Chapter 25
When Hammersley arrived at the island they notice a yacht near by. Grace, Pete, two dads, spider, Swain temporary replacement, cookie who is bomber replacement and RO left in one of the HRIBS. When they arrived they split up into teams.
Grace, two dads, and Spider was in one team while cookie, and swain temporary replacement and buffer was in another. RO stay with the HRIB. Pete went one way and Grace went another. Grace and spider walk towards the center of the island when Grace stop at a tree, she touch the marking on it
"Are you OK ma'am" spider asked
"Yeah" Grace smile they she look around and notice another marking she she walk over to the next tree.
Then the next till Grace stop and listen. The others watch then Grace ran "mad dog what wrong"
"Pete it Grace I found the down helicopter, I'm quarter of a mile from the HRIB"
"copy that, we are on our way, how do we find you" Grace then stop at the helicopter and check the pilot he was dead
"Look for markings on the trees, look for X carvings in the barks. When he find one look around till you find the next one, follow those X marks"
"copy that, we are on our way"
"charlie two this is x ray two"
"go ahead X ray two"
"We found the helicopter, pilot dead, he been dead for about an hour, copy"
"copy that we will send a second rib to the island with the bag"
"copy that"
Grace look in the back and notice equipment there and a back pack she open it and look through it then she turn around and look on the ground around the helicopter is
"Pete it Grace, there a survivor some where keep a look out"
"Are you sure Grace"
"positive there equipment and a bag with more things... women personal things"
"copy that"
"Dam no foot prints"
"not good" spider said
"no not good" then she look around and look up
"spider, two dads stay here, when the others get here let them know I'm heading that direction" Grace pointed
"Why that way mad dog" two dads asked
"look at the tree tops, notice how three of the tree top are broken" they look at where Grace is looking at
"you think she might be over there some where" Spider asked
"that my best gust since there no foot prints she must of jump at some point, keep in radio contact"
"Yes ma'am" grace then started walking towards where the broken trees are.
When she got there ten minutes later she look around then follow more broken tress till she walk up a hill side and stop when she saw what was in front of her. It was the lake. She look around for the missing women till she found what she was looking for. She look at the dirt and follow it to the edge of the crater.
"charlie two this is x ray two copy"
"copy you mad dog"
"i found the missing women we going to need climbing rescue gear, she on cliff face in side the crater." then she heard the women groan
"copy that mad dog we will send the climbing rescue gear to you"
"Ma'am can you hear me I'm commander Shepard of royal Australian navy"
"Help me"
"don't worry ma'am help is on it way where do you hurt"
"my back, my ankle"
"Ok lie still how long have you been down there, what is your name"
"My name is Jessica. i don't know, I went to get up and couldn't put any weight on my foot so I lay here for hours then craw to the edge when it gave way and I landed here" then she look at her watch
"My watch is broken"
"Is your watch digital"
"no"
"what time dose it show. It would give me the time on how long you been down there for" Grace look over carefully and watch the women look at her watch
"four twenty six" Grace look at her watch
"Ten minutes... Why did you come to this island you know it dangerous"
"I'm trying to find out what happen to my grand father he was on a B52 bomber that was flying over here during the nineteen fifties... I think the plane is here if so, so is my grand father. I want to find him. Find the evidences that the plane is here... find him" Grace remember what was in her mother diary.
"you just stay there and don't move Jessica" Then Grace move back away from the edge.
She stood up and look over and down at the create when she saw movement on the other side. She then saw a man appeared from behind a tree looking at Grace then he turn and ran away. Grace wanted to go after the guy but couldn't
"Pete it Grace there some one else on the island, a man keep an eye out"
"copy that, any idea who he is"
"Most probable one of the men from FFV, I recon the boat he was on must of sank during the storm four months ago and ended up on here"
"OK We will keep a look out, we will be with you in few minutes. Two dads and cookie taking the pilot body back to the HRIB"
"copy that"
Ten minutes later Pete and the other ran out from the tree line and over to where Grace is. "woo so this is where it happen" spider said
"yeah" Grace said.
They quickly got the rescue gear out and Grace got her harness on and grab her medical bag. Then spider, two dads and Pete help lower Grace over the edge and down to where Jessica is. When she got there she undid her clip that connected to the rope then she got to work, checking Jessica over
"hi Jessica, I'm checking you over for any other wounds"
"do you know what your doing commander"
"Yes I do, I'm also a doctor"
"oh, that good" Grace finish checking Jessica over
"Well your ankle is broken and as for you back, it will be sore for a while"
"that good to know" then Grace help her into a harness then she hook both her self, medical bad and Jessica to the rope
"OK Bring us up" Grace said then they started moving upwards. Grace look up
"oh no... Pete step on it this rope not going to hold us both it started braking" then it stop half way up
"what going on" Grace yelled out
"one of the legs gave way, just hang on" Pete said Just as Cookie and two dads showed up.
