Table Of ContentHumanity Abides – Book One
Shelter
By Carol A. Bird
This book is a work of fiction. Names,
characters, places, and incidents are the product
of the author’s imagination or are used
fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events,
locales, or persons, living or dead, is
coincidental.
Copyright 2013 by Carol A. Bird
All rights
reserved
ISBN -13: 978-1482054095
Cover art Copyright 2013 by David Bird Special Thanks
to:
Lori A. Bird – Editor
David A. Bird – Illustrator Bob Dean - Contributor
This book is dedicated to my mother, Julia
Margaret Adams.
One of my fondest childhood memories is of our
weekly trips to the Lemon Grove Library.
www.carolannbird.com
Table of contents:
PART ONE
PROLOGUE
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
PART TWO
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
PART ONE
“Every death even the cruellest death drowns in the total
indifference of Nature/Nature herself would watch
unmoved if we destroyed the entire human race.”
Peter Weiss (1964)
PROLOGUE
The twisted coil of DNA - representing the code of life - splits down the
middle of the tightly wound helix like rungs of a spiral ladder breaking under the
weight of a heavy body. Base pairs are ripped apart. The cell writhes and
contorts with the exposed and isolated DNA strands awash in the primordial
soup of the cell's nucleus. RNA attaches to the DNA as lonely strands find their
opposite partners and base pairs link in an ecstasy of reunion. The genetic
information is copied to the RNA which then separates from the DNA and races
off to carry out its function of protein synthesis. In this manner the genetic
information contained in DNA is copied and utilized to form proteins, enzymes,
organs and tissue.
During meiosis, or sexual reproduction, DNA forms distinct
chromosomes within the cell’s nucleus. As the cell divides to become an ova or
sperm, one half of each chromosome pair ends up in a daughter cell. With the
haploid number, or one-half the usual number of chromosomes, each cell has all
the information required to create a new being when combined with a sex cell
from another individual of the same species. Only then can the miracle continue.
At the moment the sperm penetrates the ovum the resulting zygote again
contains the full complement of chromosomes. The DNA begins a dance of life.
Chromosome pairs match up, bringing together characteristics from each parent
to create a new and absolutely unique individual.
Mitosis, or non-sexual division of the nucleus that produces daughter
cells identical to the parent, results in growth and regeneration of cells in a body.
During these fragile times, when cells are dividing sexually or
somatically, the cell is the most vulnerable. Mutations can alter the form or
function of the cell, or of the proteins coded for by the DNA. Slow, orderly
mutation causes minor changes that alter the organism very slightly. If the
mutation is beneficial, the organism flourishes and by natural selection passes
the change onto its offspring. If not, the organism is not successful, either in
living or reproducing. This evolution has proceeded for millions of years,
changing and improving the life forms that inhabit the Earth.
These mutations are caused by many factors, natural and unnatural.
Natural causes include cosmic radiation or genetic accidents. In modern life,
more frequent or serious mutations can occur; caused by drugs, environmental
pollution, chemicals in food or water, or strong radiation.
Sometimes these mutations can lead to deadly malignancies. And if the
mutagen is strong enough, may sometimes lead to something worse… something
much worse… something monstrous.
ONE
August 18, 10:30 a.m.
Society Islands, South Pacific Ocean
Sleek and beautiful, and gleaming white against the azure ocean, the Sea
Witch sliced through an early morning glassy sea at forty knots. Spray arced
from her bow, glittering with an untold number of tiny rainbow spectrums. In
contrast to the beauty of the tranquil sea, turmoil reigned on the yacht’s bridge as
her darkly handsome skipper paced nervously, running his fingers through his
black, wavy hair. Apprehensive about yesterday’s unexpected encounter with a
Chinese gunboat, he checked the GPS to ensure they were on course, and for the
twentieth time glanced fearfully at the radar screen, searching for any evidence
that the Chinese ship was still in the area.
It remained clear.
Alphonse Carelli was an excitable, hot-tempered Italian and was easily
rattled by unexpected events. Yesterday’s experience with the gunboat had left
him frantic. He had tossed and turned all night, worried he might be prevented
from delivering his valuable cargo to its final destination. The Chinese vessel,
which had been detected by the yacht’s radar while still several miles away, had
no authority in these waters and absolutely no fathomable reason for being here.
“What the hell is he doing down here? We’re thousands of miles from
China, for Christ’s sake!” Alphonse complained to his first mate Paul Jeter. A
man of few words, Jeter had just shrugged his massive shoulders and headed
below.
After picking up the load of drugs in the Philippines the Sea Witch had
traveled east along the equator and then turned southeast toward French
Polynesia. Carelli’s plan was to spend leisure time in Bora Bora and Tahiti to
divert suspicion. He loved powerboats, this one in particular. This was his
second smuggling run using this craft and he was taking full advantage of these
trips to live a life of luxury while sailing the South Seas. This latest assignment,
smuggling the largest shipment of heroin his boss had ever imported into the
United States was going to make him a rich man. Ricky Wong, after many years
as a small time crook, was quickly becoming one of the most powerful Asian
Mafia bosses on the west coast and Carelli was hoping to rise right along with
him.
After two weeks of sailing between the islands, with Alphonse and his
wife diving and snorkeling in the blue-green waters around Moorea and
lounging on pristine white beaches, the Witch had left the Society Islands sailing
east. They avoided normal shipping lanes and were planning on swinging north
to approach the west coast of the United States from the South. Yesterday, just
as lunch was being served, and while still in an uninhabited portion of the South
Pacific they had encountered the Chinese ship. The yacht’s captain, Cecil
Jameson, notified Alphonse they had picked up the vessel on the radar. It was
traveling toward them at high speed. From the ship’s fly bridge Alphonse and
Jeter watched with dread as the gunmetal gray military vessel approached,
bouncing over the waves, until it began to slow off their port bow. “You don’t
think he’s been tracking us, do you?” Carelli asked Jeter.
“How the fuck would I know?” He replied in his deep, gravelly voice.
“You want me to break out the heat?” Jeter was six and a half feet of bulging
muscle, with greasy, black hair protruding from under a filthy baseball cap. It
hung down in front of his eyes and covered his ears. He wore dirty overalls with
no shirt underneath, much to the chagrin of Captain Jameson and the rest of the
immaculately attired crew. Jeter was always itching for a fight, and the thought
of a battle - with weapons blazing, had caused his eyes to shine with excitement
in the intense, early afternoon sunshine.
“No! Are you an idiot? Look at the size of the guns on that baby!” Carelli
had been unable to drag his gaze away from the rapidly approaching vessel. He
spoke as if to a child, “Remember, we’re just a pleasure boat cruising the South
Seas for recreation. Go tell the captain and crew that everybody’s to stay cool
and look casual.” He ordered Jeter away with a flip of his hand. “What the hell’s
a Chinese ship doing down here, anyway?” he repeated. In very real danger of
pissing his pants, he anxiously awaited the ship’s arrival.
Jeter went below. He preferred the dark recesses of the lower decks and
the engine room to the bright upper levels. He was prepared, if necessary, to
break open the hidden, highly illegal stash of automatic weapons. Jeter couldn’t
care less what Carelli thought. There was no way he was going to rot in a
Chinese prison, and he didn’t care if he and everyone else had to die in a hail of
bullets to prevent it.
The yacht’s crew came on deck ready to prepare her for boarding, but the
military ship drew alongside, and to Alphonse’s immense relief, didn’t demand
either to board or to search her. The Chinese captain, speaking perfect English
