CH 54
Spring was coming again. Richie and Roberta had yet to have a boat ride. John and Cameron were also eager to see the Sea Witch. Claire was improving, and even lifted one of the big stones up into the truck. Kaede could tell she was getting a little homesick, and Kaede herself was wanting to get some time on the water.
Talking with the family at dinner, then going over the projected weather patterns, mid April was looking like a good time to get Claire home by boat. John and Cameron's house was done. Jeff, Nana and Mayu were now heavily involved with making their house. Since they were busy, they didn't mind missing a trip.
Kaede called Bright Sea Marina and asked about the availability of Captain Ron. She was in luck, he would not be busy and could go with them. Duncan agreed to watch over Kouta's trucking business for the estimated two and a half week trip all the way around France and Spain to enter the southern part of France. Kouta had a dedicated dispatcher now, and Duncan wouldn't have to drive a truck either. He could peek in when he was going to check on the construction projects at his hotel resort he and Amanda were building.
Of course, Amanda wanted to come long also. She convinced Kaede she had sailed before also, so she could take a helm watch. She also wanted a hammock instead of a bunk. The Sea Witch would be pretty full again when it left port.
Kaede had one last test for Claire before they set out to take her home. Claire now knew how to form a mind shield so Kaede had her wait out in the courtyard. Kaede then borrowed Cameron's 9MM and went out to meet her.
Coming out the front door, Kaede asked, "Claire, can ya defend yerself?"
"I can!" Claire stated firmly.
"Then, do it!" Kaede announced and drew up with the pistol and shot to make a close miss.
Claire was shocked Kaede had a gun. The bullet whizzed past her and hit the wall where it bounced back, luckily not hitting her. Kaede shot again, Claire got her mind shield up and knocked this bullet away to the side. "You shot at me!" she cried.
"A bad guy's nay gonna give ya any warning, or miss on purpose," Kaede said, and shot a third time.
This one came right at Claire. Heart in her throat, Claire caught the bullet on her mind shield.
Kaede walked towards her and thankfully, tucked the gun behind her back in a back pocket. She said, "Ya need ta keep practicin speed with yer arms and yer shields. Form them as fast as ya can, and keep practicin til they are there the instant ya think about it. The instant ya detect a bullet in flight, ya gotta stop it. Yer life, the lives of yer family depend upon it."
"Yes, Kaede. I was just shocked that you shot at me."
"Ya still shoulda stopped that first one," Kaede told her. "Practice gettin yer shield up instantly. Ya can't help anyone if yer layin on the ground wounded or dead. Especially getting yer shield up should be an instant, immediate reaction."
Claire nodded.
Kaede quickly pulled the pistol and aimed. With a squeak, Claire threw her shield up.
"Better," Kaede told her and put the gun away again. Kaede only pointed quickly at her with a finger. Up went Claire's mind shield. "Make sure ya doan ferget anything when ya pack," Kaede told her with a grin. She then left to give Cameron's gun back to her.
.
Sheep shearing didn't start for another month, so Richie told Nana and Mayu just to make sure they were fed and didn't get out. The girls promised to come see the sheep every day. Richie did one last perimeter check of his fence to be sure they didn't have a chance to get out and wander off. Like everything else, they would take turns at it. Inari was also going to monitor his farm. Roberta put in her leave of absence for a month, just in case.
Another one who was bothering people to made sure they were ready to go was Kanae. She as anxious to go and didn't want anyone to hold them up. The three year old was packed a week early, and ran up to John and Cameron's place to be sure they were ready. She was there, when Kaede came up to give Cameron her gun back.
John let Kaede in and said, "But that's not for another week, right?" he asked the little girl.
Kanae's eyes grew wide. "John! We're leaving in two days!"
"Really?" he asked in mock surprise.
"Kaene, are ya botherin John," Kaede asked.
Kanae spun to gape at her mother. "But John thinks we're not leaving for another whole week!" she cried.
"That's what you told me before," John said.
"That was last week!" Kanae cried.
"It was?"
