A Drop in the Ocean

by James Cooke

  Gradually the thick blanket of storm bringer clouds melted away and once more they had some blue sky and sunshine. It came as a much-welcomed relief after the last few days of being tossed around as if they were in a giant washing machine.

  Brian ventured up onto the bridge to find Captain Gustav surveying the horizon. He must have noticed him because just at that moment, he bellowed, ‘Land ahoy Mr Hopper, come and see for yourself.’ as he passed over the binoculars.

  ‘Yes, I see it! Is that Marion Island? It still seems a long way off.’

  ‘It is indeed Mr Hopper, about thirty odd miles I’d say. We should arrive early this afternoon, all being well.’ Captain Gustav grinned, for Sarah and Lucy had also ventured up to see what was going on.

  ‘Hey Sarah, it's insight; Marion Island, we’re nearly there.’ Brian said, excitedly.

  ‘Thank god for that, I don’t think I can take much more of this. How on earth you put up with these storms Captain Gustav I honestly don’t know.’ A green faced Sarah replied.

  ‘Storms, we haven’t had any storms girl, this is just normal weather in these parts.’

  Sarah put her hand to her mouth and started to gag. As the day went on the seas gradually settled down even further, and the clouds evaporated as late afternoon arrived. Progressively, the sky towards the setting sun transformed into a light show of changing colours, turning redder and redder. They all watched the beauty of the sunset unfolding before their eyes. As the last slither of sun remained just above the horizon, it suddenly shimmered emerald green and then flashed azure blue for only a second before finally disappearing below the horizon.

  ‘Wow, what on earth was that?’ Sarah exclaimed.

  ‘That my girl, is what is known as a green flash and a pretty good one at that. You were fortunate to see it go from green to blue, that doesn’t happen very often. One of the ocean’s jewels.’ Captain Gustav explained.

  Brian, deep in thought, asked, ‘Captain, we haven’t given it much thought until now, but how do you suppose we might alight onto the Island?’

  Captain Gustav chuckled jovially.

  ‘Lucky for you then, I have. We shall make our approach as if we were a boat in distress. When the time comes, you can take my small rowing boat and head towards the only mooring point on the island that I’m aware of. It’s just below the research station, that’s the collection of yellow buildings if you can see them. Make your way to the base and tell them your boat sank, but fortunately, you all managed to get away in the rowing boat. Tell them you could see the station lights and naturally, that’s where you headed. They should buy that, boats and ships get into all kinds of trouble in these parts, especially when piloted by amateurs! We should be there in about two hours; I’ll take you in as far as I can risk it. After that, you’re on your own!’

  ‘Captain, thanks’ again for all that you have done for us,’ Brian replied.

  ‘You’re welcome, Mr Hopper, it’s been worthwhile in many ways,’ Captain Gustav replied. He glanced over to Sarah and coughed. ‘Sarah!’ Brian asked.

  ‘Ah, yes, sorry. Dear Captain Gustav, allow me to thank you, I’ll get the balance of your fee.’ Sarah said.

  ‘Captain, is there something else about this place?’ Brian asked. Captain Gustav appeared forlorn.

  ‘Yes, there was. I just had to see the place for myself, and with you all wanting to go there, it gave me just that reason,' Captain Gustav replied.

  ‘Any particular reason, Captain Gustav?’ Sarah asked.

  ‘It’s been thirty-seven years this October, and still no answers.'

  ‘Sorry Captain, we don’t quite follow you, what’s been thirty-seven years?’ Brian asked.

  ‘My father, Emilio Gustav, was a Captain just like myself. I was only ten years old, when, one day he never came home. Momma was really upset. He and his crew were all presumed dead after his ship; the MS Berge Vanga disappeared not too far from here. Momma tried her hardest to get whatever information she could from the Brazilian government, but it was nigh on impossible. We went to what I later understood to be the inquest hearing. There were lots of official people there, in their fancy suits, mainly judiciary and insurance types besides management from the shipping company.’

  ‘We’re very sorry to hear that, Captain. Have you ever found out what happened?’ Sarah asked.

