Arctic Fire (22 page)

Straightening up, he entered the forward
port-side anchor room and immediately his breath was taken away by
the frigid temperature. With no air circulating, as in the tunnels,
the room held the cold like a deep freeze. Stepping back, he caught
his breath, spewed out a few more choice words for corporate
America then stepped in and flipped on the light switch.

He walked over to the anchor and grabbed the
safety pin that held the locking mechanism, holding the anchor in
its cradle. He jerked on it several times and it didn’t move. “See,
I told you!” He shouted out loud to no one in particular.

Towers stood for a moment and looked out the
front wall. Being only a foot thick, light filtered through it,
casting a strange view of the outside world. From here too, he
could feel the barge swaying back and forth with the rhythm of the
storm waves. As he stood there watching, the front wall would grow
darker for an instant then lighten up again. It took him a moment
to realize what was happening; it was getting darker and lighter
because the waves were splashing that high on the side of the
barge.

He looked at his watch. He was supposed to be
off in 15 minutes, he would never make it. He closed the door and
headed to the starboard anchor room; he didn’t give it a second
thought or realize that the waves were reaching 25 feet up the side
of the iceberg.

He found the starboard bow anchor secure just as
he had the port, and as he descended the three stories to start his
journey aft, he felt his frustration growing on the inside as fast
as the storm was growing on the outside. He wasn’t sure if it was
just because he was hungry or because the weather was getting to
him, but his stomach was getting upset, adding all the more to his
sour mood.

Reaching the aft starboard anchor he found
everything just as it should be, just as he knew it would be.
Halfway up the ladder to the stern port anchor room, and an hour
into overtime, his walkie beeped.

“Dave, are you done yet? The food is cold and
the beer is getting warm. You need to get up here man, we have the
place all to ourselves.” Towers looked up the shaft as if he could
see his friend talking. He also heard laughter in the background
and the clanging of a glass. They were up there having fun and he
was stuck down here in the deep freeze. He sighed out of
frustration; he could almost feel the warm air. “Yeah man, I’m so
done here. I’ll be there in a few.”

Screw this, he said to himself as he switched
off his walkie. The stupid pin is set just like the others were. He
was halfway to the top and for a brief moment he thought about just
going the rest of the way up and finishing the job, but then an
image of his friends eating and drinking without him flashed
through his mind, sending him straight down the ladder.

If he had taken just five more minutes, he would
have seen that the pin in the starboard anchor was not in position
like the others. It hadn’t been properly set in the first place and
the swaying and rocking motion of the iceberg from the storm had
loosened it even more; it was on the verge of falling out.

Chapter Twenty
Four

When Pike entered the casino, he knew the
captain had been right. The place was deserted. The gaming tables
were empty and the dealers were all standing together talking as
were the cocktail waitresses huddled by the bar. The slot machines
still called out cheerily with their bright lights and happy chirps
and beeps, but no one was there to listen.

He walked into the Crystal Palace and as he
expected, found everyone standing by the windows, staring out at
the storm. Tabatha was the first one to see him.

“How’s everyone doing?” Pike asked as she came
over.

“A lot of people are worried though they’re
trying to not show it.”

“Being a reporter, you picked up on that
huh?”

“Very funny.” She replied as she hit him in the
shoulder.

“I deserved that.” He said, rubbing his
shoulder. “But seriously, what about you?”

She looked up at him and debated whether to tell
the truth or play the tough, street wise reporter. “To be honest,
I’m a little scared. A couple of times…..” Tabatha was interrupted
by a startled shriek coming from someone standing by the window.
They both turned to see spray shooting up over the side of the
railing and splashing against the window. “…We’ve seen that
happen.” She continued. “And it seems like the waves are getting
bigger and splashing over the railing more often. I think everyone
would be more comfortable if they had a steel ship under their feet
instead of floating on something you put in your drink.”

“I just came from the bridge and the captain
doesn’t seem concerned.”

“Yeah, well, neither did the Captain of the
Titanic
.”

