Dragon Raja

54 - When The Whales Sing

Sometimes, Johann wished for the cold confines of death's embrace. To exist on the bridge between life and death waiting for time to finally take him.

Due punishment for his actions, he believed.

Yet here he stood in a white dress shirt and black slacks with his hair nicely done for a change. He looked like a well-off vacationer while he stood in the hall of a luxury cruise ship, facing the mirror to fix his black bowtie. To the unknowing eye, he looked like a guest, but it was far from the truth—he was disguised as a waiter.

In comparison to the actual guests on the ship, they dressed to the nines—as if all the money they had to spend on were luxury brands, fox-fur coats, and expensive diamonds to put on their fingers.

Smoke filled the confined halls as men and the women on their arms smoked cigars and gossiped about the rumors aboard the ship. One thing Johann knew for certain, was that people with too much money had too much time to talk.

"Did you know?" one of the women whispered to her friends, "There are 56 deluxe rooms, but only 55 can be rented to the public,"

This, Johann was already aware of.

"Oh yes, I heard the entire top level of the ship is restricted purely for the most important passenger,"

And Johann could only assume that the top floor of the Yamal would be where he would find Maria of the Stars.

There were 11 floors of cabins on the Yamal. Only six of those floors were above deck where the sun could shine through the windows. Aboard the Yamal was a grand main room where parties and gatherings would take place, a breakfast and a dinner hall, and on the deck was a helipad for guests to arrive or depart.

Though, with all the grand activities, booze, and music, Johann was sure that no one was set on leaving.

He had been positioned as a waiter on the Yamal to gather intel before making his move to come into contact with Maria of the Stars. Over the past three days since his arrival, he'd already made acquaintances with the captain of the Yamal, Sasha Rybalko.

Johann caught a glimpse of him in the mirror, gesturing him over to the door that led out to the deck. Despite the frigid winter weather, Johann was not uncomfortable with the cold.

He followed Sasha's gesture and followed the captain of the ship outside, who was already leaning over the side of the ship with a distant look in his sharp brown eyes.

A tall, middle-aged man with hollow cheeks, a thin brown mustache, and matching hair swooped back with gel that smelled expensive.

His line of sight was focused on the whales in the distance. Johann followed his gaze and marveled at the sight. It was something he'd never get used to, their dance and their song.

"Do you get tired of it?" Sasha asked him, "I've found that watching the whales has become a good way to pass time with you,"

Johann nodded and hummed in agreement. He stood firm beside the captain, his face expressionless. "I don't think I'd ever get tired of it," he answered shortly, "it's a good sight,"

Sasha laughed and his tone was deep and joking, "Don't get sentimental with me though, not until we've become good friends,"

He nodded again, and Johann did not reply after that.

The two of them stood in silence upon the orange sun setting on the horizon as the whales danced and the ocean was filled with their songs. Even when Sasha had dismissed Johann as a mere waiter and acquaintance rather than a friend, their current circumstance made it seem quite the opposite. To be able to stand in silence and find it comforting was something Johann believed only friends could do.