Embarkation went smoothly for a change and they were looking forward to this cruise for all the usual reasons, plus they had splashed out on a nice balcony for the first time, and were excited at the prospect of being able to relax and take in the scenery with privacy and comfort.
Brent put the bags down and went straight to the balcony to check out the view. There was a magnificent view of the Sydney Opera House. This was going to be great! He called Ellen out to admire the view with him and they could both feel the tension of the work week fade away as they inhaled the fresh air and admired the view. Brent mused that the more expensive and larger balconies were below them two decks and had less privacy as they and the people in the cabins one deck down could look down onto the deluxe balconies. Sometimes down is up he thought to himself.
He awoke early the next morning, just before dawn and couldn't get back to sleep. Oh well, he thought, i'll just go grab a cup of coffee and chill out on the balcony until she wakes up.
He stepped outside and inhaled deeply, enjoying the clean salt air and watched the seagulls wheeling back and forth. As he sat there, mesmerized by the swells rhythmically undulating he became aware of low but angry voices coming from somewhere below. Sounds like a lover's quarrel. He hesitated briefly then thought, what the hell, and peeked over the railing. Below, in the dim light he could just make out what appeared to be a young couple having an argument that was rapidly becoming more heated. Suddenly the woman slapped her partner and he cursed her as his hands flew to her throat. As Brent watched in horror he began to strangle her. His mind raced wildly as he tried to think what to do. He ran to the phone and tried to figure out how to call for help in the darkened stateroom, but couldn't get anyone on the phone. He ran back out to the balcony and looked down and saw the man standing over the body of the woman who lay motionless on the balcony floor.
Oh my god, he thought to himself. Oh my god, what the hell do I do now? He sat down heavily on the bed and Ellen stirred and opened her eyes halfway. "What's up, she mumbled. Why are you up, it's not even light out." He looked at her and something in his face registered in her half-asleep brain and she sat up in bed. He told her what he had just seen.
She looked at him hard and realized this wasn't one of his occasional practical jokes. "You have to report this!" she said. He stood up and went back out to the balcony. He poked his head back in the room and said, "She's gone. He's must have taken the body inside." "Well of course", she said. "We have to call someone. Now!"
He mulled it over. What the hell do you do in a situation like this? He tried to imagine how the the conversation would go. Hello? Look, I know this is a bit awkward, but I just saw a guy two decks down from us murder a woman.
Right. Great. He looked at Ellen and said, "Who do I call?". "I don't know! Security?" He reached for the phone again, then put it down and turned on the light and looked through the directory. He picked up the phone again and dialed. Ellen watched and waited and when he put the phone down she looked at him expectantly.
"They didn't seem to want to believe me", he said, "but they're going check it out. They seem to know which cabin it would be." Ellen looked at him blankly. "And then what?" "I don't know, I guess they'll let us know what happens."
Half an hour later there was a knock at the cabin door. Security. "Sir, we've had a check on the cabin you told us the event happened in. The couple in that cabin are both fine. I've spoken to both of them." Brent couldn't believe his ears. "But, I know what I saw! Are you sure you've got the right cabin? What did they say happened?!" The security guard grinned. "Well, we have to be discreet in these matters, I didn't ask them about an argument, I just made sure they were both there and nothing seemed amiss. I can assure you the lady is fine, sir."
Brent sat down on the bed after security had gone and pondered. Ellen was standing there with her arms folded across her. "Well?", she said. "But...I know what I saw!".
Tony and Sharon were hungry and decided to go to the restaurant for breakfast instead of the buffet. As they waited for the elevator Sharon turned to her husband and said, "What do you suppose all that was about with security? Sort of odd that they just wanted to know if we were ok, why wouldn't we be?" Tony scratched his head. "Don't know. It's a cruise ship thing, I guess. Hey, you think the rehearsal went well this morning? I really want this play to be a winner. I know we're on holiday, but I think we should keep practicing some more." "You're right", Sharon agreed, "Practice makes perfect. We'll try it again after breakfast."
[Things aren't always what they seem. Or as John Lennon once put it, "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see...]
