A NEW DEATH: Sequel to A New Dawn

by DB Daglish

  As they drew out of sight all the excited chatter stopped. They sailed on quietly, each in their own private thoughts; none more so that Maddy, Dirk and Rosa. They had never witnessed anything so moving and they dared not be the first to speak as a result. Not long after they could see the seaward channel the wind shifted as Tia had predicted and this enabled them to progress a little faster toward their friends.

  “Well done Tia,” Bryce said, the first to speak!

  “For what?”

  “For the wind prediction and the radio thing. You were right to do so. I am sorry!”

  “Don’t sweat it,” she said smiling. “We are all emotional today. You know Bryce, I might be seventeen, but I feel like I have really grown up in the last few months?”

  “Yes, you have all have. That’s what life experience does to you. Now trust me in this you lot…” and he pointed to the two young couples. “The rest of your lives will not get any easier. But I am happy that you are all strong enough. Even you Dirk? You and Rosa have seen as much as these two on this journey. Your part of us now and I expect we will all live back at Sydney with Gail and the others and start again.”

  “If we live!” Dirk said.

  Well. Let’s check. Maddy said I was clear earlier on. Get your shirts off you four and we will have a quick inspection. Rosa was the last to do so, a little embarrassed at being topless before ones she did not know.

  “Get over it Rosa, I’m here to see if we all live, not ogle at you…” and he then deliberately checked the boys while Maddy checked the girls. They gave each other quick glances as they check all their upper bodies. Maddy shook her head.

  “As in not good or nothing?”

  “Nothing,” she said with a smile. “Now you four - go down below and check your lower regions. I want to make sure,” she said as she began to unfasten Bryce’s trousers. Observing that Maddy was not going to wait for anyone, the others went below.

  “Ha ha. That got them going,” she said zippering his pants up.

  “You’re not going to look now?” he asked.

  “Yes, but not while they are looking,” and she pointed toward the Taranaki. They had been watching and now snapped out of whatever state they were in and they too began checking each other. As they did Bryce and Maddy quickly checked each other while standing on deck. He checked her first and then it was his turn.

  “Awesome,” she said.

  “Clean?”

  “Yes, and awesome,” she said again, fondling his testicles and brushing her lips over ‘Bruce’ as she jokingly called her favorite part of him.

  “Hey. Not here, there might be…”and as he said that he saw Ho watching them from the cabin hatch - laughing silently.

  “You two are like a pair of rabbits,” he said as he came back up on deck shaking his head. “Well, we are all free of spots. A bit of chaffing for me with these,” and he pulled on the front of his trousers, “But all good! What about you guys?”

  “Yes, we look good,” Maddy said. Ho just smiled at her. Her words could have meant anything. Bryce now turned toward those on the following yacht. They had gone below two by two for some reason but within a few minutes they gave a thumbs-up sign.

  “Anything…?” he asked, shouting back at them.

  “Not so much as a pimple!” Chris called back with a huge smile on his face.

  “That’s great. Now let’s see how the others are?” he yelled back, and they continued their course, made a little slower now that the tide was coming in against them.

  It took about three hours to sail the distance to the bay where Southern Spirit and the schooner had dropped anchor to wait. But they were nowhere to be seen.

  “Where are they?” Chris wondered aloud. “Maybe up near the channel entrance?” Geo suggested.

  Those on the Gloria were also confused until a whistle from Bryce drew their attention to a dingy pulled up on the beach and three people standing there waving. They continued in far enough so those on the beach could row out to the yachts.

  “Gloria and Willo,” Ho said.

  “And Tyler…I can see his little head there!” Bryce confirmed.

  “Why leave those three here. It would…Ohhh,” Tia said realizing what must have taken place. No one dared voice the thoughts that now filled their heads, and they sat silently, waiting until the dingy reached them.

  “Boy I’m glad you guys saw us,” Willo said as he grabbed the side rails of the Gloria. “I don’t really know where I am.”

  “Where are the yachts?”

  “They have left already, Bryce.”

  “To go where? When are they coming back?”

  There was an awkward silence.

  “When are they coming back?” Bryce asked again.

  “They aren’t!” Gloria finally said. “They dropped us off on the beach and left this morning at first light.”

  “But why not wait for us?” Tia asked.

  “They all have the spots and Lenny even more so. You could see the effects around his eyes Tia. You have to remember we have seen this before. They knew they were all going to die!”

  The Taranaki had now pulled up alongside.

  “They’ve left haven’t they?” Chris asked knowingly.

  Bryce nodded in confirmation. Gloria then repeated what she had told the others.

  “And the Southern Spirit? Were they all showing signs too?”

  “Rita and Ricki weren’t, but being in close quarters with those that have it, they said they expected the worse and were resigned to it. So both vessels have sailed into the southern ocean,” Gloria confirmed.

  “But what if one or both of them doesn’t show signs. Can they come back on their own?” asked Nim.

  “I don’t know mate,” Willo said. “I’m sure they have talked about it. If they show no signs maybe they’ll hang around in sight of land, who knows. They made the decision and said there was no point in us going with them; just to watch them die!”

