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he mammoth cruise ship was listing sharply, and the suddenly sloping deck was filled with passengers screaming and crying in terror.
On a booming public address system, the captain announced that their lifeboats could not accommodate the entire ship so many lifebelts were also being issued.
Most of the passengers took them eagerly, quickly strapping themselves into the devices that would float them safely on the Sea of Covid.
Other passengers scoffed at the whole spectacle, said it was a fake and a hoax, roundly cursed the captain and crew as incompetent fools. Did not accept any lifebelts, proudly holding themselves apart from the main crowd.
Said a television doctor had broadcast warnings about the lifebelts, which he said were unsafe because the cloth lining was toxic and could cause a painful rash for wearers.
Besides, they said, they had a God-given right not to wear the ugly lifebelts, which might wrinkle their stylish clothing, much of it muted plaids and pastels.
Then the deck became almost vertical as the ship nearly lay on its side, and everyone fell into the water.
Many of the anti-belt people drowned instantly, some dragged others down with them, and they all perished together.
But the bulk of them mobbed the lifeboats in sheer panic and climbed aboard until the weight of their massive numbers caused the overloaded vessels to quickly sink.
Now freed of the weight of its passengers and lifeboats, the huge ship slowly righted itself and sailed away into history.
Meanwhile those secure in their lifebelts bobbed merrily along in the water, soon heartened by a motorboat with loudspeakers that told them boosters would soon be arriving for each one, increasing the flotation power of their life-saving belts until a mass rescue could be arranged by the authorities.
Wally Avett first wrote for the Cherokee Scout as editor in 1969. His books are available as signed copies at the Scout office in Murphy. Call him at 837-5531 or email wallyavett@gmail.com.