Henry and Tom: Ocean Adventure Series Book 1: Rescue (Ocean Adventures Series)

by Michael Atkins

  HENRY AND TOM

  By Michael Atkins and Wid Bastian

  ©Copyright 2014

  Michael Atkins and Wid Bastian

  Published by MB Imaginum

  Copyright © All rights reserved to the authors. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the author. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental.

  ISBN-13: 978-0692303276

  ISBN-10: 0692303278

  Praise for Henry and Tom

  “Henry and Tom is beautifully written and filled with powerful and moving images…Tom’s story is also grand and inspirational as the man rediscovers the dreams he had put on hold for far too long and sets out on his great adventure.”

  ~Readers Favorite - (Starred Review)~

  “Henry and Tom will make you think about who “we” (human animals) are who "they" (nonhuman animals) are, and is based on what we know about the meaningful friendships that form between different species…”

  ~Dr. Marc Bekoff - Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

  University of Colorado, Boulder ~

  “Spellbinding! Exquisitely penned with captivating imagery and a fascinating plot that inspires the heart and engages the mind. This gratifying work my Michael Atkins and Wid Bastion is crafted to leave the reader marveling at the wonders of the ocean and the power of dreams.”

  ~S.S.Segran – Award-winning author of Aegis Rising~

  "This is the book you've been waiting for...Amazing fiction that will take you to places you want to go..."

  ~Ed Tyll - Award Winning News Journalist~

  "A heartwarming journey for lovers of the sea."

  ~Nadia Scrieva - Bestselling Author of Sacred Breath Series~

  “Henry and Tom is an extraordinary story of friendship, nature and humanity.”

  ~Ezine Articles

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty One

  Chapter Thirty Two

  Chapter Thirty Three

  Chapter Thirty Four

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Chapter Thirty Six

  Authors’ Biographies

  Social Media

  Chapter One

  July 1995

  San Diego, California

  Tom was up half an hour before sunrise. He did his best not to disturb Sydney; she preferred to sleep in until the last possible moment before going to work. He kissed his new wife softly on the cheek. She stirred, but did not wake up. Tom slid out of bed and into his running shorts and T-shirt.

  Coffee was a must. Both Tom and Syd loved Kona coffee and although it was expensive, it was one of the few luxuries they both agreed was mandatory. Drinking his java, Tom watched out of his kitchen window as his neighbor Ron stood on his front porch monitoring his dog Fred while the pooch relieved himself on the front lawn. Tom missed owning a dog. His beloved Lacey, a black lab/Australian healer mix, had died a year earlier.

  Lacey’s passing might have been just as well – not only was she old at twelve, Sydney was allergic to dogs and cats and to any other furry creature with four legs. Tom was coming to terms with the reality that the rest of his adulthood would be lived sans pets. It was a tradeoff Tom Campbell was willing to make because he adored his new wife. Still, the idea of going through life without animal companions was difficult for Tom to accept. He had always had a pet, usually more than one. But not Syd – not only did her allergies make that impossible, her parents simply would not tolerate the mess and hassle of owning a dog or cat or even a hamster.

  Sydney Campbell was a very attractive woman. Her looks were deliberately understated and her husband liked it that way. Tom told her, and meant it, that she looked best naked. Syd wore makeup, but it was applied sparingly. She was tall, almost six feet, so she almost never wore heels because they made her feel self-conscious about her height. Her model like frame, thin with curves in all the right places, was usually obscured by trendy, but loose fitting, clothes. The only time Tom caught men admiring Syd was when they went to the beach and she was in her bikini.

  Fourteen months ago Tom walked into a small café he frequented near Mission Beach. It was late in the afternoon. He had just finished a vigorous “old man” (Tom was almost thirty at the time) volleyball game on the beach and was sweaty and sandy. He was starving, so he popped in for a quick burger and fries. But from the second he walked in, he forgot about food.

  Sydney Rogers was sitting with a girlfriend on the outdoor patio. She was wearing a pair of mid-length red shorts and a white top. She had on mirror shades and her jet black hair was wrapped in a tight bun. Tom was not normally the type of man to stare at women or to approach women he did not know in public places. While he was by no means conservative, Tom was not a “player” in any sense of the word. His last relationship had ended months ago in a less than amicable separation.

  The first thing Tom did was look for a ring on her finger. Seeing none, he bought a Snapple and took a seat across from Sydney and pretended to read a local community paper as he sipped his drink. Because he was less than four feet away from them and it was not too noisy, Tom could hear the women’s conversation.

  “I’m still lost. Why is Dr. Jansen upset with you?” Sydney’s friend asked.

  “He did not like my approach. He said that my proposed dissertation ‘lacked depth’. Evidently exploring the dynamic between siblings raised in an alcoholic home is not a sexy enough topic for him,” Sydney answered.

  “Sounds boring to me too,” the friend teased.