  ‘Never, in all these years. Just a complete wall of silence.’

  ‘That sounds a bit ominous if you don’t mind me saying Captain.’ Brian said.

  ‘No, of course not. The thing is, for reasons we never understood, the US military was also present during those hearings. I distinctly remember one soldier because he was wearing a black eye patch, a man of devious appearance if ever there was one. He seemed to be coordinating things for his superior officer. Momma said it was a whitewash. They said it must have blown up of its own accord and sank without trace. But of course, they couldn’t prove it without any wreckage.’

  ‘No smoke without fire, this stinks of conspiracy somehow.’ Sarah said, shaking her head.

  ‘You can say that again girl. We never got to the bottom of it why my father would have taken the ship so close to Marion Island which would have been way off his normal route to the Far East. So, it is for that reason, that I believe Marion Island has got something to do with my father’s death and I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that the real reason you three want to go there is also connected in some way to that event,’ Captain Gustav said, now quite sombre.

  ‘Captain, we’re very sorry to hear about the loss of your father, but I can assure you that we know absolutely nothing about what might have happened all those years ago. I’m pretty sure our trip to Marion isn’t connected with those events,’ Sarah added.

  Captain Gustav nodded and closed his eyes and then said, ‘I believe you, but be careful. I hope that whatever it is that you are searching for, it is for a good reason.'

  ‘If it all works out Captain, I can assure you that it will most definitely be worth it,' Brian replied.

  More than you could ever imagine thought Brian.

  Chapter 21

  ‘Eighteen hundred hours Mr Hopper, as good as any time be on your way, if you leave it any later, you may arrive too late in the evening for anyone to welcome you.’ Captain Gustav announced, ‘Jimmy’s got the rowing boat ready for you.’ Sarah smiled, nodding in agreement, ‘Okay let’s do this.’ This was it, the time to face up to their most significant challenge so far. Brian couldn’t help but think about how cold and deep the ocean below them might be as he boarded the small rowing boat; it sent a shiver down his spine. Luckily, a full moon shone conveniently, affording them adequate light to make the transfer safely. In the distance, jutting out of the primaeval ocean, stood Marion Island, stood out against the moonlit clouds, like an impregnable fortress of black granite, and in the foreground, Brian could just about make out a few specks of light; the base.

  Sarah and Lucy carefully boarded the boat as Brian took hold of the oars. Captain Gustav pointed to the station light’s and waved them goodbye. Brian had forgotten how difficult it was to row a boat correctly, and in the choppy sea at night, it was quickly proving to be quite tricky. He recollected the last time was on a family boating lake in calm weather.

  He knew he couldn’t give up that easily, and so he put his back into it and carried on rowing if that was what it could be called.

  Suddenly there was a loud whooshing noise, and a shower of sea water hit all three. Over on the starboard side, Sarah saw a glistening hump in the water about twenty feet away. Then she could see that it must have been the blow from a whale. She tried not to think of them being capsized by the beast or even worse, being eaten alive should it be an Orca.

  ‘Brian, what the hell was that?’ Sarah screamed.

  Not wanting to panic Sarah unnecessarily, Brian played it down, ‘Nothing, probably just a curious dolphin or something. Keep an eye on the lights ahead please, we don’t want to go off course,' Brian replied, purposely ch
anging the subject.

  Brian had always thought of himself as being reasonably fit and healthy, but for some reason, his arms strangely tired very quickly to such an extent, that they were actually being swept away from the Island instead of getting closer.

  Lucy somehow understood the predicament they were now facing and placed her hands-on Brian’s.

  ‘Brian, please, let me do this,' she said calmly.

  Brian somehow knew this was a good idea, and so they very carefully switched positions so as not to capsize the small boat. Lucy intuitively got the hang of rowing and settled into a robust and efficient rowing action, soon she was taking them back towards the station lights. Just then, another loud whooshing sound preceded a drenching, taking Brian and Sarah by surprise just as they saw, glinting in the moonlight, a giant tail rising out of the water fifteen feet to their aft. Brian had visions of their boat being tossed up into the air like a swimming pool toy and prayed that they wouldn’t end up being on the receiving end of the whale’s tail flukes which he judged to have been at least ten or twelve feet across. While Brian and Sarah were holding on for grim life, Lucy carried on rowing effortlessly, showing no sign of slowing down. As they drew closer to the station, they could see that the lights were, in fact, a collection of various light types and lighted windows. Moonlight illuminated the rocks and insurmountable cliffs surrounding the Island, like a barrier to all who dared to challenge entry.

