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The New Day: Part IV By: Richard Davidson on 10/21/2001; 5:44 PM Author's note: OK, I'm not kidding here, this part is pretty violent. Wait! Wait, wait wait! Doctor Sullivans face was red and flushed. You expect us to believe that these people suddenly burst into song, rats sang backing vocals, music came from nowhere? he was very angry. Hey, doc, I just write down the words, Im not God, or anything. I said emphatically. OK, tell me about this Frank Cordino. Frank Cordino was the toughest of all the wiseguys. He had a legendary status of being supernatural, impossible to kill. When he was 12 years old his father had proclaimed him a disgrace to the family, an idiot of no value, and he had his number one man, Gino Vincette, take Frank out into the woods, hit him over the head with a tire iron, and bury him in a shallow grave. Imagine their suprise, when at breakfast the next day, Frank showed up with blood and dirt all over him, wanting to know why Gino had hit him. Franks father was enraged, shot Gino and said, How could he hurta my boy... From then on, Frank was a highly prized member of the family. If only hed had brains, they woulda gave him the whole thing. My knife went in the right side of his throat, and as he pulled away from me, had sliced upwards, resting against the jawbone, where it was firmly lodged. He dropped his gun on the floor. Blood was shooting from Franks neck, and some was dripping from his mouth and nose. He was staggering, trying to keep his feet, moving in slow motion, putting one hand over his throat, and grasping the knife handle with the other, and he pulled on the knife, every vein in his head standing out, sweat and blood drenching him, and out it came! With one hand he pulled the kercheif from his pocket, and pushed it against his throat, and with the other he raised the knife over his head, to bring it plunging down into my heart, when the shot rang out, and Frank Cordino was supernatural no more. His head jerked back, and he dropped to the floor like a sack of pancake flour. His eyes had peace in them for the first time in his life. Drop it, or youre next! Dave had his gun trained on Beth. He was in pretty bad shape, and looked like he could drop at any moment. He was propping himself up against the wall, and even in that dingy light I could see his stomach was soaked with blood. You two are coming above. I need some help piloting this boat. He threw me some rope. Tie her hands. Lets go! We marched solemnly up to the deck, where two of Franks men lay dead. That Dave was pretty tough for a wounded old man. He unrolled a map from his coat. Take us to these coordinates. he pointed to a small island. Thats where youve got the money hidden, isnt it Dave? Beth said flatly. Yeah, but youll never see it. He had an evil glint in his eye. Dave youre not gonna... I looked at him carefully, trying to size him up. Why did you want the priveledge? he leered back. Hes gonna kill us both. Beth looked at me like she used to so long ago. Dont mind her, shes a little paranoid. somehow Daves voice wasnt very reassuring. Our Beth has a bit of a suspicious mind. He paused, and no one spoke for a few minutes. Besides, I couldve let Cordino finish you, if I wanted you dead. Daves voice was monotone, flat and dull like the sound of the boats droning engine. My head was reeling. I was still trying to get over the shock of the one woman I had ever loved being a Cordino, of our whole relationship being a setup, of being doublecrossed by virtually everyone I had ever trusted... Everyone I ever trusted... Whats that? Dave looked at me quizzically. Oh nothing, I was just thinking... and then it was so clear to me. Dave, I need to get something offa Frank. Be my guest, Ill watch the pretty lady. I made my way back to the hold, and found Beths gun. It was still warm. I made my way back up on deck, with Franks gun, and Beths. I needed to look for an opportunity, and react quickly, because I knew Dave was desperate, and Beth was right. He would kill us both. He would take those suitcases, each containing a million dollars in US Currency, and he would have it made. Our deaths would look like a mob war, or not, either way no one was gonna be looking for Dave. Or us. Find what you were looking for? I smiled grimly, nodded and showed him Franks shark tooth necklace. Dave began to laugh. Little memento, huh? he laughed long and hard, and slapped me on the back. I was about to make my move, but his attention wasnt diverted long enough. Well, you have more reason than anybody to hate the Cordinos. Dave was still smiling. He handed me a gun. Shoot her. he indicated Beth. How long until we get there? I was clutching at straws. Whats that got to do with it? he demanded. Well, I was just thinking, I dont really want to sit up here with a mess, thats all, why dont I take her below? You just got up here, and now you want to go below again. Boy, youre just not sure where you wanna be, now are you? He circled the room slowly, choosing his words carefully. No, I think this is one boy that doesnt know where he wants to be. He wants to be above deck, he wants to be below deck, he wants to kill the girl, he wants to escape with the girl... he was waving his gun around, like he was aiming at me, trying to avoid Beth, who was