Against the Sea: Tales On and Under the Sea

by John E. Christ

  After an eternity, his father smiled and nodded. “Quick thinking,” he said.

  The boy had been in deep thought pondering what he would have done without his father. The two simple words of his father made his heart stop. He could not believe his father may have given him a compliment. Thank you father, he said to himself. He knew that words to express feelings were impossible between the two of them.

  “Are you all right? For a moment I thought I was going to lose you.”

  “Like I have said so many times before; a seaman is always prepared for anything. I was really never in any great danger. This should be a lesson to you on how to be prepared. You still have a lot to learn.”

  Getting another compliment from his father was fruitless. The boy stared into the distance and saw a red and green light marking the opening of the channel into the harbor. It had been a night worth remembering. He wondered what his mother would say with what happened. Would anyone believe their wild story of an attack by a sea monster? Time was the answer to all his questions. He would just have to wait and see. There was no way to predict anything except the way he felt and thought.

  “Father?”

  “Yes, boy?”

  “May I pilot the boat through the channel? I’ve never done it at night before.”

  His father paused, thought, and then stepped away from the wheel.

  “You’re right.” His father smiled. “It’s time for me to take a break. Takeover while I get a dry cigarette.”

  The boy stepped to the wheel with an air of authority and smiled with his father. It really was an extraordinary night; his father had given him two complements!

  The Storm

  The sun had barely peeked above the horizon when Jack brought the twin engines of the boat to life. He and his brother, Will, were eager to escape the tedium of civilization and recharge their personal batteries. Jack let the engines warm up while he assisted Will bring supplies on board.

  "Do you think we have everything we need?" Will scratched his scalp. "I can't think of anything else."

  "We have plenty of fuel and water,” Jack said. “I’ve looked over everything and I can't think of anything else we might need."

  "Good, then we can get going." Will grinned. "I'll get the lines; you get us out of here."

  Jack stood at the helm and pushed the clutches into gear. The boat moved slowly forward. Will had more than enough time to cast off all six lines. Once clear of the pilings, Jack turned the bow toward the cut out into the ocean. The tide was running rapidly in and Jack gave each engine more throttle. The boat eased quickly and safely through the narrow cut out into the open ocean.

  The day was clear and the waves were barely two feet high. In the distance, Jack saw the change of water from green to deep blue, the border of the Gulf Stream. Jack pushed the throttles of the Pratt & Whitney turbines forward. The seventy-foot aluminum hull sliced the waves like soft butter.

  "Did you get a weather report before we left?" Will relaxed in the door of the pilot house. "The TV last night said it was going to be calm and very hot."

  "I checked this morning and there was no expected change in the forecast," Jack said. "With this sea we should be in the islands in no time."

  They always enjoyed getaways together. The boat was equipped with everything anyone could imagine. There was all the latest electronics, on top of central air and refrigeration. Will thought some of the accessories were extravagances, but then his brother was a workaholic. He did admit from time to time the latest electronic toys were nice, especially when he brought his work with him.

  "Are you hungry?" Will held a plastic plate. "I'm going to scramble some eggs and make some bacon in the microwave."

  "Sounds good. How about some coffee?"

  "I'll bring it right up." Will disappeared down into the galley.

  Jack scanned the horizon ahead. There was a tanker heading south and a lone fishing boat trolling. He engaged the automatic pilot."

  "Here's your coffee."

  "Thanks"

  "I'll bring the rest when it's ready."

  The boat crossed from murky green to crystal clear blue water marred only by an occasional piece of floating seaweed. In another hour the shore would disappear below the horizon behind them. Jack scanned the way ahead and went below to eat only when he felt safe he could leave the helm unattended on automatic pilot. He sat exactly at the table where Will expected him.

  "This is perfect weather." Jack relished each bite of toast and eggs. "I hope the fishing is equally as good."

  "Doesn't matter how good it is." Will laughed. "...as long as we catch enough to eat."

