Chapter 4A

The silence grew longer and longer. It seemed that no-one wanted to be the first to speak. After waiting more than enough time for anyone else to say something, I finally spoke. "So, what is it that you want?" I looked at Janice and waited.

"I'm not really sure. I was happy with my lot before IT happened, I have two wonderful children, I had a good job, we lived in a reasonable area and lived within our means. Now that's all gone, just vanished and I don't know what I want other than a place for my children to grow up, a place where they feel secure and loved."

Again there was silence and again I was the one to end it.

"We are hoping to set up a community of like minded people free from the baggage that our old society was moribund with. We have set out some rules and aims and for now we are intent on getting ourselves set up so that we have food, water, shelter and protection for the foreseeable future.

"We also realise that we are too few to start a viable community and we are looking for compatible people to join us. I dare say that we will be looking for new people for some considerable time. By our experience about 97% of the population perished in the events surround IT and that means that humanity is now spread very thinly across the world. Even if just 1% of the remaining people have the same ideas as us and join us, well, it will take them a long time to find us.

"Anyway, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now we have the beginnings of a society. I should tell you now that nudity is commonplace in our community as are plural marriages. I am married to these wonderful people here and they are married to me and to each other."

I went on to point out the other groups on the ship.

"Also by our experience, the current population ratio is about five women to one man which pretty much make polygamy the only way to repopulate Mother Earth. It is also a pretty significant change to the old mores and I don't have to be a fortune teller to be able to predict that this alone is going to cause a lot of trouble in what remains of western civilisation. So, if you have any doubts about nudity and plural marriages, then we will take to you the nearest mainland and find someone who you can join up with."

I didn't mention that this would be totally impractical and most probably a death sentence for her and the children. The chances were very high that anyone that she would meet on the mainland would be much like our old friend BA.

"I don't think that it will be a problem, I'd never really thought about it much. Nudity, I mean. My parents were Born Again Christians and sex and anything to do with sex was totally taboo, but I rebelled against their teachings before I went to college. I wasn't wild or anything, but I'm pretty comfortable with my body and don't feel the need to hide it away." She smiled down at her two children, now fast asleep, still cuddled up to her. "And these two ragamuffins run around naked more often than not. It does save on laundry."

There was a chuckle at that. I let it die down before I spoke again.

"So, think about what we have here and we will do the same. Perhaps in a few days time we can decide whether or not we should stay together or part company. Until then, you are our guest and not required to assist in the running of the ship. If you stay on, that will change and even the kids will be expected to contribute even if only in a small way, like keeping their cabin clean."

Janice drew a breath, about to say something.

"No arguments. Your help will be appreciated, but there is no obligation for now."

"But..."

"I said no arguments and I mean it."

Sharon put her hand on Janice's shoulder.

"Hush, he's the captain and when he decides something, the crew and guests do it. When we are not sailing and he is not Captain, then you can argue. For now accept it and enjoy your freedom."

"Okay."

I stood up. "Right people, there's work to be done and time's awasting."

For several more days we headed away from our intended destination, not directly away but in a direction that would not indicate to anyone watching us where we wanted to go. We were lucky that the wind blew steadily from the starboard bow and we sailed on a fast point of sail but not an uncomfortable one. It was also good in that when we did change course and head for Randle's Folly, we would be on a fast point of sail on a port tack instead of a starboard one. Of course, this is sailing and the wind can change whenever it feels like it, or so it seems sometimes.

Once again life settled down into a routine, the on watches manned the ship at the correct time and for the allotted duration, the off watches carried out necessary work on the ship when required and kept themselves occupied when not.

Janice and the children also settled in and before the meeting to decide what we were going to do, I already know that answer. They fitted in like they were part of the crew, no friction, no awkwardness. The kids, well, they were kids and resilient as anything. They looked and sounded happy and everyone of us enjoyed seeing them run around playing as children should.

