Page 38 of The Cruise

She began to gently apply the sticky brown gunk to Dicky’s skin.

‘Bloody hell, that hurts!’ he cried out, his eyes wide. ‘What on earth have you done to me?’ Dicky leapt from his chair and began to pace the room as the cream burned through layers of fiery skin.

‘Man up,’ Melissa barked. ‘If you give it a moment it will calm down.’

And, as good as her word, Dicky felt the heat reduce as the cream cooled his sunburn within minutes.

‘You can wash it off now, and take a couple of these.’ She opened a little box and pulled out two orange tablets. ‘They’ll stop your headache and any sunstroke symptoms,andthey’ll perk you up.’

Twenty minutes later, Dicky was ready for action. Dressed in his stage outfit, with minimum makeup, he felt on top of the world. ‘Melissa, darlin’, you are a wonder, and I owe you one,’ he said and hugged her.

‘Watch out … you’ll ruin my hair.’ Melissa darted away and reached out to secure her blonde wig. ‘And you owe me plenty,’ she said.

‘Break a leg!’ Dicky called out as he left the dressing room, shoulders back, head held high, to make his way to the Mermaid Theatre.

But the unsuspecting Dicky had, at that moment, no idea that Melissa’s magical medication would create additional symptoms that were about to make themselves known.

* * *

Kath had enjoyed her meal in the Terrace Restaurant and found a place in the Mermaid Theatre after an after-dinner peppermint tea. She joined Harold, Nancy, Bridgette, the Captain, and Selwyn at a table close to the stage.

‘Where are your friends tonight?’ Harold asked as he settled with Nancy and ordered their drinks.

‘Anne had a hectic day but spent too much time in the sun,’ Kath replied and thought about Anne’s naked body, burning up and lying prone on her bed, covered in calamine lotion. As Kath crept out of Hibiscus, her friend appeared mummified, and Kath heard Anne groan that she’d never, ever go in the sun again.

‘Is Jane all right?’ Selwyn asked, his face showing concern.

‘Perfectly,’ Kath snapped, ‘just tired from traipsing around Kingstown.’

She wanted to tell Selwyn that she thought he’d been most irresponsible and had taken Jane down a path that would only lead to trouble. But as she looked into his dark eyes, sincere in their questioning, she knew she couldn’t be cross with him. After all, he’d got the wayward Jane safely back to the ship, and if Kath was truthful, her friend appeared to have had the time of her life.

‘Should I go and make sure that she’s all right?’ Selwyn asked.

‘I wouldn’t, you won’t get a peep out of her.’

‘Sleeping the sleep of an angel,’ Selwyn sighed.

Kath was about to say that Jane was hardly an angel. In fact, after today’s outing, she seemed to have the devil in her, but Peter was on the stage, and the band had begun to play the theme music fromWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?The curtains drew back, and Peter introduced Dicky, who ran onto the stage to applause.

The comedian appeared to have an extra spring in his step as he took the microphone and asked, ‘Who wants to be a millionaire?’ Dicky cupped his ear and looked at the audience. ‘What’s that?None of you? You’re all millionaires already?’

‘I wish!’ Harold called out.

‘Me too,’ yelled another passenger.

Dicky shook his head. ‘Nothing for me to do tonight then...’ He turned as if to leave the stage. But the audience was eager for Dicky to present the show, and they began to clap and cheer. ‘All right.’ He held up his hand. ‘Is there anyone out there who would like to play theDiamond Starversion of theMillionairegame?’

Like a Mexican wave, hands shot up.

Kath was fascinated. She’d never been to a game show before, but she’d watchedWho Wants to be a Millionaireon television countless times. Quiz shows, like crosswords, were one of her favourite pastimes. Together with Jim, she nearly always got the questions right. She remembered watching a contestant, an army major, who’d been involved in a coughing scandal after he’d won the top prize. Jim had been convinced the major was guilty, and Kath had been inclined to agree.

‘We have a wonderful prize,’ Dicky began, ‘and the lucky winner who answers three questions correctly within ten minutes will get a complimentary treatment in the spa to make them feel like a millionaire.’ Dicky reached into his pocket and produced a piece of paper. ‘The rules are easy,’ he said, ‘the contestant has four multiple-choice answers to each question I read out.’

Kath thought it all seemed straightforward and settled back to enjoy the quiz.

‘Our first contestant has been drawn randomly from the passenger list.’ He looked up. ‘And I hope she’s here tonight.’ Dicky paused, letting the tension build. ‘The lucky lady’s name is...’ There was a drum roll before he announced, ‘Kath Taylor!’

Kath heard a name called out but thought she’d misheard and looked around the room.

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