Page 27 of Wild Tempest

“Are you regretting your decision to come out here?“ she asked playfully.

“Not yet, but I’ll let you know when I do,” I said with a smile.

She chuckled.

When I looked at the horizon again, the research vessel was gone.

Granted, visibility fluctuated in the storm. But there was no way it could have drifted away that fast. It was a bit eerie.

I shared an ominous look with Tempest.

“I know we all didn’t hallucinate seeing that ship,“ she said.

“It’s out there somewhere,“ I assured. “Stay here and keep an eye on things. I’m going to help Jack. Call me if you need anything.”

She gave me a mock salute. “Aye-aye, Captain.”

JD and I tinkered around in the engine room. This was a project for tomorrow with hopefully calmer seas.

We rustled up something to eat in the galley. Afterward, I took first watch. It was going to be a long night.

Tempest kept me company on the bridge.

“You should try to get some sleep,” I said.

She shook her head, and her golden hair swayed. “I’m too wound up to sleep,” she said, her eyes staring into the distance, looking for the lost ship. “How ‘bout you tell me your life story?”

“Why? Do you think that will put you to sleep?”

Tempest shrugged.

“Are you trying to say I’m boring?”

She giggled. “No. I don’t think you’re boring.”

“Okay, how much time have you got?”

“Apparently I’ve got all night.”

I gave her the condensed version, leaving out the classified bits.

“That’s pretty cool. So you and Jack have been friends for a long time?”

I nodded.

“It shows. You have a shorthand.”

“We’ve been through a lot together. What about you?”

Tempest shrugged. “Not much to tell. I grew up on the island. I love the ocean. I got my sense of adventure from my father.” She paused in thought. “And I’m still figuring out what I want to do with my life.”

“Continue the family business?”

“It’s not exactly an easy life. Not that we should strive for an easy life, mind you. I think challenge and adversity are what give us character and make life meaningful.”

“Agreed.”

“Still, I’m not sure spending the next 30 years on a salvage tug, trying to eke out a living, is the challenge I’m looking for.” She smiled. “I think I could find a way to give my life meaning with a billion dollars.”