Read Sunrise in Bali - Across the Pond Trilogy (Book 1) for Free Online Page B

dropped
his head slowly, a slightly confused look on his face, before
disappearing back beneath the surface of the water.

    A
couple of hours later the rest of the group were gathering in the
lobby of the hotel, preparing for the short journey to the ferry.
With the additional two members of the group, a single van was too
small for them and their luggage. Instead, a couple of smaller cars
pulled up to take them to their onward destination.

    Jenny
was keeping her distance from Henry, and was chatting away with Eno
and Miley, hearing a few more chapters of their life stories. Henry
himself seemed pensive and quiet, as if he had reverted back to the
person that started the tour. Jenny also couldn't help but notice
Emily being a little grumpy. She sat there on her own, looking as
though she was nursing a hangover.

    Upon
instruction from Andy, they started getting into the cars. Jenny
jumped in first, issuing Sarah to follow close behind. She could see
Henry step into the car in front with Mark and Todd, Emily gingerly
following suit. Todd and Mark seemed lively as always, their blood
probably still filled with the lingering scent of those toxic
cocktails. Henry, meanwhile, stepped into the front of the car beside
the driver and withdrew his book and pencil, seeming in no mood for
such frivolity.

    After
a shortish ride they reached the ferry terminal, if you could call it
that. Throngs of people all lingered outside on the concrete slabs
onto which the hulking boat was fastened, all looking for spots of
shade under the scorching morning sunshine. The weather had become
more intense over the last day or two, and even the locals were now
seeking respite where they could, hiding under trees and in the
shadows of cars.

    Soon
the main gate to the ferry opened up, and everyone piled on. As far
as Jenny could tell, their group were the only international tourists
among the masses, with the vast majority of tickets taken up by
locals from the two neighboring islands. The group stayed relatively
close together, looking for an appropriate spot on deck where there
was a bit of shade. Andy assured them that it would be cooler once
they got going, but with nowhere to hide indoors they felt somewhat
at the mercy of the elements for now.

    After
a few minutes the boat burst into life, drowning out all other sounds
with a guttural roar that wouldn't abate for the duration of the
journey. According to Andy, this was roughly six hours, something
that none of the 'Bounty' party from the previous evening were happy
to hear. “A six hour journey lying on a scorching piece of metal
isn't the best thing for a hangover,” said Mark sarcastically,
nodding a head to Emily as he did so. “How you doing over there
Em,” he mocked, seeing the state of the girl huddled in whatever
shade she could find.

    Jenny
couldn't help but laugh, something that brought a scathing look from
Emily. She turned, away, still giggling, and set into conversation
with Miley beside her. It wasn't long before the ferry was cruising
across the Lombok Strait, albeit at something of a snails pace. “No
wonder it takes six hours,” exclaimed Mark, once again getting a
few chuckles from his audience.

    The
next few hours went by relatively smoothly. Mark, Henry and Todd
disappeared for most of it, finding a suitable spot elsewhere where
they could stretch out and enjoy the beating sun. Todd seemed intent
on getting a tan, although his skin had yet to develop the protection
of the others, and red seemed more likely to become his color by the
end of the day. Jenny felt more relaxed than she'd expected, dosing
away regularly after her broken sleep the night before, while Sarah
chatted away happily with whoever might listen. Eventually, Jenny
could tell that the incessant ramblings of a 19 year old college girl
were getting a little too much for Eno, so he absented himself and
found a quiet spot for some reading.

    Soon
after they heard some announcements on the tannoy which