The View from Seven Miles Deep

My thirtieth birthday gift from my father, Gregory Power, was spectacular to say the least. A trip to Venice, my lifelong dream, and an even bigger promised surprise, so he says.

I grew up flying often with him on his private jet. Our destination was usually his world-famous Estancia Fuerza in Argentina. As a young girl I loved the ranch. As a thirty-year-old vegan, I abhorred every aspect of it from the forced pregnancies, stealing the calves from their mother to make veal out of them, to the final betrayal of the horrific slaughterhouse. This longstanding cruelty is so unnecessary because being healthy requires consuming absolutely zero murdered livestock, as I refer to these beautiful creatures, on one’s plate. All of it, along with the health aspects, was exactly why I became vegan. Sentient creatures are gentle creatures; eating them gives them back karma in the form of filled cardiac wards. To this day, my father still doesn’t understand me, but he loves me to a fault.

******

A handsome Venetian man excitedly threw open the doors of the train station and all I could do was gasp. It was like the moment in The Wizard of Oz when everything changed from black and white to the most vibrant colors I’ve ever seen. He giggled and said, “Benvenuti a Venezia, bellezza!”

“Grazi gentile signore!”

The Rialto Bridge was beckoning me to cross over it. I set my sites on it and was quickly on the other side, thus consummating my arrival in Venice. Yeah, this was real. This was spectacular.

My father suspiciously told me not to pack too much since my big surprise would also give me everything I needed for that mysterious gift. So, getting to the water taxi and my luxurious, expensive, and famous Hotel Cipriani was a pleasure. The concierge escorted me to my room, a luxury reserved for the most expensive suite in their hotel. Once again, I stood in awe as he ceremoniously opened the double doors to what might has well have been a princess’s palatial bedroom. After taking me on the tour of my rooms, I tipped him well, shut the door, ran to the bed and started jumping up and down screaming like a three-year-old little girl.

Tempted to take a nap from exhaustion, I resisted, because there was no way I was going to spend one entire night just sleeping in Venice. I freshened up and put on the slinkiest LBD I had packed since it was practically weightless. Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bar, Harry’s, was calling my name, or was it the world-famous Bellini crying out, "Drink Me?" "Curiouser and curiouser," I’m now getting Alice in Wonderland in the mix, ahem, so to speak. Either I, my dress, or both, were a phenomenal hit and before I knew it, I had close to ten Bellini’s in front of me and even more men. Every one of them gave me a key to their room, and at some point, a pinch on my butt. Those keys are going to make a great framed souvenir. The propositions were hitting from all sides, but not landing. My need to pee gave me the opportunity for a quick escape. Thank you, bladder. On my way to the restroom, I passed by a man seated who stared wantonly at every inch of me and threw my weakness at me — the wink. A properly-executed wink on an extremely handsome face is a major erogenous zone for me. In an attempt to coolly impress him, I threw down an equally sexy wink back at him. It was on. Of all the keys I had received tonight, I finally found the only key I actually wanted.

By the time I got inside the restroom, I was shaking, but I managed to pee, pull myself together, and freshen my makeup before I left. Bringing into play my sexiest walk, I approached his table, but he was gone. I couldn’t believe it and just stopped and stared at the table where Mr. Sexy once sat. Then, I couldn’t help but notice a big envelope on the table with my name, Daysha, written in big cursive lettering and he even spelled it correctly! That seemed quite impossible, but I picked up the envelope and opened it. Inside, my wish had come true. I had the key to his room.

Debating whether or not to use the key didn’t really take very long. I mean, his room was fairly close to mine, so why not? Standing in front of his door, I couldn’t decide whether to knock or just barge in. After all, he gave me his key. I’m pretty sure he wants me to barge, so I did. He wasn’t there… at least, not in the sitting area, anyway.

“In the bedroom, now, Daysha!”

Okay, Daysha, you need to stop this and leave is what I should have done, I thought, while following his orders.

“I’m here, but I have a few questions before anything happens. You know, like what’s your name and how do you know my name?”

Without saying a word and no hesitation whatsoever, he planted the hottest kiss I’d ever experienced. Game over.

Spending the next five days in Venice with a hot Italian named Victor was unexpected, but well worth it in many ways. He had lived there all his life and, as he explained, was an architectural engineer trying to save Venice from sinking into the Mediterranean Sea. I was impressed and wished I could stay in Venice longer, but at dinner tonight, my father called with my promised second 30th big birthday surprise present.

“It’s a what? Dad, did I hear that correctly? I’m going where… in five minutes? That doesn’t even give me time to get my belongings from the hotel!”

“Don’t worry, Princess! That’s why I told you to pack lightly. The concierge has agreed to send them back to your house in Los Angeles. He is a great friend of mine and Hotel Cipriani is long-time loyal customer of Estancia Fuerza’s beef.