Pike frowned and gave her a dirty look. “Anyway,
we’re turning south to try to skirt the storm.”

“If everything is all right as the captain says,
why are we changing course?”

“What, once a reporter always a reporter? Can’t
you take anything at face value?”

“Sorry, but it comes with the territory.”

Pike frowned again. “Anyway I need your help in
distracting these people from the storm. The more they stare at the
crashing waves, the more their imagination will run away with them
and the more frightened they’ll become.”

“Amen to that.” Tabatha replied, watching as
another wave crashed over the railing.

“Everyone, can I have your attention please?”
Pike shouted. He not only wanted to get their minds off the storm
but to get them away from the plate glass windows in case they
shattered. A few people turned, but most ignored him, still
concentrating on the weather outside. Suddenly Pike thought his
eardrums would rupture from the loud whistle that came from right
behind him. Instantly everyone turned around. Pike turned and
looked at Tabatha who was wearing a big smile.

“What?” she said innocently. “You said you
wanted my help.”

“Yeah, I may need your help finding an ear
doctor after that.”

“Ever try hailing a cab in New York?” She
smiled.

Pike turned back to the crowd who was now paying
attention, thanks to Tabatha’s whistle. “I’ve just come from the
bridge and the Captain has assured me that everything is going to
be okay.”

“Those waves look pretty damn big to me,” one
man shouted.

“Yeah, and I don’t remember seeing any life
boats on this giant ice cube,” another shouted. A low murmur
started to spread through the crowd like a deadly mist.

“Where’s Cain? Why isn’t he here?”

“He’s probably long gone by now. Flew the coup
in that fancy helicopter of his.”

“We’re perfectly safe, nothing is going to
happen.” Pike tried to reassure them but hysteria already had a
firm grip on them with one hand and was reaching up to choke out
the last thoughts of reason with the other. He was losing them and
he had to act fast. He was about to find out how good a poker
player he was.

“Mr. Cain is still on board, and in fact he sent
me down here,” he lied. “You all know what a gracious host Mr. Cain
is and while he can do a lot of things, he can’t control the
weather, yet.” There was a small nervous chuckle or two but not the
tension breaker he was hoping for. “So to make up for this
inconvenience, Mr. Cain will credit everyone’s account in the
casino for $500.00. He wants you to have fun and this is his way of
making up for the bad weather.”

This caught the attention of over half the
people but there were still a few holdouts. “Hey, would the Blast
from the Past lie?” He held up his hands and put on his cheesiest
smile. More laughter, almost there. “Tabatha, is this right?”

“Yes, yes, it is.” She joined in.

“There, you see? She’s a reporter, and we all
know that reporters don’t stretch the truth.” Laughter now filled
the room; hysteria’s grip broken as they all started leaving the
restaurant and heading back to the casino.

“Thanks for the backup back there.” Pike said as
the last of the crowd shuffled by.

“You were pretty quick on your feet back there.
Mr. Cain never said he’d give everyone $500.00 did he?”

Pike sighed then shook his head. “No, but one
problem at a time for now. I still need your help.”

“Sure.”

“I need you to go out and play the gracious host
for me. Keep everybody playing; keep their minds off the storm. Can
you do that for me?”

“Sure, I can help the Blast from the Past, but
it will cost you.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll think of something.”
She said as she smiled and walked into the casino.

Pike immediately turned to close the curtains
over the windows. As he was walking, he noticed a glass of water on
one of the tables. The water in the glass was slowly swaying back
and forth; the storm was getting worse.

After closing all the curtains, he found the
maître d’ who wasn’t too happy when Pike told him to close off that
part of the restaurant that faced the ocean. After Pike threw
Cain’s name around a few times, the maître d’ reluctantly
agreed.

Pike walked back into the casino, happy to find
things almost back to normal. A few people were leaving, obviously
seasick by the way they were holding the stomach s and their hands
over their mouths. He looked around and found Tabatha standing at a
roulette table, cheering the players on. She looked up and smiled
and waved at him.

