Danger - A Safe Bahamian Novel - Day 30

Danger - A Safe Bahamian Novel - Day 30

(1:53 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

*** A Lonely Room

And now for this last and perhaps most difficult day of the two thousand and seven NaNo season. This day where so many things are competing with each other for my time. That one slippery ingredient necessary for a modicum of NaNo success.

(2:39 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

There it goes again, slipping away to who knows where. I hope it's not sitting on a pillow somewhere. Waiting for a phone call that is unlikely now on account of someone losing that number even when warned repeatedly not to do so. I mean, teens. Music. What have you? Not a lot I take it. Is is sliding away too? Who knows? Perhaps Tommy does. Riding on a rocket somewhere in his two tone shoes and looking for a fight on a Saturday night even though it is only Friday. At least he is one spaceman that likes to plan ahead. And you should see his twisty sister when she is rocking and rolling. That's one thing she can do. Well, that and ride the horses down on the corner of fourty second street.

Unravel that with your pleasant valley sunsets and your letters to some girl name of Maria who refuses to take dictation any longer ever since the man behind the blue eyes whispered in her ears and told her that she should rise above that because she was born free after all. Ever since she and Susie went into business with Laura and Peggy and some biker chick.

(2:54 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

(3:51 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

There it goes again. How does it manage to do that to me so often?

(4:04 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

And yet again! Ahhhhhhh! Stop it!

Sometimes is falls away in huge, massive, hulking clumps and sometimes in smaller bits, but don't blink because it will be gone and you will not even see it going.

So, where shall we go now, gentle reader? Who shall we look in on after a day of rest? Their time, not ours. It can get tricky can't it?

One thing to do should you ever find yourself in a situation similar to the one I am currently in is to just keep putting the words down on the page. Force them out. Give them their marching orders. Keep them moving. Pretend they are a flock of sheep and get yourself a border collie to help you herd them. Yes, that's the ticket, a flock of words and you have yourself a trusty word dog to keep them moving.

So, do we even want to go and look in on any of these Danger characters today at all? Should we just spend a pleasant afternoon together shooting the breeze and get back to them at some future date should we feel so inclined? That does sound a bit tempting on my end gentler reader, how about from your Fearless Reader point of view? What do you say?

(4:12 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

(4:28 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

Oh, man! Why can't I get a handle on this? It is just crazy... What is a poor author in training to do? Must time always be an enemy? Or can you make an ally of it and sail smoothly for long periods?

As they say... Only time will tell... Sorry, gentle reader, couldn't resist.

*** A Salvage Vessel Anchoured Off Of The North Shore Of Ambergris Cay, Abaco

The helicopter team is in control. About a half of the former crew have been flown off to parts unknown. Mandy chose who was to stay and who was to go after extensive questioning of the crew.

Reg raged against Jack and acted all uncooperative and belligerent and was setting a bad example for the rest of the crew, refusing to answer any questions and trying to attack and escape in turn. Well, until Jack offered publically to help with the questioning, said questioning he suggested should take place in public.

In the end, his actions may have been more help than harm. When the crew saw his immediate and visible collapse and complete about face at Jack's suggestion, most of them decided to co-operate as well. It seems he had been telling them of his experience at night below decks and telling how it wasn't so bad and that the next time he was ready and would resist to the end. Then his chance came to resist and he crumbled.

mandy wsa surprised at this but was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. She got on with her questioning and made her choices. She kept Reg and the crew of divers aboard to put to work on the project and sent the rest away. Well, except for the ships captain and the boss.

The boss, she kept under guard below decks. There was something about the man that made Jack think he had met him before but he couldn't quite place him.

The captain she kept on the bridge, also under guard, station keeping.

The divers she sent back down to raise the prize.

(4:49 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

(5:05 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

*** A Lonely Room

(5:36 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

Vida interrupciones arte

Interrompt la vie artistique

Life onderbreekt kunst

Leben Interrupts Kunst

Vita interrompe arte

Life interrompe arte

Like I say:

Life interrupts art

And so it does.

Way too often it seems and it is going to do so once again much too soon I fear.

*** 38' Cheoy Lee Ketch - Up Around Nun Jack, Abaco

"Look Golden Child, it has been quiet up there for a good long while now. I say we just sail on over that way and hail them and see if we can see anyhting. Come on. It will be exciting."

Golden Child could not deny that, well, at least that it could prove exciting, but what she feared was that it would be dangerous. More dangerous than that bull they had pulled in the other night. The one with fresh body parts in his stomach when they cut him open, the one with fresh bang stick damage to his pectoral fin, the one who had been trying to get them and ruin their honeymoon. Honeymoon! "Fred, come on baby, wew are on our honeymoon. Let's enjoy each other. "Aren't I enough excitement for you?" she saya and winks seductively. "Wouldn't you rather go below and tell each other exciting stories?"

"Oh, come on Goldy! You know that is not fair!"

"Who said anything about fair?" she smiles, standing up and heading for the hatch, beginning to pull up her T-shirt as she starts to climb down the ladder.

