A Fine Cast of Characters - J. Dane Tyler [28]
Sam’s voice froze him. “A mirrored wall would show our reflections though. I don’t see ‘em. Do you?” She stared. There was no sarcasm in her voice.
Flanagan deflated. “No. No, I don’t. You’re right. It’s…”
“It’s impossible,” Kelly said. “Just like everything.”
Flanagan shook his head. “What’s going on is weird, but not impossible. The ship’s been modified to hold people instead of cargo, that’s all. Took out the dividing walls and made cabins. Nothing impossible ‘bout that.”
“You said it’s too big down here,” Sam said, folding her arms across her chest. “That’s impossible.”
“Just looks that way is all, without the dividing walls.” There was no confidence in his voice. He avoided meeting their eyes by looking down the corridor.
“Bullshit, Flanagan. Don’t treat us like idiots, okay? There wasn’t that much boat left in front of us when we came down here. It’s not a tanker or cruise ship, for Pete’s sake. It was what? A hundred and fifty feet long? Less? And there’s too much hallway in front of us. Behind us it goes ‘til we can’t see the end. Now piss in your own ear and tell yourself it’s raining, but don’t try that with us.”
Kelly nodded. “Sorry, Captain, I have to agree here. This hallway’s longer than the ship.”
Flanagan sighed. “I don’t have an answer. A man’s missing and we need to find him. Let’s find Charles now and solve the mysteries later.”
Sam huffed an exasperated sigh. “Damn, this is creepy.”
The low ceiling seemed to squash their voices, deadening the sound into the plush carpet. Kelly nodded, and Flanagan ran his fingers through his tangled, matted hair, his hands stopping on the back of his head.
“Okay, any ideas? Where to start, I mean? Jeez, this is a lotta boat.”
Kelly looked down the hall in both directions. “I say we start right here, where we are, and work toward the front of the boat. Then we’ll have the stairwell to the deck to mark our progress. I don’t know about you, but to me, all these walls, doors and carpet look the same. Having this landmark will help.”
Sam nodded. “Fine by me.”
Flanagan nodded. “Okay. Stick together. It’s pretty dark in here, even with the lamps.”
“And how are those powered?” Kelly wondered aloud, and the others stared at the sconces.
“I don’t know,” Flanagan said. “Probably not ‘lectric, though. Boat’s batteries would’ve gone dead a long time ago without running the alternator.”
“But you said the boat might not have been adrift that long,” Kelly said.
“If they’re not electric, what are they?” Sam stepped toward one of the yellowish, glowing tulip glass lamps. “I think I see a flame in there!”
“That’s impossible,” Flanagan said, and came beside her. “Ain’t nobody aboard to light gas lamps.”
“We don’t really know that,” Kelly said and shuddered. She hugged herself. “I mean … we just haven’t seen anyone. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anyone.”
“HELLO!” The sudden crash of Flanagan’s voice scared Kelly and Sam into hard jumps and shrieks.
Sam punched his arm, and he winced and drew back. She leaned forward with her face flushed. “You dumb-ass! Tell us before you do that next time! You scared the hell out of us!”
“Sorry,” he muttered, rubbing his shoulder. “Sorry. If someone’s here, though, they damned sure heard me.”
“No shit. You woke the fucking dead with that one.”
“But I don’t know … I mean, yeah, they heard you … but what if they’re not able to answer? You know, if they need help?” Kelly shuddered again.
“What about Charles? He should be awright, shouldn’t he?”
Kelly thought, bit her lip. “Well, what if … what if they’re not … willing to answer?”
“Aw, shit, Kelly!” Sam’s expression rolled from a moment of abject terror to worry. “Don’t say shit like that! Damn, I’m freaked out enough already!”
“Why wouldn’t they be willing to answer?” Flanagan dropped his brows and stared at Kelly.
Kelly shrank for a moment, then resolved, raised her head and stuck her chin out. “I don’t know. Maybe … they intend to harm us.”
“For fuck’s sake, Kelly, come