A NEW DEATH: Sequel to A New Dawn

by DB Daglish

  “How can you tell?” Chris asked. “We are surrounded by hills and passes. Still feels like a southerly to me.”

  “I grew up here remember! So…we move over to there, beyond the island and drop anchor at the point. You can see the buildings from there. Hopefully they’ll see us and when they come they will be upwind of us.”

  They waited for a short while but the binoculars did not reveal any action that would indicate anyone had seen them. The wait seemed like an eternity to Tia, and she suddenly darted down below decks. They could hear her rummaging through things until a muffled cry came from below.

  “Ha. Got it!”

  “Got what?” Bryce asked as he stuck his head inside the hatch.

  “This!” and she proudly held up a flare.

  “Oh, good girl. Ok, let’s see what happens. It will be old so here’s hoping it still works.”

  Carefully she held it, facing away from the wind and pulled the tab. Instantly the flare ignited and sent smoke and sparks downwind. Receiving a fright she almost dropped it.

  “Damn, I thought it was a rocket flare?” she said. “Now the smoke is drifting behind the hills out of view.”

  “It’s a miracle it worked at all,” Bryce added. “Were there any more of them?”

  “Was there anything else from Akaroa?” Tia asked hopefully as she held the flare which began to burn out.

  Chris shook his head but Samantha decided to go below and have a look anyway.

  “What about one of us sail in until we are seen and sail back out?” Tia suggested.

  “No. You know we can’t risk it…” Ho interrupted.

  At that moment Samantha had reappeared with a smile on her face. She held up two more flares.

  “Oh, these are the parachute ones. That means we can get some height. Now let’s have a look…oh man!” Chris exclaimed, “These are forty years old! Ok, here goes…” and he pulled the tab one the first one.

  Nothing happened and Chris banged it against the grab rail.

  “What are you doing mate, beating it into submission?” Nim joked.

  “Well, if I have to?” he replied, as he tried it once more. “Damn,” he said, finally tossing it into the water.

  “What are you doing?” called Tia. “If the second one lights we could have used that one to light the one you threw away?”

  “They are parachute flares Tia, not hand held ones. Anyway, here’s nothing,” and he pulled the tab of the second flare.

  Instantly it burst to life, but instead of traveling up as planned it exploded sideways, narrowly missing Bryce in the second yacht and it settled on the water, slightly up-wind. Smoke and flame continued for a few seconds before it extinguished in a final splutter. A collective sigh of frustration emanated from both vessels.

  “Ok. What’s the next plan to try and get me killed?” joked Bryce, still shocked by how close he had been to getting a face full of flare.

  “There is no other plan,” Geo said, his eyes fixed to the binoculars. “But it does not matter because they have seen us. I can see Andy standing up front on what looks like the ‘Marauder’.”

  “What’s a ‘marorder’? Maddy asked as she clung to Bryce.

  “A catamaran…you know...two hulls?”

  She nodded in understanding. The sails were seen clearly as the vessel caught the easterly breeze and moved rapidly toward them. They covered the three mile distance very quickly, but were frantically waved away by those aboard the yachts at anchor.

  Chapter 16

  “What are they doing?” asked Amy. “Something seems a little weird.”

  “Yes, why are they waving us away?” Skye exclaimed as she looked at Andy.

  A sudden and strange feeling came over him, and he ordered the sails dropped and they steered away, still some four to five boat lengths from the two yachts.

  “Drop your anchor,” yelled Geo to Cassie who was in a position at the front near the windlass. Quickly she complied as the Marauder dropped sail, slowed, and came to a stop, settling in the easterlies to be a little north of the others.

  “What is wrong?” called Michael. “Is it what I think it is?”

  Geo nodded in response.

  “Where are the other’s then?”

  “Just wait a moment,” Chris called and they had the Taranaki and the Gloria reposition themselves exactly downwind of the catamaran. Before dropping sail to anchor once more.

  “Are we in danger?” called Michael suspecting an outbreak.

