Their thirst had reached an unbearable level, and talking was now at a minimum. Parched mouths and throats made speaking difficult, and each survivor had turned inward. Ray knew he could get through a second night, but he wasn’t so sure about Sonny. He worried that as the night wore on, the combination of dehydration and hypothermia would take its toll on the boy, and he might not be conscious by morning. Rescue, if it were coming at all, had to come soon.
The men took turns as lookout so the other two could close their eyes against the sun’s burning glare. Sonny, too, kept his eyes closed but could not sleep. His skin felt like it was on fire, and his father did his best to use his own body to shield his son.
“Captain,” said Ray, “my son needs your coat. His skin is burning.”
Captain Colburn looked at the boy’s skin, and it did not look red. Then he glanced at the boy’s dark hair. “But I’m so fair-skinned, I really need it,” Colburn replied.
There was an awkward silence. Sonny had heard the exchange and felt his father’s body tense, and the boy sat up.
His father spoke in a tone he had not heard before: slow, measured, and very soft.
“Give him the coat,” said Ray, “or I will throw you off this raft.”
The captain looked like he’d been punched in the stomach. He started to say something, then stopped, took the jacket off, and tossed it to Ray.
A tense silence descended on the life raft. George Conyea averted his eyes from both Ray and the captain and simply stared at the horizon. He hadn’t said a word since the morning. He wanted no part of the tension between the captain and Ray. Conyea was dealing with his own pain. His bald head had been burned by the morning sun, so he had taken off his shirt and covered his head with it. But now his bare back was as red as a tomato.
Ray felt like he was going to jump out of his skin. His mind kept circling back to Ina and Lucille, and the helplessness he felt ate away at him like acid. He had never sat in one place for as long as he’d done on the raft, and he needed to be doing something, doing anything to keep busy and take his mind off his wife and daughter. Minutes dragged by like hours. He felt that if the captain said one more word about anything at all, he’d erupt like a volcano.
Around four in the afternoon, Ray’s back was aching so badly that he needed to straighten it. He told the others he was going to slip into the water the way George Conyea had earlier, and asked the group to steady themselves and do their best to keep the raft balanced. Ray inched forward and lowered himself into the middle of the raft. Then he turned so that only his arms were draped across the canvas and balsa wood on his side of the square. The cool water and a straightened back felt wonderful, and he floated in that position for several minutes before climbing back into the sitting position.
Ray asked Sonny if he wanted to do the same thing, but the boy said no. Sitting with the captain’s jacket on had helped with the sun, and he was lost in his own exhausted stupor. Then he felt something against his leg. He glanced down and could not believe what he saw: a banana, perhaps the same one he had lost earlier, was bobbing in the water.
“Dad, look!” he shouted, reaching out and snatching the green banana.
“I knew you’d find it. I think that banana is really going to help us. Why don’t you unpeel it and take a big bite and then pass it around for all of us to share?”
Sonny did as he was told. It was a struggle to swallow his piece of the banana with his mouth and throat so dry. Twenty seconds later, he felt nauseous and vomited the banana bite back into the sea.
“Well, that didn’t work so well,” Ray said. “The banana wasn’t ripe, anyway.”
Sonny only nodded. He was slumped forward with his head hanging so low that it almost reached his knees.
A few minutes later, Sonny said, “Dad, can we go in now?” He said it as if they were on a fishing trip and it was up to his father when to call it quits.
Rather than try to explain the situation, his father answered, “Soon, son, soon.”
Sonny looked up at his father and just nodded.
It wasn’t long after this exchange that Ray noticed Conyea staring at something directly behind where Ray was sitting. Ray turned his head and saw not one but four gray shark fins lazily cutting through the sea just five feet from the raft. When he looked over at Conyea and the captain, he saw another couple of fins. By now all four of the survivors could see the sharks. No one said a word.
One shark turned toward the raft and then glided directly under it. The group could see the outline of its body as it passed directly beneath them. It looked to be about five to six feet long.
Sonny quickly pulled his feet out of the water.
“Take it easy, Sonny. Don’t thrash around,” said his dad. “They’ll move on.”
But they didn’t move on.
The four survivors now counted seven different sharks making slow half loops around the raft before passing directly underneath it. This was by far the most terrifying experience of the ordeal for both Sonny and the three adults. The raft was too small for the men to get their legs on top of the balsa wood. Ray was right: their best defense was not to make a commotion.
The men did not know what kind of sharks they were, only that they appeared to be as big as the men on the raft. The Gulf of Mexico has over 40 different species of shark, but the ones the group should have been most worried about were bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, dusky sharks, and of course great white sharks. Because of the shape of these sharks, the hammerhead could be ruled out, as could the great white, bull shark, and tiger shark because they are usually solitary hunters. It’s also probable that the sharks were not the oceanic whitetip, because the dorsal fin the survivors saw was a solid gray.
The sharks circling the raft might have been dusky sharks, which are known to hunt in packs, often corralling their prey and then taking turns darting in to take a bite. And their bite is among the strongest of any shark on the planet. While not as aggressive as the bull shark, tiger shark, or great white shark, dusky sharks have attacked and killed humans and are considered among the most dangerous to humans.
