The Dark Tide by Simon McCleave

Author:Simon McCleave [McCleave, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2022-03-03T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

11.37 a.m.

Beth and Jake flinched on the deck. There had just been two gunshots in the wheelhouse. She had no idea what was going on, but it was terrifying to hear. All the passengers were sitting safely, but they were now clearly frightened.

Two girls from her class were crying so Beth got up and went over to comfort them.

‘You need to stay in your seat,’ warned the teenage boy.

Beth glared at him as she put a comforting arm around the girls.

The teenage boy looked at her. She could see that he wasn’t like the other two. In fact, he had spent most of his time onboard looking nervous, apologetic or both.

‘What are they shooting for anyway?’ she growled at him.

He shrugged and gestured to the two girls. ‘I don’t know. I’m sorry if it’s scared them.’

‘You’ve scared everyone on this boat!’ Beth snapped, and then gestured to the girls. ‘Do you actually think this is okay?’

The teenage boy didn’t reply and looked down at his feet.

‘Look at them!’ she yelled. ‘Oh, that’s right, you can’t, can you?’

The teenage boy looked up.

Beth looked at the girls. ‘We’re going to go back soon and you can see your parents. I promise.’

The girls nodded and seemed reassured.

Going back to her seat beside Jake, Beth sat down and saw the teenage boy looking at her.

She fixed him with a stare.

He looked lost and briefly put his head in his hands. Then he looked up at her. ‘I’m sorry, I really am.’

‘Then do something about it,’ she advised him, having regained her composure.

He shrugged. ‘I can’t.’

‘Can’t or won’t?’ she asked, and then in a quieter tone added, ‘What are you doing here? You don’t seem to be anything like either of those two.’

He thought for a moment. ‘It’s a long story.’

She gestured to the wheelhouse. ‘So, what’s the plan? This boat hasn’t moved in nearly an hour.’

‘It’s not working,’ the teenage boy replied.

‘What? So, we’re just going to sit here for ever?’ she grumbled, giving him a withering look.

‘We’re waiting for a speedboat and then we’ll be going.’

‘Thank God for that,’ she said, looking out over the water in frustration. ‘How long does it take to bring a speedboat out here?’

‘I dunno.’ The teenager shrugged.

There were a few seconds of silence before he looked over at her. ‘I like your tattoos.’

‘What?’ she asked with a frown.

‘I really like your tattoos.’

Beth looked down at the array of colourful tattoos on her arms. His attempt to pacify her was both pitiful and endearing at the same time.

‘I don’t normally like girls with lots of tattoos, you know?’ he admitted. ‘But they really suit you.’

There were a few awkward seconds. Beth wasn’t sure what to say to that. It amused her that he was trying to make a connection with her in such a tense situation.

‘I’ll take that as a compliment, I think,’ she said, playing along. ‘My taid was a tattoo artist, so I guess it runs in the family.’

‘Taid?’ he asked with a frown. ‘Is that his name or something?’

She frowned.

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