The Wasting

15-Death Cruise

Marina was angry. The injustice was palpable. Just minutes before she was slapped across the face by a Navy Seal simply for stepping out of line to help a nearby passenger who had fainted. She remembered a time when old people were revered. Okay so she didn't but she had read books about it. "Books..." She thought. "Books keep people civilized. Reading is what sets us apart from the animals. These men and women who burn books are animals." Then suddenly she felt guilty because in her whole life she had never seen an animal burn anything.

"Okay Leon what do you propose we do?" Alfred asked clutching The Book through his bag.

Leon grunted, "I dunno... Thinking a bit harder he added, "We could just grab her and run I guess.

Nana runs pretty fast. But we'd better hurry; her line is starting to board."

"Follow my lead Leon." Alfred whispered, "I've been given an idea." Alfred walked straight up to Marina who recognized his handsome face immediately. He whispered in her ear, "You look wonderful. Now just play along and Leon and I will get you out of this mess."

Seeing Alfred after so many years almost made Marina cry and she never cried. She had been praying for a way to escape. She remembered when you pray answers rarely come in the way you expect them to. She clung to her dear old friend and whispered, "I can't swim."

"I remember... "Alfred said, picturing the summer he pulled her out of the lake just in the nick of time, and added, "I need you to trust me, we haven't much time." He watched the officer on duty get closer and closer.

Marina gripped Alfred's bicep and was delightfully surprised at how strong he still was. She pulled him closer and begged, "Protect the boy."

"Yes Marina," Alfred promised and handed her his parcel. "Now play along." All at once, Alfred changed his demeanor from that of a dignified man to one who was mentally incapacitated. He picked Marina up and swirling her around, he now appeared to be the passenger and she the one saying, "Bon Voyage!"

He cried like a baby and clung to Marina as if she were his mommy leaving him at preschool for the first time.

Alfred begged, "Don't make me go! I promise I be a good boy..." In Marina's ear he said, "Quick, slip your ID into my pocket and take my bag."

As Alfred continued his ruse, she did as directed. "I won't wander off no more. I promise. I be a good boy. No more monkey bidness... Please let me stay wit you--please! "

Marina, not much for the theatrical, overacted, "I-am-sorry-my-dear-boy... You just run along on the nice big boat. It will be fun! Think of all the nice friends you will make. They'll have cookies!"

Alfred calmed down a bit and wiped his nose on his sleeve. "But... baby boy... miss you..."

Marina clung to him and whispered in his ear, "I will miss you too old friend. Come and visit me as soon as you can get away." Alfred hugged her tightly.

A large burly marine rambled up to their line. Marina pried Alfred's limbs off her one at a time. "Now you be a big boy and remember to always say please and thank you."

"I love you," Alfred was no longer acting.

"I love you too," Marina turned her gaze as her eyes welled up with tears.

A stubby officer with a black clipboard began doing his rounds. He walked down the line checking off the names of the passengers, "Murphy Sims, Sonia Verde, Michael Burns..." When he approached Alfred he was only slightly confused, "Marina Woods?"

Clapping his hands like a three-year-old Alfred spoke with glee, "Marina like the fishies!"

"Okay old timer... you'll get to see the 'fishies' up real close today," the officer smirked and continued with his checklist, "Dave Bartholomew... Ally Shores..."