Chapter 26: Luck Run Amok

“What trouble has Ninell gotten herself into?” Automatically blame the kid. Right?

“Randy kidnapped her!” Antonia tearfully tells me, tugging at me to make haste. Oh, Brother! You little shit! Just wait till I ... Worst of luck this happens just now.

Things were going along swimmingly recently. My talking-to Randy seems to have backfired into a vengeful Randy, not a more tractable version. Bad joss.

“Wait a minute Tony, while I get dressed. Honey? It’s easier for me to put my clothes on, if you aren’t jerking me off balance all the time.

I’ll be right with you. Don’t worry. We’ll get Ninell back! I promise.”

Will we get her back safe? I make threatening promises to myself. Oh, Brother!

Jan throws off her covering sheet, jumps off the bed, starts pulling on clothes.

“Maybe I can help. I’ll mobilize all Duende to help seek them out.”

“Thanks, Jan, I’m certain you can help. But first, we need some basic information to start with. A point of departure.”

Our beginning ‘point of departure’ for mounting a search, isn’t Jan’s bedroom. We need some clue, or pertinent information, an initial fact to build on, to reason from. Can’t go off half cocked. We are headed to the lab, to establish a command center. I’m leading us there. It’s the only space we have large enough, and currently not used for other important activities, to serve as a base of operations. The two other large gathering places, are the bridge and galley. Their functions are important too.

“Tony? Who saw Randy kidnap Ninell? Who saw them last? Most recently saw Ninell? Who talked with Randy recently. Anytime today? Same question for Ninell. I need you to write down these names, that fit the questions I just asked.”

“Jan? See if you can find Gidget. Gina’s on watch? Good. Then Gidget’s off watch. She might be asleep in her quarters. Suggest checking there first.”

Jan runs off. Tony looks up from her list making. I give her instructions.

“I’m going to use the engineers phone to call the bridge. I’ll be right back, in minutes. Anybody wanders in here, Tony? Keep them here until my return.”

I’m going to need legs. Runners. Messengers. People I can send after other people. People I need to talk with. And bring them back, willing or not. I need Mom. Nobody to send for her yet. Tony needs to concentrate on that names list. Mom gets summoned when I have a runner.

The engine-room is a noisy place. Trying to talk to the bridge from the engineers phone, is frustrating and ineffective. I can’t hear Laura very well, and she can’t understand me. She continually tells me to stop shouting into the phone. I’m fighting against the noise.

Laura doesn’t get the message. Randy kidnapped Ninell. I want all hands awakened and all not involved in, and necessary to the ship’s operational safety, to be sent to the lab. To assist in the hunt for Randy and Ninell. Aw! This is hopeless.

Sound powered phones suck. Laura orders me, ME, to the bridge! I’m going to the bridge, and I will impress upon Laura, the urgency of the situation. We need to try to get Ninell back quickly, before unprincipled Randy finds a secure enough place, where he can violate innocent Ninell. My sweet innocent Ninell. Oh, my sweet!

Passing through the lab on my way to the bridge, I’m a little mollified to notice people accumulating. I send Gwen out to fetch my Mom. Antonia has Bebe, Flor, and Luz gathered, ready to testify. They were the last to see and speak with either. They were together with Randy and Ninell, when the two up and disappeared. Randy was taking all of them shopping again. At least that was what they planned, but Randy only took Ninell. All envy Ninell. Each wishes she had been napped. Nabbed? All adore and worship beautiful Randy, the HUNK!