  "By the way, it's your turn at watch." Jack slowly chewed a slice of bacon. "I'm going to sack out."

  "Okay." Will stood up from the table. "But it's your turn to wash dishes."

  "It's a deal." Jack laughed.

  In the pilot house, Will scanned the horizon. Off the port bow to the northeast he noticed an area of darkness. Probably a small area of rain, he thought and put it completely out of his mind. He settled into the captain's chair and picked up the book he was reading earlier. Every once in a while he interrupted his reading, scanned the horizon and checked the gauges of the engines. Aside from the whine of the twin turbines there were no other sounds other than the slapping of waves against the hull as they sped forward. Will felt this was the nearest place to heaven on earth. The ocean was his mistress, who could be as unpredictable as she wanted. For this reason and many others, the ocean had his deepest respect. He was comfortable either on or in the water. Unfortunately, his brother had never learned to swim because of some childhood incident with the water. He could never figure out why his brother could not overcome his phobia. Fortunately, Jack had never fallen overboard. The gentle swaying of the boat made him feel sleepy as he scanned the horizon. Again he noticed the darkness in the distant northeast and ignored it.

  The shore slowly disappeared directly astern as it neared mid-morning. Certainly, the land would be completely out of sight by noon and they would be dependent on instruments and seafaring skills. Although they had the latest GPS navigation aids, they preferred the old-fashioned compass. It made them feel closer to the long tradition of men who went down to the sea in ships, like in Psalms.

  "Will, Will, did you call me?" Jack shouted from his berth.

  Will heard Jack and went to see what he wanted. The horizon remained clear. No other vessels were in sight. They were completely alone on the water. Even the birds had disappeared.

  "What do you want?" Will stood in the doorway. "You okay?"

  "I thought you were calling me." Jack shook his head. "I must have been dreaming."

  Jack rubbed his eyes. In the pilothouse, he scanned the horizon and noticed the darkness to the northeast. Must be a small squall, he thought, better keep an eye on it in case it crosses our path. He checked the gauges. Everything was functioning normal. He shook his head. I have a feeling I have forgotten something, he said out loud to no one. He exited the pilothouse and, outside, took in a deep breath of fresh salty air. The ocean spray covered his skin with a gritty patina. He was reminded of a pretzel and smiled.

  Will came up from behind. "Hey! Look at your hair!"

  Jack was momentarily startled. He looked at his arms. All the hairs were standing on end.

  "Must be a storm brewing." Jack looked toward the northeast. "We better get ready just in case. This build-up of static electricity is just the beginning."

  Neither saw the flash from the darkness in the northeast. The faint sound of thunder that followed was drowned out by the whine of the engines.

  "I think you better forget about sleeping and secure everything below. I have a feeling something is about to happen and I can’t shake it," Jack said. "I hope I'm wrong."

  Will went below and stowed everything he saw loose. He closed all the hatches and windows. The air-conditioning was more than welcome inside. It would keep them comfortable until the storm passed. He returned to Ja
ck in time to see a wall of rain racing at them across the water from the northeast. A blast of cold air hit as the rain pelted the boat. The waves quickly became bigger.

  Jack took the helm off automatic pilot and turned the bow into the rising waves rather than have them pound the side of the hull. He felt confident making headway in his hands was safer.

  "Is everything secured below?" Jack focused on the bow.

  "Everything is secure and water-tight." Will grabbed the handrail as the increasing motion made it more difficult to stand.

  "These waves are turning into mountains." Jack pulled back the throttles. "We're going to have to crawl through this until it clears."

  The waves grew from six to ten feet, pitching them mercilessly. Standing without support was impossible. The rain swallowed the boat up in a torrential downpour and a wall of water encircled them. Visibility was no more than a few yards in any direction.

  "Whiteout!" Will shouted. The noise of the rain blanked out that of the engines.

