Aria runs the motor to get away

Aria was within reach of the throttle. She placed her hand on it and pushed it forward. The boat lurched into life! There was a surge of pressure as the vessel pushed into the water, then bounded forward with a jolt as the water gave way. Aria grabbed the wheel and hung on as the boat sped forward!

She was surprised at the amount of thrust the pontoon boat could do! It was a big boat with a large surface area, ideal for large groups of people or maybe large cargo of loot, but it had some pep when it came to cruising. It was probably ideal for the pirate’s hit and run tactics.

“Aaaria!!!” Richard cried out behind her, waking her from her pirate lifestyle analysis.

Aria turned to see both her husband and the pirate clinging on to the side of the boat. When the boat first kicked into gear, it loosened the pirates’ grip on her leg and she was able to shake him loose. Now he was clinging onto the side and trying to shove her husband off. She then grabbed onto Richard and tried to pull him aboard while kicking at the pirate. The pirate wouldn’t be pried off though, he pulled out a knife!

“Richard!” she cried out, bringing the intruder to his attention.

Richard saw the knife and quickly went for the pirate’s other hand. It was clutching the side of the boat when Richard bit into it! The pirate screamed out in pain! Richard then bopped the pirate in the head a few times. Aria joined in, banging her fists on the pirate, one after the other. The pirate lost his knife as he had to use both hands to cling to the boat. Once he got a better grip, he swung wildly at the couple. It wasn’t until a crashing wave hit the boat that he finally got flung off.

As the wave crashed, Aria pulled Richard with all her strength! They both went flying into the boat as it crested over more waves, roughly bashing the water. They held each other tightly, riding through the rocky waters until it gave way to more smooth sailing. They gathered themselves and looked around to find their pirate antagonist. They checked both sides of the boat and behind it, but there was no sign of the criminal.

The two breathed a sigh of relief and tried to collect themselves.

Aria suddenly went alert. “Where’s the ship?” Aria asked, looking around.

“I don’t know…” Richard replied with growing concern. His eyes scanned the water as well.

All around them was the ocean as far as the horizon line. There was no distinguishable shape above that line.

“How could we lose a cruise ship?” Aria asked, becoming panicked.

“Calm down…” Richard said, looking around the boat, “There’s got to be some sort of navigation on this thing…”

They rummaged around the pontoon, but there were no maps, no radio, no supplies. It appeared that the pirates were expecting to make a quick run at the Eclipse and then run back to their hideout, wherever that was.

“The Orient Eclipse will likely be searching for us,” Richard reasoned. “If we stay put, maybe they’ll find us.”

“But we have no supplies... What if they go in completely the wrong direction? Plus, what if there’s a storm? I don’t think this thing will be able to last out here,” Aria worried.

“Well, there’s a compass on the boat, so we could pick a direction and hope, or we just stay and wait,” Richard concluded.