acoustics, muted by
the heavy carpet, tablecloths and wall tapestries, were not as good
and they found they had to yell louder. After Steve upended a few
tables and sent them crashing into their neighbors, they decided
that the noise was enough that if any of the dead were around, they
would have come out. Tick-Tock also pointed out that any humans
hiding in ambush would have to be very disciplined not to have
shown themselves. Satisfied they were alone, but still not letting
down their guard, the foursome crossed the dining room without
incident.
Standing in front of one of the fire doors on the
starboard side of the ship, Steve placed his hand on its push bar
and slowly, soundlessly eased it inward until he heard a click.
Gripping his M-4 tightly in his right hand, he used his left to
open the door just enough to look through. He starred so intently,
and for so long, that Tick-Tock finally asked with anticipation,
“What is it, what do you see?”
Without missing a beat, Steve replied, “It's a rock
climbing wall.”
Susan's hand flew to her mouth to stifle the laughter
that bubbled up.
As Steve pushed the door open to give him a better
view, the others were able to get a look. An almost perceptible
thrill went through them at what lay ahead.
Without turning, Steve said, “Tick-Tock, grab a
couple of chairs so we can prop these doors open. I don't want them
closing and locking behind us.” When he returned, Steve said, “We
go through one at a time and spread out. There's plenty of open
space just past the door, but there's also a lot of area to cover
beyond that. Everyone take a good look before we move.”
When they had each taken their turn, Heather held the
door open while Steve went through. After checking the blind spot
behind the door, he moved forward twenty paces and stopped. Rifle
at the ready, he tried to take in as much as possible of the
overwhelming sights around him.
Daylight, streaming in from skylights multiple
stories above, lit the front of the shops, clubs and restaurants
that stretched away from him in a neat row on the right side of the
ship. The stores all appeared to have their glass panel and metal
security doors shut and locked, but Steve made a mental note to
check them anyway. They didn't want someone or something coming up
behind them after they passed by.
Perpendicular to his left sat a row of five elevators
situated in their own hall with three glass elevators facing into
the Centrum on the opposite side of their common wall. Beyond this,
he could see more shops lining the port side of the ship. Although
he was too far back from the opening to look straight up, Steve
assumed that the entire roof of the Centrum had to be glass, due to
the amount of light coming in.
Despite his vertical sight line being limited by the
second floor walkway above him, he could look across the Centrum
and see the top half of the restaurants lining the port side on the
next deck above. Even from the small bit he could see, he was
amazed at the detail.
There was a reproduction Italian sidewalk cafe right
next to a Japanese sushi bar, both done up in exquisite detail.
Turning his head to look back down the length of the deck, he could
see the middle area was filled with kiosks, fountains and what
appeared to be a miniature golf course. He noticed that, while
grand in stature, the Centrum had a slightly eerie, unused look and
feel to it. With everything intact, but with all of the storefronts
closed, the fountains dry and chairs set around tables as if
waiting for someone to sit down, it appeared the people had
suddenly vanished. His mind wandered to thoughts of the Bermuda
triangle and ships like the Mary Celeste that were found abandoned
but completely intact, right down to the tables set for diner. The
dining room they just passed through came to mind, and he felt a
shiver run up his spine.
Steve jumped slightly when he heard a sharp intake of
breath next to him but realized it was Heather when she
the heavy carpet, tablecloths and wall tapestries, were not as good
and they found they had to yell louder. After Steve upended a few
tables and sent them crashing into their neighbors, they decided
that the noise was enough that if any of the dead were around, they
would have come out. Tick-Tock also pointed out that any humans
hiding in ambush would have to be very disciplined not to have
shown themselves. Satisfied they were alone, but still not letting
down their guard, the foursome crossed the dining room without
incident.
Standing in front of one of the fire doors on the
starboard side of the ship, Steve placed his hand on its push bar
and slowly, soundlessly eased it inward until he heard a click.
Gripping his M-4 tightly in his right hand, he used his left to
open the door just enough to look through. He starred so intently,
and for so long, that Tick-Tock finally asked with anticipation,
“What is it, what do you see?”
Without missing a beat, Steve replied, “It's a rock
climbing wall.”
Susan's hand flew to her mouth to stifle the laughter
that bubbled up.
As Steve pushed the door open to give him a better
view, the others were able to get a look. An almost perceptible
thrill went through them at what lay ahead.
Without turning, Steve said, “Tick-Tock, grab a
couple of chairs so we can prop these doors open. I don't want them
closing and locking behind us.” When he returned, Steve said, “We
go through one at a time and spread out. There's plenty of open
space just past the door, but there's also a lot of area to cover
beyond that. Everyone take a good look before we move.”
When they had each taken their turn, Heather held the
door open while Steve went through. After checking the blind spot
behind the door, he moved forward twenty paces and stopped. Rifle
at the ready, he tried to take in as much as possible of the
overwhelming sights around him.
Daylight, streaming in from skylights multiple
stories above, lit the front of the shops, clubs and restaurants
that stretched away from him in a neat row on the right side of the
ship. The stores all appeared to have their glass panel and metal
security doors shut and locked, but Steve made a mental note to
check them anyway. They didn't want someone or something coming up
behind them after they passed by.
Perpendicular to his left sat a row of five elevators
situated in their own hall with three glass elevators facing into
the Centrum on the opposite side of their common wall. Beyond this,
he could see more shops lining the port side of the ship. Although
he was too far back from the opening to look straight up, Steve
assumed that the entire roof of the Centrum had to be glass, due to
the amount of light coming in.
Despite his vertical sight line being limited by the
second floor walkway above him, he could look across the Centrum
and see the top half of the restaurants lining the port side on the
next deck above. Even from the small bit he could see, he was
amazed at the detail.
There was a reproduction Italian sidewalk cafe right
next to a Japanese sushi bar, both done up in exquisite detail.
Turning his head to look back down the length of the deck, he could
see the middle area was filled with kiosks, fountains and what
appeared to be a miniature golf course. He noticed that, while
grand in stature, the Centrum had a slightly eerie, unused look and
feel to it. With everything intact, but with all of the storefronts
closed, the fountains dry and chairs set around tables as if
waiting for someone to sit down, it appeared the people had
suddenly vanished. His mind wandered to thoughts of the Bermuda
triangle and ships like the Mary Celeste that were found abandoned
but completely intact, right down to the tables set for diner. The
dining room they just passed through came to mind, and he felt a
shiver run up his spine.
Steve jumped slightly when he heard a sharp intake of
breath next to him but realized it was Heather when she
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