Oblivion 2 Chapter Fifteen "Alas! For that day is a great one, so that there is no other like it, and it is the time of distress for Jacob, But he will be saved even out of it." (Jeremiah 30 v 7.) The blue of the dazzling ocean stretched into infinity, and neither Jamie, Brook nor Mouse, had ever witnessed anything quite so awesome in all their life. Even young Jacob seemed spellbound by the sight. “I can’t get over how calm he is” Jamie remarked to Brook, “he doesn’t seem a bit afraid.” “Jacob knows we are taking him to Vincent.” Mouse stated matter-of-factly, and Brook nodded, “Yes, he can probably feel the connection growing stronger by the mile.” “Actually I don’t think it works like that. By the mileage I mean. When Catherine was in Europe, she and Vincent felt as if they were in the next room to one another. I can hardly imagine such a connection, sometimes I guess it has its good side, but I don’t know that I would want it.” “That’s because you wouldn’t want anyone knowing what you are up to next.” Cullen told her laughing over his shoulder. “You young girls keep secrets.” Jamie and Brook giggled, “We do not.” Cullen smiled, “I believe you, thousands wouldn’t.” Mouse’s face creased into an enigmatic look, he didn’t understand these sparring matches, and they went right over his head. Jamie laughed at his expression, “Well would you like someone to know what you are doing all the time Mouse?” Mouse thought about it long and hard, before replying. Brook and Jamie waited patiently, enjoying the view, until they laughed out loud when Mouse said simply, “No.” “I think that covers everything, doesn’t it Mouse?” Cullen told him, steering the boat against a current that wanted to turn the boat around. His knuckles were white on the wheel, “Just imagine someone knowing when you went topside, especially if it were Father that had the gift.” he laughed out loud at the thought. Then changing the subject because of the unhappy expression on Mouse’s face, he told the boy, “Come up here, and help me will you Mouse. This current is a strong one. It's as well you learn to tackle one such as this, while I am awake to help you.” They had been travelling for well over twelve hours, and there was not a speck of land in sight. “I feel as though we are the only people in the world. Its a weird feeling isn’t it Jamie?” Brook told her when Mouse and Cullen were otherwise entertained. “Its beautiful though isn’t it. All this ocean, all this sunshine, you can just imagine how Vincent felt out in it the first time can’t you?” Brook nodded, “Oh Yes. Do you know this must be the first time I have felt alive since Stephen died. I can understand how it must have felt to Vincent. The whole view is revitalising. I don’t think I will ever forget this experience. Will we be able to stay awhile on the island do you think?” “I’d expect so. Besides, I will insist, and if Culled refuses, I’ll stowaway on Devin’s boat.” “I heard that.” Cullen called down to the two girls. “You don’t need a connection then do you?” Jamie called back, “Your ears are big enough.” Cullen burst into laughter. “I was a little nervous when we went to bed last night, the feel of the ocean beneath me, was so strange.” Brook told them, then directing her next question to Cullen looked up at him, “How was it for you Cullen after so many years away from the ocean?” “Its funny you should ask that. You know it was almost as if I had never been away. I spent several years sailing with my uncle, and the motion beneath you is one you seldom forget. Do you know some sailors can be seen gently swaying, even when on land, as they get that used to the motion of a boat.” “I bet people think they are drunk.” Brook replied smiling. “Yes they do. Have you never heard of the drunken sailor?” and he broke into song, “What shall we do with the drunken sailor, what shall we do with the drunken sailor, what shall we do with the drunken sailor, early in the morning.” “Oh spare us please.” Jamie covered her ears with her hands. “Yes all that cat-o-wailing will frighten Jacob. Talking of which, shouldn’t he be taking a nap about now?” Brook asked. But Cullen wasn’t listening to that part, “Frighten him! Me! You have got to be joking, have you ever heard Father sing? My, if he can get the child to sleep with that voice, Jacob should be hardened off by now.” Everyone, even Mouse, burst into laughter, and even Jacob’s lips twitched, although he didn’t understand exactly what had been said, the laughter around him was infectious. They were well into the fourteenth hour, when Cullen checking his watch announced that he was taking a rest. “You should be okay Mouse, we aren’t that far away from the island now, and the sea is calm, I don’t expect any problems, and Jamie can always help steer if you hit a difficult current. Wake me if there is any real problem though, okay?” Mouse nodded, not replying he was a little nervous. He had never been asked to carry out something quite so important as this in his life. But having steered the boat for two hours, unaided, he felt he should manage all right. Jacob too was sleeping, alongside Brook, asleep also, while Jamie washed up from their lunch. When she had finished she went to stand alongside Mouse, who told her, “Mouse, okay, why don’t you read a book or something.” “I’d rather stay with you.” Though everyone was out of earshot, Mouse still coloured up, he had been slightly aware for some time, of Jamie’s