Grace look and the rope and notice it braking more. So She grab the rope and pull her self up and manage to unhook her self "what are you doing" Jessica asked Grace turn to her
"Saving you"
"Pete. I'm sorry, I love you" she said into her radio
"Grace"Pete called back
"don't let go" Jessica said in shock
"there no other choice" then Grace let go
"NNNNOOOOO" Jessica watch in horror as Grace fell down and into the crater lake. Pete look over the edge at the same time Grace let go
"GRACE, NOOOO!" Then the two dads and spider started pulling till they got Jessica up and away from the edge.
She was crying. "she risk her life to save me" she look up at the men.
Pete walk over to the edge of the crater "GRACE" He yelled the men was in shock.
Two dads crouch down and look at the rope till he saw where it was braking then he look at Jessica "she was a brave women... and buffer wife" he look up at back of buffer who was crying.
"his wife" Jessica said in shock
"yes she was a hero" He help remove the harness
"Please help me to stand" spider and Cookie help her to stand.
She manage to turn around "i want to be closer" they help her closer to Pete
"I'm sorry for you loss"
"she died doing what she dose best" he said turning to Jessica who was also crying
"she will never be forgotten" then they heard a nose
"Mad dog, she alive" Two dads said in shock.
They all turn to see Grace on the other side of the crater, she was crawling out of the water. Pete look around and ran around the crater edge with spider and two dads in tow
"Grace, Grace" he was yelling
"oh my god I hope she will be OK" Jessica said in shock they all watch as the three men ran down to where Grace is.
When Pete reach for her he got down on his knees and rolled her over and pulled her into his arms as he move till he was sitting down with Grace on his lap. then he pulled her back and look at her in shock just as two dads and spider arrived
"she pale white" spider said then grace skin return back to normal Pete put his hand to her face
"Grace, please don't die"
"Pete" she said as she open her eyes
"Grace I thought I lost you"
"never"
"you were pale one second then back to normal the next" spider said Grace turn to him
"was I. I thought I was blushing"
"Grace you were pale it wasn't a pale white glow" Pete said. Grace turn to Pete and cup his face
"i thought I was a goner to but I heard my mother voice telling me it wasn't my time and for me not to give up"
"well she right" Grace smile then Pete pulled her into a kiss
"Ah we should get out of here" Two dads said.
"Yeah" Pete said as spider and two dads help both Grace and Pete up then Pete pulled her into a hug.
When they pulled a part Grace look at him "mum show me a image... a way"
"way to what"
"I'm not sure but it to do with the tree markings"
"do you know where to start"
"Yes back on the beach, let's go" then they walk back out of the crater and over to where Jessica and the two crew members are.
"Lets get these thing pack up and head back to the beach" Grace said.
They pack every thing up and Jessica was on a stretcher. Then they started heading back to the beach while keeping a look out for the man that Grace saw.
When they arrived back to the beach Grace look up and down the beach till she saw what her mother was showing her. She walk towards it "Grace where are you going" Pete ask
"It the image Pete, bring a camera rest of you head back to the ship"
Two dads past Pete his camera then he ran to catch up with Grace. "Grace"
"it OK Pete" she walk till she stop at two round boulders then she turn in land and look around
"there" she pointed before running to the tree.
"Here the first mark" then she saw the next one so she started running with Pete behind her.
Grace also notice that the man was also watching them and following them. Grace ran for fifteen minutes till she came to a field of long grass she stop and look around then she walk over to one area then stop. Pete manage to catch up with her.
He stop when he saw what she was looking at "the graves" Pete said
"yes, and look names carve on each of the crosses and the dog tags" Pete turn the camera on and record every thing for few minutes then stop.
He turn to Grace who was looking around "Grace what is it"
"there" she pointed then ran over to a tree and stop to touch it
"where dose this lead to" Grace turn to Pete
"i don't know" then they ran along to where the Marks are till Grace stop
"Dam"
"what is it"
"there no other markings but I don't know which way to go"
"could this be the way to the plane"
"could be, I don't know" Grace look around till she saw the guy again from behind one of the trees close by.