"Who said anything about fair indeed?" laughs Fred, jumping up and following her.

"Put on some music tiger."

(5:51 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

(9:13 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

when you're home and lonely

on a friday night

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

when the days grow longer

and the night's too bright

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

when your best emotion's

either fight or flight

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

when your heart comes crashin

to the ground at night

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

*** A Lonely Room

Well gentle reader, I know you may be getting tired of hearing this one, but I am getting tired of loving through it myself.

The No Voltage Blues

I got the no voltage blues

I got the no voltage blues

Yeah, B.E.C. is messin with me

I got the no voltage blues

My U.P.S. is beepin

It wakes me from my dream

And man she was a sweet ting

Ate least thats how it seemed

I got the no voltage blues

I got the no voltage blues

Yeah, B.E.C. is messin with me

I got the no voltage blues

My A.C.'s sittin quiet

My room is gettin warm

I lie right here and sigh it

Aint no sign of a storm

I got the no voltage blues

I got the no voltage blues

Yeah, B.E.C. is messin with me

I got the no voltage blues

I'm tryin to write my novel

In thirty short, short days

And now just like the last year

Gots to pray they change their ways

I got the no voltage blues

I got the no voltage blues

Yeah, B.E.C. is messin with me

I got the no voltage blues

You guessed it gentle reader, I got home from dinner with my son and got us ready for bed, I had the computer on ready to write and was just looking for a book to read my son while putting him to bed. BAM! The No Voltage Blues. Luckily, once again, only for a relatively short time, but COME ON! What is this electrickery company up to that they have to keep cutting off the power this month for ten to twenty minutes at a time. I know I have mentioned a decent number of those times, but I really don't think I have come close to mentioning them all.

(9:21 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

*** 38' Cheoy Lee Ketch - Up Around Nun Jack, Abaco

One particular ocean

One particular bay

One particular sailboat / surfboard

Every wind blowin my way / wave breaking my way

One particular moment

One particular day

One particular girlfriend

Every thing going OK

One particular lover

One particular play

One particular ending

Now I've nothing more to say

"Are you sure you have nothing more to say tiger?"

"Mmmmmmm."

(9:26 pm Friday Nov 30, 2007)

"Mmmmmmm."

"Mmmmmmm."

Danger - A Safe Bahamian Novel - Day 29

Danger - A Safe Bahamian Novel - Day 29

(3:06 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

*** A Lonely Room

Hey there gentle reader, getting very close to the end now. Of the month, not necessarily of the story. Or at least of the writing of the story.

Today and tomorrow. Can we pull it off together? Two thousand plus today and two thousand plus tomorrow somehow and we can call it a pretty good NaNo month. Only one day of not reaching quota if the next two pan out. But will they pan out.

(Cue ominous music......)

Yes, indeed, two more days and then a minor celebration. If only we had more writers doing this here on the rock. Then we could have us an after party and live it up.

I guess I have another thing to add to my list for next year. As well as all of the literary things that I need to learn by then, I need to become a better promoter and organizer. I think I may have a better change of learning the writing skills than the others though.

Would you like to try your hand at writing your novel next year, gentle reader? (Are you living on the rock? Not on the rocks, mind you, on the rock as in on New Providence or in Nassau. The rock. You Gibraltar people don't pay any mind to us please.)

(3:16 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

Well, a little house keeping on yesterday's work and we may be ready to try and churn out some serious words. Do we have the concepts ready for today though? Time is flowing by in never ending bits. Chopped fine but flowing swiftly.

(3:30 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

I can't get the gears to really start turning properly right now... Think. Think. Think.

*** A Salvage Vessel Anchoured Off Of The North Shore Of Ambergris Cay, Abaco (Last Night)

"Alright Reg, I guess you can't send a crew back down tonight. Get everything squared away and we will get going again first thing in the morning."

"OK, boss, That would be most wise. We are pushing things to the limit with these dives. I think I will set some shark lines tonight and see if we can bring our intruder to justice."

"Don't you think you might run the risk of attracting others?" says the voice from the shadows.

"Could be, but this one was a bit too aggressive. I would gladly trade two or three normal sharks for him. I don't fancy being back in the water with him still hanging around.

*** Inside Of Some Helicopters Approaching Ambergris Cay, Abaco

The helicopters are once again down low, almost at sea level. They are making good speed but begin to slow down and then come to a stop and simply hover.

The doors on the side are opened and the helicopters oriented so that those inside can see in the direction of a salvage vessel anchoured in the vicinity.

"There they are. We have reports that they have had a set back and that almost all of the activity of the last few days has died off. Things are very quiet down there now it seems." says Mandy.

"So, are we going to hit them now?" asks Jack.

"That's the plan. I want you and Sarai to hang back and let us secure things before coming aboard."

"I thought we had been through all of this before and settled it Mandy," says Sarai.

"That's how I remember it," says Jack.

"Look, you are here, let that be good enough."

"I for one am not here for good enough," says Jack, "I am here for the whole game, let's not argue the point anymore."

