Free Sea (A Stranded Novel) by Theresa Shaver Page A

shot. I mean, look what your group did. You guys walked over twenty miles through a burning city filled with gunshots and mayhem. You found transportation and managed to fill them with a huge amount of supplies and made it to the marina. So you’re right, David, they have a good chance.” He smiled reassuringly at Alex and continued, “It’s good in a way that it will take us a few more weeks to get back to land. I know this is going to sound harsh but we have to be prepared. The first week will be bad with all the confusion but most people will have had some food and water on hand. The second week people will start getting really desperate and that’s when things will get the ugliest. Massive amounts of people will start leaving the cities and larger towns. They’ll head out to the country looking for food and water. There will be a huge die off as people who haven’t walked further than from their cars to their offices start making extreme physical demands on their bodies. People will die from exhaustion, exposure and dehydration. Violence will take out a lot of people as they fight over dwindling resources. Anyone who is dependent on modern medicine and drugs will die as well. In the third week, disease will start to crop up. All those bodies lying around will be rotting. When we hit land, it will be important to stay away from any population centers. Stick to fields and forested areas. You’ll have to watch out for survivors who are going to be ready to shoot first to try and protect any supplies they have left. My family has a cabin up in the Cascades that I’m going to head for. You guys will have a much longer hike to get up into B.C. David, we’ll take a look at those maps you have later and try to plot a route. Anyway, there will be a lot less people around by the time we have to start walking.”
    The table was filled with silence as they all digested the gruesome picture that Tim had painted. Emily thought about her family and felt tears welling in her eyes. She ruthlessly pushed those thoughts back. She couldn’t let herself speculate on their well -being or she would dissolve in grief.
    One of the bedroom doors crashed open and Mark stumbled out . He staggered over to the table and dropped heavily down onto the bench. Tim asked him how he felt but all he got in return was a grunt as Mark started to shove food into his mouth. He had had the worst time of the sickness, and he looked horrible. His face was haggard, and it was plain to see he had lost weight. Mark’s red hair was greasy and matted and the smell coming off him was rank. Emily was more than ready to escape up onto the deck into the fresh air. Thoughts of being on deck made Emily’s head whip towards Tim.
    “Tim, shouldn’t you be sailing the boat?” she asked with wide eyes.
    He laughed, “Don’t worry, Mason’s got it. While you guys were out of it, I’ve been teaching him as much as I can. He’s a fast learner and right now there are clear skies and good wind so all he really needs to do is stay on course and keep an eye out. You’re right though, I should head on up and take over so he can have something to eat.”
    With a brief frown towards Mark , he jumped up and put his plate in the sink and disappeared up the stairs. Emily, Lisa and David were quick to follow him. Mark didn’t even seem to notice he had been left alone as he stuffed another pancake into his mouth.
    It was another brilliantly clear day on the water. Emily loved the feel of the fresh wind blowing through her hair. Mason’s face broke into a huge smile when he saw her come up the stairs. She went to him and he pulled her close to his side.
    “You feel better! I was really starting to worry about you, Em. This is amazing. I love being out here on the water. We can just relax and forget about all the crap that’s happening on land.”
    Emily frowned at that. It was easier being out on the ocean but she couldn’t forget about the pain and suffering happening