The life raft probably acted like a magnet for sharks, attracting their interest simply because it was a floating object. Also, the sharks, with their keen sense of smell, could have been drawn by the scent of blood from Ray’s wound. And any movement the group made, such as switching position, caused vibrations in the water, making the sharks curious. It’s also possible that smaller fish were staying under the shade of the raft; the sharks had come to investigate this potential prey and then became inquisitive about the humans.
Several castaways have reported that circling sharks may slowly move closer and then bump and nudge a raft, perhaps to see if the raft is a living thing. Over time, the sharks become more aggressive. Instead of a gentle bump, they slam into the raft. Some survivors say that once sharks realize there is something living on the raft, they try to flip the vessel to get at its occupants.
Sonny didn’t know any of this. All he knew was that the great beasts were just a few feet away. And they were getting closer as the minutes crawled on.
18
SHARKS, DOLPHINS, AND BIRDS FAR AWAY
(AFTERNOON)
SONNY AND RAY (FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH HOURS IN THE OCEAN)
The sharks circled the Heredia survivors silently in a mesmerizing, menacing swirl of sleek bodies and fins, moving closer with every loop. They made lazy half loops just a couple of feet off the side of the raft before submerging and swimming directly under it. One shark, when passing under the raft, rolled onto its back, and an anxious Sonny could see its half-opened mouth. The boy almost let out a scream, but his dad, who had seen the same thing, reached over and put his hand on Sonny’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry, they are just checking us out. We are something new to them.”
Ray had no idea if that statement was true, but he didn’t want his son to panic. He hoped his words calmed the captai
n and George Conyea, too, because they were as wide-eyed as Sonny, watching every move their new visitors made.
Ray felt despair like he had never known. Sundown was just three and a half hours away. Thinking of the sharks gliding beneath them at night was too terrible to imagine. He felt absolutely helpless.
Minutes crawled by and the four survivors kept still, eyes glued on the fins lazily cutting through the water on all sides of the raft. The behavior of the sharks stayed the same; they came within a foot or two of the castaways but made no direct contact with either the raft or the group’s legs or feet.
“How long will they stay?” asked Sonny, looking at his father.
“Don’t know, Sonny; but like I said, they are just curious.” Ray paused and continued his calming words: “If we don’t bother them, they won’t bother us.”
George Conyea spoke up for the first time in quite a while. “Do you know what kind they are?”
“Probably harmless sand sharks,” Ray responded. In reality he still did not know. Ray had spent little time on the ocean, and this was an entirely new experience. If the captain knew more than Ray, he didn’t say so.
An hour went by and the group tried to ignore the sharks, but with little success. There was nothing else to look at, nothing else to take their mind off the seven fins circling them.
About two hours after the first sharks arrived, more fins appeared in the water not far from the raft. Sonny was terrified, thinking, More sharks …
Captain Colburn spoke up. “Hey, those are dolphins.”
Like the U-boat that had caused their ordeal, the sharks submerged and were not seen again.
Sonny experienced great relief and joy with the dolphins’ arrival and the sharks’ departure. He felt as if he had been holding his breath for the past two hours, afraid to move a muscle. There was no doubt in his mind that the dolphins had driven the sharks off to help him.
It’s doubtful that the dolphins were intentionally trying to save the lives of the humans, but rather, like the sharks, they were curious about the raft. Luckily, their presence caused the sharks to move off. Little is known about the dynamics between sharks and dolphins. Some researchers think the sound dolphins make can drive away sharks, while others think the dolphins’ ability to work as a team can thwart sharks. Over the years there have been many accounts of castaways saying they were being shadowed by a shark only to have dolphins “chase the shark away.” But dolphins are not always the dominant species; sharks will attack and eat a dolphin, given the chance.
* * *
The dolphins not only relieved Sonny’s concern over the sharks but also gave him something new to watch. Unlike the sharks, the dolphins swam quickly around the raft. Their entire backs almost came out of the water, and then they briefly submerged and repeated the process. Up and down came their fins. But after just three or four minutes, they moved on and were gone from sight.
The group didn’t speak. Without the fear of sharks, their minds went back to the predicament of time for a rescue running out. It would be dark within the hour. Their thirst was unbearable, and all felt extremely weak. Sonny was in the worst shape because of his small body. Now that the sun was low in the sky, he was shivering again. His father noticed and moved him closer, wrapping his big arms around the boy to stop his shaking.
Sonny looked up at his father. “Shouldn’t a boat be here by now?” he asked.
Ray needed to keep his son’s mind occupied. Instead of discussing the lack of a rescue boat, he said, “Let’s play a game. See those seagulls way up there? You choose one and I’ll choose one, and we’ll count how long they go without flapping their wings. Whoever’s bird flies the longest without using its wings wins.”
“Okay, I’m picking the one over there,” Sonny said as he lethargically pointed at a shape off to the west.
“And I’ve got the one straight up,” answered Ray.
With their heads tilted back, father and son watched the birds they had chosen. It was easy to look up because the sun was almost touching the ocean.
