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Chapter 7: Escape Plan

The half-dead ocean liner Poseidon had been moaning in pain after encountering the phenomenon wave that had brought catastrophe. Various fishes obliviously swim around the giant wreck. Even thoughtlessly looking at the lighting windows on the hull. For those inside is like a freak aquarium exhibition with bodies falling to the bottom of the eternal sea. The little shepherd pup is looking through the dark, brass-framed window. His curiosity was too much to see if anybody was coming for their help. With his padded hands resting on the glass felt cold by the touch. Then his father calls and scolds him to stay away from the windows.

Turning around and meets up with the least injured people around. Carolyn and Stephanie have the least nursing experiences back home and school. With the professional assistance of Dr. Daxner, everything will be in order. Unfortunately, Dr. Daxner's real nurses are out of touch from the sick bay on deck 1. Using napkins and tablecloths as bandages for the ones who are bleeding little. But there's nothing they can do for the critical injured. They suffered horrible bone fractures, from legs to arms and even paralyzed by traumatic shock. The little pup curiously looks at Sylvester rummaging on a likely dead antler-man with a broken horn and the other with some red tissues and drips.

"What are you doing, Mr. Rycroft?" Sasha said.

"Just looking." The tiger-man replied. He found a multi-tool kit from one of the pockets. Sylvester has one but he didn't bring it along for the trip.

"Are you stealing?"

"More like borrowing it." He stated and popped a small knife from the multi-tool.

Jett Rycroft walked back to his father, "Dad, I've found a small flashlight from that dead guy on the skylight."

"Nice one, son."

"So, Dad, why are we gathering these survival kit stuff?"

"We're getting out of here."

"What?" Jett puzzled.

"But first, Kershaw is going to talk to Officer Snowdon. Let's see if he can cooperate."

Lionel Kershaw could not accept the fact that he has to stay here. His daughter is out there and lost, frightened by all of this. He must do something and fast. As Kershaw finds Snowdon, the bear-man found a black walkie-talkie from the body of Captain Whiteford, covered over with a table cloth. He turns it on, still functioning, speaks to anyone on the other line.

"This is First Officer Snowdon. Can anybody hear me? Over..." Static followed. "Anyone from the bridge... Can you read me? Over." More static. Snowdon kept going but nothing was responding back. "Damn it!"

"We aren't communicated, are we?" Lionel came by.

The bear-man turns to him. "I'm afraid so. Even if there are people still alive, they can't get to us." Snowdon said his poor sincere honesty. "Weren't you traveling with someone?" Snowdon remembered seeing a lioness coming by to her father earlier before midnight.

"My daughter, she's at the nightclub with her boyfriend. Not every cellphone is working in here." The lion-man said. "Listen, we have gotta do something. Rycroft and I are planning to find a way out of this bucket. I think we should convince other people to come or else, the ship will sink."

"I was thinking the same thing. Don't worry, Kershaw, I also have a plan." Snowdon paten the lion's shoulder.

Snowdon picks up the same chair that Mr. Collins used. Putting one foot first before he could be sure it wouldn't break by his whole weight after resting his other foot on the sitting cushion. Standing up quite broadly to almost see the entire set.

"May I have your attention, please!" Snowdon shouted. Kershaw whistles for attention. The human hotel manager stands up in wonder. "This is First Officer Oscar Snowdon speaking and I'm going to be very brave because we don't have a hell of a lot time here... As we know, the ship is capsized." Passengers and crew seem to know about this already, but they don't know what he's going to talk about now. "I know how this looks, but we can get out of here, okay? So, I have a proposal, we must climb level by level until we reach the bottom of the ship which is now out on the surface."

Zoey Maxwell's voice sneaked in, "And then what?"

"When we get out... We hang on...and wait for rescue." He stated.

The murmuring on the crowd weren't seemed to be pleased. "Wait...?" Someone scoffed.

"Listen, staying here won't help... I know about the ship, and I'll help us to get there." Snowdon said.

Killian Maxwell steps up near the bear-man with his wife, "Climb to the bottom? You mean to the hull of the ship?"

"That's right. If we get there, the rescue team will find us sooner."

"If that's the case, how are we going to get through it? That's the part that's all sealed up. It's solid steel!"

"Not to mention, it's completely doubled bottom." Sylvester Rycroft added.