The weather grew warmer as the days went by and clothing became minimal or non-existent for the off watches. I made a hard and fast rule that the on-watch or anyone doing something that was possible harmful, like cooking, wore something, just in case. Ideally I would have liked everyone on watch to have a sheathed, sharp, ships knife on their belt but we only had six. I had one permanently and even when naked it was in my hand or close to hand. Eve asked me about it the second day they were aboard.

"Why do you carry that knife with you? Is it to kill bad men with?"

I sat down beside her.

"No, it's not to kill bad men. It's because sometimes on a sailing ship things can go wrong and you need to cut a rope very quickly. If that is what happens you usually don't have time to go to the workshop and get a sharp knife, it takes too long, so I keep one with me all the time, just in case."

She looked at me for a long moment.

"Everyone should have one."

Sharp kid this. "Yes, but we only have six on the ship so we have to share."

"No we don't, we have lots. Adam and me found some when we were playing hide and seek this morning. Do you want to see?"

"Yes I do." She took my hand and pulled me towards the companionway. I got up and allowed myself to be pulled along. She took me to the very front of the ship, bend down under a small shelf and wriggled her way under it. Then she vanished. Quickly I knelt down and peered under the shelf and saw that the sole (the floorboards) didn't reach the hull and the little mite had wriggled her way into the bilge. I looked around at my feet and finally found a finger hole in one of the boards. It was clogged with dust and dirt which is why we hadn't seen it before. I poked my finger into the hole and lifted up the hatch, for that is what it was.

There, lying in the bilge, was Eve, her hand covering her mouth as she giggled at me. The space was mostly crammed with boxes and canvas bags.

"Harry?" I called. From somewhere she called back. "Come and see this." A few seconds later she appeared and looked into the bilge a surprised look on her face.

"Where did that lot come from?"

"The finger hole in the hatch was covered so we didn't think there was anything here. Eve and Adam found a way in playing hide and seek this morning."

"Yes, and we found these." Eve took one of the canvas bags and gave it to me. Inside were a number of ships knives and other useful items, marline spikes, shackle keys and so on. I took one of the knives out and looked at it. There was a thin film of grease covering the metal work. These had been stowed away properly.

"Hop out of there Eve and let's take a look at what else it there."

Eve scrambled out and watched as we started lifting out the boxes and bags. Ships hardware supplies. Bob was going to be happy since there were many engine spares in the bilge all carefully protected and packed away. It was a great find.

"Well done Eve. If you find anymore things like this, tell someone. We wouldn't have found these otherwise."

"I'm going to tell Adam." and she raced away to find her brother.

We left things for three days before I called another meeting after we had all eaten our breakfast. We gathered in our normal meeting place by the wheelhouse. I turned to Janice.

"So, what do you think?"

"I want to stay. I feel happy here like I'm with friends. The kids are very happy on the ship. I haven't seen them this happy since before IT happened. Your way of life just seems to suit us, so I want us to stay."

I looked at her for a moment. "Okay people, we have a request for someone, three someones, to join the community. Comments first, then a vote, 75% majority required. Anyone want to say something?"

We all looked at each other but no-one wanted to say anything.

"Okay a vote. Show of hands all in favour." I raised my hand and looked at the others. All hand their hands raised. "Okay, carried." I turned to Janice who was hugging the kids. "Looks like you in, welcome to our community."

I watched as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Now for the bad news. That means that you have to start working. Harry will put you in one of the watches and you can decide what you would like to do as part of this community. There's plenty of work and there will be more once we arrive at our destination. As for you two rapscallions, you have to go to school."

"School!" they shouted at the same time.

"Yes, school. You are going to have to learn to read and write well and to learn the things you need to learn in order to be able to live in our community." I laughed at their downcast faces.

"Don't worry little ones, it will only be in the mornings and then not every day."

That didn't seem to reassure them but I knew that bright children such as these would soon relish the type of learning we were going to be giving them.

I put the sextant into it's carrying box having taken the morning sight.