Victor didn’t look surprised, which surprised me. “Here’s another surprise, Daysha, I’m going with you!”

“What? So, you’ve known this all along? Do you know my father?”

“Well, let’s just say we’re associates.”

“How? He has nothing to do with keeping Venice from sinking.”

“C’mon, Daze, there are more ways to know people than by their occupations. Let’s get out of here. We’ve got a train and a plane to catch.”

“To where? Dad just mentioned an around-the-world cruise to me. Where does it start?”

“We’re starting out in Hong Kong. It’s a very long trip, but we’re flying in your father’s private jet. He stocked it with everything you and I will need, including the bed. So, stop worrying and enjoy it. Life’s too short to worry so much.”

*******

Hong Kong harbor had docked the largest cruise ship ever built and Victor and I were on her maiden voyage. Looking up at it from the pier was terrifying because of the massive size. They had named her Amphitrite meaning, as Victor explained, The Goddess of the Sea, who was the wife of Poseidon according to Greek legend.

We were in the First-Class section and when we got to our cabin, opulent doesn’t even begin to describe my home for a cruise around the world.

“Victor, this is this most posh place I’ve been to in my life. How about you?”

“Daze, do you know from where the word ‘posh’ came?”

“Of course I do. Posh Spice made it up, right?”

“Yeah, right. Stop giggling, Daze. Traditionally, cruise ships dock port-side out, starboard side home, or the acronym known as posh. You just grew a few brain cells. Happy birthday and you’re welcome!”

“No! You’re joking right? That’s so cool!”

By this time, I was looking at and touching everything in the room thoroughly enjoying all the poshness. The strawberries, chocolate, and champagne were intoxicating. The view from our cabin balcony was otherworldly and took my breath away. Suddenly, an announcement was heard from the captain. It was an invitation to assemble at the port rail to watch the maiden voyage of the Amphitrite before it departed the pier. The ceremony was unforgettable, especially since we were standing on the 25th deck, which was the very top of this colossal cruise ship, looking down at the pier. My acrophobia was definitely kicking in.

The sun is now low on the horizon and the sea is calm. I can taste the salt in the breeze as I leaned hard against the rail twenty-five stories up because Victor was kissing me and pushing himself even harder up against me. I pulled away from this fantastic kiss because something felt weird.

“Victor, is it normal to be going this fast right now?”

“Yes, Daze. We’re just picking up speed quickly as we clear the channel. Remember, stop worrying.”

“Is this really happening, Victor? Am I really going around the world on the most expensive vessel to sail the open seas, free of charge? Luckily, we’re outside on our private balcony so no one can hear me laugh and scream at the top of my lungs. I know you want to scream, too. Let’s see who who can scream the loudest.”

“Ohhh, easy challenge, Daze. I got this one. Let’s do this!”

After laughing so much, partly from joy, but mostly from too much champagne, I finally knew it was real. Hearing the sound of the bow cutting the waves and feeling the slight rock as we leave land behind were feelings I never want to forget. Everything is exactly as I imagined it thousands of times before. The only thing that I am not prepared for is this feeling of acceleration. I had no idea cruise ships left port this quickly. We are really rocking now and the sea breeze is becoming a cold wind.

Victor and I were so tired, we went back inside and just crashed until almost noon the next day. We woke up starving and ordered way too much of everything from room service. While waiting for our smorgasbord to arrive, Victor and I decided to leave our cabin for a stroll on the deck.

“Wow, Victor! Where is everybody? Maybe they’re still sleeping in like we did?”

“Maybe,” Victor said cryptically.

*******

“Hello, room service? It’s Victor on the First-Class deck. Where’s our food we ordered over an hour ago?”

“Sorry, sir. Too many people were sick today. Please try one of the restaurants. No room service today.”

“Sick? What do you mean, sick?”

“I don’t know sir. I can’t even find them to ask. The last I heard, they were going to sick bay. I’m not feeling well myself.”

“What’s wrong Victor? Where’s our food? I’m so hungry!”

“I don’t know. He told me there’s no room service today. That’s strange. I’m going to investigate.”

Victor showered, grabbed a bag of chips from the hospitality bar and pulled out a gun to check it. I gasped when I saw the gun.

“How did you get a gun on the ship?”

“Daze, I never go anywhere without it.”

He walked out and my mouth was still wide open. I pulled out all the food I could find from the bar and tried to eat only the healthy stuff. Still exhausted, I decided to go back to sleep until Victor came back.

It was dark when I woke up. Victor wasn’t in the room. Something was very wrong. I decided to clean up fast, get dressed and go try to find Victor.