"But we can go to the bow where the tunnel shaft thrusters are!" Sasha Parkinson stepped in.

"What?" Killian confused but glared at him. "Look, pup, this isn't some toy boat you play in your bath tub, so let us think this through, huh?" Doesn't seem like Killian isn't into having any children at some point.

"I'm sorry, sir, but my Dad and I took a tour in the engine room with Chief Engineer Reynolds. He'd shown us the bow thruster room which has a hatch that is only for use when the ship is at dry dock for an easy access for the maintenance mechanics and technicians staff. It could be our only ticket way out of here."

"And that's where we're going." Snowdon said nonchalantly, but with a small smirk.

"Have you lost your mind, Snowdon!?" Nicolas Collins interrupts. "Listen to me, everyone, if you all going with him to climb another deck, you all be killed!"

"And sitting our asses isn't gonna help us either!" Snowdon's voice raised. "Nicolas, we're isolated from the outside world. We must reach to them before they get to us. Now let me do..."

Shudder rumbles the room, lights dimming in struggle to keep alight. Following a loud muffling explosion, shaking the ship. The stranded guest startled by surprise and lose their footing from the quake. Snowdon leaps from the chair as it topples. A few noticed the dark-blue windows showing a mass of trillion of bubbles coming from both sides down below them. The rumbling silences away. The stranded guest slowly stands up scared.

Everybody then heard a loud bang, then a metal creak, and noticed the green Christmas tree shaking its ornaments off into the ground. Suddenly the tree dropped an inch downwards; it was security officer Furlong to shout out, "Stand back from the tree!!!!!" Hundreds ran away in panic, hiding under the cantilevered second level above them or running to the other corner. They didn't know where it's going to fall. After one screw loosed, the base of the tree pops out, the tip smashing the golden, five-pointed, crystal star into shreds. The giant green cone topples down in a swift, slamming hard on the ceiling-floor. Millions of decorations were shaken off and shattered to pieces.

Everyone were silenced and emerging from their hiding spots either port or starboard. Looking at the fallen tree like it was taken down by a lumberjack. A child would think the Grinch ruined Christmas and Santa Claus wouldn't come tonight.

"Everybody, stay calm!" Shouted Mr. Collins. "Stay where you are!" The guest settles from the quick scare of the tree. The human manager hasn't finished, turns to Snowdon, "That explosion came from the engine room, Snowdon. If you have any brighter ideas to get up there. We would all be dead."

"That came right below us, Nicolas!" Snowdon barked. "And sooner or later, we're next."

"Taking a tour around the ship doesn't give you that much of an authority to take charge."

"And you're expecting the captain to save us?" Sylvester interrupted. "Snowdon here is possibly the only officer left with the highest rank alive here." A few people murmured as agreement.

"Do you even realize how insane that is to climb out through the bottom?" He turns to everyone, "The bear is suicidal!? And is taking the rest of us with you."

Portia stepped in, "I'm with him! If he says that is dangerous to wander around and that it would kill us," turns to Snowdon, "why aren't you by his side?"

It was Ryder Wolfson to stepped in, "I wouldn't put faith on Mr. Collins here, ma'am. You see, I'm an architect; these ships weren't designed to stay afloat upside down."

"Enough to with your theories, wolf! The best thing to do is to stay here and wait for help." Collins stated. Several people murmured in agreement.

"Nicolas, this ship is taking on water, and it's sinking. The ocean is gonna fill the entire hull and we'd be soon next, unless we get the hell outta here!" Snowdon barked. He quickly calms, inhale and out, "These people are hurt and frightened... Please don't make it any worse, Nicolas..." After a short beat, Snowdon looks at everyone as he expected, are they willing to follow him? "Now, for those who wants to come with me? I'll be glad to." The white bear-man kicks the chair with his foot, passes through the crowd to the forward side of the ballroom. He then stops at the first barrier insight.

Carolyn and Stephanie came back after finishing the injured and asked her husband, "Sylvester, is he serious?"

Rycroft turns at his wife seriously, "Yeah... Get yourselves ready, we're climbing."

Kershaw and Sylvester follow him behind. Meeting up with him, they both look at what the bear is examining at; it's completely wrecked. All both curved staircases fell along with the middle center balcony structure. All what is left is the main entrance door that leads to the foyer which is locked by a black-and-yellow striped bulkhead door. Entirely blocked and too high up to reach. The bulkhead doors were activated after the impact, securing the entire interior hull of the ship from flooding. Typically, as any ship of today, the ship is designed to stay afloat unless the bulkhead doors are closed to prevent further flooding. But this is a different case...