growing attraction towards him, and it made him feel uncomfortable. “Do you like me Mouse?” The direct question made Mouse tremble. “Like you?” Unsure as to where this was leading he remained evasive. “Yes, you know, like me.” Jamie walked around him trailing her hand suggestively across and round his hips. Mouse shuddered, the feel of her hand unnerved him, and for a moment he allowed the boat to get the better of him, and sway slightly to the right. “Must keep boat straight.” he told Jamie. She laughed at him, “That’s okay Mouse, you keep your eyes on the road, and I’ll keep my eyes on you.” A blush crept up Mouse’s neck infusing his cheeks in red blotches; he didn’t like this one bit. “Not on road. On ocean.” he stammered. Jamie laughed, and Mouse detected unreality about that laugh, it was different, somehow stimulating in ways he was inexperienced with. She had kept her hand on the swell of his hip, and he pushed it roughly away, but Jamie, just laughed and put it back there, caressing his bare skin beneath the hem of the T-shirt at his waist. Mouse swallowed hard, not knowing how to handle Jamie in this mood, and wished Culled were there, especially when Jamie trailed her fingers round to his stomach, and stood at his side looking up into his face. He refused to look at her, keeping his concentration, what was left of it, firmly on the way ahead. “Has anyone ever told you how handsome you are Mouse?” Jamie asked softly. Mouse’s mouth dropped open wide, but nothing came out, and Jamie’s tinkling laughter did nothing to make matters any better. To top it all, a feeling he was unaccustomed to had started to creep up from his toes, and settle in his groin, from where it refused to budge. Aware of what she was doing to him, Jamie found the situation immensely funny, and a feeling of power overrode her advances. Her usually shy disposition flew away over the ocean, as she trailed her fingers up his T-shirt to stroke whisper soft caresses over his chest slightly brushing his nipples. Mouse was lost. The feeling was too much, he groaned, nothing like this had ever happened to him before, and not knowing how to handle it, he knew only deep embarrassment, as his pants grew damp, and he thought he had wet himself. Excusing himself rapidly, he ran from her teasing, and fled towards the bathroom, leaving the boat un-manned, as the sound of Jamie’s laughter followed him. Still laughing, Jamie took the wheel and started guiding the boat, gaining confidence as it cut through the softly rippling water, sending a swirling scent of sea-spray up to her nostrils. Suddenly her laughter died abruptly, as some ominous black and white shapes appeared just ahead of her on the ocean. Great swirls of water broke over the massive forms, and just as Jamie uttered the word Orca, she felt the first jolt as the boat rammed straight into the side of one of the great mammals. Pain and distress filled the great Orca’s mind, and she flipped her huge tail in protest, sending spiralling water plummeting across the deck, soaking Jamie. She screamed out in fear as she recalled a horror film she had once seen about two killer whales crashing through the bottom of a boat. A full throated scream followed, as the great Orca lashed its tail again at the boat, and others buffeted it from side to side. Jamie heard the wood crack, saw the sides split, and watched in horror as the surging foam covered the deck. Cullen was beside her in an instance. She hadn’t seen him come to her, he was just suddenly there, “Where’s Mouse?” he yelled over the sound of the splitting wood, his face showing the fear he felt, “Don’t answer that, no time.” he told her as she stammered a reason for Mouse’s disappearance. “Go find him, get Brook and Jacob, and as many supplies as you can especially fresh water, and head for the dingy.” “Why?” Jamie’s wide opened eyes showed that her mind could not comprehend the seriousness of the situation, or maybe it had just shut it off. Cullen pushed her forwards; “Just do it, NOW Jamie, or we are all lost.” Stumbling forwards, Jamie ran into Mouse who was on his way back from the bathroom, grabbing him as she ran tugging him back along with her. He resisted, unsure of her reasons to drag him below deck, but something about the look on her face told him not to argue. Shaking Brook awake, and gathering the sleeping Jacob up into her arms, Jamie, screamed, “The boat is sinking, we have to get off it.” Brook laughed, “Yes, and I’m the Loch Ness Monster.” she called back gaily, smiling while she rubbed her eyes, “Are we there yet?” “No, really, come on Brook, get up, the boat is sinking, we have to get in the dingy,” and as to emphasise her point water started to gently lap at her feet. Brook froze, “No.” she mumbled, “Tell me I’m still dreaming.” as Jamie bundled as many things into bags as she could with Jacob slung over her shoulder. “Here take these bags, we need fresh water, and supplies, and blankets. Come on Brook, get up, let’s go.” Stumbling up upon the deck, Brook found her feet would not hold her, she staggered and slipped as the boat tilted at one end, and the realisation of the horror hit her as she came up on deck. One end of the boat was completely submerged, and Cullen had unhitched the dingy and was waiting for them to get in. “Here, I’ll take the baby, you two get in. Mouse, you next.” He helped the three into the dinghy, passing the whimpering Jacob to Brook and made