"Redemption's Run": Chapter 14 continues

A Star Tribune serialized novel by Jane Fredericksen

Chapter 14

The story so far: Kacie apologizes for trapping them on the lake.

Kacie grimaced and turned away. She opened the cooler and dug out a jar of strawberry jam.

"Why'd you stop?" Kinney asked.

"Stop what?"

"The song you were singing."

"Oh." She shrugged. "Pete taught me that. Some Irish song, about traveling. I don't remember the rest of it." She grabbed a bagel and spread some jam on it.

Kinney sat on the far bunk, put his feet up and sipped his coffee. It was surprisingly good.

Kacie sat on the opposite bunk and took a bite of bagel.

Kinney began to sing, softly. "When I'm dead and laid out on the counter/A voice you will hear from below/Crying out for whiskey and water/To drink to old Rosin the Bow."

Kacie's chewing ground to a halt. She stared at him.

"It's not about traveling," said Kinney. "It's about death."

He looked at Kacie. Her mouth was still in mid-chew.

"What?" Kinney asked. "You think you're the only one who sailed with Pete? By the way," he pointed to the bagel, "You cook like I do."

Kacie swallowed. "Thanks."

"It's no compliment."

Her face fell.

"But the coffee is the best I've ever had. Ever."

Kacie beamed. "Spiced coffee. It's my own invention. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and other secret ingredients."

"Vince has cardamom?" Kinney shook his head. "Cardamom and guava juice. Somehow I'm not surprised." He swung his feet off the bunk, grabbed a bagel and pointed it at her. "I have to tell you, there's something weird going on."

"What do you mean?"

Kinney was careful with his words. He didn't want to alarm her unnecessarily. "It's still quiet outside. We're still becalmed. But in the middle of the night, we drifted. Away from Outer Island, toward Cat." He bit into the bagel and chewed thoughtfully.

"So why is that weird?"

"Not sure." Kinney took another sip of coffee, fully appreciating it. "Something made us move."

Kacie laughed. "The hand of God."

Kinney glanced at her sharply. "I don't joke about that. I've seen the hand of God on this lake. It'll slap the hell out of you."

"You're Mr. Glass Half-Empty," she teased.

Kinney set his coffee cup down on the table. It was, in fact, half-empty. He growled irritably, "I'm a realist. Not a half-baked dreamer. Like some people."

Kacie grinned. "Don't be afraid to dream, Kinney."

"I never remember my dreams," he countered. "Probably a good thing."

He reached for his coffee cup and stopped.

Ripples moved gently across the liquid surface.

Kinney looked up. Something was connecting.

"Waves," he murmured.

Redemption rocked faintly.

"Hey, Kinney," said Kacie, encouraged. "We're getting some wind."

It connected.

"Waves," he repeated. "Waves travel before the wind. That's what pushed us."

He dropped the bagel and vaulted up the stairs, Kacie at his heels.

In the cockpit, Kinney spun around to face the wind.

"Damn it!" he exploded.

Dark, ugly clouds curled on the horizon. The first tendrils were stretching toward them. They might still have time.

He glanced at Kacie and saw that she, too, could read it. Her face was ashen. "Is it bad?"

"Northeast wind," Kinney glanced at the barometer. "Pressure's falling fast."

"How long …" Kacie began, but Kinney held up his hand.

"Stop," he ordered. "I need to think."

He turned back to the approaching storm, trying to read the clouds and the waves, trying to hear the wind. So far, it was just a murmur, but he knew that could soon change.

Kacie seemed to understand. She waited nervously, twisting her hands.

Kinney closed his eyes.

Talk to me, he willed. You owe me.

And this time, the wind did.

Kinney's eyes flew open. He grabbed Kacie's arm and dragged her toward the companionway.

"We've got about 20 minutes," he said. "Come on."

He stopped at the top of the stairs and dared one last look at the clouds. It only confirmed his fears.

"We'll have to run."

He scrambled downstairs, hauling Kacie after him.

Tomorrow: Chapter 15