  “Thanks so much for your support, Jen. I’ll remind you of this conversation the next time I’m sitting on your couch consoling you as you cry your eyes out over your latest loser boyfriend.”

  “Touché,” Jen said.

  “Any new prospects?” Syd asked.

  “Nope, all dry on the man front. You?”

  “Not looking. Too busy,” Syd replied.

  Jen leaned over close to Sydney and whispered, “You might want to look to your left.”

  Tom, being very much not slick, was staring at Sydney without his sunglasses on. He was not wise enough to know that her friend was giving Syd a heads up to his attentions. When Sydney suddenly looked to her left, Tom was nailed.

  “Hi,” Tom said. The word sounded lame, pathetic even, coming out of his mouth. Tom felt like he was a sixteen year old pimply faced kid again drooling over the head cheerleader in high school.

  Sydney laughed – not at Tom, but at the situation. She was impressed that Tom simply said
hello and didn’t try and hide his interest in her.

  “Come here often handsome?” Jen said, giggling.

  “He was saying hello to me, Jen. How rude,” Sydney teased.

  “Yes, ah… hello. Hello to both of you,” Tom stammered.

  “You look like you’ve been playing on the beach,” Jen said.

  “Volleyball. Yea, I could use a shower, no doubt.”

  “Your place or mine,” Jen teased. Jen Garrett was an insufferable flirt. When she saw that she was making Tom uncomfortable – translation, he was a nice guy, not some pretentious jerk on the make – she turned up the heat.

  Tom blushed. Sydney noticed that and liked it.

  “Ignore my friend; she can be an idiot at times. I’m sorry; I didn’t catch your name,” Sydney said.

  “Tom,” Tom said, reaching out to shake Sydney’s hand. “Tom Campbell.”

  “Sydney Rogers,” Syd replied as she shook Tom’s hand.

  “Doctor Sydney Rogers,” Jen added. “I’m Jen.”

  “Nice to meet you both. Doctor of what?” Tom asked.

  “I’m a psychologist,” Sydney replied. “Or I will be in a few months if I can get my dissertation approved.”

  “You’re studying at UCSD?” Tom asked.

  “I am, where do you -.”

  Sydney was interrupted by her friend. “Hey, I’ve seen you. You’re on TV once in a while. You’re that guy from Scripps, aren’t you?”

  “I’m the Director of Public Relations at Scripps, yes. I make statements to the press, meet with donors and handle all aspects of media relations,” Tom explained.

  “Are you an oceanographer?” Sydney asked.

  “No, once upon a time I thought about becoming one or a marine biologist, but my talents lie elsewhere.”

  “I’ll bet they do,” Jen said, leaving no doubt that she was making a play for Tom.

  “You’re good a public speaking then? Speaking to small groups as well?” Sydney said as she shot a quick glare at Jen that clearly conveyed the message, “back off”.

  “I speak with people or groups on almost a daily basis,” Tom confirmed.

  “God, I need your help! Would you be willing to coach me a bit? I have to present my dissertation proposal next week and I’m scared to death,” Sydney asked.

  “Sure,” Tom said, trying not to jump out of his shoes with enthusiasm. “I mean, of course. How do I -.”

  “Call me,” Sydney said. “I’ll work around your schedule. What luck! I was so worried.” Sydney handed Tom her phone number written on a napkin.

  “You guys need me to leave now? I mean if you two want to be alone I understand,” Jen said.

  “What if we name our first born daughter after you?” Tom joked.

  Sydney liked that too. Tom caught on to the situation and teased Jen right back. When Tom stood to leave, it didn’t hurt his prospects with Syd that he looked great in his shorts and tight shirt.

  “You’ll call me? For sure?” Sydney asked.

  “Your phone is already ringing,” Tom said as he tossed his Snapple bottle in the trash. “Nice to meet both of you.”

  “Why is it that the nice guys always go for you?” Jen said after Tom walked away.

  “He did seem like a nice man, didn’t he. I really do desperately need help with my public speaking, you know that,” Syd said.

  “What you desperately need to do is to get laid,” Jen said.

  “Yea, there’s that too,” Sydney agreed.

  Six months later Tom and Sydney were married. Jen was Syd’s maid of honor, but they refused to name their first daughter after her. Their first daughter would be named Jessica, after Sydney’s beloved grandmother.

  ^^^^^^

  Tom was packing his briefcase and setting out his suit when he felt Sydney come up from behind him and put her arms around him.

  “I woke you up. Sorry honey,” Tom said as he turned around and kissed his wife.

  “That’s okay. I was dreaming about you anyway,” Sydney said.

  “Nightmare?” Tom asked.

  “Just the opposite,” Syd replied.

  Forty five minutes later Tom headed out for his run on the beach. He’d have to cut his morning jog short today in order to be at work on time, or at least be reasonably late. That was fine with him because being with Sydney was spectacular. There was nothing better in the world.