to get in himself, when he had a sudden urgent thought. “I must radio for help.” he called. “You get going, try to keep away from the whales, I’ll swim to you if I have to do, now go!” He passed them two pairs of paddles, and raced back towards the cabin. His mind still in a whirl, Cullen could only stammer when he made contact, “ We’re sinking!” he yelled. “Who are you, give me your course.” Cullen shook his head; it seemed to be full of cotton wool. “Skylark,” he stammered, only just remembering the name of the boat, “We’re about four hours from destination.” “Can the boat be emptied?” “No, it’s partially sunk now, we are getting into the dinghy.” “What happened, is there another boat involved?” “No, crashed into killer whales. They’re everywhere.” “Don’t worry, we’ll find you. Keep the dinghy away from the boat or you will be sucked down with it.” “Okay.” Cullen dropped the receiver, and fled, half pleased to see the dingy well away from the almost submerged boat, half afraid at having to swim to safety through the swirling ocean filled with Orca. “Coast guard to Albatross. Hello Albatross are you reading me?” Devin jumped up to answer the radio, something in the way the words were uttered sending waves of the shivers running through him. “Albatross here, what’s wrong?” “That you Devin?” “Yes.” “You alone?” “Yes why?” “There’s a problem. A big problem. The boat bringing your friends has capsized.” Devin gasped, “Jacob?” he whispered almost to himself as fear clutched his heart. “What did you say?” Regaining his composure, he replied, “The people on board...are they...lost?” “No, they are in a dinghy, but we must get to them. Seems they hit a shoal of Orca, and are still in the middle of them, can you get out to where they are? You are closer than we are, and the helicopter is already out on a mission. As soon as it returns I’ll have it out there to them at once.” “Of course, of course.” Devin told him, his mind reeling, listening, and writing down the estimated location. “Keep in touch Devin, keep the frequency open, I’ll call you when I know anything.” Devin put down the receiver. Running up onto the deck, he shook Gerry awake who had been sunbathing on the deck, she stretched lazily, “Okay, where’s the fire?” The smile died on her lips when she saw his expression, and was on her feet instantly. “What’s wrong?” “Gerry, I need you to get across to the island and back in the fastest time you have ever swum, and call everyone back, there is no time to lose, the boat that Jacob was on has sunk, they are drifting in a dingy, amid all those killer whales.” Gerry clasped a hand to her mouth in horror, and without wasting a second, dived over the side of the boat into the turquoise sea. “Tell us?” Catherine slithered her body over the side of the boat, and ran towards Devin; “Tell us?” she shook his benumbed body, as he continued to stare horrified at her. Vincent ran behind her sliding on the deck, and Devin watched, as anxious faces appeared one by one over the boat’s side, to haul dripping bodies up onto the deck. “I didn’t want to worry any of you.” he told them lamely, “I didn’t expect there would be a problem. Jacob was missing you two dreadfully, and Peter thought he would be best coming out here.” “We should never have come.” Vincent shook his head, his long wet hair hanging in tendrils down his shoulders, “We should have realised he would miss us so.” “I’ll never forgive myself if he drowns.” A sob caught in Catherine’s throat, and Vincent wound his arms around her drawing her back against the hard length of his body. “He won’t die Catherine, but I can feel his anguish. I have felt it for days.” “Me too, but now he is really frightened.” Devin had started up the boat, “Are you all coming, does anyone want to stay on the island?” “Are you kidding?” Father retorted, “Get moving, we are wasting time.” Devin nodded, “They are about four hours away.” “Four hours!” Vincent exclaimed, “Anything could happen.” “But it won’t.” Devin tried to reassure them. “How can you be so sure.” Mary cried. “It’s all I have to cling to.” he told her simply, as tears welled in his eyes. “I’m sorry Devin, of course they will be all right. Whose with Jacob?” “I don’t know.” “You, don’t...you don’t know?” Father screeched. “No, I spoke to Peter yesterday, at that time even he did not know who was bringing Jacob. I only know what time they left, but the coast-guard didn’t know who was coming out either, and the boat was hired in Peter’s name.” Father shook his head, “Well lets just hope its someone responsible, and not someone like Mouse.” “Father please!” Vincent begged, cradling Catherine’s trembling body close. “I’m sorry Vincent, I spoke without thinking. Mary can you fetch my bag please, I’ll give Catherine something to calm her.” “No!” Catherine exclaimed, “No, I don’t want any drugs Father, nothing to numb my senses, or it will effect the connection Vincent and I have with Jacob, and that now is his lifeline.” Father nodded, and patted her hand, words failing him. There was nothing he could say now that would ease her pain. Ease any of their pain, and he could only lower himself down into a seat and watch as Devin steered the boat out of the bay into the great expanse of blue ocean. *** *** *** Cullen tried to judge the situation from his standpoint. If he didn’t move soon, he would be swallowed up with the rapidly sinking boat, yet if he misjudged it, one swipe of an Orca’s