The drivers of the vans and the u-hauls met together with the man who handed out marked maps of the routes he wanted them to take for the evening. He explained that the three u-hauls would handle the inner city routes, which were much more concentrated with the homeless addicts, since they had the ability to handle the most people. The vans would, this evening, go to the known hiding spots of the homeless in the out of the way places to gather everyone they could find. The drivers of the vans were given heat-seeking devices and were expected to walk all around each area. The heat-seeking devices would help them find anyone in an underground area or cave or really any hiding spot. They meant business.
While Donald and Jim were shopping for clothes, Carl called. Jim was in the dressing room when Donald took the call. Carl chatted for a moment and then asked Donald if he still had a boat. Donald said, “Yes, I do. I haven’t used it in a long time. I'm glad you reminded me. I need to go down to the shore and see how it is doing and if it needs repairs before I use it again. Why are you asking, Carl?”
“Can you come over to my house tonight if you aren’t doing anything, Donald? I have something important to talk with you about.”
Donald agreed and said he could be there in an hour. After Jim had gotten the clothes he needed, Donald got him a haircut and Jim looked like a new man! “You clean up really nice, Jim,” Donald stated. “Hey, you don’t mind going with me to my brother’s house, do you?”
Jim said, “That sounds fine to me.” and they left for Carl’s.
Carl’s studio apartment was small, but nicely decorated. He had gone for a southwest style decor. He had stopped to pick up some snacks for them. He had gotten nachos, avocados burritos and Dos Equis. Carl said, as they sat down, “I need to talk with you, Donald.”
Donald said, “Jim is cool. You can say whatever it is with him here.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Carl said, “I drove the supply truck out to the cruise ship today.”
Donald asked, “Do you mean the ship with the homeless on it?”
“Exactly.” Carl said. “It was an eye-opening experience. A federal man had just addressed the regular clinic meeting and was praising them for killing the addicts. But that isn’t all. He said the elderly and the disabled are the next to go.”
Donald said, “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“No, I’m not. “Then, guess who was my ride-along out to the ship? The federal man. I was pretty uncomfortable, riding with a man who could congratulate people for killing others. We got to the ship and he found out about a poker game with the over 50 year olds and decided we were staying the night to be able to hang out with the elderly. When he got beat really badly by an old man, he stomped out of the game. The others were checking me out to see if I was on his side. OH, get this, he practically threatened the elderly people, too! They were curious as to what he meant and against my better judgement, after he had left, I told them the plan of taking out the elderly. I suggested they find a boat and get out of there and of course they have no resources, so they asked me if I could get them a boat and help them get away!”
Donald said, “Oh so that’s why you asked about my boat?”
“Exactly!” Carl said.
“How many people are you talking about and where in the world will you take them?” asked a surprised Donald. But he didn’t say no!!!
Carl said, “I don't know, but will find out tomorrow how many people will go with us. As far as where to go, I don’t have a clue.”
Jim had been quietly listening all of this time and interjected his thoughts. “God this sounds like a worthy cause and I am all in if you can use me! What about Canada or Alaska for a place to go? How big is your boat and how many people can it hold? This is so exciting! We were just wondering what we could do to be a help and here it just fell into our laps!”
Carl offered them the snacks and Jim said, “I don’t mean to be anti-social, but I don’t drink or do any drugs anymore, now that I am clean. Thank you anyway!”
The guys talked and made plans to get together the next day after they had more details.