  “But I thought we’d take over the schooner,” Tia said. “Hadn’t we discussed using that to go back?”

  “And do you really want to enter a boat where people died of what you haven’t caught yet?” Willo warned.

  Tia hadn’t thought that far ahead. Her focus had been on the vessel itself. But a thought jumped into her head.

  “So let’s say Ricki lives and sails back. If we are still here, and he came back to us, would we catch it off him? Is he immune or just lucky?”

  Maddy was the one to sum up the situation.

  “Tia. As harsh as it sounds, the only ones guaranteed of life are us four and possibly you and Ho. The others here might still get lucky, but we can’t even guarantee if we get back home that they won’t catch it there!”

  “So there is no option but to leave, and that’s the last we will ever see of our friends and family?”

  Maddy nodded. She was saddened by the whole scenario that had played out before her in the last two days, but reality would have to bite sometime. “If he came back unharmed, but now carries it, he would be like us, but Bryce might die.”

  “But if we can…”

  “Tia!” Maddy interrupted, taking hold of the young woman’s shoulders and looking her in the eye. “So far what you are hoping for is an unknown. What we do know is that all of us on these two yachts are unaffected, and yes…Bryce might still catch it, with us or in Oz or wherever. Oh, I don’t know…whatever we do…” and she fell silent.

  “Ok,” Chris said. “I’ve heard it all and I say we just stay here till tomorrow morning and we’ll see how we feel then.”

  It seemed a good suggestion and they all relaxed a little, the tension of a difficult decision averted for the time being. A few even went ashore, walking along the shore or fishing off the small jetty.

  As far as the New Haven community were concerned, their friends and family had sailed away already. But Michael had walked the old roads to where the ridgeline tracks began. They followed the hills where they met the sea and the entrance
to the open ocean. Here he sat, watching them below from among the trees, trying to figure out why only two yachts were here and where the other two were. The vessels full of those he knew were missing. He had been able to creep down the overgrown tracks until he could hear their conversation, or at least that of those that were on the jetty. Eventually he was able to glean what had transpired; saddened by his own feelings and the conflict those below him were in.

  Bedding down for the night in the pine trees plantation on the ridge, he made himself a lean-to shelter and covered it with logs, sticks and finally - pine needles. Rolling out a waterproof sheet from his backpack he fell asleep early; waking at first light to check on the yachts below. He could see they were preparing to leave and he quickly ran back up the ridge line and north along the ridge itself.

  With a heavy sadness weighed upon them, Tia led the two vessels out the channel with a light wind behind them. Most had no interest in taking in the amazing beauty of the place and only those at the helm had any semblance of concentration. Maddy, Dirk and Rosa were the only ones taking in the views as they had never been here before, and never would again. Suddenly Tia received an elbow to the ribs.

  “Oww. What?”

  Dirk pointed to the rocks near the entrance.

  Tia shielded her eyes from the morning sun, trying to see clearly. Suddenly she stood up and raced to the front of the yacht. Ho quickly took the helm.

  “Michael……!” she yelled, as she pointed to Ho to take the vessel closer to the rocks.

  He raised his hand in a gesture of farewell; a huge smile on his face for Michael forever saw the positive in things. And as they passed he did something that at first seemed very strange. He straightened his back, stood to attention and with a serious look upon his face – he saluted them all. It took a few seconds to register, but suddenly all those aboard did the same in response and the Taranaki followed suit.

  No words were spoken as both yachts glided by, the only sound being the gentle slapping of the water against the hulls, and the occasionally rustling of the sails. He briefly put a finger to his lips to indicate they should say nothing as they passed, and blowing Tia a kiss, he quickly turned and climbed back up the rocks to the ridge above. Here he stayed while they entered the straight and the rolling swells began to lift and drop the boats in the pattern they were all familiar with.

  None turned back to look for what seemed like a long time, but when they did, the lone figure of a man could still be seen, the sun reflecting off his white shirt. The figure remained there until the distance reduced him to a tiny speck and finally he became indistinguishable. However, Michael remained and watched them, wondering why they had not gone to the west to call by Fallon’s community as well.

  * * *

  As soon as the Gloria and the Taranaki had sailed from view on their way towards New Haven, a meeting was hastily called upon the remaining vessels as they were tied together and at anchor. All those with the sickness were now resigned to it and none more so than Ryan. But a sharp disagreement of plans was in place on deck.

  “But we can’t just go Ryan! They won’t know where we are…they won’t be able to catch up with us!”

  “Why should they Janie. None of them show signs if it yet. If they are clean, let’s leave them to give them a better chance,” he replied.

  “But we can’t just sail into the southern ocean to die?”

  “Why not?”

  “Because neither Ricki nor Faith show any signs of the sickness as yet. If we got too far down and they lived, could two people bring a yacht back on their own?”

  “Of course we could!” Ricki interjected.

  “From the southern ocean?” Janie exclaimed. “Have you any idea how bad it can get down there?”

  “Not really?” he admitted. “But what do we do - just drift around doing nothing?”

  Harry suggested a compromise.

