SAM #2
Ha, that’s bullshit. Talia had been surgically attached to her phone for the whole trip so far; even over dinner, Sam had caught her – trying to be subtle, but failing miserably – peering down into her handbag, then putting her hands inside and swiping and tapping with an urgent expression on her face.
There was no way she’d not been rinsing the Wi-Fi since they’d been out here – and there was no need to lie about it.
Sam had been using it too, to stay in touch with his sister and his mates – there was nothing wrong with that.
Rory shifted in his chair, clasped his fingers together and stretched his arms out in front of him: his classic gesture to say he was about to get down to business.
‘Well, of course, doing without Wi-Fi for a while is no problem,’ he agreed, giving Talia a paternal pat on the hand.
‘But the captain also mentioned some issues with communications,’ Rory went on.
He turned towards Captain Taylor. ‘How serious are these issues, Captain? Will we still be able to make contact if we need to during our sail tomorrow, for any reason – if we get into any trouble?’ He said the last words with a laugh, but Sam caught the note of anxiety in his voice. ‘We don’t want anything going wrong.’
Captain Taylor offered him a tight smile.
‘Well, first up, I’m not expecting us to get into any trouble.
And second, it’s only the satellite part of the comms that have gone down – our main method of communication, which is two-way radio, is still up and running as usual.
So, no, this isn’t a serious issue, and I’m not concerned.
If we need to make contact, we’ve got other ways of doing that. ’
‘And I’m going to keep trying my best to resolve the issue,’ added Brett. ‘I’ve got a few more things to try.’
There was a pause as the room digested this.
‘Well, that’s good to know,’ said Rory. ‘In that case, I’m not sure what else there is to discuss – let’s just get on with our day. Does everyone agree?’
‘That’s fine with me,’ said Lucy firmly; Mark shrugged next to her.
‘It’s cool,’ agreed Sam.
‘Yeah, all good,’ said Nick. ‘Sure that’ll be all right with you too, Els? You can stay off the family WhatsApp group for a bit, right?’
Eleni glanced at her husband, rolled her eyes and smiled. ‘Yes, of course I can. Captain, that all sounds perfect.’
‘Well, that’s settled then,’ said Captain Taylor, pushing her chair back and getting to her feet. ‘I’ll head to the control centre now and try to make contact with an on-shore engineer in Raiatea in advance of our arrival.’
‘Sounds good,’ said Nick. ‘Hey, have we got a bit of time to play with those water toys today? I’m still dying to try out my skills on a jet ski.’
‘Bloody marvellous idea!’ Rory clapped with boyish excitement. ‘What do you say – can Noah or one of your deck boys sort that out for us?’
Johanna nodded briskly. ‘Of course. How many of you would like to use them? We have two jet skis, and two people can ride them at a time. Rory and Nick – anyone else?’
‘Not me,’ Eleni said, shaking her head with a laugh; Talia also murmured a no thanks.
‘Me neither,’ said Lucy. ‘Water sports aren’t really my thing. I think I’ll go and enjoy the hot tub for a bit.’
Mark scowled. ‘Not in the mood either,’ he said sullenly. ‘Probably need a bit more sleep – I’ll see you all later.’ He stood and stomped indoors, stroppy as a teenager. Those two look like they’re on the rocks …
‘Sam?’ Nick turned to him. ‘Up for it, mate? Come on – it’ll be a laugh. Your foot’s healed up all right now, hasn’t it?’
Sam puffed the air out of his cheeks. His foot was feeling a bit better now, and he didn’t want to miss out. He’d never been on a jet ski before, but it looked like good craic. And it might be just the thing to blow away the grog of cobwebs that still lingered in his brain this morning.
‘Ah, sure, go on then. Johanna, lead the way.’
Out on the stern of the main deck, Noah and Kai released the jet skis from the garage behind the swim platform. As Kai prepared to launch them by lowering the platform, Noah handed the three of them safety helmets and life jackets.
‘Okay, gents. We can take two of you at a time. Who’s coming first?’
Rory frowned. ‘Can’t we all go? I thought the jet skis could fit two people each.’
‘Yup, they can, but you’ll need me and Kai to ride with you. You need a licence to ride a jet ski – unless any of you fellas have one?’
Sam shook his head. ‘Nah, never been on one of these bad boys before.’
‘Me neither,’ said Nick.
‘Well, we’re in luck then – I did my training in the Caribbean,’ said Rory, a smug grin lighting up his face. ‘Drove all around the private island we hired.’
‘You’ve got your watercraft proficiency?’ Noah clarified.
‘Oh, yes. I’m an expert water sportsman, I think you’ll find. I’m sure I’ve got the paperwork somewhere in my emails …’
Sam rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses. Noah chewed on the side of his lip for a second, scanned the three of them, then nodded. ‘No need, your word is enough for me. In that case, I’ll ride with Sam. Rory and Nick, you two hop on together. Sound good?’
‘Works for me,’ said Nick.
Sam frowned. He’d really rather the crew had checked Rory’s credentials. He wouldn’t trust Rory behind the wheels of a kid’s tricycle, let alone the aquatic version of a motorbike.
‘You sure?’ he asked Nick. ‘I’m more than happy to sit this out, so you can go with Noah …’
‘Ah, come on now, Sam,’ said Rory, a mocking glint in his eye. ‘Scared I’ll go too fast for Nick, are you?’
Sam noticed a muscle twitch in Nick’s jaw.
‘Rory,’ Nick said curtly. ‘Trust me, you can go as fast as you like.’
Clambering aboard the jet ski, helmets and life jackets strapped on, Noah instructed Sam to hold onto the handles behind him.
With a violent growl, the jet ski roared to life in the bosun’s hands, and quickly picked up speed across the water.
Sam laughed – the wind whipping past his ears, the scattering of salt water onto his arms – this was exhilarating, exactly the kind of thing he’d come on this trip for.
He looked over at the other jet ski. Rory was driving much faster than Noah – and much more recklessly.
Sam caught Nick’s voice from across the water – yelling something Sam couldn’t make out – his voice was drowned out as Rory’s engine roared louder.
It looked like Rory was revving up the acceleration and at the same time jerking the vessel in sharp, dizzying circles, whooping and shrieking as he went.
Sam could see Nick’s back bumping against the rear handlebars, his pelvis hitting the seat hard as they skimmed and thudded back down on the waves.
‘Hey – slow down – Rory! SLOW DOWN!’ Noah yelled across the water.
It was pointless; Rory either couldn’t hear him, or was pretending he couldn’t.
Rory steered sharply again to the right, the jet ski falling almost flat, making Nick dip precariously close to the surface of the water, his hands grasping to hold firm on the spray-covered handle behind him.
‘That’s too fast – it’s too low – he’s going to fall – STOP!
’ Sam was screaming at the top of his lungs now, Noah was slowing their jet ski and still yelling at Rory too, but their words blew away with the salt spray of the ocean; Rory was driving like a maniac, turning in opposing directions with nauseating speed.
At one more brutal twist of the jet ski, Sam watched helplessly as Nick’s hands lost their grip and he lurched violently to the right, off the seat and into the air.
And then he was flying, flying, so fast, so far, and time was slowing down, it seemed to last for ever even though it could only have been milliseconds, because gravity couldn’t hold him for long, and Nick began to fall, fall, fall …
Until he crashed face-first onto the surface of the sea.