"Any idea on how to reach up there?" Sylvester asked.

"This is only the beginning." Snowdon replied. His eyes suddenly caught something to his left above, somebody just emerged from a doorway on the now left side near the ballroom's main entrance, all high up above them. "Hey! You there!" He shouted.

After shouting, everyone in the room caught his attention and looking up to see a man in a steward uniform standing up there in the opened doorframe and getting the unexpected attention from down below. His expression is so priceless of so much fright. It was Zoey the cat who identified him, "Mr. Jennings!"

So many people and one remembers his name, "Oh, hi, Mrs. Maxwell! Is everything alright?"

"Jennings, is there anyone with you?" Snowdon asked.

"Yes, Foxley is here with me. He's hurt! He sprained his ankle." Jennings replied.

"Alright, Jennings, listen to me: we're figuring out how to climb up there where you are. Where does exactly that doorway leads to?"

"The pantry and further the kitchen galley, sir."

"Alright. Are there any table cloths there, Jennings?" Rycroft asked.

"Yes, sir, but what for?"

"You just use it to make a rope to climb up there." Rycroft explained.

"No, no, they aren't too strong enough to handle." Kershaw concluded. He turns back where the inverted stage is and the other stranded worried people. And the tree... "We need something like a ladder - the Christmas tree. It's tall enough to reach him."

"Good thinking. I need some help over here!" Snowdon shouted.

The fallen tortured cone tree that crashed from the ceiling lays with the larger bottom facing at the forward side where Jennings and Foxley are. Surrounded with broken ornaments, decorative ribbons still attached around it, and people now taking a good look on the tree on where and how to move it to where the stewards are. Snowdon instructs the volunteers to grab a side but mostly the thicker lower side which is the heaviest. Sylvester, Lionel, Ryder, Ricardo, Jett, Joshua, Killian (who convinced his wife to come) and few others who volunteered to help. Snowdon lastly holds of the bottom base of the tree on his shoulder on standby.

"Anytime when you're ready, Snowdon." Kershaw said.

"Everybody ready?" Snowdon shouted, "One, two, three!"

The group grunts heavily as they lift the giant green cone together. "Holy fuck! It's heavy!" Jett grunted. Lifting it by just a few inches or still dragging on the floor, they still are managing to move the tree forward. A few ornaments were shaken off and shattered upon the floor. The stranded guests watch tentative as if this will it succeed. Reaching close to where they wanted, Snowdon orders to stop. They can now lower the tree down and Jett can finally take a breath. He never lifted anything that heavy in his life.

"If I only have a long rope, I can tie the tip and lift it towards me." Jennings said.

"That's a good method, Jennings, but we have enough strength to lift the tree up." Snowdon stated. "Make sure to secure the top when it reaches you, understood?"

"I have an idea for that, sir. Ready when you are."

Snowdon turns to his volunteers, "Let's lift this tree up."

The party moves on the slimmer upper part of the tree which is the lightest. Together counting to three and lift it up. The tip, with a missing star, rises from the ground. The guys puff in and out, grunting, shouting, and giving every strength, they got. Almost to 90 degrees with nothing to keep it standing on balance, the men and/or beastmen surrounds and secures the bottom to keep the tip steady as if reviving the tree back to its christmas spirit and glory. Jennings now have a clear sight of the standing tree, ready for landing. Snowdon orders to push slowly and aim at the upturned doorway. Jennings rest on his knees with one hand holding onto the door frame and the other extending out to reach the starless tip. It was getting closer, closer...

"I almost got it!" Jennings said. "Gotcha!" The tip on his hand, bigger than he had anticipated, now securely rest a little inside the doorway firmly.

The party below him were relievedly satisfied. The tree, resting at a forty-five-degree angle, is now a makeshift ladder of hope. Snowdon gazes his first achievement with proudness. "Great work!" He said. "Now then, we need to test this."

"I wanna try it!" Sasha stepped in with a raised hand.

"Sasha, wait..." His father tried to stop him but he already met up with Snowdon.

"Come on, Dad, you let me go on the rock climbing wall with no problems." Sasha stated.