"So am I," says Sarai.

"Stubborn people. Stubborn. Let's do this then."

(3:54 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

(4:28 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

Well, they went in low and silent and they did it. The action lit the night sky and thundered over the waves.

*** Beach On The Far End Of Nun Jack, Abaco

Fred and Golden Child are sitting on the beach near a small fire surrounded by conch shells. There is a line running from a casuarina tree above the sand down to and out into the water. It is a shark line.

"Throw some more chum in Fred. I want to get that bad boy tonight for sure."

Fred gets up and goes over to a five gallon paint bucket a little way down the beach and picks up an old tin cup from the sand beside it. He dips up a cup of nastiness and walks down to the edge of the water. As carefully as he can, so as not to get any nasty on himself, he throws the grossness out into the water as far as he can. Then he reaches down and rinses the cup and his hands in the cool water.

He walks back up to the paint bucked and drops the cup back into the sand before walking back to the fire and his heart.

(4:52 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

(5:44 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

"Hey sweety. Miss me?"

"You know it! Tiger," growls Golden Child, "OK, we are going to get him now."

They sit side by side on the sand, holding hands, making small talk, roasting hot dogs on the fire and watching for signs on the line.

Well after dinner, they have been laying back and looking at the stars and talking deep space for a while. With Golden Child peeking at the line from time to time. They are starting to get drowsy when Fred peeks over at the line and sees a message waiting.

"Goldy, I think we have some action."

"What?" says Goldy rolling towards him and into his arms, "Action is it? I thought you would never get around to action!"

Fred pushes her off laughing and pointing at the line, "Oh I wish sweets, but that is the action to which I refer."

She elbows him in his solar plexus as she rolls to look at the line. "OK, Mr. Formal, I'll take that action for now!" she says jumping to her feet and running for the line.

Fred is up and running behind her, but slowly, trying to catch his breath.

Whatever is on the other end of the line runs them all over the beach for a while and then suddenly a light and thunder show breaks out somewhere to the north and west of them out over the water.

"What is that?"

"I don't know sweets, but it must be something major."

"Sounds like a battle to me," says Golden Child.

"A Battle? Are you sure?"

"That's what it sounds like."

They are not paying attention to the line and it sweeps along the beach and trips them down as it passes.

They struggle back up from the pile they are in and run to grab it again.

"Let's finish this quickly and them maybe we can go have a look and see what is going on."

"I am all for finishing this, but we are not going to go anywhere near there tonight Fred. It will be way too dangerous."

(6:16 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

(7:34 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

"We could take the dingy and keep quiet and stay far enough away so they don't notice us. If I take the binoculars we should be able to see something interesting from a distance."

"Let's get this bad boy on the beach! Pull! Look, if you want to get the binoculars and see what you can see from here, fine, but we... are... not... going... near... there... Pull! in... the... dinghy. Trust me on this my husband."

*** In The Very Spacious Salon Of A Mega Yacht Some Where In The Waters Of The Abacos

Horse Rider rushes into the Salon out of breath. "We may have waited too long Moon Daughter, things have gone wrong on the research vessel. They have been attacked. We don't know who is behind it. Should I call the others and mobilize?"

"What does Man Tears have to say Horse Rider? What can we hope to gain by going now?"

"I say we go now and overcome the attackers and then finish the job ourselves."

"We could, yes, but you know my plan is to let out foes do all the work they can before we snatch away the spoils. We are much better off behind the scene for now. We didn't fare too well on that other little action you and Dirge Singer got up to did we?"

"No, Moon Daughter, but this is different. You know the reports said they were raising something significant."

"Significant how, sister? Large and substantial, yes, but of importance, who is to say? It may turn out to be nothing of value. And are we to reveal ourselves early in the game for a bauble? I think not."

"But, it is not early in the game Moon Daughter. The game is well advanced."

"Little sister, let me be the judge of the game's stages please. Go now and send Silver One to me, I need to discuss some plans with her."

(7:49 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

Horse Rider leaves and Moon Daughter sits down in on a sofa and puts her head in her hands and sighs.

After a short while, Silver One comes in and sits beside her. "Are you OK, Moon Daughter?"

"Yes, I'm fine, things are getting a bit complicated though. I think I want to take us a bit closer to the action tonight though. Would you tell the captain to take us into the area of Green Turtle Cay from the south please, then come back and discuss some things with me please."

"OK, Moon Daughter, I will be back soon."

(8:21 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

*** A Lonely Room

Well gentle reader, I didn't actually plan it that way, but things seem to be coming to a head up around Nun Jack. What I am wondering right now though is if this will be the climax, or just the second door, if there is a bigger build up down the road.

I am getting close to my quota for the day and that feels good. I really didn't think I would make it today and tomorrow is even less likely but I will try.

I am not sure where to go for the rest of the night, but perhaps some inspiration will strike. We shall see what we see. Shall we?

(8:34 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

*** Shack Near Beach

Ronnie is at the computer again.