tail could kill him. He had heard about killer whales. Gentle giants they were known as yet rile them and you knew otherwise. A family group, they would protect one another, coming to each other’s defence, and Cullen was petrified of them. Could they smell fear? He did not know. It didn’t matter if they did. It wasn’t the essence here, somehow he had to swim through the mass of thrashing bodies to the dinghy without being injured and that in itself was enough. So far they did not seem to have noticed the dingy, which was a mistake to think it, of course they had, but their war was not with the dingy, it was with the boat which had caused one of them injury and pain. Comforted momentarily by the thought, Cullen dived into the ocean and began swimming as fast as he could towards the dingy, aided by the cries of its occupants urging him onwards. Within yards of reaching it, he saw out of the corner of one eye, the unmistakable dorsal fin cutting through the water, which to him looked very much like a shark rather than a killer whale. It circled him, wary at first, swimming in tighter and tighter circles around him, reaching him virtually at the same moment as his hands clasped the dingy sides, to haul himself up and over the side as the shark homed in on his disappearing feet. His face was ashen and his body shook uncontrollably, as Brook whispered, “Was that a shark?” Cullen could only nod. “I’ve heard about that.” Jamie told them, “they will have been alerted by the Orca, but they don’t usually mix together.” Almost the moment the words were out of her mouth, the Orca sensed or saw the lone shark and leaving the joy of mutilating the boat, they came straight at it, with intent to kill. “Paddle!” screamed Cullen, “Paddle now!” The tiny dinghy rocked with the swell of the surging bodies as they gathered speed gaining on the shark still yards away. And as the four grown people inside the dingy started to paddle, Jacob let out an ear-piercing wail from his position in the centre of the dingy, as an Orca dived below, her tail swishing cold water all over them. “Stop!” yelled Jamie, “It’s all right, look the Orca, they are going around us, they don’t mean us any harm.” “Its impossible to paddle anyway in this surge, the current they are making is too strong, we could never work against it. My, look at that shark go.” Cullen shouted over the thunderous sound of breaking water, as the Orca cut and dived through it. “As long as he goes right away from here, that’s all I hope.” Brook replied, fear in her eyes, watching the Orca chase him out of sight. It seemed only within moments that the ocean was calm again, as the receding black and white giants swam a long, long way off from them, leaving each one feeling exhilarated by the Orca’s speed, despite the situation. “ Someone tell me I’m dreaming.” Mouse uttered at last. He was beginning to think his voice had sunk with the boat. It was such a funny statement to hear Mouse utter, that everyone burst into nervous laughter. “And where were you?” Cullen regaining himself at last, looking at Mouse sternly, “I mean where the hell were you. I left you at the wheel, and within minutes we are shipwrecked.” Mouse turned eyes away from him to look at his feet, there were no words to explain. Jamie fidgeted, slightly, “I’m afraid that was my fault.” she told Cullen, “I distracted Mouse.” “Distracted him, but he wasn’t even there. What you do, chase him away?” he was only joking so was unprepared for Jamie’s answer. “Something like that.” Jamie told him honestly. Then turning to Mouse told him, “I’m sorry Mouse, truly I am.” What else could she say? Her lips fumbled for the words, but with Cullen and Brook’s eyes upon her, and not wanting to cause Mouse any further embarrassment and least of all herself, she stopped while she was ahead. Cullen took in the obvious flustered state of Mouse, and then Jamie. He had heard via the grapevine that Jamie had begun to notice Mouse in that way, so it didn’t take a genius to guess what had transpired between them. Torn between rubbing it in and letting it go he chose the latter. They were in no position for laughter or embarrassing company. Instead he looked around him, “Well, I'm really not sure which way to go now, but we can’t stay here all night, so we had best get paddling, and just hope that we are heading towards civilisation.” *** *** *** Keeping the sun to their left and a mass of ocean to their right, was the only way Cullen knew they were headed in the right direction, but as the sun began to sink beneath the horizon, he grew agitated. They had been bobbing along for five hours, and yet had they of been on the boat they would have reached the island an hour since. Knowing his thoughts Jamie desperately tried to reassure him. “The dingy goes so much slower Cullen, its going to take double the time now, if not more. Don’t let it worry you, providing we are heading the right way, we have enough food and water for several days.” “That’s not the problem though Jamie, with the sun setting we could so easily lose our course, and could drift right past the island, we won’t be able to tell where the bay is, in the dark.” Cullen told her. Anguish seared her soul as she realised the truth of his words. They could drift for weeks, she had heard of people doing that, and of course, there was young Jamie to consider, although in a mild sort of way he was showing no fear of their predicament. “Have