"Yes, so hurry up and get ready to go! You don't wanna miss it!" Kanae told him with a frown.
"I'm sure they will be ready," Kaede told her. "John, give this to Cameron please. I only used three," she added and handed the pistol over.
"Thanks," he replied and took the pistol. To Kanae, he said, "And I promise we'll be ready to go in three days."
"Two not three," Kanae told him firmly.
"Was it two? OK, in two days." John stated.
Kanae rolled her eyes and told Kaede, "Mom, we better make sure they are ready."
Kaede grinned at her. "They will be, hon. Are ya packed?"
"I am! I got Sailor Bear an Jumper, me clothes an me life jacket is up in me hammock on the boat!"
"Where's yer topside sneakers?" Kaede asked.
"In my closet…" Kanae then ran out the door and called back, "I'll put them in me bag right now!"
"Topside sneakers?" John asked.
"We'll get you and Cameron each a pair when the get there. They are sneakers specially made to grip the roughness of the deck," Kaede explained. "Sorry she bothered ya. She's been pesterin everyone with her excitement ta go sailing again."
John grinned. "I saw. No problem, Kaene's a cute kid. It was fun to mess with her a bit."
.
Kaede was happy Kanae was a bright, loveable child. What was beginning to bother her was she hadn't gotten pregnant again yet and she really wanted another girl. Was that because she was immortal now? She was hoping not. She wanted her Uzuki here with them too. She wanted her sister back so she could grow up in a happy life this time. Still, they were trying but no baby yet.
By their day of departure, everyone going was ready, and Kanae cycled around to make sure they were. Meeting in the courtyard, Duncan and Inari drove the Land Rovers to take them down to the train station. Once on the train, they were lucky enough to get seats fairly close together. It was then, Kanae remembered something else.
"Mom! Do we got the rowing music?" she asked loudly.
"It's on the boat, dear," Kaede assured her.
"Rowing music?" Richie asked. "This is sail boat, right?"
Kanae piped up again and said, "But in the middle of the ocean the wind died out, so we had ta row our asses half way across to find some wind."
Kouta rubbed his forehead as laughter broke out on the train from other passengers.
Kanae then had another thought, "Mom, we don't have Gramma or Nana ta help us this time."
"We aren't going that way this time," Kaede told her.
"But the wind might die down on us," Kanae insisted.
"Your sailboat had oars?" Roberta asked.
"Nay, we paddled with our hands," Kaede told her.
"Nay big storms either?" Kanae asked.
"Hopefully not," Kouta said.
"The weather report didn't show any big storms along the coasts," Kaede told them. "It should be a fairly smooth trip."
"How big was this storm?" John asked.
"It was BIG!" Kanae said brightly. "The boat was booming through the water, BOOM, BOOM, every time the waves hit us and made the boat bounce up and down and tipped side to side! For a while I had a spider family, climbing to things so they wouldn't fall onto someone like Mayu fell into Gramma's bunk on top of her. Almost everyone had to puke too!"
More chuckling came from the other passengers.
"And what were ya doin durin this, little lass?" an older man asked.
"I was swinging back and forth in me hammock, and watchin the waves go boom against the boat. This was after we'd seen whales and dolphins on the trip. Ya kin hear whales singing at night on the ocean too!"
"I take it ya had fun lass," the older man said.
"I did! We got to see the horseshoe crabs in the bay up in …"
"Groton," Kouta supplied.
"Yeah, and there was a bunch of'em. They are really, really old too! They were around before dinosaurs." Kanae told him.
With Kanae telling of their adventures, the train ride didn't seem so long.
.
After the train ride, Kaede managed to get a 'limo' van to take then down to Bright Sea to the marina. Kaede stopped by the main office to get them registered, got the topside sneakers for everyone who didn't have them, then they headed down the dock to the boat.
By Kanae's story of the storm, John was wondering if this boat was big enough to hold all of them. When he saw the Sea Witch, he realized that had to have been a BIG storm.
Captain Ron met them at the boat and assured Kaede they were ready to go. Looking at them he said, "Got a different group I see."
