Sea Sick: A Horror Novel

The two of them walked away, both nodding at Jack as they did so. Conner still seemed curious about their interaction, but seemed happy enough to forget it. Jack thought about following their lead by getting some food, but still didn’t fancy hotdogs. He would eat later. For now, he’d relax in the sun and enjoy his whisky. He lay back in his lounger and let out a deep, soothing breath.

In front of him, standing against the railings of the balcony, an elderly couple smooched like teenagers. Jack looked past them, down at the pool area, and nosed at the other passengers. There were kids swimming, adults drinking, and lots of people eating the freshly served hotdogs. The one family that stood out was a mother and a young boy. She was covering his knee with a wad of plasters from her handbag, covering up a wound that was too far away for Jack to see clearly. For some reason, he was positive the young boy had slipped poolside. He thought this not because it was a likely conclusion, but because it was a one-hundred per cent certainty in his mind – he just knew. Could almost picture it.

The next thing he noticed was a lot of people sneezing. It seemed like a particularly nasty cold had found its way onboard.

Jack reached down and picked up his scotch, then finished it in one burning gulp. As if by magic, the brunette waitress reappeared to take another order from him.

“Perfect timing,” he said to her.

She replied in an eastern European accent that surprised him. “What can I get you?”

“Same again, please. Where are you from?”

“Romania.”

Jack nodded interest. “Most of the staff seem to be Filipino,” he said.“You stand out.”

The waitress smiled politely. He noticed her name badge read TALLY. “They hired me because I speak many languages.”

“Really? What do you speak?”

“Russian, German, French, and of course, English and Romanian. I speak a little Mandarin also.”

“Wow,” Jack said, genuinely surprised. “That’s impressive. My name is Jack. It’s nice to meet you, Tally.”

“I’ll be right back with your drink.”

Jack watched the girl walk away and had the sense that, although she was faultlessly polite, she too was having a bit of a bad day. There was something about her curtness and short, clipped answers that told him so. She seemed stressed. Then again, working on a cruise ship was most likely a thankless job at the best of times.

Within two minutes she was back. The double scotch that he’d ordered was more like a double-double. “I just charged you for one double,” she said. “You look like you need it.”

“Is it that obvious I’m having such a weird day?”

The waitress shrugged. “I can sense these things. You give me a shout if you need another.”

Jack offered up his glass in thanks. “Will do, Tally. Thanks.”

The waitress walked away and Jack lay back again in his sun lounger. He could actually feel his body beginning to relax. It was a tingling sensation.

Sun, booze, pretty waitresses. Maybe this week won’t be so bad after all.

***

When Jack opened his eyes it was dark. Not completely, as the deck was lined with spotlights, but dim enough that the sea and sky had become a featureless black sheet beyond the boundaries of the ship. It was as though the Spirit of Kirkpatrick was sailing through Limbo, heading through an endless abyss. Jack would be glad to see land again.

The tingling heat in his chest told him that he’d consumed more than a few whiskies during the afternoon and early evening. He had intended to take it easy on the booze, but his problem was that trying to stop once he’d started was a battle he always lost. He was on holiday, though. He could forgive himself for one night of indulgence.

Nothing wrong with falling asleep, drunk in the sun. Most people I come across in my line of work fall asleep in the gutter.

Jack glanced at his watch and saw that it was a little after eight-o-clock; still plenty of time left to enjoy the evening. He’d not yet explored the ship, and thought perhaps he’d do that now.