Shipwrecked

Note: Chapter 14 contains acts of violence that some may find too graphic. I've done my best to leave as much to the imagination as possible, while conveying the essential terror of the situation. You be the judge. Read, skip, or skim. Also, this is a standalone story that does not relate to any of my prior Voyage stories. It was in fact started long before "Shadows of the Past" and "The Red Menace". Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1 - Missing

October 1983

"Where the dickens can he be?"

"Telephone lines are down throughout much of New England, Admiral. I'm sure he's fine."

"The hell you are!"

"He always turns up, sir."

"We're due to leave port in sixteen hours and we've had no word!"

"I can try the Coast Guard again."

"What the hell was he thinking sailing solo with a hurricane off shore?"

"In all fairness, Admiral, every forecaster said it was heading away from land. None predicted the sudden turn back. It caught a lot of people unprepared."

"He's not a lot of people. He should know better. I trust him with one of the world's largest and most expensive boats. What kind of judgment does he show?"

"He's never been one to take the same care when it's just him, sir, you know that. In truth, I should have stayed behind with him to help him settle things."

"Don't be ridiculous. You have responsibilities that can't be shirked, added to his when he's away. Frankly, if anyone is to blame for him going off by himself so long, it's me. I should have been more supportive. Six weeks from diagnosis to death and his mother didn't even tell him until she was in hospice care the last week. He looked like hell when we left the funeral. I should have insisted he'd come back with us. I could have arranged help for someone to close up the ruddy summer house and deal with the legal matters. Then he'd be back by now."

"I don't think this is a productive train of thought, Admiral. You can't exactly control someone else's grieving."

"I should have tried. All right, get on the horn with the Coast Guard again. No, better still, let me talk to them this time."

"Yes, sir. Just do be aware that dozens of fishing and lobster boats got caught unawares too. They have their hands full."

"It's a sorry mess, Chip."