  As they drew closer, the full scale of the height of the station above sea level became apparent. Brian, nor Sarah hadn’t figured on doing any rock climbing and had naively assumed there would be a dock of sorts, in which case there must also be steps up to the research station.

  It was Sarah who first spotted a sole pinpoint light source down at sea level which indicated the possibility of just such a place. Brian readied the mooring rope as Lucy brought the boat in towards a man-made concrete dais. Making a large loop in the rope, he cast it towards the single bollard.

  After tying off, they carefully alighted the boat onto the dais. Brian and Sarah both took a minute to savour the relief in standing on terra-firma after being in close proximity with an ocean behemoth, in thousands of meters of cold ocean.

  ‘Sarah, Lucy, are you both okay?’ Brian asked, trying to control an impulse to make light of Sarah’s appearance. She resembled the proverbial drowned rat, while Lucy appeared dry and composed.

  ‘Yeah just about, there’s nothing quite like getting it on in the freezing ocean with sea monsters for company, just to focus one’s mind,' Sarah retorted sarcastically.

  Brian tried to play down the encounter, ‘I’m sure whatever it was, it was just checking us out. C’mon now, we’ve made it!’ he whooped.

  Sarah declined to return Brian’s high five but then shook her head smiling, before returning the gesture.

  ‘Don’t get too excited Brian; there’s still a job to do. Shall we get going and go and introduce ourselves?’

  ‘Absolutely, but where to?’

  Grabbing their small rucksacks, they scanned the immediate area, and it was Lucy who first saw a laddered walkway some twenty yards away.

  ‘That must be it; there’s nothing else here,' Brian shouted just to make himself heard above the continual roar of the wind. It was close to five a.m., and the sky was transforming from a deep purple to a tequila sunrise towards the west, right behind them. As the sun slowly rose above the horizon, it provided a warm illumination, and for the first time, they could see the rugged beauty of the Island; the general topography being utterly alien to anything they had ever seen before.

  ‘Jesus Brian, just scan this place, not one god damned tree anywhere.’ Sarah exclaimed.

  It suddenly crossed Brian’s mind, that what they were about to attempt was altogether quixotic, but since they were within a stone’s throw of their target, they had no intention of not proceeding with Lucy’s mission. Wet from sea spray and caked in salt, they desired to get inside and warm up, otherwise risk hypothermia out in the freezing wind that seemed intent on sucking the life force out of anything alive. Brian led the way and ascended the ladder walkway to the top of the cliff, he could see the research station ahead, some fifty yards or so.

  The buildings of the research station were very unusual in that they were designed with the Islands weather in mind, each having one or two levels with no prominent edges, not unlike a 1960’s interpretation of a theoretical moon base, all painted bright cadmium yellow. Exposed at the top of the cliff, the gusts intensified and threatened to blow them over; a natural tendency to walk leaning steeply into the ferocious wind was the only way to proceed, slowly step by step, towards the buildings. At the end of the walkway stood the main entrance to the station, and Brian, Sarah, and Lucy held hands as they approached the lit doorway. Just as they stopped outside, the door suddenly opened, and a man stood in the doorway, beckoning them to hurry up and come inside. One by one, they crossed the threshold and stood, catching their breath, in a large reception area. The relative silence was deafening, as was the odour of the place, it smelt old and of floor polish. Scanning the immediate area, they saw that the walls were adorned with notices and numerous other technical pictures and charts.

  ‘Please, come on in,’ the man said.

  ‘Thanks,’ Brian replied.

  Along with Lucy and Sarah, Brian followed the man who joined three of his colleagues, all of whom stood regarding the three unannounced visitors with astonishment; no doubt wondering who the hell they were and where they had come from judging by their incredulous facial expressions.

