When A Plan Comes Together (10 page)

Five days later, Dr. Tanner was checking Jay’s arm, in preparation for Sue to rebandage it again. He sighed and Jay looked at the doctor’s face carefully. “Infection?” Jay asked.

“Of the worst kind,” Dr. Tanner said. “I’m sorry. Gangrene. I don’t have anything strong enough to fight it.”

Jay bit his lip. “If I remember my history, about the only cure for Gangrene is to remove it completely from the body.”

“Yes. It will mean taking your left arm from near the shoulder.”

Jay hung his head, his eyes closed. “It’s that or die, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Jay, we’re getting close to Hawaii. It would be better if we could wait and do the procedure there. But I don’t think you have the time.”

“Do you have what you need to do the operation?” Jay asked, looking up again.

“Makeshift. But I think I can manage, tool wise. But anesthetic… we don’t have any. The pain killers in the first-aid kit will help after the operation, but not during.”

Jay groaned at the thought. “I guess it’s the old whiskey till I’m drunk scenario.”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Going to be tough doing it here on the boat…”

“We’ll transfer to the trimaran. It’s far more stable and has more room.”

“Set it up while I go lie down and feel sorry for myself.”

Dr. Tanner nodded and left Jay to his misery. “Lousy, stinking plan, this one is,” Jay muttered. He turned his face to the outer hull and tried not to cry.

Jay discovered that getting drunk wasn’t as good an anesthetic as it was cracked up to be. It hurt when Dr. Tanner made that first cut. Jay knew he screamed, and then nature did its work, and he passed out from the pain.

He came to, feeling groggy and definitely hung over. Jay was wondering why the doctor hadn’t taken the arm, since he could feel it laying right there at his side. But he looked and there was no arm. “Phantom feeling…” Jay mused, staring at where the rest of his left arm should be.

“How are you feeling?” came a voice beside him.

It was Sue. “Weird. I have a phantom feeling in the arm. I’m looking right at the space where the arm isn’t, but I can still feel it.”

“That sensation will lessen with time,” Dr. Tanner said, coming over to the bed Jay was in. It was one of the settees in the trimaran that made into a queen size bed.

“When can I get up?” Jay asked.

“To go to the bathroom, any time. The rest of the time, at least until we get to Hawaii, I want you off your feet, resting.”

“I don’t think I could do anything else, the way I feel right now.”

“That will fade, too,” Dr. Tanner said. “You already seem to have a good attitude about this.”

Jay shrugged and winced. “That hurt. What else is there to do? I have a family I have to get back to. Even with one arm, I can be of use to them.”

“Of course you can,” Dr. Tanner said. “That is a very good attitude. I think you will be just fine.”

Jay didn’t consider it fine, but he managed over the next few days to learn to do things one handed. It was strange, and many things were difficult, but he wasn’t going to give up. He needed to be in the best shape possible when he got to California. No telling what the situation was there, now.

They’d finally managed to make a few contacts on the Amateur Bands. What information they had was that it was bad all over.

They finally made it to Hawaii, with supplies and fuel to spare. It was a good thing. They avoided Pearl Harbor and went to the big island. It took some more of Antonio’s negotiating skills to get more supplies for the trip to California. It also took another third of Jay’s gold. It would have been more, but those in the other three boats decided to stay on the island.

Dr. Tanner and Sue opted to join Jay back on Fraulein Betta. The Doctor made some connections at one of the hospitals and rebuilt the medical bag he’d lost to the fire at sea. There weren’t many medications left, but he bought, with Jay’s gold, everything he could. Fraulein Betta’s first-aid kit was replenished, too.

With the boat low in the water again, Hermann set sail for the coast of California.

They saw not another boat or ship, until they were within a few miles of the coast. Cautiously they hailed the first boat they saw. Hermann’s shotgun at the ready, the two boats came together and exchanged information.

It was a fishing boat out looking for a catch. Thankfully, they were helpful and not aggressive. They were out of Monterey, and told those on Fraulein Betta that the small town on the Bay was holding things together pretty well.

Captain Sugarman was eyeing the Fraulein Betta. “Sweet boat like this could make a man a good living, with the fuel situation being what it is now. By next fall there’ll be a decent supply of biodiesel, but still not enough to go around for everyone that wants it.”

Turning his gaze from the boat to Hermann, he added, “You could get a good price for her. Or lease her out to the highest bidder. There’re several of us pooling resources. If you aim to stay and might be interested in a deal, contact me first.”

“Ja,” Hermann replied. “Maybe so. Will see when we get there.”

“What are things like toward Reno?” Jay asked. He waited anxiously for the answer. It was a disappointing one.

“Heard the airport in Reno took one, and Carson City got hit. Fallon got hammered, it’s said. At least three small nukes at the Naval Air Station.”

Antonio, Hermann, and Betta looked at Jay. “They could still be alive. We’re northwest of the airport. The Carson City nuke wouldn’t affect us, except maybe ground shock and weak blast wave. Fallon not at all. I have to believe they are alive and well.”

“Better watch your step going that way. Sacramento got it and there have been problems in the mountains. City survivors with nothing but guns going after those that were prepared in the country.”