you got a pen?” Mouse suddenly asked to no one in particular. Brook smiled, “This is no time to write postcards Mouse.” He half smiled at her. “Mouse has good idea.” he grinned. “Well I had one, but I expect it got soaked when I was swimming, still it might work, here try it.” Cullen pulled it from his pocket, extracting the top and was pleased to see that the nib was quite dry. “What’s your plan Mouse,” he asked as he wrote on his hand to see if it still worked. Satisfied it did, he handed Mouse the pen. “Dingy circular.” Mouse told him as if that answered a thousand questions. “I don’t want to state the obvious Mouse, “Cullen told him, “But I think we already know that.” Mouse grinned, leaning over to the left side of the dingy to write upon it the word ‘LEFT’ in big letters, and doing likewise with the other side with the word ‘RIGHT’. “What’s that to prove?” Jamie asked laughing. “Sun on left, ocean on right.” Mouse told her. Cullen slapped a hand to his brow, “But of course, why didn’t I think of that. So when the sun rises, if we are facing the other way on, we know we have turned around. Well done Mouse.” Mouse’s beaming smile faded when Jamie retorted, “You think that’s clever, Cullen you are at the top end, and I am here, surely if we remember which way we were facing, we could tell which way was which?” “Really?” Cullen told her. “And what if we should move about in the night, and lose our bearings, huh? What then?” Jamie remained silent feeling foolish. Besides, she didn’t intend to move the dinghy was bouncy enough as it was. “Are my eyes deceiving me, or is that a boat out there?” Brook scanned the horizon with a hand held to her brow. Cullen turned swiftly, straining his eyes to see, “It does look like a boat. God, what a fool I am, I should have brought the flares.” “You mean you didn’t? No, please tell me you are joking?” Brook told him. Cullen shook his head, “What with everything happening so fast, I just didn’t think.” “Mouse brought rocket.” all faces turned to Mouse, as he extracted from his pocket a slim object with a fuse attached. “Oh Mouse I could kiss you!” Brook hugged him tightly. “I won’t even ask how you happen to have that flare in your pocket Mouse.” Cullen told him. “Not flare, rocket.” Mouse insisted. Cullen leaned forward to examine it, “It is a rocket, but where did you get it?” “Found it.” “Found it where?” “Devin’s chamber. Big box of them.” “What on earth would Devin want with fireworks. Mouse did you take it before or after Devin left for the island.” “Before. Devin took the box with him.” “He must be planning a secret display on the island, then.” Cullen said almost to himself, then added to Mouse, “I don’t suppose you brought any matches did you?” Brook’s face fell, as Mouse’s face beamed, “Of course!” and he produced a small box from another pocket. “Not stealing,” Mouse told them, “Just borrowing.” “Did you only take one rocket?” Cullen asked. Mouse frowned. Followed by a sheepish grin as putting his hand inside his jacket pocket he produced another rocket. “How did you do that?” Jamie asked then perplexed. “You went off to get changed just before the Orca hit us, how did you get hold of the rockets in time?” “Did it yesterday.” Mouse told them. Jamie nodded, “And when you changed your clothing you put yesterday’s clothing on again. I understand.” “One thing,” Brook asked, “Why did you have to get changed Mouse?” Cullen coughed, “I don’t think we want the answer to that Brook, let’s just be grateful for whatever happened up at the wheel, meant that he had to get changed, or else I wouldn’t like to ascertain our fate now. Look that boat is coming closer, but I doubt it can see us. We’ll use one rocket now, and save the other, for another time, just in case.” But Mouse was unravelling the paper around the gunpowder. “Mouse, what are you doing!” “Mouse know. Make more.” he told them happily, and they watched as his busy little fingers broke open the plastic coating, carefully unwrapped each rocket, shorten them and made them into four smaller ones, broke their sticks in half and then put them all back together again. “I jolly well hope they still work Mouse, you should have only tampered with one, until we were certain of success.” Cullen told him, his eyes fixed upon the boat, which seemed to be getting further away. “Hurry, there is no time to lose, we must light one now. Give one to me.” “My rocket.” Mouse told him, holding the rocket and matchbox in one hand and using his other to strike a match. “God I hope it doesn’t blow his hand off.” Brook whispered closing her eyes unable to watch. Mouse hesitated, he hadn’t thought of that. Letting the match go out, his horror filled eyes asked the silent question racing through his mind, as Cullen continued to urge, “Come on, come on, they are going away.” Still Mouse hesitated. Cullen snatched the rocket from his hand, “Let me do it. We may not get another chance, and it’ll soon be dark.” Mouse handed him the matches, his fingers shaking, as he too saw the boat disappearing from view, and watched in silence as Cullen held the lighted match towards the touch paper. “Stop! I can’t bear it, you are going to do yourself a serious injury, and if you bleed that shark could come back, I have an idea.” Jamie shouted, stilling Cullen’s hand with the lighted match, before it reached its goal. “We need a bottle. If we tip out the water, we could use one of those bottles.” “We can’t