somewhat in his line of fire, bobbing and weaving. Its nice work if you can get it. I still had the gun he gave me in my hand, down at my side. Dave, you know Ive been with you the whole way. I said in my most soothing voice. I slowly slipped my hand with the gun into my pocket, where I carefully exchanged it for Franks. And you know what she did to my life, why would I have any loyalty there? I was starting to sweat. Men do funny things when it comes to ... and then he said a colorful word for women, as Beth cranked the wheel to the right, throwing us both off balance. And then he fired, just as my hand came up and fired Franks gun. I fired again, and he fired again. Beth gasped. Dave fell over. I felt a stinging in my shoulder. Beth are you hit? and I saw she was, in the knee. Me in the shoulder, her in the knee? I had never thought Dave could be that bad a shot, but considering the way the boat was lurching right at that moment, I guess well give him credit for hitting us both. I pulled the knife I had pried from Franks stiff hands out of my boot, and cut the ropes on Beths wrists. Better make sure hes dead, she smiled. So I fired the rest of Franks chamber into Daves head. God, I dont think Frank wouldve even done that! Beth was clearly taken aback. Im just a little bit more EMOTIONAL than Frank! I stated, the veins in my forehead pounding. Why did you shoot him, anyway? I looked at her earnestly, your own brother? It was you or him, and he was as good as dead anyway, she shrugged. I needed SOMEONE to help me with Dave. Try again. I wasnt buying it. She took my knife from my hand and said, Take off your shirt. She began cutting the shirt into thin strips, for bandages. Listen, babe, I think you got it into your head that I regret what I did for my family, wrecking your exciting life, and all, and that I still love you, and that theres some good in my heart, right? Wrong. I said, and pulled her close and kissed her hard. I reached my hand around her shoulder, and killed the engine. We werent going to make love with dead bodies all over the place, plus we had both lost a lot of blood, so we just held each other, as the boat drifted into the lagoon. Cmon, I said, and took her hand. We silently unlashed the rubber raft, and with a quiet splash it was in the water. The moon was reflected in the water, broken by each oar stroke, and the sky was beginning to lighten. It would be morning soon. Think your father will come looking for us? Daddy? she laughed. I dont think so. God help you if he did! I splashed her. She giggled. It was just like old times. Just like old times, but with a coupla million bucks! she laughed, gleefully. I didnt question her reading my mind, thats one of those things you just accept after awhile, like the sun coming up, or stew going bad after a week. I shined the beam of my flashlight up ahead, and then it came upon the boat that was sitting silently ahead, between the rocks, barely visible. Get down! Beth whispered urgently. Not this time, babe. I was smiling from ear to ear, flicking the flashlight across my face, and trying to look scary. Have you gone nuts? You can just tell me if you have. she wasnt kidding. This was the one part of Daves plan I knew about. I pointed the light back towards the rocks. That there old boat, thats the Sea Witch. It was built in 1936, entirely of fine wood from the Carribean. Old Dave, he used to polish every inch of that boat, ever since he acquired it, many years ago. I had her attention now. And I got a hunch, I paused for dramatic effect, that the moneys there, along with enough supplies to get us far from here. We rowed in silence to the Sea Witch, and once aboard, found a big bottle of Rum, which we poured on our wounds, screamed, and took a big belt of. So you forgive me? she tried to sound playful, but she actually looked sincere, a little rum drooling down her chin. Of course I do, I laughed ironically, I always did, back when I lost everything I thought was important to me, back when I hopped on a rusty old boat to help Dave look for stolen drug money, even when your brother knocked out my bicuspid. She looked puzzled. I continued. To know love is to know forgiveness. I brushed my hand up the side of her face, tracing her jawline, her hairline, And youre the only woman Ive ever loved. I stared right into the back of her eyes. Then youre the biggest sucker that ever lived. she turned away. I thought she was crying, but I couldnt be sure. I started up the small electric motor, and we slowly made our way out of the cave, into the open water of the bay, past the floating mortuary that was Franks boat, where I just caught a glimpse of Daves hand, draped over the side still holding Franks shark tooth necklace. Small brightly colored fish were nibbling his fingers. Help me get the sail up, I kissed her forehead, and took her hand. It was just beginning to get light, and as the sun peeked its way over the horizon, distant mountains and palm trees slowly gathered depth, and then softened, as they faded away into the vast blue of eternal ocean. Old Dave was right. No more running in circles for him, or Frank, or any of us. Several dolphins shadowed us as I got into position, and the sail puffed up with a mighty roar and delivered us upon the new day.
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