"Captain Ron!" Kanae called with her hand up. "I'm still the safety lookout, right?"
"Ya are, munchkin," He assured her. "My, you've gotten bigger."
"I'm three now!"
"You're getting to be a big girl," Ron told her. "So, Captain Kaede, I got your charts on board and I plotted a course for you. Stow your stuff and I'll bring it down to the table so you can see it."
"Thank ya, Ron, and thanks for coming. We won't have as many crew this trip. It'll be you, me and Kouta at the helm unless we git these other land lubbers trained up," Kaede said with a grin.
"I can train," Cameron volunteered.
"GREAT! That will be four." Ron said happily.
"I can too," Richie added. He shrugged at Roberta and said, "Might be fun."
Kanae looked at Claire and said, "Ohh, Claire can row with us Mommy!"
Kaede looked at Claire and said, "That is a good idea, Kaene."
Everyone got their things stowed, Kouta picked the first bunk on the left and stowed Kaede's things too while she looked over the 'float plan' with Ron.
This was the long way around. Starting from Bright Sea, it was down the channel, around northern France, down around Spain into the Med, then back up the coast of Spain to the Rhone river, and up the river to Valence.
"In a couple places, the Rhone is a little narrow, but passable," Ron explained. "Spring is a good time to go, minimum depth of the main channel is 20 feet it's higher in the spring, so we're good there. We'll just have to put the masts down after we get into the river because there's a lot of bridges we need to go under. Some of them will be questionable. We won't need the radar up in the river anyway."
"Looks good ta me. Dinner at sea?" Kaede asked.
"Let's get under way." Ron agreed.
"Is there anything anyone wants before we leave?" Kaede asked. No one did, so she added, "Don't go up on deck unless you have your boat sneakers on. Kaene, take your watch station, Kouta, forward line. Ron, helm. I'll get shore power and the aft line."
Kanae had her sneakers on and ran topside. Kaede got hers on and followed Ron topside. Kouta came right behind him.
Kaede moved efficiently. Once Ron started the motor, she disconnected shore power , wrapped up the cable, hung it up then got the forward line first, then ran back and threw the aft line on the boat. She came back on board and got the brow stored. "Lines cast off," she told Ron. She stored the aft line as Ron pulled out.
"I should be doing the running, you're the Captain," Ron told her.
"Ya got the most experience driving," Kaede countered, "Best man for the job, right?"
Ron chuckled. "Can't argue with that logic."
By the time Ron turned them around and got headed out of the marina, John lead the pack up out of the cabin. Kanae watched them come out to make sure everyone had boat shoes on. She pointed and called, "Roberta, you need boat shoes on"
Roberta stopped.
"Ya do, Nay goin topside without the sneakers while we're under way," Kaede agreed.
Ron nodded to Kaede. "Captain's orders."
"I'll be right back," Roberta conceded, and went back below.
Cameron looked at Kaede and asked, "You're the Captain?"
"I am." Kaede agreed. "Ron trained me."
"So, at sea, you can marry people?"
"When we are outside the boundaries of any country, yes." Ron told them.
Cameron grabbed John's arm and pulled him close. "Can you marry us?"
Kaede looked at John, then back to Cameron. "It's possible, if that's what ya want. Doan ya want a church wedding?"
"Just an official one will do," John said. "I haven't … well, we do need to be officially married, and it would be nice if you did it."
"Ron, can I?" Kaede asked. "The Sea Witch isn't a full sized ship."
Ron grinned. "Kaede, the Sea Witch it is an ocean going ship. A private one. That is what a yacht is, no matter the size. You are a registered Ship Master, a Captain. You have all the duties, responsibilities and privileges of such. Yes, once we get out of the English Channel and into the bay of Biscayne and out of English and French territorial waters, twelve miles out to sea, you do have the power to legally wed couples."
"Wow." Kaede said blankly.
"In three days, you can perform a wedding."
Kaede asked John and Cameron, "You truly want me ta marry you?"
"We do," John and Cameron replied.
"Then, we'll plan on it," Kaede said firmly.