He is just noodling around here and there, wasting time. Chatting with friends scattered around the world. Reading some more foolishness by that guy who wrote 'Tings - Anuddah Bahamian Novel' and listening to Free copyleft music that he is finding here and there.

He comes across a site where some guy is putting down bits of lyrics and asking others to work on finishing them with him.

I'm going to a place

Where the past is free to roam

Where no one knows my face

And I can find a home

I want wide open spaces

Cause I'm weary to the bone

So I'm seeking out a place

Where the past is free to roam

--

My feet are in the sky and

My head is on the ground

My heart is in the gutter

On the other side of town

Girl I love you better

Every time around

--

I want to have a taste

Of someone else's honey

Want to grab me a pile

Of someone else's money

I want to live my life

Like the Sunday funnies

So I bought me a guide

Written just for dummies

--

The consequences have unraveled

The girl's defences have all flown

Her best pretenses lie in ashes

Now life is senseless, she's alone

Tonight the boys are in the jungle

They're hunting fresh meat every one

Until the moon hides in the ocean

They head on home, here comes the sun

--

I'm not your dream

I'm not your joy

I'm not your favourite

Plastic Boy

But if you touch me

Under the stars

I'll be your man

And you can drive my car

--

I'm not happy bout the sound of your clothes

The high end's fine but the low end blows

And as for the midrange, no one knows

Girl we gotta do something bout the sound of them clothes.

--

I'm just a few hurts short of being in tune

But baby it seems you'll fix that soon

My life was alright till you turned up the gloom

Now I'm a few hurts short of being in tune

--

Through your eyes

I see the lies

And rise above

Their dark disguise

When morning and

The evening flies away.

Girl in my heart

I've made a start

Come join me now and

Be a part of day.

--

He thinks he may try to get in on that game. Some of them look like they might go somewhere.

(8:59 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

Danger - A Safe Bahamian Novel - Day 28

Danger - A Safe Bahamian Novel - Day 28

(2:10 pm Wednesday Nov 28, 2007)

*** A Lonely Room

Hmmm. Hey there gentle reader. How are things with you today?

(3:20 pm Wednesday Nov 28, 2007)

Where does it go? Are there perhaps ants in my pants that I am unaware of? Is that why I can't sit still to write sometimes? It must be more than that though because there are times when I sit right here and still can't manage to write fit a kick.

Shall I do as I was thinking about last night and just excuse myself from the two thousand a day quota and instead go back and try to find a story some where amidst all these words that already exist. I really would prefer to go on making quota if I can manage it and look for the story in December or January perhaps.

*** In The Very Spacious Salon Of A Mega Yacht Some Where In The Waters Of The Bahamas

"Sisters, every time we think we have this figured out, we run into one dead end after another. There must be something wrong with this map, but what? I am convinced that it is genuine and not a fake so what are we not seeing?"

"I keep running that through my head as well Moon Daughter," says Horse Rider, "it doesn't make sense. Barb, didn't you say that Man Tears is reporting that our foes are still happy with their progress based on the recreation of this very same map done from memory? It is good that they haven't fully succeeded yet, but how can they be happy with their progress when we are anything but happy with our own?"

"That is what Man Tears said when I was last in contact with her this morning." says Barb, "we are running out of time. What do we do now Moon Daughter?"

"Well, if we don't make some sort of break through by the end of the day, I think we may need to go back and pay our friend Black Jack another visit." says Moon Daughter.

"We should have never let Golden Child leave us at a time like this," says Silver One, "you are right Moon Daughter, it may not be bad luck like I fear to have done so, but it has certainly left us short handed at a time when we can ill afford it. You should have stopped her."

"We cannot win by losing Silver One. Or let me just say that I don't want to win only to lose in the end."

"You really need to speak more clearly Moon Daughter. That is way too confusing," says Horse Rider.

"I know, Horse Rider, but it is a complex situation and not easy to put into words. Look, we believe certain things, we have certain traditions, we live a certain way. We have a goal right now. It is not going to be worth it to us to reach that goal if the only way to reach it means giving up on our deepest beliefs, giving up who we are at the very core."

"So, what? We are supposed to just lose then, so that we don't lose?" says Barb, "That doesn't seem to make much sense either."

"No, Barb, it means we have to find another way to reach our goal. Another way to win. A way through the maze such that we will win when we win and not lose when we win. OK?" says Moon Daughter.

"So, why couldn't you stop Golden Child from leaving now then?" says Horse Rider.

Moon Daughter sighs deeply and with great tiredness. The weight on her shoulders right now is almost past her strength.

"Horse Rider, our most ancient code tells us what to do in cases like the recent one involving Golden Child. I gave her the options that are spelled out in the code. She chose. The code says we must give everyone the freedom to chose their path in such cases. We gave it to her and she had to be free to follow her decision. I could not do otherwise."

"That is just stupid Moon Daughter! So our whole sisterhood has to perish just so Golden Child can have the freedom to leave us when we most need her! If I were in charge, I would have found a way to stop her!"