Just then the elevator door opened and Cain and
Mallory stepped out. They were greeted almost like the Second
Coming, everyone stopping in mid-bet and rushing over to them. Cain
greeted them like a politician on the campaign trail, smiling and
shaking their hands. As they gathered around, he settled their
nerves by telling them that everything was fine and that there was
no need for concern. He expounded on the safety of the iceberg and
the experience of the crew.

After several minutes of mingling with his
guests, Cain came over to Pike who was sitting on one of the stools
in Starbucks. “Mr. Cain.” Pike began solemnly. “I believe I may owe
you some money.”

“Close to twenty grand I believe.”

“Ouch.” Pike flinched. “I wanted to get the
people away from the windows and their minds off the storm as
quickly as possible. Sorry sir, it was the best I could come up
with on such short notice.”

“And a fine solution it was, Gabriel.” Cain
said, a smile finally breaking. “You accomplished your mission with
flying colors. I would expect nothing less from the Blast from the
Past, although I think they would have been just as happy with
$100.00 apiece.” He chuckled.

“I guess there goes my paycheck for the
trip.”

“Nonsense. Best PR money I’ve spent in a long
time.”

“Sir?”

“They say money can’t buy love but in this case
it can buy a lot of good will.” Mallory answered, seeing the
puzzled look on Pike’s face. “You defused the situation and got
their minds off the storm and when this whole thing blows over, all
they’ll remember is that it was a little windy outside and how much
fun they had playing on Nigel’s money.”

“Glad to be of service.” Pike replied, shrugging
his shoulders.

“The offer you extended to the others also
applies to you Gabriel. Grab a stack of chips and go have some
fun.”

Pike thought about it for a moment then nodded
his head. “You know what? I think I might just take you up on
that.”

“Good man.” Cain said as he slapped Pike on the
back.

“You know Nigel, it would push some fears away
and boost confidence if you stayed and played awhile yourself.”
Mallory said.

“You are probably right. Maybe I can win back
some of my money that Gabriel spent.”

“Good man.” Mallory said as she slapped Cain on
the back.

“Very funny. Now go grab us both a stack of
chips and meet me at the craps table.

“You know what the only thing better than
spending Tom’s money is?”

“What?”

“Spending yours.” She laughed.

“Like I said, very funny. Now go get the chips.”
Cain said, pointing his finger at the cashier’s cage like his was
ordering his puppy out of the room. As he watched her walk away,
his phone rang. As he talked he smiled and waved at people. Mallory
looked at Cain when she came back with the chips and instantly knew
something was wrong.

She smiled as she handed him the chips, keeping
up appearances. “What’s wrong?” she said under her breath as they
walked toward the craps table, still smiling.

“We may have a slight problem. I want you to
mingle around then work your way over to Gabriel. Tell him the
captain would like to see him on the bridge but not to leave right
away. He needs to be discrete when he leaves and not to cause
suspicion and undo everything he’s accomplished here.”

“Of course.” Mallory said laughing, playing her
part. Cain smiled and walked over to the craps table and was
immediately swallowed by the crowd of gamblers. Mallory wandered
over to the blackjack tables and quickly lost two hands then made
her way over to Pike who was playing a slot machine with Tabatha
Amies seated next to him.

“Gabe, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure. All I’m doing here is giving Mr. Cain his
money back anyway.”

She pulled him aside and explained the
situation.

“But what about Tabatha? I’m sure her spider
senses are already on alert by the fact that you pulled me
aside.”

“I’ll worry about her. Just make your rounds
then quietly leave.”

“Okay.” Pike agreed, nodding his head.

Mallory turned back to the reporter. “Tabatha,
there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.” Pike stood back
and could see the wheels turning in Tabatha’s head as her eyes
darted back and forth between him and Mallory. She could smell a
story but wasn’t quite sure if the bigger story was to stay with
him or go with Mallory. She fell back on the reporter’s first rule,
always follow the source. She kissed Pike on the cheek then turned
to Mallory; “I’m all ears.”