  “Look, how about this suggestion. If Ricki and Faith shows signs by the Chatham Islands we’ll keep going, and maybe the cold will put us in a state of hypothermia before we die. But if they are unaffected by then, I suggest we leave them there or give them the Southern Spirit so they can come back.”

  “Why not give us the schooner?” Faith asked.

  “Because it’s too big for two people,” Lenny supposed.

  “Really? Most of the sail across here only had three on deck at one time and the third was just steering, and that can be locked!”

  “What do you mean locked?” asked Ryan.

  “It’s our boat Ryan; we had it at Lord Howe for a long time. Those short ropes down there allow you to fix the wheel in more or less one position. That means we could steer and hoist and lower sails with two easily.”

  “Ok, now I understand, but it’s all academic while you two show no signs of it,” Ryan said. “Now I suggest we leave the other guys and do what we said we’d do. How about we leave now and out on the ocean Lenny and Janie can swap with Karen and Ricki. That way they will only be exposed to two people and Karen and I can sleep at the rear or on deck. And you two, being so far unaffected, can sleep together at the front and hopefully stay that way?”

  Ricki nodded and looked toward Faith. “Well, what do you think? Do you want to sleep with me?”

  There was a brief silence and a few embarrassed looks.

  “What? I‘m just trying to lighten the mood,” he said with a grin.

  She snorted at him in a dismissive way. “Ha, you’re not my type anyway!” as she turned at winked at Karen.

  Ricki noticed Karen give a brief and grim looking smile and he guessed what Faith had done. But he pulled her aside.

  “It was all to lighten the mood,” he said.

  “I know. It was just the realization of being separated from my beau. We’ve been subconsciously disconnecting for a while already, and I’m finding it hard to reconcile.”

  “I don’t mind if I get it,” he said as he tried to kiss her, but she turned away.

  “Sorry my love. Not because I don’t want to, but I’d rather have you alive if that is possible!”

  “I know. But I don’t mind!”

  “But I do, so you do all you can to make it…ok?”

  He nodded. At the age of fifty five, he didn’t really care if he lived or not. But he’d do anything for Karen and if that was her wish, he’d fight heaven and earth to see it done. That’s just the sort of man he was.

  Within an hour they were sailing out towards the sea and once beyond the headland they pointed east and out into the southern ocean toward Mairangi, the largest of the islands out to the east.

  * * *

  Into the large circular harbor of the old capital city, the Taranaki and the Gloria sailed, being careful to avoid the sharp reef to the left of the entrance. For they had come here across the straight to see if their friends had come into the harbor; either to rest or to hide. But Wellington was silent and empty and they spent a day checking the four or five marinas around the harbor before giving up their search.

  “So, it appears they have headed south after all,” Chris said with a huge sigh. “Ricki and Faith must have it too.”

  “Why do you say that?” Gloria asked.

  “Because they’d have left them at the beach with you guys!”

  “You haven’t been listening Chris,” she said. “If they are infected being in close proximity with those that at are, we would be immune to them. But if they had been left with us and were with us now in these cramped conditions…and you are clean and they are yet to show signs…”

  “Ok, sorry!” he interrupted. “I get it now. I wasn’t thinking… But!” and he raised his finger as if to reveal something, “Cramped conditions!”

  “Yes,” said Gloria. “This yacht is built for six I see. But we are seven and have a child. Not to mention the discomfort…but cramped conditions are not good for health if you get my drift…”

  “Yes I do Gloria, and thanks for pointing that out.”

  He now gave instructi
on to Samantha at the helm to steer toward the Gloria and as she did, he put his hands to his mouth and shouted to them. As they looked back they tacked to slow themselves, allowing the two vessels to be in touching distance.

  “We need to find a bigger boat for us Bryce,” he said as he pointed to the crowd on deck.

  “We were just discussing that,” Tia confirmed. “There was a really nice looking ketch back at the last marina, about sixty five footer. Should we go back there and check her out?”

  Chris nodded and before he could react Tia had swung the yacht around, to sail downwind toward the marina, beating them all there.

  “No worries!” Chris and Nim called out together then they saw the name. For the vessel was called Hakuna Matata and the older ones had to explain, to those too young to know, how they all knew what the meaning of the name was.

  They found it was in very good condition. The hull was covered in excessive barnacle and weed growth and it took some four days to manually clean the bottom, get the insides cleaned and have the sails checked. Luckily, they found two spare sets of sails stowed below that were in much better condition and these were used instead. Rigging was repaired and their personal possessions transferred and finally; all was ready.

  This ketch was of an old style, having lots of original timber including the enclosed pilothouse and wheel. Geo had found some stain and varnish in the old marine shop building and had done an excellent job is restoring most of the deck timber to its former glory. There was plenty of room for eight people inside and the time taken in finding and readying it had brought both crews together, allowing them to temporarily forget the difficulties of the previous days.

  Finally they were ready, so without hesitation they began their final journey to where they would finally call home for the rest of their lives. An ever so brief discussion was held about whether to visit the bay in Tasmania again, but it was quickly dismissed as it would bring back old memories that many were still keen to leave until another time.