walk fast enough for
Judith, though. The woman on the couch moaned, and Judith put her hands over
her ears to block the sound.

 

Chapter 6—The Dining Hall
    Simon

 
    Hundreds crowded into the Atlantis Dining Hall for
the meal. Two long buffet counters and rectangular “family-style” dining tables
were arranged across the room. A row of windows filled one wall. The sea outside
was restless, churning darkly beneath the sullen sky. It was a gray day,
already so different from the sunny moment when Simon had decided to walk along
the harbor. That had only been a few hours ago.
    He turned his back on the windows and focused on the people filling the
tables around him. The dining hall didn’t have room for everyone to eat at
once, and people were already lining up outside, waiting for their turns. Many
wore Catalina sweatshirts with cheery
slogans about islands, vacations, and paradise in shades of turquoise, purple,
and sunshine yellow. The dining hall had similarly bright walls and fixtures,
incongruous given the dull gray beyond the window.
    Ana Ivanovna directed operations by the
buffet tables. She served huge trays of fresh California fruits and vegetables
and assorted sandwiches. Compared to famously extravagant cruise buffets, it
was simple fare. Any complaints about the lack of hot meals and dining options
were met with swift dismissals.
    “I am not wasting energy when there are refrigerators to run!” Ana
said, waving people away with a spoon dripping fruit juice.
    Simon thanked her as he filled a plate with sandwiches for himself and
Esther. Frank Fordham sat at a larger table alone, so Simon carried their plate
over to him. A few people looked up and nodded as he passed them. Esther
studied them curiously, unafraid.
    “Frank? Can we join you?”
    “I suppose.” Frank waved his hand vaguely. He scanned the room, perhaps
still hoping to find his son.
    “This is my daughter, Esther.”
    “Hello.” Esther hopped into the seat next to Frank. “What’s your name?”
    “My name is Frank.”
    “Do you like Thomas the Tank Engine?”
    “What?” For the first time Frank’s eyes landed on Esther, pulled away
from his futile search.
    “Thomas. He’s a train. He has lots of friends, like Percy and Toby and
Mr. Conductor.”
    “I’ve seen Thomas before,” Frank said, a hint of a smile on his lips.
    “He’s really cool,” Esther said. “Sometimes he has engine trouble and
his friends have to