  The “June gloom” fog, still around in July, was heavy as Tom began to run. Instead of winding his way through the neighborhood, Tom ran directly towards the beach.

  Chapter Two

  Earlier that morning while Tom and Sydney were still sleeping, two sperm whales, a cow and her calf, were swimming close to the surface five miles to the west of Pacific Beach. Out to sea there was no fog, so the night was warm and clear. The full moon was illuminating the calm water. They were not moving towards any specific destination. Their pod, three other cows and two more calves, traveled up and down the California and Mexican coasts year round.

  Food was plentiful in the area. Large squid were found in abundance in deeper waters. Fish of many varieties, as well as octopus and skates, could be taken closer to shore. The cows had no enemies here and the calves were rapidly reaching the size where even the largest sharks and orcas were no threat to them.

  The cow communicated with her calf and sister whales by clicking. The pod’s coda (group of clicks) was unique both in terms of its language and its messages, which represented objects, information and actions pertinent to the whales. Their eyesight was very poor and used only for short distance object recognition. The whales used echolocation to scan and interpret their ocean environment.

  The whales could hear the whishing sound of objects traveling on the surface of the water moving towards them. They were accustomed to encountering these objects and sounds. The whales knew that the small creatures that lived on land used these objects to carry themselves over the waves.

  There was, in the collective memory of the pod, a notion that these land creatures that moved on top of the water could be dangerous, even a predator, but it had been a very long time since any whale in these waters was attacked by these creatures. In fact, the whales had recent memories and thoughts about these land animals being very curious about them. Especially when the sun was at its highest point in the sky, smaller floating objects with many land creatures in them could often be found sitting still on the surface as the whales swam by.

  The mother cow clicked to her calf. They would not be joining the rest of the pod as they dove to feed. For now, they were content to swim along at a slow but steady pace. They would rejoin the rest of the pod after a period of time.

  The U.S. Navy had three surface ships in the area on maneuvers, all cruisers. Their mission was to test the latest mid-frequency sonar. Active sonar, the method the Navy had used for decades to detect and track submarines, now had insufficient range. Especially when used at levels above 235 decibels, the new mid-frequency sonar was proving to be highly effective at finding and tracking nuclear submarines.

  Somewhere in the general area a Navy attack sub was running silent and deep. When the exercises began, the cruisers’ job was to use their new sonar to find and track the sub.

  The sound made by a Saturn V rocket taking off is around 235 decibels. Sperm whales can also produce sounds of this magnitude and often do when communicating with other whales over long distances. Within and across pods, sperm whales have a system of ethics that they strictly adhere to regarding echolocation. Unless there is sufficient separation, a sperm whale will not blast another sperm whale with a deafening coda. If the whales did not practice these self-restrictions when broadcasting their clicks they could easily deafen or otherwise injure each other, especially their calves.

  The water was relatively quiet as the cruisers approached the cow and calf. Off in the distance the cow could hear her sisters sounding as they dove, but their clicks were faint. The cow could tell that the objects that moved on the surface were getting cl
oser to them, so she stopped and signaled her calf to stop as well. They were hovering twenty feet or so beneath the surface.

  Without warning, a cruiser let loose a blast of sound in excess of 250 decibels. They were beginning their exercise. After a few seconds interval, a second cruiser released another deafening ping. The third cruiser followed up with a third sonar burst.

  The cow had no warning that she was about to be hit by these sound waves. She was two hundred yards away from the first cruiser when the sonar blasted her. The calf, because he was swimming closely by her side away from the ships, was shielded a bit from the sound, but he was also stunned. The cow stopped moving and slowly floated to the surface. The lead cruiser was headed straight for her.

  For whatever reason, perhaps due to the dim pre-dawn lighting, the first cruiser did not see or otherwise detect the whale’s presence. The cow was regaining some of her senses and while she could not move quickly enough to avoid getting struck by the ship, she was able to shove her calf away at the last second. The cruiser’s bow struck the cow mid-body, opening up a terrible gash. Then the propellers ripped another hole in her on the top of her head. The calf was still stunned from the sonar blasts, but the ship did not hit him.

  The ships immediately stopped. The cow floated to the surface; she was deafened and severely injured. The calf sent out his codas to his mother, but she did not respond at first. Bright lights coming from the objects that were floating on the surface now lit up the ocean all around the whales. The calf could see blood flowing from his mother into the water – the sea all around him was turning red. Slowly, the calf was regaining his hearing.

  Time passed as the objects on top of the water circled the whales. The cow gradually regained some of her senses and signaled to her calf. The calf responded by nudging his mother, encouraging her to swim. But the cow was mortally injured. While she could move to a small degree, she would never swim again.

  When the light was about to rise in the sky, the objects on top of the water left the area. The cow was losing a great deal of blood and the blood trail now extended for half a mile. She sent out a repeating set of codas to her calf and nudged him away from her. The calf responded to these nudges by moving closer to his mother, not farther away.