"Silence!" says Moon Daughter in a voice of command that will brook no argument. "You are not in charge! I am! And I will hear no more on that. If I had stopped her, we would have lost before the fight. At least now, we are in the fight and no matter how bad it looks at the moment, we still have a chance to win out. Let us find the way to win together. We will not find it if we insist on fighting each other."

(6:51 pm Wednesday Nov 28, 2007)

*** A Lonely Room

Wow, time going down the drain again. And I feel worse today than any day so far. A relatively sleepless night last night and the eyes are more weary than ever.

What to do. I know I am not going to grind it out tonight. If no ideas flow, two thousand words are not in the plan tonight.

*** A Little Cay Off Of New Providence

Mandy, Jack, Sarai, and Mandy's team are assembled on a small cay somewhere off the coast of New Providence. One of Jack's friends had dropped them to the cay before the sun set.

Jack had asked Mandy if the team was in the country officially.

According to Mandy, they were here as tourists but the people who needed to know, knew enough of what was going down not to cause problems.

Jack was not so sure he should accept that, but he was here and didn't see an alternative other than not to go. That was not something he wanted at this point. He had touched base with some of his own contacts and hadn't been warned off but hadn't been given a green light either. Must be some of the plausible deny-ability action people were always going on about.

The helicopters cam in low and quiet over the trees on the cay and set down on the beach.

"Let's go people," said Mandy, "keep your heads down and take your gear with you. You two come with me."

The loading went quickly and the helicopters were airborne soon after that. Heading out over the water, flying low.

"Are we going to stay this low all the way to Abaco?" asks Jack.

"I have never been on one of these models before so I don't know what their exact plans are. My guess would be that they will go a bit higher once we are further away from land."

*** A Salvage Vessel Anchoured Off Of The North Shore Of Ambergris Cay, Abaco

(7:30 pm Wednesday Nov 28, 2007)

The boat is about a hundred and twenty feet long. She has a large open deck at the stern where she sports an A Frame and winches.

Reg is standing on the after deck looking at men working the winches. He is talking with a man in the shadows. We can't see the man but we know the voice. The is the man from the sub-sub-basement on Paradise Island. This is the boss.

"So Reg, do you think they will get it up tonight?"

"I can't say boss. It looks good from what I hear, but working under these conditions is difficult at best. I don't like being involved in an operation as make shift as this one we are running here when it is around the sea, but constraints are constraints and we are doing the best we can. I think we have a good chance of getting it."

"Good, good, the pieces of this puzzle are finally beginning to fall into place nicely. I can barely believe that we have made so much progress already working from a hand drawn map made from memory under duress. I think fate is smiling on us this time Reg. I must say, your help since you returned to us has been invaluable. I think we would have still been looking for this last site if you had not spotted that anomaly on the chart. You had me worried for a while there Reg when you had been under their influence for so long. I debated long and hard as to whether I should take you back on this project or wait until another one to let you prove yourself. I think I made the right decision."

"Thanks boss. If I run into that Jack again, I will make him pay for what he did to me."

"Careful Reg, don't let your emotions get in the way of your good judgment."

"Boss, if you had done to you, what I had done to me, you would not be so quick to tell me not to let my emotions rule."

"All I am saying Reg, is that you can get yourself in a world of trouble by not thinking clearly."

"Boss, I think it is coming up now. I need to go check on things back there."

"OK, Reg, I will be in my cabin, call me as soon as it is safely on deck and properly secured."

"Will do boss," says Reg turning and heading towards the stern, the boss heads off towards the bow along the starboard side.

(8:23 pm Wednesday Nov 28, 2007)

*** In The Very Spacious Salon Of A Mega Yacht Some Where In The Waters Of The Bahamas

"Moon Daughter, we are getting word that something may be coming up from the bottom now. Should we make preparations to move on them?" says Horse Rider.

"Not yet. Let's see what develops over the next hour or so. Make some minor preparations but we should have some time after we know what happens over there."

(8:52 pm Wednesday Nov 28, 2007)

*** A Salvage Vessel Anchoured Off Of The North Shore Of Ambergris Cay, Abaco

The winch is straining under the load. Reg is in the port corner of the stern and looking down into the water. Spot lights are pointed down into the clear water. He can see the his divers tending the huge slab that they are lifting.

Suddenly, from out of the darkness a shark streaks into the light and grabs the leg of one of his divers. Blood is everywhere instantly and pandemonium breaks loose. The crane operator gets distracted for a second and things go south. And the cable parts and the slab heads back for the bottom from whence it came.

Reg grabs a bang stick and dives in. He motions his dives to get the injured man topside and looks about for the shark. Everything is blurred and the salt in the water stings his eyes. He spins in the water trying to keep a watch of three hundred and sixty degrees in three dimensions. He almost does not make it but sees a blur coming in out of the corner of his eye at the last minute.

He manages to swing the stick around and gets in a luck strike. Not a killing strike, but he does hit the animal's pectoral fin and it heads for greener pastures in a hurry. His head breaks the surface and he swims to the platform to get out.

"Where is that medic? Someone go get him here now! This man is losing a lot of blood!"