“Thanks,” Jay said. “We’ll be careful, believe me. I’ve come too far and lost too much to give up now when I’m this close.”

“Keep me in mind about your boat, mister!” called Captain Sugarman as the two boats separated, Sugarman heading further out to sea for fish, and Fraulein Betta pointed to Monterey Bay.

When they got close to the city, the sails were brought down and secured, and Hermann motored them in the rest of the way. Jay, using his single hand and arm had learned how to help where he could, and stay out of the way when he couldn’t.

Betta had the shotgun ready, but out of sight as Hermann found an empty slip and eased the motor sailer into it. Antonio and Marcus got the lines secured and Hermann stopped the engine. Everyone stood waiting anxiously as a tall, skinny man came down the gangways toward the boat.

“You’re new here, aren’t you? You can’t stay here. That slip is taken. We have several open, more suited to that boat anyway, the other side of the marina.”

“But it is okay to stop here in the marina until we decide what we’re going to do?” Jay asked.

“Sure. What we’re here for, you know. But it will cost you. Just like in the old days.  No cash money.  I’ll take silver, gold, food, fuel, or ammo. You got two days to pony up or we’ll run you out of here.”

Jay looked around at Hermann. “Ja,” he said softly.

“Okay,” Jay said, looking back at the man. “What’s your name, Harbormaster?”

“Nigel Smithson.”

“Can you show us where the open slips are, Mr. Smithson?” Jay asked.

“Just Nigel, as long as things stay peaceful. Sure.” Nigel pointed through the forest of sail boat masts. “Over there. I’ll go around and meet you and we can discuss prices.”

Jay and Antonio untied the boat and Hermann guided it back out into travel way. Antonio kept an eye on the Harbormaster. He’d retrieved a bicycle on shore and was pedaling along the pavement above the bay that paralleled the shore.

When they got close to where Nigel had pointed, the openings that had not been visible were noticeable. Nigel was standing on the walkway when Hermann brought Fraulein Betta to a gentle stop and Marcus and Antonio jumped to fasten her securely.

“You want to come aboard and arrange things?” Jay asked.

“No thanks. No offense, but I don’t know you. Come on up to the office when you get settled. We’re not unreasonable here, but we do insist the rules are followed. You can’t keep those drums on board like that. I assume they’re fuel.”

“Were,” Antonio said. “Only one is still full. We’ll transfer it to the tank and find someone to take the drums off our hands.”

Nigel nodded. “Ask about for Old Man Jenkins. He’ll try to get you to pay for him to take them, like in the old days. Don’t take less than a Silver Eagle for each one. He can, and will, pay it. They’re almost as valuable as the fuel they contain.”

“Will do,” Jay said. “Thanks.”

“Okay. See you in a little while.”

The six went into the cabin of the boat and sat down around the dining table to discuss their respective futures. “Well, as all of you are aware, I’m headed to Reno to find my family. Captain Sugarman implied that it could be a dangerous trip.”

“Betta and me…” Hermann said, “We stay here. Right Mama?”

“Ja, Hermann. We can be fisherman like my Papa’s Papa.”

“Okay,” Jay said. “I think that’s a good decision for you.” He looked at Antonio. “You’ll be wanting to stay and help…”

“Nein,” Hermann said. “Antonio only wanted to get to America. He no need to stay and help. Will find Captain Sugarman and make deal.”

“Herr Hoffer, you have been very good to me. I will stay and work for you.”

“Nein, nein,” Hermann said with a wave of his meaty hand. “You are young man. Have your own life. Good sailor, Ja, but not the life you want.”

“Are you sure, Herr Hoffer?” Antonio asked.

“Ja.”

Betta added her own “Ja.”

That settled it for Antonio. He turned to Jay and said, “I’d kind of like to tag along. Find some place I can make my home. The Hoffers’ are right. I don’t really want a life at sea.”

“I’ll be glad to have you along, Antonio. Thanks.”

It was Dr. Tanner’s and Sue’s turn to look at one another.

“I’ve had enough of the sea, too,” Sue told Marcus. “It was fun for a while, but this last trip is all I want. I’m ready for some dry ground and a clinic to take care of.”

“That’s about the way I feel, too. Don’t know if it will be in Reno, Jay, but we’d like to tag along until you get there. We may stay or we may continue, like Antonio. We make a good team.”

“If you are really sure and aren’t just offering because of my arm, I’d pleased to travel with you to Reno. But that is where I’ll be stopping, as long as my family is there. And I think they will be. We have this plan, you see…”

Everyone was nodding. The decisions made, Antonio went about transferring the last of the diesel from the drum to the fuel tank in the boat. He went looking for Jenkins.

Jay and Hermann went to talk to Harbormaster Smithson and make arrangements for a permanent slip for Fraulein Betta. Marcus and Sue stayed aboard to keep Betta company and keep an eye on things while the other men were gone.

When Jay and Hermann returned, Antonio was helping a very old looking, but quite spry man, loading an empty drum on a dolly. It was the last of the drums. With a rather grouchy, “Anymore and I’ll pay the same. No more than that, though. And keep it to yourself.”