"YAY!" Kanae cried.
"You doan have any weddin clothes, rings or a reception," Kaede noted.
"That's fine," Cameron told her.
"We just need the official acknowledgement that we are married," John said.
Kaede noted they were both grinning. "All right then. I doan have a copy of the ceremony."
"Just write the ceremony in the ship's log," Ron prodded. "When we get back to Bright Sea, have that page copied. That will give them proof when and where they were wed. Date, time, longitude and latitude coordinates."
Kaede grinned, "Then I guess we should make up a ceremony. John, Cameron, make up what ya wanna to say fer yer vows."
"We'll get started," John said with a smile. He and Cameron went below.
Richie asked, "Kaede, you're really going to marry them?"
"It's what they want," she replied with a shrug. Roberta came up out of the cabin, Kaede had to ask, "So Richie, you gonna marry Roberta at sea too?"
"What?" Roberta asked. "Richard?" she asked gaping at him.
Kaede chuckled at their shocked looks.
Richie said, "I think we'll wait until we can have a proper wedding."
"You'll marry me?" Roberta asked, watching Richie.
Ron chuckled this time. "If I knew this was a wedding cruise, I would have brought a camera."
"When we git out ta international waters, John and Cameron asked me ta marry them," Kaede explained.
Roberta asked Kaede, "You can do that?"
"I am the Captain of this ship." Kaede then looked at their speed and direction. "We should be out of the channel by tonight, tomorrow we can clear the north coast of France and head straight for Spain. Day three well be out in the bay far enough, out of French waters. If we hold to right around nine knots."
"We should," Ron agreed. "No storms reported for the next few days."
Kaede looked at Kanae. "Kanae, prepare ta raise the Main'sle!"
"Aye, Captain Mom!" Kanae announced and ran to her place in front of the mast.
Kouta helped Kaede untie the sail and the boom.
"Wind's blowing from aft port," Ron announced. "Recommend three quarters mast angle to start."
"Aye, Matey! Kaene! Raise the main'sle!"
The main sail went up and the boom moved off the starboard side and caught the wind. Kanae hauled the sail fully up and tied the rope off on the cleat. "Main'sle up, Captain Mom!"
"Let's go raise the fore'sle," Kaede announced.
Kaede and Kouta got the fore sail up about and out about the same angle as the main sail boom. "Ron, disconnect the clutch and kill the motor!"
"Aye, Captain!"
Without the thrum of the engine, the boat became quiet except for the sound of the boat cutting through the small waves.
"Remember to watch the booms! They can move across the deck fast!" Ron reminded everyone.
"On the fore deck here, stay ahead of the main mast and behind the forward sail, Or down in the back aft of the helm," Kaede instructed. "A boom hits ya, it could knock ya right off the boat."
Roberta nodded. Yes, those booms were big, she could see whoever got hit by one going overboard.
"Ron, I'm goin in the chart room and givin the log an update," Kaede said and went below. Kanae went with her.
Richie asked, "So Ron? You been a sailor long?"
At the helm, Ron looked back at Richie and Roberta sitting on the couch on the aft deck. "All my life. I've been on everything from aircraft carriers to rowboats. I gotta tell ya, Kaede has one sweet boat here. It's older, so it's good and sturdy enough to take on a storm. The shipyard did it up right with all modern navigation and a self-righting keel."
"You rode this boat though a storm?" Roberta asked.
"Yeah, pretty good one too!" Ron bragged. "Waves about fifteen feet trough to crest, 30 knots winds. We bounced along doing 20 knots and a little better. Had a few breakers crash over top, plenty slammed into the port side here and not a bit of damage. This boat is solid."
Richie let out a snort. "I'm surprised no one was washed overboard."
Ron gestured under the control panel. "Got a safety belt here to prevent that. When it was rough, Kaede and her family stayed below, hatches battened down. In weather like that, only the helm is allowed topside."
"You didn't get any water inside?" Roberta asked.
"Not a drop," Ron beamed. "Worst roll we took was when a breaker hit the main'sle and tipped us over about 35 degrees. It gave us and extra push too. The keel worked great, got us righted right away to meet the next one."