  "This shouldn't last long." Jack smiled. "It'll be over as quickly as it hit us."

  The compass needle spun wildly. Jack assumed it was from the static electricity. He turned on the radar and navigation units. "Hey, what's wrong with these things?" He pointed.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Our radar and everything electronic is out."

  "Impossible! I checked them myself before we left." Will was hurled toward the radar console.

  "I'm not blaming you. This must be some storm to knock-out our instruments."

  The waves and wind intensified. Jack reluctantly pulled the trottles back to idle speed. There was just enough forward speed to keep the bow pointed into the wind and waves. A giant wave appeared suddenly ahead. Unable to react in time, the wave washed over the bow.

  "Are you sure all the hatches are secured?" Jack remained focused on the bow.

  "I'm absolutely sure, but I'll recheck everything." Will went below.

  Jack turned on the radio. There was nothing but static and he turned it off. A flash of light caught his eye to starboard. Lightning, he thought, how much worse is this going to get? Will reported the hatches were secure: the boat was watertight. Another flash of light came from starboard. A white wall of rain kept the bolt, if there was one, out of view.

  "Did you say something?" Jack looked at Will.

  "I'm right here," Will said, "I didn't say a thing."

  "That's funny, because I'm certain you said something." Jack kept his eyes on the bow, one hand on the throttles and the other on the helm. "At first, I wasn't sure, but now I have no doubt I heard something."

  "Wasn't me." Will shook his head. "All the noise and stress must be getting to you."

  "I'm not crazy." Jack huffed. "Listen carefully, maybe you'll hear something."

  "Okay, I'll listen, but I don't think it's anything."

  Two giant waves intersected directly in front of the bow. The crests added to each other forming a wave of monstrous proportions. Jack stared at the wall of water into which the bow was about to bury itself. He threw the gears in reverse and pushed the throttles to maximum but it was not enough to prevent the bow from going under the water. The boat recovered quickly and shook off the sea.

  "That was close!" Will perspired and wiped his brow. "I'm glad you're at the helm and not me!"

  "This is getting worse." Perspiration slid down Jack's neck. "See if the radio works."

  Will toggled the radio switch on and off several times. "Nothing but static. Hey! Did you see that light?"

  Jack pushed the throttles slightly forward. "Yes, the lightning is close. Don't worry. The hull is fully grounded."

  A flash of light appeared again to starboard. Each flash was followed by a yellow glow that lasted for a few seconds. Neither Jack nor Will noticed the glow. Their main job was survival in the most severe storm they had ever encountered. Fortunately, years of experience on the water had prepared them for the challenge.

  "Looks like it's starting to ease up," Will said slowly.

  "I agree." Jack felt tense. "...could be just a temporary lull."

  A bright flash nearly blinded them. It was instantly followed with a deafening crash. The boat shook violently and the engine alarms screeched. Jack composed himself and reset the alarms. He examined the gauges and found nothing out of order.

  "And you were just talking about a lightning strike." Will smirked slightly.

  "Take a look around. See if there's any damage. It's getting worse."

  Will noticed the upper half of the whip antenna blackened from the lightning strike.

  "Go check below." Jack held the helm tightly. "Make sure the windows and hatches are still secure."

  Will disappeared. The wind gusts howled through the cracks between the door and the frame into the pilothouse. The sounds cycled in a crescendo and decrescendo overpowering the noise of the rain. Jack saw another flash of light from starboard. This time he noticed the yellow afterglow, but thought nothing of it. Will returned and reported all was secure and watertight below. The flash to starboard occured again and Will also noticed it.

  "Did you see that?" Will pointed.

  "Sure did," Jack said quickly. "Must be a lot of static electricity causing the glow; maybe it’s St. Elmo’s fire."

  "Possible." Will nodded. "It gives me the creeps."

  The wind, rain and waves buffeted the boat for an hour before it slackened. The rain slowed to a light drizzle and the wind diminished to light gusts. Only the waves remained, but even they showed signs of flattening.