  Again Geo nodded.

  “Are we safe this close then?”

  “Yes you are,” Chris said, “None of us are infected as yet.”

  “Well, where are the others, and what yacht is this one Tia and Ho are on. And while where are at it, who are those three?” Storm asked as she pointed to Maddy and the two from Lord Howe Island.

  Maddy waved back. “I’m from Melbourne,” she said. “We are so…” but Bryce nudged her as a hint to be quiet. “What?” she whispered.

  “Let the others talk, just listen!” he replied.

  At first she was offended but then realized this was a very serious meeting between family members, and she squeezed Bryce’s hand in understanding.

  “To answer to it quickly,” said Bryce, “Maddy here is from Melbourne and these two are from Lord Howe Island.”

  “The place out in the open ocean off the coast of Australia?” Michael asked.

  Bryce nodded.

  “Well where are the others then…and where’s the Hope?”

  “She went down mid-ocean Michael,” replied Geo. “We lost Fin, Dee and Angel as it sank too fast!”

  And now sobs were heard from Cassie and Amy as they heard about their loved ones.

  “What about Donny then, where is he? And where are the others?”

  “Donny is alive, Cassie,” Ho called out. “He’s on Lord Howe Island with Fallon!”

  “Is that where the other yachts are?” Roy now called out. At seventy three he had been sitting down but now he stood, holding on to the boom for support as he spoke.

  “Hey, hi old man,” Chris called out. “No. They are back up the channel waiting?”

  “Waiting on what?”

  “Us!”

  “What do you mean? Why aren’t you coming in?” he called. The whole discussion thus far had seemed to confuse him.

  “No Roy. They can’t. They have the sickness, both crews do. They can’t even risk coming as close as we are, and I’m not sure that even this much distance is safe either!”

  “What sickness is it?” Andy asked. “The old one?”

  No, it is worse,” Tia now joined in. “When we got to Oz, there were groups of tens and hundreds. Now…” and she shook her head as she fell silent in her grief. Bryce now picked up where Tia had left off.

  “Maddy here has survived both. One of the other yachts also has three other second term survivors. They can’t land either in case you get it, because they carry it. So while we might survive it, we cannot stay and we cannot ever be near to you.”

  “But where will you go?” asked Storm. “That would mean the only place you could return to is…Oz. We’ll never see you guys again!”

  “What else can we do?” Bryce called as he raised his hands in a gesture of hopelessness.

  “But the others - will they all die?” Michael asked. “Don and Nick and Ricki…”

  “Ahh…well…not quite Michael! We actually lost Nick to a snake bite in Melbourne just a few weeks ago. And Don…” and he bit his lip knowing Roy was still listening. “Don…” and he paused again briefly. “He died down south when we stopped at Dunedin. He quietly slipped away while resting on the steps of the old building at Zingari!”

  He saw Roy turn away and he knew the old man was crying.

  “I can tell you all this though” Bryce continued, “He died at peace and we buried him beside Susan.”

  There was a brief silence. But Michael tried to prevent the emotion from detracting from the information.
r />   “That was nice. He’d have liked that. What is the place like now?”

  “Overgrown like anywhere else…quiet…dead!” was all Chris could say in response.

  Andy had been thinking.

  “So six from here are on the other yachts and they are all sick?” he asked.

  “Lenny and Janie and Harry all showed signs of it at Akaroa!”

  “Akaroa? You’ve been there before you arrived here?” Ben now asked. He had been silent the whole time until now.

  “Hi Ben. Yes, we didn’t get close them either. They did give us some supplies and a radio so we can communicate. But we don’t need them now do we?”

  “Yes. Throw one over here. What is the range with those handhelds?” Ben asked.

  “Not too sure. But what’s the point?”

  “We can take it back to base. If we all get up to lookout hill we should be able to talk to the others. Could you get close enough to toss one to us?”

  “I suppose. That’s a good idea Ben. Might give some closure to everyone. Then we can head up and let Fallon’s lot know as well,” Chris advised.