waste the water Jamie, it’s needed.” “Then we must drink it between us.” “But we need to ration it.” Cullen told her. “Have you a better idea?” “Mouse know.” Mouse told them coming to the rescue again. Quickly he extracted the contents of the pen into Jamie’s hand, and then taking the outer casing of the pen, showed that one of the rocket sticks would slide into it. It wasn’t brilliant but it proved better than holding the actual rocket, and the worse that would happen is that whoever held it would get a bad burn from the sparks. “Here hold a corner of this blanket around your hand, it’ll help save it a little.” Brook told Cullen. “Or set fire to it,” Cullen smiled. “Well now that’s all settled, where is that damn boat?” Looking to its place, the recent excitement between them died as they found it was no-where in sight. “Now what are we to do?” Cullen took the rocket back into his hand and tried to give everyone an encouraging smile, “Well having gone through all that, and knowing the boat is somewhere out there, I don’t think we have any choice, we have still got to try. Okay everyone, ready, here goes.” Vincent leaned over the railings, his mind weary from thinking. As the sun died signalling the end of another day, he sighed, somewhere out there on that huge expanse of ocean was his son, and Vincent found it frustrating to be able to feel his son close by, and not know where he was. Catherine handed him a steaming mug of tea, “Drink this darling.” she told him, “It’ll warm you through.” he took it absentmindedly, sipping at the hot liquid, not tasting it. “I know he’s out there somewhere Catherine, not far either. He isn’t afraid anymore, but he’s not sleeping either.” Catherine leaned against Vincent, loving the security his body offered, while he held the mug in both hands, his elbows leaning upon the railing. “We should have seen something by now. Devin thinks we may have missed them. He is arguing with Father about going back to the island.” “I wondered about that. Perhaps someone should have stayed there, lit a bonfire, something that could be visible from the ocean. They won’t be able to tell where the island is in the dark.” Vincent told her, without any emotion in his tone. “I’ll go and tell them that, it may help finalise the situation.” While she was gone, Vincent thought he saw a sudden flash. It was sharp and a thin trail of light shot up into the sky, followed by a cascading brilliance of stars falling overhead. His roar for his wife’s name sent her racing back to his side. “What is it?” “Out there, I saw a rocket go up. Look upwards, you can still just see tiny sparks falling.” Catherine looked hard and saw what he meant, as Devin raced onto the deck, “Did you see that, did you see that?” “You saw it?” Vincent asked joy flooding through him. “Yes, but it wasn’t a flare, it was more like a rocket. And who would have fireworks way out here?” “Never mind who, you lot, lets get this boat over to that area.” Father hobbled after his son, “Wherever it came from, it proves there is life out there, and someone needs us, even if it isn’t who we hope.” Cullen sucked on his hand, the burn was excruciating. The blanket doing little to prevent the searing pain of the rocket as it left the pen casing, melting it in its path. “Light another.” Jamie shouted, “They might not have seen it.” Cullen looked down at his hand, blistering beneath his eyes. “I don’t think I could.” he told her. “Mouse do it.” Mouse told them, “Mouse not afraid.” “Then you should be, this really hurts.” Cullen told him. “Better idea, better than good, better than better.” Mouse told him, placing another rocket in the burnt out shell of the pen casing, and placing it between his knees. “Mouse no!” Jamie screamed, as she had visions of the rocket blowing up amid delicate parts of Mouse’s body, but her words came too late, as horrified she watched Mouse light the touch-paper and saw the rocket spark into life. A terrific explosion ripped apart the night, and she saw Mouse writhe in pain, as the material of his pants disintegrated, and a gaping wound appeared upon both legs. Mouse jumped to his feet, oh the pain, the pain, the searing, agonising pain, he didn’t know what to do, only that he had to stop the pain. Falling to his knees he let out a long deep sigh as something wet and cold touched his burning skin and the relief it brought was blessed. For several moments he knelt there, until Brook screamed, “My feet are getting wet!” Jamie pulled her feet up, and felt her bottom grow wet, “the dinghy is leaking!” she cried. Horror flashed through Cullen’s mind, Of course the rocket! Held so low between Mouse’s knees it had burnt right through the bottom of the dinghy. They had no life jackets, and when the dinghy had deflated it would offer no protection. Mouse was bleeding, there were shark in such waters, and they didn’t know for sure if they had been seen. “We have to let off the last two rockets,” Cullen told them, “It’s our only hope now. Once they get wet we won’t be able to use them, we may as well cut our loses now. Give them to me Mouse.” “But your hand?” Jamie gathering Jacob against her, took off her pullover to tie it around herself and the child, in the hope that it would keep him with her, at least she was a strong swimmer, but they would need to tread water for maybe hours. “Forget my hand, better to lose a hand than my life.” he told her. “No, let me. Your hands are precious