"He looks ready to go, sir, let him give a try." Snowdon said. He knelt to Sasha and instructed him, "Alright, pup, go as far you can go, climb out and Mr. Jennings here will give you hand, got it?" Sasha nodded and went inside the tree, he took the first step on the metal branch and use all fours like he did on the rock climbing wall on the lido deck. The others watch as little Sasha escalates three decks from deck 6 to deck 4. Jennings waits for him with a lending hand out to reach him. Sasha emerges from the fake leafs and branches and took Jennings' hand and stepped safely inside the doorway. The party below were relived that he made it, especially Joshua.

"It's a cinch!" He called out to everyone. "Come on!"

"That's great, son!" His father said. "Stay up there with the steward. Now, where are we going first through?" The shepherd asked.

"Through the kitchen galley, and further up through several decks to the engine room bow. That way!" Snowdon replied, pointing at the doorway.

"And find that said hatch and we swim ashore, huh?" Parkinson made up his mind when the tree was in place. His first priority is his only son. His mind is full of mixes about the situation they are in. His wife Claire all faraway in Hilo with little of information. A part of him tells he's glad that she's not onboard, but Sasha... If she finds out that Poseidon is missing and sunk somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, the consequences can be dire and tragic. Joshua will do everything not to destroy everything he loves the most, and are these two canids. Joshua climbs the tree to meet up with Sasha and the two stewards there and show a good example for everyone to follow along.

On the ground, Carolyn the tigress borrowed Sylvester's multi-tool he had found and teared her long gown dress just above her knees, showing her really bared legged with stripes. She took both of her high-heeled shoes and snapped the points for a better, comfortable surface for the heels to rest. Carolyn turned to her daughter, "Stephanie, break the heels of your shoes. You no longer need them."

"Do what your mother says." Sylvester filled in, "We don't want a broken ankle."

"Okay, Mom. But, Dad, are we really going with Mr. Snowdon?" Stephanie said.

"Isn't this a little extreme?" Jett said. "How do we know if..." Sylvester and Carolyn stepped closer to their young doubtful children.

"Listen what I'm about to say." He started, "I'm taking the chances here, and my first priority is my family. Have you two forgotten that I'm from the Navy and they've trained me for a reason. I want you both to be strong." He turns to Jett, "I don't want you to be the hero, don't do anything stupid."

"No kidding, Dad. Loud and clear." Jett agreed.

Carolyn said, "We're in this together. Let's not keep each other apart from one another." Both teenaged tiger nodded and Stephanie holds Jett's hand.

"Mom... Dad... I don't know if we are gonna make it." Stephanie's hold tightens. "I'm scared."

"Steph, you jumped down on the curtain like would a cheerleader do. That was brave of you." Jett assured.

"Exactly," Rycroft said, "look at Sasha, he's fighting his fear right now and we better keep our spirits up." The two young tigers nodded and each hugged their beloved parents together. "We're so proud of you both." Sylvester whispered them.

Zoey the cat witnessed the small feline family reunion, her heart fluttered. "Killian, do you think we could be like that one day?"

"One day for sure." Killian said. "Now, that goes the same for us."

"Pardon?"

"What is the first thing about our marriage? To lookout for each other, of course." He stated.

"Oh, Killian..."

Joshua made it to the top, meets up with his son and the two stewards. Snowdon turns around and sights the next climber. Saw Jett and Stephanie ready to go before his parents went behind them. The Maxwells then followed up.

"Alright, feel free to go. But, I'm afraid you got to take that long gown." Snowdon said.

"Excused me!?" Killian's eyes widen.

"She can't climb with that."

"But she's not wearing anything under it!?" He wildly gestures, but mostly her slim torso to which Snowdon couldn't believe it.

But Zoey clarified, "Just panties. I just simply cut it over to my knees." She retracted one of her fingernail claws and shreds where she needed but...

...a heavy tear slashes all over Zoey's silver dress. "Aaaahhh!!!" She covers her breasts with both arms. Killian covers hers from view, especially from Snowdon. "I forgot I was wearing a copy!" Zoey cried.

The two felines went to a corner from anyone from seeing her, but others are too concerned than just some mishap. Killian has more layers of clothes than what women usually wears for evenings. He will just give her his white button shirt while he still has a white under shirt.

