Sea Sick: A Horror Novel

“I’m a police officer. Sergeant Jack Wardsley.”


“Well, Mr Wardsley,” the captain seemed to make a point not to use the word Sergeant. “We are currently one-hundred and sixty miles off the coast of France, so I regret to inform you that your authority is null and void aboard my ship and equally so when we land in a country that is not your own. In fact, right now, I find you guilty of trespassing. What do you think I should do about that?”

“Look,” said Jack, trying to calm things down before they turned acrimonious. “I respect your authority as Captain of this ship, but something is very wrong here. People are sick and getting worse – speak to your doctor. I have concerns that it may all be a result of what is being held down in the cargo bay. Black Remedy owns this ship, and they are also one of the world’s leading investors in medical research. It worries me that they use their own cruise liners as transporters for pharmaceuticals and God knows what else. It’s unethical.”

“That may be,” the captain surprisingly agreed. “But it is their ship and I am their employee. You, sir, are the only danger here. I’m afraid I must insist that you disembark at Cannes. Until then you will accompany me down to the holding cells. I cannot have you running around my ship spreading your paranoid delusions. You too, young lady.” He nodded to Tally.“Your service aboard this vessel has been grossly neglected”

Jack and Tally both sighed in unison, but neither of them resisted. They could try, all over again, tomorrow.



Day 200

Jack met Tally by the elevators on C Deck. They discussed what to do and both decided that this time they would forget the subtle approach. It seemed the armed guard in the cargo area had free reign to be there and probably even license to kill if he deemed it necessary, so they would only be wasting time trying the gentle approach.

“So we have a plan then,” Tally stated.

Jack nodded. “It should work. Not like we have anything to fear, is it? If we get shot then we’ll try something else tomorrow – or today, or…whatever, you know what I mean.”

They took the elevator back down to the Orlap Deck. When they stepped out onto the walkway, Jack stayed back while Tally headed off towards the cargo area. She made a big show of being there, clomping her feet down on the metal walkway and whistling loudly. Jack crouched down and hugged the walls of the hull, dipping behind various machinery and boxes that littered the metal flooring.

When Tally reached the shipment pallets in the cargo area, she made a B-line for the blue, plastic crates. Immediately she started tugging at one, trying to get it free from the pallet. It was only seconds before the cowboy appeared behind her.

Jack put his half of the plan into action and crept up behind the gunman while Tally distracted him by crying and begging for him not to shoot. As the man tried to reassure Tally that he didn’t intend to shoot her unless she refused to leave, Jack ran up behind him and struck him in the back of the head with his fist. Years of combat training meant that the attack was a guaranteed knockout blow. The man hit the floor face-first and his gun skittered across the metal walkway. The plan had gone flawlessly. Now it was time to get some answers.

***

The first question Jack asked the cowboy once he’d regained consciousness was what his name was. When the man did not answer, Jack pointed the gun and asked the question again. “Don’t make me lose my temper,” he growled. “What’s your name?”

“Caleb Donovan.”

Jack raised an eyebrow. “You shitting me? What kind of fruity name is that?” Jack was doing his best bad cop impression, hoping that he could use intimidation whilst Tally used a softer tactic more befitting to her age and beauty.