(9:32 pm Wednesday Nov 28, 2007)

"Reg, are you alright? Are you crazy? Thanks! I was more than scared down there when that shark attacked I don't mind telling you! I had visions of being next on the menu."

"I don't know what got into me Amanda, I just reacted. If I had stopped to think I don't know if I would have gone in."

"Exactly Reg," says a voice from the shadows, "I warned you that letting your emotions rule you head could lead you into trouble."

"Well Boss, I for one am glad for his emotions right now!" says Amanda.

(9:43 pm Wednesday Nov 28, 2007)

*** Shack Near Beach

Ronnie is at the computer again.

He is just noodling around here and there, wasting time. Chatting with friends scattered around the world. Reading some more foolishness by that guy who wrote 'Tings - Anuddah Bahamian Novel' and listening to Free copyleft music that he is finding here and there.

He comes across a site where some guy is putting down bits of lyrics and asking others to work on finishing them with him.

I'm going to a place

Where the past is free to roam

Where no one knows my face

And I can find a home

I want wide open spaces

Cause I'm weary to the bone

So I'm seeking out a place

Where the past is free to roam

--

My feet are in the sky and

My head is on the ground

My heart is in the gutter

On the other side of town

Girl I love you better

Every time around

--

I want to have a taste

Of someone else's honey

Want to grab me a pile

Of someone else's money

I want to live my life

Like the Sunday funnies

So I bought me a guide

Written just for dummies

--

The consequences have unraveled

The girl's defences have all flown

Her best pretenses lie in ashes

Now life is senseless, she's alone

Tonight the boys are in the jungle

They're hunting fresh meat every one

Until the moon hides in the ocean

They head on home, here comes the sun

--

I'm not your dream

I'm not your joy

I'm not your favourite

Plastic Boy

But if you touch me

Under the stars

I'll be your man

And you can drive my car

--

I'm not happy bout the sound of your clothes

The high end's fine but the low end blows

And as for the midrange, no one knows

Girl we gotta do something bout the sound of them clothes.

--

I'm just a few hurts short of being in tune

But baby it seems you'll fix that soon

My life was alright till you turned up the gloom

Now I'm a few hurts short of being in tune

--

Through your eyes

I see the lies

And rise above

Their dark disguise

When morning and

The evening flies away.

Girl in my heart

I've made a start

Come join me now and

Be a part of day.

--

He thinks he may try to get in on that game. Some of them look like they might go somewhere.

(8:59 pm Thursday Nov 29, 2007)

Danger - A Safe Bahamian Novel - Day 27

Danger - A Safe Bahamian Novel - Day 27

(4:25 pm Tuesday Nov 27, 2007)

*** A Lonely Room

Wow, gentle reader, I have just spent over an hour doing novel cleanup, posting to the blog, and what not. I just caught some mistakes that I need to go back and fix and I have yet to type in the words that I wrote while at band practice yesterday.

Ouch. I need help and inspiration gentle reader.

Oh, and I need to feed the dogs now and walk them in about a half hour. Fun can Done!

(5:48 pm Tuesday Nov 27, 2007)

Well, dogs walked and hand written parts typed in. Just about two thousand five hundred words to go to sixty thousand words which was my goal for this year's word count.

I am seriously thinking that if I can break that goal tonight or perhaps even tomorrow, that I will let myself off of the two thousand word a day goal that would get me to the sixty thousand. Perhaps just go back and try to put some order to this whole thing or spend some time trying to find an ending.

We shall see.

I don't see getting to sixty thousand tonight though, not the way I feel now. Not unless some serious inspiration comes and strikes me from out of the blue yonder.

I have been listening to that "Closer Than The Dance" vocal and guitar mix and am liking it more the more I listen to it.

Oh, and just to let you know ahead of time... I think there is another band practice tomorrow night.

(6:09 pm Tuesday Nov 27, 2007)

(7:43 pm Tuesday Nov 27, 2007)

It is not gonna happen tonight gentle reader, very little sleep last night and the old eyes are hurting really bad right now. I am thinking seriously of letting some of my characters go to a concert and another read from a book... That's about how desperate I feel right now. Shall I? Why not, let's see how much I can sneak in like that.

*** A North Shore Beach On Rose Island

There was a delay in the gear and the team that Mandy had sent for getting in and so they had decided to get in a little more R and R and they are up on a North shore beach on Rose Island for a sea side concert being put on by some local bands. Not the run of the mill local bands though. Not at all. Mandy, Jack, and Sarai had caught a ride up to the island with one of Jack's friends. Ronnie had said that he would stay home. He didn't want to be around so much partying at this point was the reason he gave. Jack wondered if it wasn't something else.

Barry and the Cudas are up first doing 'Rob Me Blind'

Girl you know I need a woman

To come and steal my heart

So I leave it on the front porch

Each Night when it gets dark

Then I lay upon my pillow

And pray if God be kind

He'd let you drive down my street

Let you stop and rob me blind

When I wake up every morning

I look outside to find

It cold and lonely on the ground

Then I almost lose my mind

The crowd was really into that song and broke out in a great round of applause when it ended. After letting the applause die down a little, they went into their version of 'Going Nowhere'

Baby, we're going nowhere,

And darling, we're moving fast.