I also tried calling my father, but my cell phone was either not working or maybe there were issues with the ship’s Wi-Fi. I was getting scared, now. Something is not right when the largest cruise ship ever built now feels like a ghost town. Everything is so quiet and dead right now compared to yesterday when every moment was a breathtaking view and fulfilled more fantasies from my dreams. Cautiously opening the cabin door, I had only enough courage to peak outside surveying the hallway hoping to see some normalcy or a person to tell me everything was okay. There was no such person. Panic was welling up inside me. Frantically running as fast as I could to the elevator, I uncontrollably mashed the 'Main Deck' button with desperate stabs to go locate the captain or anybody to help me. Before the elevator door fully opened on the Main Deck, I heard screaming and what sounded like people vomiting. The door opened to hellish havoc. What appeared to be doctors were suited up in full hazmat gear and stretchers were haphazardly strewn around the deck. Someone started giving instructions on the Main Deck's information screen. It sounded like Victor. I looked up and it was Victor! As I continued to listen to him, I became further bewildered. Suddenly, he said “Daysha.” He was talking to me! Why? I missed what he said to me. Screaming at the screen, "What did you say, Victor? I missed everything you said because I was shocked it was you."

*******

"Daysha, sit down. This is going to be brutal to hear. Your father is in Washington, D.C. accepting his new appointment at Health and Human Services. He will be in charge of streamlining, in other words, ending pandemic research. Also, I'm not an architect. I run a research foundation that studies viruses that cause pandemics. He shut us down. Now, you, his only daughter will become a victim of this pandemic you are witnessing right now. We took over this ship and are live streaming this event. Within twenty-four hours this magnificent cruise ship and all the unfortunate passengers and crew will be dead, one way or another. This pandemic strain is deadly within hours of exposure. In order to make our point about how important research and taking pandemics seriously is, we are prepared to, as they say, go down with the ship. At this moment, we are approaching the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean about 200 kilometers east of the Mariana Islands. It is the deepest ocean trench on Earth being a heart-stopping seven-miles deep. In order to contain this pandemic to this ship, that is our destination now and that is where our graves will be. So, I have a message for your murderous father: 'Daddy, do we have your attention now?' You killed your beloved daughter."

"Victor, you are killing me and everybody else on this ship. Why did you do this? I hate you. I don't want to die. You go down with the ship. Get me the fuck off of this nightmare ship, right now!”

"It's impossible, Daze. The Amphitrite, like her husband, Poseidon, is destined to live at the bottom of the ocean. Truth is, either all of us this ship die, or everybody on Earth dies. There simply is no choice. You're already infected. Putting you back into civilization would mean the entire population of Earth would perish, especially without any research or even acknowledging that another pandemic is possible, like the policies your father will be implementing. You were right about him and his cruelty to animals. Now, he's graduated to humans. Shame on his wretched, unqualified ass!"

*******

"Will you please come out of wherever you are and be with me when it happens? I'm terrified. I know I'm being selfish, but my around-the-world cruise has turned into Titanic 2.0."

"Daze, of course I will be there with you. This sacrifice puts the plight of the underprivileged into perspective. Usually during pandemics or other tragedies, the impoverished are always the ultimate sacrifice. They are carelessly tossed aside without any insurance or readily-available millions to get the best medical care. Some will obviously hate us and believe we are self-serving, left-wing radicals just trying to make ourselves famous. It's more likely, they'll claim it was all a hoax we pulled to try to discredit our current derelict President and his cult following. They'll never even acknowledge we sank in the Mariana Trench."

"When does it happen? How long do we have? Is there any other strategy you can try to make your point? I've been trying to call my Dad and I can't get through. Is there something wrong with the ship's Wi-Fi or my phone?"

"Don't bother trying to call your father. I'm pretty sure you've been blocked by the current administration because they know you're not on their side. Narcissistic wannabe kings, like we have now, only honor loyalty. As far as how long until we get to the Mariana Trench, that will be in approximately eighteen hours."

"I used to love him so much, Victor. I thought he loved me, too."

"He does love you. Daze. He just loves power more."

*******

From all appearances, not many people would go down with the ship. They were already down. This pandemic was so deadly, passengers were literally dropping dead all around us. Doctors who weren’t already too sick themselves, could only provide palliative care and wait.

Daysha was getting feverish and I spiked her last drink with ten milligrams of Valium, to keep her as calm as possible, as we approached the darkness of the Mariana Trench. We were both holding on to each other tightly and crying in our First-Class luxury cabin about to die.

"We're almost there, Daze. You will never know it happened, I promise. I love you."

*******

The rumble from the first explosive charge was low and subtle. As the Amphitrite felt her death near, the First-Class cabin broke apart, along with Daysha and Victor. Victor was right. Daysha never knew it happened. The final explosion destroyed any resemblance to the engineering marvel that was the Amphitrite. Her remnants dispersed with the swells, and the final descent of the keel took its seven-mile journey to rest forever on the bottom of the Mariana Trench.