John and Cameron came back out with Claire. They sat on one side of Ron. Cameron was watching the displays.
"Ron, you know any sea songs?" Richie asked.
Ron grinned. "A few. Know a popular one, if you can take my voice."
Richie moved up to a seat closer. "Sure, let's hear it!"
Roberta moved up on the other side of Richie.
In his baritone voice, Ron sang.
When I was a young man I sailed with the rest,
On a Liverpool packet out bound for the west.
We anchored one day in the harbor of York,
Then put out to sea for the port of New York
Singing row, row, row bullies row
Them Liverpool Judies has got us in tow.
Fer forty two days we was hungry an sore,
Oh the winds was again us, those gales they did roar
Off Battery Point we did anchor at last
With the jiven' boom in and the canvas all fast.
Singing row, row, row bullies row
Them Liverpool Judies has got us in tow.
Well the boarding house master was off in a trice
Oh shoutin and promising all that was nice
And ole fat ole'crimp, he got cottoned to me
And said , hey lad you're a fool ta follow the sea
Said he there's a job just a waiting fer you, with lashins a liquor
and beggard ta do.
So what do ya say lad? Will ye jump'er too?
I said Aye, ye ole bastard, I'm damned but I do!
Singing row, row, row bullies row
Them Liverpool Judies has got us in tow.
Well the best of intentions, they never get far
After a couple of months at the door of a bar
I tossed down me liquor and whadda think
But the lousy ole bastard put drugs in me drink!
The next I remember I woke in the morn,
On a three Sky'sle yard'er bound south round Cape Horn.
With one pair a oilskins and three pair a socks
And a bloomin big head and a dose of the pox!
Singing row, row, row bullies row
Them Liverpool Judies has got us in tow
Now all ye young sailors take warnin by me,
Keep yer eye on yer drink when the liquor is free
And pay no attention to the runner or whore,
Or yer head'll be thick and yer fiddle be sore!
Singing row, row, row bullies row
Them Liverpool Judies has got us in tow
Richie and John laughed and clapped. Roberta grinned and rolled her eyes.
"Ron, got any more?" Kanae asked from just inside the hatch as she beamed him a smile.
"Not that you can hear, Munchkin," Ron said, just realizing she was there. That made John and Richie chuckle again.
"What's the Pox?" Kanae asked.
"Being sick," Ron offered sheepishly.
Kanae frowned and asked, "A fiddle is like a violin, right? How can one of those get sore?"
"Ron!" Kaede called as she appeared in the hatch over Kanae. "Got a call, man overboard off a ferry outta Dover. Best position fer him is six miles out from us. Searchin's going on, but nay one's found him yet. Best guess where he fell off is bearing 268. We're headed that way, so the Coast Guard wants us ta check a little farther north. Steer 270. Dark haired man, he's wearing a white shirt, no life vest." She then asked, "Cameron, can ya climb the main mast and keep an eye out fer'im? Climb up from the front of the mast."
"Aye, Captain Kaede," Cameron said and ran up to the mast to climb.
"Current?" Ron asked.
"West, two knots," Kaede replied. "Give it a half hour then drop the sails and run on the engine, five knots. We don't wanna run'im over or pass by him if we kin help it. Richie, John when we drop the sails, keep a sharp lookout port and starboard."
"Aye, Captain," the men chorused.
Kanae ran out and got in front of the mast. "I'll watch too, Captain Mommy!" she announced.
Cameron came out and asked Roberta, "When we drop the sails, can you keep a watch right in front of us?"
"Yeah, sure!" Roberta replied.
"I'll get updates, be right back," Kaede announced and went back in.
The day turned from silly fun to serious quickly. Kaede came back up wearing the radio headset. She told Ron. "The report that came in said he was missing for at least ten minutes when the call came in. That would put him possibly fifteen minutes in the water by now. Search teams are following the ferry's path back north. The ferry, a coast guard cutter and two helicopters."