Cullen, look what you use them for Below. What use is your life if you are unable to use your hands ever again, you will feel as good as dead.” Cullen knew she was right, but to bestow this pain on someone else, especially the tender skin of a young girl, never, he couldn’t allow it. Before she had time to argue, he lit another rocket, feeling as he did so, the dingy disappearing beneath him, and followed the rocket with the last one before the pain in his hands had time to register. Watching as the rocket exploded into a thousand stars above his head, he knew only relief as the searing pain in his hands was dulled by the coolness of the ocean. Now all they had between them was hope. “Someone is obviously very distressed. Four rockets in less than a few minutes and that last explosion was a double. Can’t you make it go any faster Devin?” Father called as loud as he could to his son back in the engine room. As if in response Devin opened the boat out full throttle. He hadn’t heard his father’s words, but thinking along the same lines had known the same urgency when he had seen that last double explosion. Gerry huddled at his side, “Is there anything I can do Devin?” Frantically he tried to get his mind into action, suddenly declaring, “Yes take the wheel a moment, I’ll be straight back.” Running, he shouted, “Vincent help me.” And made towards his cabin. Vincent left his place by the railings, and was behind him in seconds. “What is it Devin?” “This box it contains flares. I can’t think where the damn key to it is, smash it open will you?” Vincent brought down his fist, splintering the box into fragments, and watched as Devin bundled some flares into his hands and shouting his thanks, fled back to the deck. “I want them to know we are coming.” Devin called to no one in particular, as he tugged at the cord beneath a flare, and heard it whistle out into the semi-darkened sky, to cascade in a scorching fireball as it exploded high over the ocean. “Now if you can get those lights positioned, out that way, I’ll switch them on.” And he was gone racing back to the cabin where Gerry continued to steer the boat. “Look!” Jamie felt a great rush of happiness flood her senses, as the flare exploded above them, “They’ve seen us, they’ve seen us.” Momentarily the light from the flare, and something else lighted Cullen’s face. Something else was visible in the light. Jamie gasped hugging Jacob tighter against her, as fear filled her soul, “Cullen,” she whispered hoarsely; “there are sharks behind you.” Jacob felt her fear, his tiny heart hammered, sending shock waves across the ocean, through the Bond, to plant themselves in his parent’s hearts, and make them cling to one another in their anguish. “How much further.” Father called, “We don’t even know if it’s them.” “It is.” Vincent told him. Father did not need to ask how he knew both Vincent’s and Catherine’s faces assured him of the fact. “Jacob is very afraid.” Catherine told him, “Something is happening out there, and we aren’t going to reach them in time.” A sob caught in her throat. “Hush now.” Vincent drew her towards his side, kissing her cheek, “We’ll soon be there.” A flood of lights hit the water then, as Devin found the appropriate switches, hoping their brilliance would bring relief to those on the boat. Then straining their eyes to sea, all gasped in horror as Catherine’s scream split the night, and following her gaze saw the unmistakable dorsal fins of many sharks! “What to do, what to do,” Devin’s mind battled with ideas, dismissing this and that as he sorted through them, pacing up and down, up and down as Gerry continued to guide the boat. “I’ve got it!” He cried, running away again, and heading below deck. Chucking audio tapes this way and that, until he found the one he sought he put it on, flicked the switch for the underwater microphone, and the sound of the song of the Orca filled the ocean above and beneath. Running back onto the deck, Devin could hardly believe his eyes, the sharks in fear of the Orca, retreated rapidly in shoals, and he could not stop a whoop of joy escape his lips. “Great idea my boy.” Father shouted. “Yes.” Mary echoed, “Look at them go. My they must hate the Orca.” “They are the sharks’ enemy. And with the recording on so loud, it fools them into thinking the Orca are close by. We shouldn’t have anymore trouble with them tonight. The only thing that would keep them hanging around would be the scent of blood.” Almost as soon as he had said it, he clapped a hand to his mouth horrified. For what other reason were the sharks milling around in the first place? Obviously those people with Jacob were injured in some way. Vincent saw the fear in his brother’s eyes, and tried to avert Catherine’s gaze, but Devin’s words had already sunk in, and Vincent felt a fresh wave of Catherine’s fear stab straight through his heart. “Can you shout, everyone. We have to shout. They aren’t far away but they are heading straight at us. We must let them know where we are.” “Help!” Brook and Jamie screamed together, “Help.” “Mouse?” Where was Mouse? Cullen looked around frantically, “Mouse where are you? MOUSE!” He screamed, as he saw a dorsal fin dive next to Mouse who was frozen with fear at the sight of it so close to him. “Did you hear that! Mouse is with them. Whatever is happening out there?” “I don’t know,” Gerry called, “But I’m sure as hell going to find out.” Without a second thought, she