She put her hand on Peter and nod towards where the tree is "Hello, Australian navy" Pete called out
"We know your there, come out we won't hurt you" the guy turn and ran so Pete and Grace ran after him
"Hey stop" Pete said
"let me" grace said then she started yelling in five different languages till the guy stop and turn to them when grace spoke the last language.
Then grace and Pete stop. Then grace spoke to the guy whom started talking back.
"He been here for four months after the boat he was in broke in two and sank during a storm not far of here. He doesn't know what happen to the other crew members" then she spoke to him again he nodded and smile
"i said that we will take him with us and help him return home" then the guy started talking then grace did. Pete watch the two talk then the guy started running
then grace follow "Grace" Pete yelled
"come on he said he found a plane" then Pete started running.
Five minutes later they ran out into another field then stop the guy pointed. Grace nodded and talk back to the guy "Is that what I think it is" Pete said
"it is, start recording" Pete started recording as they got closer to the plane.
The guy spoke to Grace and pointed to one part of the plane. So she walk around to where the guy was pointed "Pete" he walk around while still recording. Grace step up and onto the plane
"He wearing dog tags" then she look at them and show Pete so he could record what was on them.
Then she saw a tin next to the body so she pick it up and open it she then pulled out pieces of paper "Oh my god, these are notes from the five crewmen. Here record these Pete" she past them to him.
Grace look around and saw what scratch marks next to the body. Grace got her med kit out and use water salutation and cotton ball to wipe the wall. Then the marks appeared. When Pete finish recording the papers he put them back in the tin then he record what Grace is doing till she finish then she added it up
"If this is right he been alive for two hundred and sixty three days. And these marks here the crosses is when his crew mates died. First one four days after the crash. Second... month later...thirty seven...ninety five days" Pete then stop the recording.
"Now we know when each of them died"
"yeah. I'm glad no one was on here when the bomb blew" then the guy started talking so Grace talk back
"what is it"
"Hang on" then she spoke to the guy again.
Pete saw the shock look on Grace face then she said some thing then the guy turn and walk away. Grace remove the dog tags and put them in her pocket before jumping out of the plane
"He found some thing, we better check it out"
"what is it"
"He said he found a wall on old house with scorch marks" then they started running till the guy stop.
When Pete and grace did they were shock with what they saw "oh my god there was people on this island" grace said when they saw the black scorch marks areas that was scorch like some one was standing against the wall when the blast hit
"Pete"
"I'm recording. There must be six people here"
"some one got a lot of explaining to do"
"i agree, lets head back"
"good idea" then they start heading back to the beach.
Grace and the guy talk on the way back as well translate so Pete would know what they are talking about. When they were close to the beach Pete radio ahead. When they arrived on the beach the HRIB showed up. They all got in and headed back to Hammersley.
When they got onto Hammersley they had to strip off all their clothes and have special showers out on the back deck. When done. They walk down to their rooms while the guy went with another crew member.
After Grace was dress she went to get the camera and went to check each image as well makes copies of it. Then she went to see RO who was in his radio room.
"RO, can you send every thing that on this chip to NAVCOM and can you get commander Marshal on the phone"
"Yes ma'am" then he pick up the phone and made the call. Then he past it to Grace.
"thanks" then he went to take care of the images and have them sent to NAVCOM
"Grace I heard what happen to you are you ok"
"Yeah I will be. Steve, I got RO sending you some footage of what been found on victory island"
"what is it"
"the the missing B52 bomber plane and it five crew Steve they survive the blast and landing. there images of the graves that was found and the remaining survivor. He was on the plane. There copies of notes that was found and marks on the wall of the plane it show that the last survivor was alive for two hundred and sixty three days" Steve didn't say any thing
"the graves"
"there are crosses with each name on them... Steve there was people on that island when the British drop the bomb"
"what are you sure"
"there a wall when black scorch marks on it except for where the person was standing. The wall left human pints. We got pictures of it for proof and we found a Vietnamese fishermen on the island he been there for four months. He didn't know that it was radio active"
"there should be warning signs"
"If there was they not there any more"
"Alright, I'll look into it Grace"
"Steve the family's of the five crew men should be notified and possible having the remains of the Sargent bury with his crew and head stones making where they are burred. At least it will give the family closure"
"I'll see what I can do"
"thanks Steve" then they hung up.
Grace let out her breath" Are you alright ma'am" Grace turn to RO
"yeah I will be, have you sent what was on the chip"
"Yes ma'am. I couldn't help but over hear there was people on that island"
"Was. They wouldn't felt a thing when the blast hit"
"just like in Japan at the end of world war two"
"yeah"
"sounds like some one screw up"
"True" then she stood up and walk out the door.