"Why do you use that? Don't you have GPS?"

I turned to see Janice beside me.

"Yes we do, but it's not working. The whole system isn't working, I mean, not just our GPS set. Since a large part of IT was a nuclear counter strike, it seems that most or all of the low earth orbit satellites had their electronics fried by the EMP effects. It is also quite likely that part of the strike and counter strike was a satellite killer phase and GPS satellites would have been a choice target. Those that did not get fried would have been military satellites and the chances are that any available GPS signals would have been switch to encrypted mode, if these satellites were not targeted for destruction anyway. When we were on the cruise ship I noticed that the GPS system they had was non-functional. So we have to do it the old fashioned way."

"I'd like to learn that, would you show me?"

"Yes, and no. I've been teaching Annie how to do it so I'm going to let her show you. It will be a good way for me to see how much she has learnt. They do say that you never know anything really well until you've had to teach it to someone."

"Okay. Can we start now?"

"We can, let's round up Annie and go to the chart table."

I watched as Annie carefully showed Janice the whys and wherefores of celestial navigation. She had learnt her lessons well and soon the two of them were plotting the position on the chart. I congratulated Annie and suggested that they both take the afternoon sight. Once of the things we had uncovered in the forward bilge was another sextant.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to find April, May and Liz behind me.

"Husband, we have a request." I looked at Liz as she spoke. "We have found some things that we need you to help us with."

I raised my eyebrows in question. They all smiled at me and I knew that I was going to be in for a very good time. "Okay, wives of mine, show me what it is you want help with."

Liz led the way to 'my' cabin while I was escorted by April and May both of them hugging an arm and rubbing it on their naked breasts. Oh yes, this was going to be very good.

When we were inside my cabin the door was shut and the three of them removed what little clothing I had on, kissing my bare skin as they did so. Then, while I watched, they removed their tiny bikini bottoms. I was pulled over to the bunk and pushed into a lying position on top of the covers. The three of them crawled on to the bed. Liz reached under the pillow and brought out a bag. She reached in and pulled out a dildo, of all things, and handed it to May, then another which she handed to April finally a third which she handed to me. Then she kissed me long and hard. I felt two mouths and tongues on James Junior. I was hard already but this treatment hard me harder than I have ever felt before.

Liz broke the kiss and straddled my body facing away from me. May held my cock upright as Liz slowly lowered herself onto it. She sighed and rested for a moment. She leant forward and started rocking herself so that I slid in and out of her. I realised what I was supposed to do with the dildo she had given me I held it out towards April who opened her mouth and slowly took it all in. She pumped it in and out for a few times and then let it out of her mouth. I held it out towards May who did the same.

When I was sure that it was well lubricated I put the tip of it against Liz's anus and gently pushed.

"Oh God, yes!" moaned Liz as I slid it in. With just a few strokes I had it fully embedded in her and she went wild. April and May were not idle. They were sucking their own dildos. When they saw that they had my attention, they too inserted the dildos into their asses. What a sight. When they were fully inserted, April lay at my feet and opened her legs. Liz buried her head between the wide open legs and started eating April out. I motioned to May who came over and kissed me. Then she straddled my head and lowered her pussy to my waiting lips. I took my time but I was thorough. I licked and kissed her lips and clit and with my hands I massaged and kneaded her breasts. I don't know quite how we did it but we lasted for quite some time and then exploded more or less simultaneously. Liz lifted herself off me but I was given no respite, April clambered onboard and rode me furiously. I didn't go soft, I wasn't given a chance but I wasn't anywhere near a climax when she had her second. She slumped forward, exhausted and then moved to my side to let her sister take her turn. May also rode me until she climaxed but kept going until she was sobbing, almost delirious, in Korean until finally I exploded for the second time. May went rigid, totally rigid with her climax and her internal muscles clamped down hard. What a feeling. Suddenly, like a puppet whose strings had been cut she collapsed onto my chest and lay there panting.