Subject:  You, Me and Dupuis - A long Chapter 2 |
Author:
LoveRoy
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Date Posted: Friday, August 11, 05:01:30pm
In reply to:
LoveRoy
's message, "You, Me and Dupuis" on Friday, August 04, 04:19:06pm
A gorgeous man in a wheelchair sat stiffly next to a bandana and pony tail wearing older man who stood occupying a space on the dock. A group of individuals were positioned at attention at the land-end of the dock looking very much like a group of vultures eying their prey. The older man smiled, while the handsome man’s expression spoke of horrific torment.
Nikita anxiously looked from one individual to the next, her uncertainty clearly reflected in her beautiful face. The men wore intimidating dark clothing that stood out among the colorful relaxed colors of the environs and the young man in the wheelchair looked to be in total control of his pain but nevertheless in agony. He wore dark glasses and a conspicuous hood over his head, especially peculiar given the intense heat of the tropics.
The older man spoke with a relaxed North American accent to the taken-aback Aussie blonde, “Excuse me please, can you point me in Captain Jones’ direction?”
Nikita cleared her throat and in her deep voice peppered by a sexy accent answered briefly, “I don’t know where he is anymore.”
The young man shifted in his wheelchair and Nikita thought of asking if he was all right, for the ache he was trying to mask was obviously real. From way off behind the group of vultures came another ball of fire that rose slowly to the sky and the thunderous boom startled the pretty blonde with its threatening bravado.
“What the f**k…” She bellowed.
Not missing a beat or flinching at the sound, the man in the bandana, a bit perturbed by the substance of Nikita’s previous answer continued his inquest as if nothing had transpired, “Isn’t this Jones’ yacht?”
Nikita responded as she stepped off the boat and stood on the dock before the immobile wheelchair, “Didn’t you hear that…” And then, “Is he okay?”
After receiving no reply to either question she continued, “Yes, it was their boat – Hello, I am Nikita Wirth, I bought the yacht from Mr. Jones a little over a year ago. Both George and Adrian helped me restore it but they left about three months ago and I have not seen or heard from them since then.”
The man placed a hand on the wheelchair confined man’s shoulder and continued, “I see… well, we are the Samuelles – this is Michael and I am his grand-uncle Walter … we made plans a long time ago for Michael to take a cruise on this boat. Didn’t the Jones’ mention it to you?”
Nikita shook her head in the negative, never taking her eyes off the man in the wheelchair as the older man continued, “When Michael had the accident that left him sightless, the doctors that treated him recommended his parents bring him to Mrs. Jones since she used to be a physician and we understood that she currently specialized in therapy for patients such as Michael.” A pause and then, “We decided to continue with the therapy plans, but because of Michael’s mother’s protestations, we decided to call this a vacation instead and sent our deposit to the Jones’ receiving this confirmation number.”
Nikita continued quietly looking from man to man wondering why a blind man would be in a wheelchair but never once looking at the slip of paper held out for her perusal. The entire scene was surreal, the thunderous sound went unnoticed by the dark clad strangers and Nikita had the strange feeling that this scenario was not what they were making it out to be. The hippie was trying hard to be pleasant and to make Nikita feel at ease, but the man in the wheel-chair, as well as the men at the end of the dock, was a bit peculiar to say the least.
The elder man persisted, “So now that he fell and injured himself more than ever Michael needs this trip. You understand that he needs to… err… lighten--up and out in the real world there is no way of relaxing, if you know what I mean.”
He smiled a forced smile as she went to speak but was quieted by what followed, “Look Sugar, we’ll pay you whatever you ask. We only gave Captain Jones a small deposit and now realize that you probably never saw any of the money, so we are willing to forgo that amount to do business with you. We have come a long way and it would be a bit tragic to return home empty handed as it where.”
Nikita smiled and cocked her head stretching a hand in greeting to the man, “I see, but I have never rented the boat out and I am not a doctor or a nurse, so you would have to take care…”
The man interrupted forcing a concerned smile, “Oh no, I can’t go on the trip, I get sea sick and I need to attend to the business especially since Michael won’t be by my side – you see I work for him. Anyway this is my gift to him, his parents overprotect him and they are driving both of us crazy.”
Nikita smiled, “I understand.” Then she addressed Michael, “Michael do you think you would be up to this?”
Michael seemed to come alive for the first time since arriving before her and smiled nodding his head in the affirmative, but not speaking a word. Michael’s uncle continued his soliloquy explaining that Michael was a great sportsman and a truly gifted sailor. He proceeded to tell her an anecdote of Michael running aground in a Canadian river while sailing with his then girlfriend Elena. Michael never opened his mouth to speak and Nikita was too busy figuring out what to charge this man for a couple of day-trips, after all the bills on the captain’s table called to be paid.