heard Devin screaming her name as she dived from the top deck into the ocean below. “Its all right, its all right”, she called back, “Don’t worry I’m armed.” “Her claws of course!” The words were out of Mary’s mouth before she realised. It took only a second for them to sink in, and Vincent was easing Catherine out of his arms, as he too dived overboard, swimming with ease behind his sister. “VINCENT!” Catherine screamed, feeling helpless as well as afraid, as Devin’s arms stole around her holding her tightly against him, “Don’t worry Cath, they will be all right, I’ve a good feeling about this.” “Who’s manning the boat Devin!” Mary cried, looking from one to the other of those around her. “Oh Lord, I forgot about that!” Devin let Catherine go and raced back to take the wheel that Gerry had just discarded. The lights from the boat rippled across the swirling ocean, as tails from the excited and wary shark fanned great undercurrents around the sweet scent of blood that wafted tantalisingly towards them. Incensed to a frenzy, they did not notice as Gerry reached the side of one glistening body and swiped it with her claws. Blood trickled through the wound, and she watched in horror, as thrashing bodies gorged themselves upon the wounded shark, even as the injured one bit off parts of itself. Swimming past them, she headed towards a group of people huddled together as they bobbed upon the ocean holding tight to the fragments of the burst dingy. “Are you all right.” she called, as she approached. “Gerry!” Jamie called, “Thank Goodness.” “Okay good, okay fine.” Mouse uttered with relief. “Where’s Jacob?” Vincent called as he came alongside his sister, “Vincent!” Cullen cried, “Am I pleased to see you.” “Jacob is with me, he’s fine Vincent, but another few minutes....” She left the statement unfinished. “Don’t remind me, and we aren’t safe yet.” Vincent told her, treading water, and kissing his son’s face over and over. “Are you kidding. With you and Gerry here, nothing can harm us now.” Jamie told him seriously. “I wish I had your faith.” Gerry told her, “These shark are everywhere. Or they were where have they gone? Vincent, can you see any of them?” He shook his head, “No, come on, lets get back to the boat, I don’t like the feel of this.” Together they started to swim quickly towards the boat and Devin, on seeing their approach shut down the engines, and cruised towards them, helping as Father, Charles and Catherine hauled the cold and frightened tunnel dwellers up on deck, aided by Vincent and Gerry who pushed them from behind. Fetching blankets, Mary wrapped them in their warmth, and hurried away to make some hot sweet tea for each of them. “What I can’t understand is where the sharks suddenly went to. One minute they were all around us, and the next they were gone just like that.” Gerry still stood by the rail overlooking the ocean, leaning against Devin who with his arms around her held the blanket in place. “Perhaps the body of the one you slayed sunk to the bottom, and they followed it.” Vincent told her, as he cradled his son upon his lap, kissing the downy head between words. “Maybe”, Gerry didn’t sound convinced. “Look!” Devin exclaimed, “There’s your answer.” He pointed out to where the lights from the boat beamed a spotlight onto the swirl of the ocean, when from it broke the unmistakable black and white body of a large Orca, who drawn by the sound of her own song had unknowingly, saved their lives. “That’s wonderful”, Father exclaimed, as he administered to Cullen and Mouse’s wounds, “I didn’t think we would see them again.” “You sound as though you are happy to see them Father, yet it’s because of them things that we ended up in the water. They’re dangerous.” Jamie trembled with fear. “No, Jamie.” Devin told her, “Look I’ll show you.” Leaning overboard he gently slapped the water, and waited expectantly as the Orca swam to his hands, and allowed him to stroke her. A gurgle came from her, and everyone watched in delight as she opened her mouth to allow him to stroke within. Running his hand around her tongue, he felt rather than saw the stitches beneath her tongue and cried joyfully, “It’s her dad, it’s the one you took the glass from!” “Amazing.” Father stood at his side, looking down with love at the great and awesome creature, bending to stroke her head. “Hello old girl,” he caressed her skin, and laughed as he was rewarded with warm air blowing softly through her mouth into his face, “So now we are even eh?” “Of course!” cried Vincent, watching from behind, with Jacob fast asleep upon his shoulder, “It’s almost as if she knew. Do you think she has been following us?” “Who can say Vincent, all I know is that I am happy she knows about the law of life.”” Father told him happily. “The law of life Father?” Vincent queried. “Yes, the law of life, that is a life for a life. We saved her life and she felt compelled to save someone special to us. Now we are even eh old girl,” he returned his attention to the Orca telling her further, “Now you can return to your family, with a happy heart.” Incredibly, almost as if she understood, the Orca buffeted Father’s hands gently, blew into his hair, and with a swish of her mighty body backed away from the boat to sink beneath the depths out of sight. Leaving behind her a peaceful, easy feeling to wash over everyone on board the boat as calming as the caress of the tranquil sea. To be continued in Chapter Sixteen.