Up on the mast, Cameron point and yelled, "Helicopter, three miles out, forward port quarter!"
Kaede looked. It was at about 285 true bearing. She called on the radio, "This is Sea Witch, we see a helicopter 285 true, three miles away."
"Another, five miles away, slightly leading!" Cameron called.
Kaede called on the radio again. "This is Sea Witch, another helicopter, same bearing, five miles out." … "Yes, we will pick up if they can find him."
The helicopters were moving slow. As they approached, Kaede and Claire dropped the sails, Ron engaged the engine.
"Everyone, keep a sharp lookout, he hasn't been found yet!" Kaede announced.
"We're doing five knots," Ron announced.
Kaede listened to the radio and watched the helicopters. They were closing with a near zero bearing rate. The one farther away dropped closer to the water.
"Target contact!" Cameron called. "He's right under the helicopter that's farther away."
"This is Sea Witch, yes, we see, we're heading for Rescue Two now." Kaede said, then told Ron, "The second helicopter is over him. Ahead flank until we get close!"
"Aye, Captain!" Ron called back and ran the engine to full speed.
Kaede ran to the bow and watched as the closed on the helicopter's position. "Cameron, you have the best view. Guide Ron to slowly pass by the man so he's right next to our port side."
People in the water on the ocean were small. It was hard to see a head bobbing in the water. Cameron got an eyeball on him and guided Ron close, and told him when to stop the engine. Overhead, the helicopter was down washing onto the boat.
Watching over the side, Kaede only saw him when he was right at the bow. One arm in the air and a frightened look on his face. She reached out, grabbed his arm and pulled him aboard.
"This is Sea Witch, we got'im!" Kaede announced. "Return him to the ferry or back to Dover?" … Aye, back to Dover. He doesn't look hurt, but he is kissing the deck … Right. Glad we could help."
Roberta and Claire went over to the man who looked tired but whole. Being near the bow, Kaede just pointed north and yelled, "To Dover!"
Ron saluted and turned the boat north and picked their speed back up.
.
John and Richie helped the man up and back into the cabin. Kaede went with them. Once the man was sitting down, slumped, he looked at them and said, "Thank GOD you found me!"
"Got any injuries?" Kaede asked.
The man shook his head. "No, just tired. I never thought just treading water was hard until today."
"We're heading back to Dover. Paramedics will meet us there," Kaede told him then asked, "How'd you fall off a Ferry?"
He frowned and said, "I didn't. These punks threw me off!"
"Sea Witch to Rescue, the man said he was thrown off the ferry … Understood, We'll dock right side of the ferry landing." Kaede said, then to the man she said, "There's a couple witnesses who saw it. We're going to dock by the ferry landing, Police want to talk to you. They want you to identify those punks."
"Be happy to," he stated.
In another hour, they approached the ferry landing that had two cop cars and an ambulance waiting. Once they tied up, Kaede followed the man off then told the police what they knew of the incident. The ferry arrived and police went on, no one was allowed off.
.
Their part done, Kaede got back on board and they continued on their trip. Out of port, the sails went back up and Kouta took the helm. It was getting later, Roberta and Claire went down to make dinner.
Kaede sat in the chart room filling in the log with the day's events. Ron stuck his head in. "How far behind schedule did that put us?" he asked. "I'm thinking three hours."
Kaede looked a the chart and their position. "About three and a half. Not a big deal unless we run into more problems."
"Yeah, if we can find a place to do a faster run, we can catch up," he agreed.
"If not a bit-o rowin will catch us up," Kaede replied.
"I think Kaene will like doing that."
Kaede chuckled. "I'm sure she will."
.
When the sun was setting, Kaede had the running lights turned on. Dinner was ready, Ron came up and relieved Kouta at the helm.
Claire had noted all the plates and odd shaped cups had rubber on the bottoms. "Why are these like this?" she asked.
"So they don't move when the boat rolls," Kaede told her. "Same as the lip on the outsides of the bunks are there so you don't roll out. The hammocks swing with the rolls, they are actually better for sleeping in at sea. Ask Kaene."