Honey, we though forever,

So tell me, why can't love last?

They say, we're young and simple.

Some say, life's in the past.

They say, don't dream forever.

I say, let's make love last.

Baby, let's head out somewhere.

Darling, we don't need fast.

Together, we'll dream forever.

Sweetheart, let's make love last.

We're gonna put love first,

We're gonna make love last.

If we will put love first

Then we can make love last

The crowd was singing along with that one almost from the break and dancing on the sand.

That ended and they went smoothly into 'Checkin You Baby'

I been checkin you baby

Vision's drivin me crazy

I used to be lazy

Now I'm workin real hard

Cause you to look my way

A long drive on the highway

We could park in the byway

Oh I'm workin real hard

Two hearts they could fly way

Way up in the sky away

My love's for real 'll not f-f-f-f-fade away

Oh I'm workin real hard

Jack was dancing with both Mandy and Sarai and loving every minute of it. He had really liked Sarai for years and they had had some good times together. Thinking about it, he realized that she really was one of his best friends.

Come Monday or Tuesday

Everyone with a clue say

He don't know what to do hey?

Mmmm, I'm workin real hard

Now Mandy, she was something special. he thought he might be falling for her. If only she didn't have to stay so hard all of the time. Work. He wasn't minding the envious glances he saw from some of the guys in the crowd when they saw him dancing with two beautiful women like these.

I been peepin you baby

Beauty's drivin me crazy

"You girls want to go for a walk along the beach when this song ends?" Jack asks and they both nod their heads.

Got no time to be lazy

Yeah I'm workin real hard

The song ended and they started to make their way out of the middle of the dancing crown when the Cudas slowed things down and began playing 'The Only One'

"Hey wait up, Jack," said Mandy, "let's dance this one before we go." She turned him to face her and pulled him in close and put her arms around his back.

Sarai was left in the lurch but only for a second, a blond, blue eyed and tanned man appeared out of the crowd in his bare feet and cut off jeans and bowed to her, smiling and with a twinkle in his eyes, "Would you do me the honour of dancing this dance with me, my lady?"

Before she could register all that had just happened, he had started dancing with her. Mandy smiled, and whispered in Jack's ear, "That worked out well. Do you know that guy?"

"I think he is with one of the bands that will be on later."

Everybody knows my name

But to me they're all the same

Darling you're the only one

That I want when the day's run

    Its course

Everybody wants their fame

I only want what I can't tame

Darling you're the only one

That I want when the day's done

    Of course

The force of your love

Is pushing me higher

The heat of your skin

Fuels every desire within

Our hearts and our souls and our brains

Like two runaway trains

Are rushing us on

We dare not remain

But fly on till dawn

Has come once again

Everybody wants someplace

I seek my own with calm and grace

Darling you're the only one

That I want the only one

    I love

(9:25 pm Tuesday Nov 27, 2007)

"Tell me about the desires within Jack," whispers Mandy, running her nail down the back of his neck.

He kisses her gently and looks into hear eyes, "Someday soon I may find the words to tell you, until then, you will have to accept a demonstration if you really want to know."

She returns the kiss, "We'll have to see what we see then. Are you ready to take that walk? Do you think Sarai will be safe with that guy if we left here and went for the walk just the two of us?"

"I don't know if we should do that Mandy, we came together. Is it right for us to just leave her alone? I don't think so."

"She looks like she enjoyed the dance and is doing fine now. How about I go and ask her if it is OK?"

"Nah, I'm going to go and get her and we can all go together," says Jack walking towards Sarai through the crowd.

The Cudas start another song and people start dancing again, Sarai and her new dance partner included.

I saw Susie, standing there with you

In the morning, drinking Mountain Dew

She was so fine, she cut my heart in two

Now I'm crying, I'm crying and I'm blue

"Hey Sarai, sorry to but in, but we are ready to go walk the beach, do you want to go or to stay and dance?"

"Tell him you are going to stay and dance beautiful. He doesn't need to go walking in the moonlight with two gorgeous women and leave me here alone."

Sarai looks at Jack, "Would you mind if I stayed and danced? I haven't danced like this in years."

"No, it's fine, we won't be too long."

"Take your time buddy, I will take good care of Miss Sarai."

Jack turns back towards Mandy.

She don't love me anymore

She don't need me that's for sure

She walked out that open door

Left me crying on the floor

She don't love me anymore

As he gets close to Mandy she smiles, "She wanted to stay and dance, right?"

"Yes. You ready?"

"I thought she would, he looks like her kind of guy."

"How do you know what her kind of guy is?"

"You never heard of womens intuition? Let's go"

I saw Barbie, at the beach with you

In  the bright sun, water shining blue

She left too soon, why I never knew

Now I'm wondering, what's a man to do?