  "We're finally going to get a break." Jack turned and faced Will. "Take the helm for me. I need a break."

  Will took his place at the helm. The waves settled down to a foot in height. He saw the magnetic compass needle was stuck in place. Jack checked the electronic navigation aids and found them still out of order.

  "We're out here blind until we can see the sun," Jack said.

  "At least it's now easier to make headway." Will laughed. "...to nowhere."

  "Adjust the throttles and keep us comfortably positioned in the water. There is plenty of time left for the sun to make its appearance."

  The rain stopped completely and the waves disappeared. The boat remained surrounded by rain falling on all sides a short distance from the sides. Above was a low ceiling of thick gray-white clouds. Jack surveyed the limited horizon and concluded they were in the middle of the storm: its eye.

  "The quiet before the rest of the storm?" Will smiled.

  "I'm afraid so." Jack sighed. “At least we know we're halfway through it."

  Will twisted the radio dial, heard static, and turned it off.

  "This may sound crazy," Will said. "I have this creepy feeling someone is watching us."

  "That's ridiculous." Jack looked over his shoulder. "I must admit I feel the same thing. This storm has us on edge. That's all."

  It was a matter of waiting before the storm started again. Without time there was no other way to the safety of clear water. Jack did not look forward to the fight ahead, but it was necessary to get out of the central calm. He hoped the storm would pass before nightfall.

  "Are you ready?" Jack said. "Head straight into the rain."

  "Straight ahead." Will pushed the throttles forward slightly.

  The boat moved toward the closest wall of rain. Will pushed the throttles forward a little farther. He noticed that although they were moving through the water the edge of the rain remained the same distance away. They made no progress in reentering wall of the storm. Will looked at Jack.

  "What's going on?" Will said.

  "I don't know. I've never seen a storm move as stangely as this one. Turn to port and enter over there." Jack pointed.

  Will changed direction by a full ninety degrees. The wall of rain remained the same distance from the bow as before regardless of the throttles. He changed speed and direction several times and made no progress toward the surrounding wall of rain.

  "Will, bring us to a com
plete stop. Let's see what happens."

  The boat came to a full stop with the engines on idle. They scanned the surrounding wall of rain. The ocean beneath them was as still as a sheet of glass.

  "Turn off the engines," Jack said.

  Will cut the engines off but still held onto the helm. They remained totally motionless in stark contrast to the storm that roiled around them. Off to starboard was a flash with a trailing yellow glow. They stared at each other expecting to get an answer to what was happening; neither had a clue.

  "Any ideas?"

  "None at all." Jack continued scanning their narrow horizon.

  The only sounds were the ones they made. It was completely quiet.

  "Jack," an unfamiliar voice said.

  "There it is again." Jack turned to Will. "Did you hear it?"

  "It wasn't a human voice." Will hesitated. "It was more like a voice in my head. This is creepy."

  "Jack."

  "Where are you?" Jack turned in every direction. "Who are you?"

  "I am all around you," the voice said.

  "Where all around us?" Jack shook his head. Was he sane?

  "This is not a hallucination, I am all around you," the voice said. "I can read the disbelief in your mind. You are not dreaming."

  "Will, can you hear all this? Or is this a dream?"

  "No, it's not a dream,” Will said. "I can hear everything clearly, but I can't make any sense of it."

  "The only thing around us is the storm."

  "...and the flashes of light off to starboard."

  "I am both," the voice said. "No harm will come to you. Contact between us was unavoidable. Our paths intersected."

  "What are you? Where do you come from?" Jack looked all around.

  "I am the storm. My home is here. I have no knowledge of my beginning. I have been out here for a long time by your standards of measuring time. Over the years I have encountered many such as you. I assure you I mean no harm to your lives or vessel. In the past that was not always possible, many ships have been unable to sustain the turbulence generated by my being on the water."