Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 2
I moved the idling engine into “Forward” and accelerated as I reversed my earlier course back to the harbor. Cruising at twelve mph in the harbor was maddening but there was nothing I could do. A speeding ticket would cost $200 and sitting around while they wrote the ticket would take even longer than poking along. I found a place at the dock, ran to my truck and backed down. It took me only minutes to winch the boat onto the trailer. Now I had a dilemma-it’s illegal to transport anyone in any kind of trailer, but I didn’t want to draw unwanted attention to my guest. I left her there while tied the boat down and returned home.
Critical minutes later I pulled into the driveway, ran back to the boat, and pulled her out of the cabin. She was barely conscious. I sat her on the gunwale while I jumped down and let her fall into my arms. I carried her to the door, unlocked it and ran inside. I stopped in the bathroom and filled the tub. Most people would assume that hot water would be needed, but I knew that warm was better-just as long as it was almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I stripped her again, ignoring her breasts, pussy, and the rest of her body. I eased her into the tub. Seconds later I realized that this wasn’t going to work-she was too weak to hold herself up. Cursing my stupidity I stripped out of my shoes, socks, and jeans before pulling my t- shirt over my head. I slipped into the tub with her in only my boxers, sitting behind her, my arms around her waist. We sat in the tub for more than an hour as I refilled the tub regularly and talked to her. Try talking nonstop to a stranger for an hour-go ahead! I was talking about everything from the baseball season-I’m a Yankee fan to what was going on in my school, to politics, to anything I could think of. I knew she was coming around when she gasped, “What the fuck are you talking about? Who the hell are you and why are you in this tub with me?”
“Well,” I replied, “I’m just saying anything that comes to mind to try to keep you awake. Second, I’m Pete. This is my house. I’m a teacher in a nearby junior high, and I’m here with you saving your life even though I’d rather be out fishing. That’s where I was heading when I found you clinging to your boat. I’m getting up now. Can you keep yourself from drowning?” She nodded so I got up, dropped my boxers, dried off, and dressed before returning to her with some of my clothes.
Kneeling next to her I spoke, “Let’s get you out of here, dressed, and into bed. No, I’m not leaving you here to do it-you’re too weak -besides I’ve already seen everything there is to see. The tub is a great way to get your core temperature back to normal, but being in the water for too long will actually harm you, just like staying in a Jacuzzi too long.” When she looked at me crazily I continued, “I’m a science teacher. I know lots of useless stuff like that. Let’s get you out and dry. C’mon.”
I helped her up and sat her on the edge of the tub while I dried her with a fluffy towel. I helped her into a pair of warm sweatpants and sweatshirt. They were much too big for her, but they were the best I could do at the moment. I tucked her into bed with a couple of pillows to support her. “I think you’ll be OK now, but I want to take your temperature. Luckily for you I have one of those things you stick in a person’s ear. My only other one is a rectal.”
She chuckled, “Promises, promises.” I joined her in laughing as I pushed the device into her ear. It “pinged” seconds later, “93.2,” 1 told her, “That’s not too bad, considering. Want to tell me what happened and why you don’t want the police Involved?
“I’d just as soon skip my name for now, if you don’t mind. It’s enough to know that I was out with my boyfriend. We were going out to Mystic-that’s in Connecticut, you know.” nodded both to show knew and that wanted her to continue. “My boyfriend gambles, or maybe I should say gambled, because I’m sure he’s dead. He owed a fortune to these gangsters and he had no way to pay them. We were in the middle of the Sound when a speedboat caught up with us. They forced their way on board and locked me in one of the cabins. Then I heard shooting-lots of shooting-and about twenty minutes later I saw water coming into the cabin. Luckily, there was a fire extinguisher, a big one, in with me. I swung it at the door and eventually broke the lock. By then the water was up to my ankles and the boat was tilting. It was all I could do to climb up to the front hatch. I climbed out onto the bow and waited…and waited. It was dark and there was no sign of the other boat. I couldn’t look for my boyfriend-the boat was mostly underwater. All I remember is how cold I was. Then you came. Thanks for saving me. I really appreciate it. Boy-does that sound
lame.”
“I don’t think that thanking someone is ever lame or stupid, and you’re welcome. I think you should stay here in bed today. I have another bedroom and I can sleep there tonight. I’ll go now and make you some chicken soup. It’s homemade in my freezer so I’ll have to defrost it. That’ll help warm you. I can bring it to you in here, so just relax. Here’s the remote-watch TV if you want.” I left her alone, defrosted and heated my homemade soup in the microwave and carried a full bowl on a tray along with a cup of hot tea. I set it on a table next to the bed and helped her to reposition the pillows.
She sipped the soup, nibbled the chicken chunks and ate the rice. “This is really good. Your mom make it?”
“No, Mom died four years ago-cancer. She smoked like a chimney her entire life and wouldn’t stop, even after she was diagnosed- she could be such a stupid woman. She was 57. My dad’s also dead-heart attack at work, I’m the only one left of my whole family. I had an older brother-he died in Iraq-one of those danned IED’s–you know-homemade bombs. I made the soup. I’m single so I have to cook or go out and that’s too expensive to do every night. I really prefer turkey soup, but how often can I have a turkey? Ever think about turkey for one? I’d have it every day and every night for a couple of months, at least.” She shared my laughter.
“Marta.”
“Huh?”
“Marta, my name’s Marta. I was born in what used to be called Czechoslovakia, but my parents moved here when I was three. I grew up in New York City and attended college there. I’m a commercial artist, or I was. I don’t know if I could ever go back to work. I’m afraid they’d kill me. They tried once.”
I was thinking, Marta almost interrupted me once but apparently thought the better of it. “I think we should go boating tomorrow. I’m a certified scuba diver. I can dive on the boat and see if I can find out anything, but you’ll have to go with me-I’m sorry. It’s not safe to dive by yourself. I can’t trust anyone to go down with me so it will have to be you in the boat as my support. It’s the only way we can get some answers and try to figure out what happened.”
“Isn’t the water too cold? You could wind up like me.”
“No, I have a wet suit. It lets the water in, but quickly warms it to body temperature. I’ve worn it in the middle of winter without too much trouble. I’ll get everything out into the boat and that reminds me-my lunch is out there and what’s left of your clothes. Sorry, but I had to cut your shirt off. I’ll wash your slacks and dry them.” I jumped up and carried my gear bag to the boat. On the way in I carried my worms, my lunch, and Marta’s clothes. The lunch and worms went into the refrigerator, I turned the washer on, dropped in her clothes along with a bunch of mine and carried my scuba tanks to the boat, tying them to the rear starboard side cleat. I
locked the regulator, wetsuit, and my rods in the cabin. The whole job took me about twenty minutes.
When I returned to the
bedroom Marta was gone. “I’m in the bathroom, OK?”
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