  Brian addressed the man who had let them in, assuming that he might be in charge, ‘Hi, I’m Hopper, Brian Hopper and this is Miss Davenport, and this is – Lucy,’ slowly and clearly, thinking that they might not understand him for some reason. But of course, they did, and the man responded with his distinct South African accent, ‘Hello, I’m Van den Bough, and this is Miss Simone, and Doctors Hellaby and Carter. Doctor Carter is the head of this station,’ he went on to say.

  It was clearly noticeable, from the slight scowl on his face, that Dr Carter didn’t appear quite so happy to see three visitors turning up. Brian thought him to be in his mid-sixties. He had long and greasy grey hair and distinctive square rimmed glasses that gave him the appearance of a stereotypical mad scientist in Brian’s mind. He stepped forward and said, ‘Mr. Hopper, would you mind explaining who you all are and how on earth you got here?’

  Brian quickly glanced over at Sarah hoping for some support and assumed that by her quizzical expression, she was already poised to intervene.

  ‘Oh Doctor, thank god you’re here. We thought that we were going to die out there in that terrible storm last night. You see after our yacht capsized, we somehow managed to get into our little boat. Thank god Brian here, saw your lights on in the distance. It gave us hope, and so we headed towards them’, Sarah explained confidently.

  Wow, very impressive Sarah, thought Brian.

  ‘We haven’t heard a mayday; did you get a message out?’

  ‘Um no, our radio was busted.’

  ‘Well, you’re a long way from normal sailing routes, at least eight hundred miles I’d say. Why were you so far south may I ask?’ Dr Carter continued with yet more questions.

  Brian felt extremely uncomfortable with the whole charade and envisaged digging themselves into an even bigger hole. Sarah continued, ‘Of course, we should never have rented that damned yacht in the first place,' at which point Brian interrupted.

  ‘Sarah darling hold on a minute, please. Doctor, is there somewhere we could all go and talk, we’re all rather exhausted, as you could imagine?’ Brian asked.

  Doctor Carter studied him momentarily.

  ‘Yes, of course, please forgive me. Mr Van den Bough, could you take our -,’ he paused momentarily, ‘our guests to the canteen for some refreshments and then accompany them back to my office in one hour if you would please.’

  Sarah stared daggers at Brian, pissed that he rained
on her parade. Brian noticed and knew that once again he’d have to apologise for the drop of a hat change of plan. It was either that or risk seeming stupid later on, in his mind no contest. He knew Sarah would see sense in it ultimately, and then he would take credit for it. Van den Bough had come across as far more amenable a person, a young man who appeared genuinely pleased to see a fresh set of visitors. Along the way, he explained, ‘We don’t get many visitors here, well actually we don’t get any as it happens unless you count those American SWAT team bozos’ that arrived here a few days ago. You’re not with them, are you?’

  ‘Certainly not, although we are Americans,' Sarah retorted.

  ‘Oh, Jesus, that’s all we fucking need, even before we’ve got going,’ Brian exclaimed.

  Van den Bough appeared confused, ‘What do you mean Mr Hopper, are you and those people connected in some way?’

  ‘Hell no, Brian’s just a little tired after such a traumatic event.’ Sarah explained.

  Brian knew he had to backpedal a little, ‘Yeah that’s right, I’m just a little exhausted. Say, we could use a coffee and a bite to eat if that’s okay?’

  Van den Bough smiled, ‘Sure, no problem, follow me.’

  The coffee and sandwiches didn’t touch the sides, instantly recharging Brian and Sarah’s wellbeing after a five-day regime of fish stew and rum. As they both savoured the simplicity of cheese sandwiches, they focused their minds on what they would reveal later when the time came. It was then that Brian noticed Van den Bough ogling Lucy, who hadn’t spoken a word or eaten, with keen interest, and quickly sought his attention.

  ‘Who are these other Americans then?’ he asked loudly, not understanding at the time the implications.

  Van den Bough carried on leering at Lucy, seemingly oblivious to Brian’s question.