Jett and Stephanie climbed up to meet with Sasha and Joshua while Carolyn and later Sylvester followed them behind. Kershaw waited his turn and get this group going ahead. He badly wants to find his daughter as soon as possible. Sylvester reached the tip and hopped through the doorway, Kershaw took his footing and holding and escalate to and meet with the others. Finally, Killian came back just in his white undershirt and black trousers while his wife Zoey is wearing her husband's white button shirt and his black jacket hugging her around her waist as skirt, it covered all her body with some dignity. Just only her gray-furred legs in bared and her broken heeled shoes. Zoey went first after the lion-man climbed up while Killian follow her later.

Snowdon turns back with the rest of everyone who seemed to keep distance away from the tree of hope. The smell of doubts is showing in everyone's faces with fear. Ricardo Marrero tapped Snowdon's shoulder and spoke, "Excuse me, sir. When we're at it, how are we gonna convince other people to come?"

"Let's just hope they are going. The more, the merrier." The snow bear said. "Why not you go and gather some." With that, Rico left from the tree and find other people to come. Not the most social person, but this is a life-and-death situation. He started with Ryder and Kale. Just to be sure.

"Hey, Ryder. Kale... You guys are coming, right?" He asked.

"That's what I'm trying to do, but Kale..."

"I don't think is safe to climb up there. I mean, the whole ship." Kale excused.

"You're kidding, right?" Rico snapped.

"Kale, please... I'm not leaving you here." The wolf-man said.

Rico could not accept this, his closest friends who convinced him to come to this party gala for New Year's Eve and now he's going to convince them back. "You know, I don't know how many people I've booked on this ship as a travel agent, but you guys are the only ones that I'm terrified to be aware of. If I actually escaped safely off this giant tub, I'm going to live for the rest of my life in regret about you two for not coming along and think about what if I've never booked you both on this floating death trap that you call vacation. I'm not going to be glad that my ex-girlfriend Clara and my little cousin Tiago didn't got onboard in the first place because of some unfortunate events. For the love of God, Kale, come with us!" Rico's voice shakes right at the end of his sentence, almost crying. "I've put you both on this mess, and I'm feeling guilty here..."

"Come on, Kale, we went through some tough times in our past and made it because we were holding each other's back, right?" Ryder holds Kale's hands, the human in his early thirties with a young minded personality. "Please, Kale..." The gray wolf-man is not giving up on him. Not today nor ever.

Kale sighed and glanced at the underwater darkness through those windows. The remains of his grandfather in an urn that he released some of his ashes into the sea of freedom, now, with some remaining left inside that urn, he's now in his flooded cabin down below them. "Alright, I'll come with you." He released. Wolfson smiled with hope, he holds his hand and escort him to the tree. "Marrero, aren't you coming?" Kale asked.

"I'll be right back, I'm gonna gather some more people to come along." Rico stated. Walking towards the majority who are seen too quiet or heavily in doubt. Rico feared facing against the hotel manager in person, he's standing ten feet away from him. Rico spoke to the crowd, walking by every individual close to him to convince them at any cost. "People, please! Follow me. There's very little time. Please, you heard what the First Officer said. He's taking us up towards the bow. So, please, this way."

"Mr. Marrero," Mr. Collins interrupted coldly, "we are staying right here."

"Can't you see the logic, Collins!?" Rico shouted him. "The ship is sinking!"

"Will you shut up! You're scaring everybody here!" The human officer hissed him.

"What kind of officer are you?" Rico cannot believe what he's saying, "A coward to your own crewmen?"

Collins ignored him. Portia breaks the silence, "Mind your own business, spic, you're not gonna convince any of us to get ourselves killed."

But someone stepped out of the crowd. The Rottweiler dog-man barked, "Fuck this shit! I'm going!"

"Malcolm! Are you leaving?" Portia Matthews follows him. "We have to stay here. That bipolar bear is suicidal!"

"And I'm willing to leave you here - It's your choice, Portia!" Malcolm stated, in hopes by behaving like this, she will come with mercy.

"Leave me here!?" Portia cried. "No! I'm going! I'm going! Let me come with you!" She whined. Malcolm snickered.

Rico was lost of this unexpected surprised, he didn't know what he did to convince those two. "Anyone?" He hopefully asked.