They finally get to the edge of the dancing crowd and head down to the water's edge and head off with the music playing behind them.

She don't love me anymore

She don't need me that's for sure

She walked out that open door

Left me crying on the floor

She don't love me anymore

They walk side by side for a while saying nothing.

I've go Lucy, laughing here with me

She's a beauty, all the world can see

When we get home, sitting on my knee

We'll be snuggling, smooching happily

Mandy moves in close and links her arm in his and holds his hand.

She couldn't love me any more

And she needs me that's for sure

We have closed and locked the door

And we're laughing on the floor

She couldn't love me any more

"You like that song Jack?"

"What are you asking Mandy?"

"Come on Jack, do you like the song? Or don't you? Don't try to read too much into my questions until you know me better."

He laughs, "Sure, I like it well enough I guess, you?"

"Oh, I like it."

The moon is large and bright in the eastern sky. Romantic.

Another band has come on and their first song is 'Why Fight The Feelin'

when you're home and lonely

on a friday night

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

when the days grow longer

and the night's too bright

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

when your best emotion's

either fight or flight

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

when your heart comes crashin

to the ground at night

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

baby why fight the feelin

ya gonna be alright

"Why fight the feelin, Jack, why fight the feelin?"

(10:08 pm Tuesday Nov 27, 2007)

*** Shack Near Beach

Ronnie is at the computer again.

Tonight, besides doing a short stint of the brain dumps again, he was reading some Bahamian's NaNo WriMo Novel from two thousand and five. Something called 'Tings - Anuddah Bahamian Novel' and he was enjoying skimming back and forth through it and reading bits that caught his fancy.

Right now he was reading something from day two written around seven forty pm it seems.

"Alley.

Alleys can be narrow or they can be wide. They can be dark and dank, or they can be bright and sunny. They can be twisty and confusing or they can be straight. They can dead end or lead to somewhere. They can have crossroads (crossalleys?) or not.

Let me tell you about the alley that Cang and XXIII ended up in. This was an alley that we shall not name. An alley that we shall not give the location of either. We can say, however, that is was a narrow, twisty alley that seemed to dead end but at the very end it instead narrowed to be impassable by the moke and then turned a blind corner before opening up onto a park. On the other side of the park it, or another alley similar to it, continued on. This alley was not clean either. There was rotting garbage everywhere. Flies swarmed and rats played freely, seemingly without fear of humans. And just let me say that these were no play play rats, no these beauties were johnny rats. And one of those johnny rats was Johnny. In fact, Johnny was not just any johnny rat. You might say he was THE JOHNNY RAT.

Johnny watched with a keen interest as Cang and XXIII passed. He saw the haunted look of fear in Cang's eyes. People with that look could often be dealt with in a certain way that could lead to a nice little something something. And Johnny knew how to deal in that certain way with the best of them.

(8:00 pm Nov 02, 2005)

Johnny fell in behind Cang and XXIII as they abandoned the moke and crossed the park to the alley on the other side.

A little more about the alley if I may...

The alley, on both sides of the park actually, was lined by dilapidated clap board houses. Many with their porches rotting through and many with holes in their roofs where they were missing wooden shingles. Often, there were several houses in the same yard. Sometimes, the alley would wind around in such a way that for someone who knew the area, there was a shortcut through a yard. Johnny knew the area well. He had things planned out. As Cang and XXIII turned a corner, he cut across a yard and got ahead of them. He climbed up a guinep tree and crawled out on a branch that overhung the alley.

He waited quietly for them to pass beneath them and then pounced on Cang's back!

Now Johnny had calculated his actions and plans to a T and things were going even better than he had planned. But there was a problem. He had mistakenly focused his attention on Cang and had not reckoned with the probable reactions of XXIII. It was to be one of the most costly miscalculations of his life.

You see, XXIII had grown quite fond of Cang during their short time together and when he saw Johnny pounce, he promptly went into action. XXIII definitely had Miami Vice's genes in him. (He may have even had genetic memories of Cang passed down in these genes.) Johnny didn't know what hit him. XXIII was all over him like white on rice. Johnny soon let out a squeal that was heard for miles. The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced before and he had felt a lot of pain during his rough and tumble life.

XXIII clamped on him and pinched him in places and ways that he never could have imagined before actually experiencing them for himself. In fact, the pain was often so intense that he could not actually understand what was happening to him. XXIII left him broken. Under a bucket with a hole in it. Dear Liza or dear Henry may have been able to fix the hole in the bucket, but they, nor anyone else, would be able to fix Johnny again. Johnny was broke worse than Humpty Dumpty.

(8:21 pm Nov 02, 2005)"

That was some funky stuff. Where did that guy come up with such funky stuff? If only Johnny Rat could be dealt with that easily. That really was asking for a bit too much suspension of disbelief there though.

(10:31 pm Tuesday Nov 27, 2007)

*** A Lonely Room

Well, gentle reader, that about does it for today. My eyes really can't take any more tonight. Thanks for sticking it out with me and keeping me company though.

And... Out like a light!