  There was not much else to say and an embarrassing silence hung over the three vessels. Tia nudged Bryce and pointed back toward New Haven.

  “Oh oh,” she said, “More are coming out. You need to hold them off!”

  Storm nodded and in response she moved to the bow area to wait and warn them from approaching.

  “Actually, we’ll pull anchor and meet them before they get here,” Michael suggested. “But before we go…if you don’t get sick, your two boat crews don’t - I mean…are you sure you can never return?”

  “Listen!” Nim spoke up and louder than usual. “I don’t like this either but the reality is we do not know. If we landed and it’s dormant or hidden and comes back, you could all die. It’s not a risk we want to take. We discussed this weeks ago. We…”and he pointed to those around him, “might all be dead in a few weeks ourselves. We just don’t know for certain so have separated ourselves from the Southern Spirit and the schooner in case we are clean. We need to keep this land safe from it. Do not let anyone land here from any other place…ever! It must remain that way for thousands of years or the effects could be disastrous!”

  No one had heard Nim talk like this before but the force of his words brought reality to the situation. But Ben had picked up on something.

  ”What schooner?”

  “Ha, you’re sharp as ever mate!” Chris noted. “It’s what we picked up from the island where we left Fallon and Donny. We can’t go back there either. See if you can find a book on the place in the old library. It is a magical place. They will be happy there, but they have no idea why we have not returned and we have no time to try warn them anyway. We have two of the islanders here with us in Dirk and Rosa.”

  They nodded a brief greeting as Chris continued.

  “But Faith is on the other boat and will definitely die as the island escaped the first outbreak as well!”

  “Now I get it,” Andy said. “They have no immunity to it either!”

  “Exactly!”

  “Ok. Take care, but we’ll divert the rowboat,” he said and as he began to arrange to lift the anchor as his voice lifted above the others. The second radio was placed in a plastic bag and tied up into a bundle. Nim had the best arm and he threw it directly into the waiting hands of Ben.

  “We love you!” cried Amy. And at that Andy realized he was being too clinical. “Yeah…I’m sorry guys. We do love you all.”

  “We love you too,” Tia and Samantha called out together.

  Cassie looked toward Maddy. “So sweetie, I have a question for you?”

  “Yes?”

  “If those of you who were exposed to the second outbreak and survived are all that is left, that will be just four going back? And can you sail back to where you came from?”

  Maddy smiled and put her hands on Tia and Ho’s shoulders. “Seemingly these two had a blood transfusion of sorts in Sydney from one of Gloria and Willo’s people who was unaffected by either virus.”

  “You’re kidding? There are some who never suffered from either?” Ben asked.

  “Yes. Apparently!”

  “Well, there might be hope for the human race after all. But…will the transfusion work?”

  “It’s a waiting game mate,” Bryce insisted. “After what these two went through on their yacht, I really hope they do. And with Tia being the best sailor among us, she can take the Ozzies home!”

  “Your parents would be proud Tia and Ho. So we have some new memorials to erect at the waterfront,” Cassie blurted out.

  “Just make one big one for us all,” Geo called out. “Remember us all, but know we had an awesome time regardless of the outcome. Oh…and Michael…I remember the story of an explosion with you guys in Dunedin before we were born!”

  Michael smiled at them. He used to embellish it a little and they did have an opportunity to show them what explosives could do once.

  “Well, we blew up a huge building that fell into the water, so do not worry. Our adventures have been magnificent!”

  “And let me guess who arranged it?”

  “Yes. It was Ricki!” Geo called back as the catamaran lifted anchor, raised sail and turned south.

  Michael laughed as it was so typical of Ricki. Michael was now remembering the time, long ago, when the mini-tanker had exploded, demolishing the house, and nearly landing on top of them as they sheltered behind the fence. He laughed again, as he could still see the look on Taylor’s face as he ran back across the road before the shock wave blew him over the wall.