"I'll come." Rico turned to a brown-furred horse-woman in a blue dress, the ship's singer. She was taller than Rico, even without her high-heeled shoes. She walked to him, all calmed down after the death of Captain Whiteford. "I have two children waiting for me in London, I'm not gonna fail them. They can't live without a mother."

"Sure, right this way." Rico quietly said and gestured her to the tree.

Portia and Malcolm walked to the tree where Snowdon is. Portia said to the bear, "If you get us out of this bucket, I'll write a report about your heroism." After that, she stepped on the tree and climb before Malcolm followed. Rico came back with one more companion.

"Miss Quinlivan, you're coming?" Snowdon said.

"Where else what am I going to go? I want to go back home." Aubrey stated.

Snowdon turned to Rico, "Is this the best you can do?"

"How can I convince to everyone with that stubborn mule hanging around?" Rico points the human manager. "Nobody wants to listen. They seem to have more confidence with the manager than us."

Dr. Daxner the St. Bernard dog-man walked by. "Dr. Daxner?" Snowdon curiously reacted.

"I just came to say good luck to you, my friend. I've never meet a courageous sailor like no other." The old dog-man said. "I cannot leave these people, they need me... I hope you make it out of here."

Snowdon glanced at the crowd, he responded, "I'm not going to give up." He walks towards everyone. Including facing with Collins at all cost. "Can I have your attention, please!" He repeats a little louder, "Can I have your attention, please!" All hundreds of dazed head looked right at him, including Hotel Manager Collins and Security Officer Furlong the Labrador sighting at him. Taking the imaginary spotlight toward the bear. Snowdon first points his finger at the tree which Portia and Malcolm are reaching near the tip. "This is the way out! Your only chance!"

"Nobody listen to him!" Collins roared. "We have to stay here until help arrives!"

"What help? The captain? Our superior officers? I'm afraid they're gone. There's isn't anyone else alive but us! For the love of God, please come with us!"

"And I'm telling all of you to stay here!" The human officer shouted the crowd. He faced at Snowdon, "You're violating the direct orders to your crew, this is mutiny! It's not safe up there, you and your guests will be killed!"

The rest of crowd fired back, shouting at him with attack phrases. "Mr. Collins is right!"

"Who the hell do you think you are!?"

"Mind your own business!"

Snowdon silently gave up. He looks at Daxner and tapped on his shoulder. "Take care, Julian."

"You too, Oscar..." The old dog-man replied.

Oscar went back to the tree silently from the crowd. He knows everyone are scared, including Collins. Lives of everyone are at stake. At this point is now a point of no return. And "up" is the possible answer for the newly formed party. Stopping at the bottom of the tree, looking through the stokes insides, someone is struggling.

"Oh, dear. I'm stuck!" It was Aubrey.

"Come on, it's only a few steps!" Ricardo and Sidney are holding her both hands together. "What's with you?"

"My thighs are stuck between the stokes! Ow! Wait!" The horse-woman felt a firm push under her. "Who's down there! Who dares!?" Another stronger push made Aubrey pop her head out through the plastic green streamers of the tree. "Oh!" She cried.

"Good job, sir!" Jennings said to Snowdon.

"Excused me for being too familiar." He said.

"Oh, it's all right. I'm not like a flying, fairy unicorn." Aubrey commented. She reached the doorway and Snowdon climbed lastly the Christmas tree.

Standing close the door frame, he looks at the miserable sight below him. It was chaotic, dreadful, powerful, and painful to witness. Hundreds not willing to follow him. They all want to stay in a safe place, a safe haven for all of them. Snowdon make his final call, "I'm suggesting all of you for the last time!"

"You don't know what you're doing!" Someone shouted below.

"But I know this much! We're going deeper through the ship until we come to the bow and make it out to safety - this is our only shot! We can make it! If all of you stay here, you're all surely die!"

Somebody shouted back, "We're staying with the manager!"

Snowdon silenced, looking one last time the ballroom full of terrified people. "God help them." He whispered, leaving painfully, not turning back one last glance.

Inside the pantry room, Snowdon looks at his party for the first time. Counting until reaching seventeen followers, plus him, making it eighteen. Carolyn helped Foxley to wrap up the fox-man's ankle with pieces of table cloths. The steward can now stand up, but a little clumsy. Everyone looked at him, either hiding or showing their sorry facial expressions.

"You couldn't convince anyone to come, huh?" Lionel said.

"No, but we are now on our own." Snowdon said. "Let's get going."