Not being a business woman she shyly stated, “It will be expensive, gas is high and I like to go out every day…”
Again she was interrupted by Michael’s uncle, “Sugar, money is no object – how about $10,000 a week plus expenses?”
Nikita almost passed out from the sheer joy of the offer, “However, we want you out there sailing not staying moored to these waters. How about if you deliver our boy to us let’s say in about a month? Furthermore, we want you out of here right away, before his mother comes to find him and stalls his fun.”
Nikita was more nervous than before, “But we need to buy supplies… I only have enough for 10 days or so…”
Walter spoke again, “Sugar, is the boat outfitted for you to take it to the next port and buy supplies there?
Nikita replied as the man helped Michael stand from the wheelchair with a lot of trouble and start up the gangway, “Why do you call me that? And yes, the boat is outfitted for the voyage. Adrian and George insisted that I always keep it ready for any event that could arise and now it seems like good advice I guess…”
Michael held on to the ropes that framed the wooden plank and turned to Nikita, smiling a devastating smile, but still not saying a word to the woman that followed him onboard. His uncle and a large black canvas duffel bag lead the way and the wheel chair immediately was removed by one of the vultures. When Nikita tried to take the bag from the man he simply shook his head and would not allow it, so shrugging her shoulders she gave them a quick tour of the beautiful 51 foot yacht.
She smiled apologetically at Walter when they got to the aft master cabin and it was littered by laundry being folded. Nikita rushed to pick up the mess and threw it all in the half empty hamper and making an explanation for her laundry she offered Michael the use of the surprisingly spacious cabin. She also explained that there were twin V berths in the forward cabin and that the yacht enjoyed two bathrooms -- one for Michael and one for Nikita.
Walter, who Nikita was starting to know as a take charge type of individual with a ‘dirty old man ‘tude, pulled out a wad of cash, and handed her $50,000 adding, “This should cover the month’s charges, Michael has money of his own…” and then, “Anyway, you have Da Man as collateral for any other expenses that may arise.”
With this the man shook Michael’s hand, gave him a hug and before Nikita could get over the shock of the cash payment, he was gone. She stood by the ladder watching him walk away, now surrounded by the equally black clad individuals that were obviously his body guards. She smiled, shook her head and turned to find Michael busy setting up a laptop on a clean corner of the captain’s table. She started to speak when she heard his voice for the first time – smooth, deep and accented.
Gone was the hood, but not the sunglasses, his head was covered by a wide bandage that was slightly stained with blood, “Nee-kee-tah, do you mind if I set up the laptop here?”
She was confused, a little wobbly at the knees given the man’s saccharine voice, “No… but how did you…”
Michael smiled, “Don’t tell my parents or Walter for that matter, I can see shadows and other than the throbbing in my head, I can get around without much help. I was able to feel what appeared to be a table top over here and my computer is very important to me since it gives me autonomy given that my dog Hazard is back at home.”
Nikita silently sigh and standing close to the seated man asked, “Did you know…”
Michael continued moving her hands away from his bandages, “It is wireless of course and has all kinds of programs for the sight impaired and it will help me stay connected to my office.”
“I have GPS here – see?” She said and felt stupid because she pointed at a place Michael was unable to see.
Then, “I think this is supposed to be a vacation so we will be casting off as soon as I can. Did you know that your bandage is bleeding?”
Michael shrugged his shoulders and continued, “Do you need help?”
Nikita smiled and walked towards the outside, “What on earth where you doing here in Southern Dalmatia.”
Michael continued playing with the laptop without answering her while Nikita moved around and asked more questions in a loud voice, “Did, you have the accident here in Dubrovnik?”
“Yes.” He answered without paying attention and took a handful of pills with a glass of water he poured from a warm pitcher and changed his bandage with gauze he took out of the canvas bag.
“Did you know they call Dubrovnik the Pearl of the Adriatic?” Nikita asked busy starting the engines, which roared as they were turned over.
Michael appeared at her side, “Where are we going next?” His legs wobbled and she forced him to sit down, the pain seemed to be allayed somehow, but this guy needed medical help and she prayed he would stay alive, after all – hunk or not, he was obviously injured.
“First we stop at Mljet to buy supplies and then we are off to a small group of islands that stretch from the Peljesac peninsula, you’ll love them.”
When she turned the wheel and pulled the boat out into the harbor under power, she noticed that Michael was shallowly breathing while sleeping sitting-up. Nikita pushed him to lie down on the long bench next to the wheel and plopped a canvas covered pillow under his cleanly bandaged head, as she concentrated on the sea before her. She thought to herself that this was going to be a long trip and she wondered if the hospital at Mljet would mind taking care of Michael’s injuries.
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