  “What’s funny?” asked Amy as they were waving to everyone still standing motionless on the two yachts.

  “I was just remembering something from the first year after ‘the event’,” he said as he stooped to kiss her. “We did some crazy things. Now I know they experienced some things we never will, and it makes me happy within the sadness.”

  “So what now?” Dirk asked. “It’s a waiting game for me and Rosa and yourself!”

  “Well - let’s stay here the night,” Bryce suggested. “We can catch up with the others tomorrow morning.”

  “You will all be ok,” Maddy said. ”I just know it. In fact tomorrow morning I will prove it!” and she said no more about it as they made a meal and retired after an extremely emotional and heart wrenching day.

  The wind had dropped considerably by morning and Tia believed it would pick up again from the north eventually, judging by the clouds patterns. At her comments they prepared to leave, raised anchor, hoisted a full sail by which to catch the scant breeze and left for good. As they sailed northeast they noticed smoke drifting out toward them from a point to starboard.

  “Look. Is that a group of people up there?”

  “Yeah, looks like that Ho. Hey Maddy, are the binoculars down there?” Dirk shouted into the cabin.

  She came up to the deck with them in hand. “Look up there?” he said. “Tell me what you see?”

  She had a long hard look and laughed. “How many in the community Tia?” she asked.

  “Oh, about sixty now I guess? Why?”

  “Because it looks to me like every single one of them is up there,” she pointed to where the smoke was coming from.

  “Gimme a look?” Tia demanded, quickly grabbing them of Maddy. “Ha! Hey Bryce. You seeing this?”

  “Not as well as you, but I get the idea,” and he laughed and took off his shirt and waved it about. In response he could see some do the same thing.

  “Quick, tack their way,” and he called for the Taranaki to follow him. They began to shout and holler in response to being seen by everyone. Geo even climbed up the mast a little. Before Bryce pulled his shirt back on Maddy had him stop so she could examine him. “Anything?”

  “No!” she replied and she briefly kissed him. He now turned toward the hill.

  “How close?” Chris yelled forward to Tia.

  “The wind is against us stil
l, so let’s swing in right below them?” she yelled back. Then she swung to starboard for one last run before having to tack back to port and bear away again.

  As they drew near, Ho, Tia, Chris, Bryce, Geo and Samantha could all see ones they knew and loved waving back at them, whistling or cheering. There was an instant sadness among them that the others waiting out near the open ocean could not have done the same. Suddenly some fireworks shot up from the point and exploded. The daylight prevented the bursts of color but the understanding of what they were trying to do made some of them weep. Tia noticed that Maddy was crying.

  “Even you?”

  “This is one of the most beautiful and saddest things I’ve seen in my whole life Tia. You must have had a very special bond in this community?”

  “Yes. Yes we did Maddy. And now you are part of us, we will love you as much as any of our family if we all survive.”

  Under the lee of the hill the yachts slowed and the radio they had on board burst into life.

  “Farewell,” and old familiar voice said. “We love you!” It was Roy, and he sounded weak. Gabby then asked some questions before someone else took the radio from her. It was Tomiko.

  “Hello. Say goodbye to Karen for me - over.”

  “You can do it yourself Tomiko,” Bryce said in reply. “I know some of you have things to say but keep the battery free for the other guys. You can talk to Karen and the others in an hour or two. Be strong. Remember us often as we will you…”

  Looking down they could see Tia take the radio off him.

  “Guy’s I am tempted to tack around and come past over and over, but if we do not leave now, we may not leave at all. Thank you all. We love you - over and out!” And she switched the radio off.

  “Why did you do that?” asked Bryce. “You just cut them off!”

  “There are two boats full of people who never even got to see anyone yesterday, nor this wonderful farewell Bryce. Don’t you think they deserve all this battery life? I really hope the signal is strong enough between here and there,” she pointed north.

  For about three nautical miles they were in sight of the community until a final tack northeast to take them into the channel leading to the open ocean and the others still waiting for them.