“Mine just flapped,” said Ray. “You win.”
Sonny gave a half-hearted nod.
* * *
INA (ELEVENTH TO SIXTEENTH HOURS IN THE OCEAN)
Ina didn’t have anyone to help take her mind off her suffering. She was lost in thought about the hopelessness of her predicament when something tugged on her tattered nightgown, which swayed in the water, trailing behind her. She looked below and saw several pilot fish nibbling her nightgown and swimming between her legs. Then, with her blurred vision, she saw much larger shapes pass beneath her. Sharks! She could see about six of the creatures, each four to five feet long, lazily plying the waters under and around her. Panic and anger at her predicament welled up once again. And now she was on her own, without sailors to help her.
“Damn you to hell!” she shrieked, swinging a piece of wood at the fish, slapping the water. She kicked her legs and screamed, frenzied by the helpless feeling of losing her family and fearing a terrible death.
The sharks and pilot fish moved off a bit but stayed within sight. They’re like vultures, she thought, just waiting for me to weaken further.
Ina tugged the remains of her nightgown in tight and then pulled down on her heavy coat. Next she brought her legs up so that her knees were near her chest. She didn’t want her legs dangling below and thought the coat offered a measure of protection. The sharks had pushed her to the breaking point. Dear Lord, she prayed, I don’t want to wait here for the sharks to get me … Better to just have it over with quick.
When she looked back down, she could see only a couple of sharks and pilot fish.
Ina thought maybe it was God who had prompted her to keep the heavy coat when logic told her to discard it. Now she renewed her determination to live as long as the Lord wanted her to.
Later, the last of the sharks and pilot fish moved off. But the ordeal had left her shaken and feeling utterly depleted of all strength. The emptiness of the ocean settled back around her, sealing out noise and feeling. By midafternoon, with the sun’s glare adding to the pain from her oil- and salt-encrusted eyes, she began to doubt that anyone was even searching for her. Ina worried that she had drifted far from the accident scene and would never be found. She craved water; her mouth was parched and her lips cracked. Oil-soaked clothing clung to her upper body while her bare legs dangled in the water below.
Ina looked at the empty blue sky and remembered the beautiful sunsets she’d seen while on the ship and how they had inspired her. Now the same sky seemed so blank and unforgiving. Her faith that God was with her was wavering. She tried to summon the energy to pray, to be thankful she was still alive, but she was too spent.
Another, larger board drifted nearby, perhaps part of a banana crate, and it was a welcome find. Ina pushed herself on top of the floating planks, getting most of her body out of the water for the first time in a dozen hours. She struggled with negative thoughts about her family’s fate and about sharks in the water below.
19
SOMETHING IN THE SKY
(LATE AFTERNOON TO DUSK)
SONNY AND RAY (SEVENTEENTH HOUR IN THE OCEAN)
Ray wasn’t sure the “seagull game” was helping Sonny, but he figured it couldn’t hurt.
“Well, let’s play another round,” said Ray.
Again they chose birds. Sonny chose one high in the sky and way off on the eastern horizon. This time the captain and George Conyea also looked up to see which birds the father and son chose. Anything to take their minds off their bodies’ demands for water.
Ray’s bird soon flapped its wings. “You win again,” he said.
Sonny kept his eyes on his own bird. “Wow, Dad, mine is still going along without flapping.”
Ray looked closer at the bird in the distance.
“Captain, let me use your binoculars,” Ray said.
The captain removed the strap from around his neck and handed the binoculars to Ray, who hurriedly put them to
his eyes. He adjusted the focus and stared intently at the bird far in the distance.
“That’s no seagull—it’s a plane!” he shouted.
“Yes, yes!” shouted the captain.
The survivors still could not hear its engines or tell what kind of plane it was, but there was no doubt it was a plane and that it was heading toward the raft.
“Quick, Sonny, take off the captain’s coat! I’ve got to get it on the board.”
Within seconds, Ray was waving the board with the white coat on it, and the others were waving their arms.
Ray couldn’t tell if the pilot had spotted the white coat, and the tension was unbearable. Please, please, he said to himself. His son’s life was at stake. The boy could not make it through another cold night. Ray waved the white coat wildly.
As the plane drew closer, its metal skin briefly glittered when the sun’s rays hit it. Now they could hear the dull drone of the engine, and Sonny shouted, “Help!”
“Keep waving the flag!” shouted the captain, his excitement growing. “It’s got to see us. It’s our last chance! I think it’s coming our way.”
Ray could make out the outline of the plane and realized, because of its unique construction, that it was a U.S. Navy PBY. The letters PB stood for Patrol Bomber, and the Y was the designated code given to its manufacturer. It was also known as a flying boat because it could land on the water. The single wing was elevated above the main body of the aircraft rather than below the cockpit windows. This allowed unobstructed visibility for its aviators to scan the ocean during patrols for U-boats or search-and-rescue missions. Two engines with propellers were mounted on the wing, one on each side of the aircraft.
The plane came ever closer, but it did not descend. Ray thought maybe it was going too fast to see them.
Attacked at Sea Page 10