"They are Mom!" Kaene announced "I slept good during that big storm."
"While the rest of us were playing spider family?" Kouta asked.
Kaene giggled. "Yeah, Dad."
"We don't have rooms, so where do we change clothes?" Claire asked.
Kaede pointed to the back and said, "Aft store rooms. Boys and girls sides. Boys port, girls starboard. Just ta the side of the stairs, going aft. That or in the bathroom."
The sea was fairly flat, only smaller following waves. The Sea Witch barely rocked or moved at all. Roberta and Claire made dinner, John and Cameron stayed topside on the fore deck to watch the sun set, then sat cuddled together for a while.
Like they did before, after dinner, Kaede took a shower with Kouta. They got some fun time in before Kaede went up to relieve Ron at the helm so he could eat. After Kaede took the helm, Kouta sat with her.
Kaede had the auto pilot on and scanned the displays, nestled up with Kouta.
"Hon, what's this marriage ceremony going to be like?"
"I looked in the guide Ron got me. I announce they're ta be wed, then they each speak their vow. When they're done, I announced the latitude, longitude, minutes and seconds, then announce them man and wife. It's not very complex at all," she replied.
"Seems like they would want a little more than that," he noted.
"Aye, I know I did. If that's what they want though, I'll do it for'em. I'm thinking maybe they just want the official recognition of bein married."
Kouta snuggled a little closer. "I'm thinking play in the shower wasn't quite enough."
Kaede grew a smirk. She notice the lights in the cabin had gone out, there was only soft the glow of standing lights. "Yer right," she agreed. Kaede unbuttoned her shirt and softly said, "Kouta, why doan ya lay back here wit yer head on me lap?"
Kouta grinned. "What about driving the boat?"
"I'm on auto pilot, an I kin watch what I'm doin while I feed me baby Kouta. They are feelin kinda full."
Kouta grinned and said, "Yes, Captain."
.
Cameron made sure John was settled and sawing logs, sleeping peacefully. She got up to take the late watch at the helm. Going up the steps, she opened the cabin door and stopped. Kouta was laid part on his seat and onto Kaede's lap. Her shirt was open and he had one breast cupped, nursing on her. Kaede's face was bliss. She quietly shut the door and thought that looked like a good idea. She crawled back in bed with John.
.
In her headset while Kouta had an arm around her as he grazed on her left breast, Kaede heard on her radio three beeps, then: "Marine weather advisory. A volcano eruption in Iceland has caused a 30 foot Tsunami. A tsunami warning is in effect for the east coast of Ireland, Scotland, southern England, and northern France. ETA of the event is 6 AM for Ireland, 8 to 9 AM for Scotland, England and France. We repeat, A tsunami warning is in effect for the east coast of Ireland, Scotland, southern England, and northern France. ETA of the event is 5 to 6 AM for Ireland, 8 to 9 AM for Scotland, England and France."
"Oh, hell!" Kaede spat.
Kouta looked up. "What is it?"
"We got a tsunami headed fer us," Kaede explained as she help him sit up. "I gotta go check the charts." She noted their speed and their position. "Kouta, watch the helm for me."
Kaede didn't bother putting her shirt back together, she just ran down into the chart room.
She noted they were four hours behind their track. Figuring out where they would be from 8 to 9 AM, they would be turned to so south down the coast of France. Aft end to the tsunami so it would hit them from behind. Not a good option. The water there was also shallower. Very not good, the wave would be taller as it approached shore.. She planned to sail straight out into the ocean, then turn into the wave. That was the only way to not get knocked around badly.
"Does Kouta have the helm?" Cameron asked.
Not looking up, Kaede said, "He does. We got a tsunami coming, around eight or nine tammara morning. We gotta be in deep water an face it head on. It's our best chance."
"What can I do to help?" Cameron asked.
Kaede thought for a moment, then asked, "Is Claire still up?"
"She's not asleep yet."
"Then get her, both of you come up on deck , I'm going to need you."
.
Claire thought Kaede was going a little 'pirate' with her shirt hanging open exposing the inner lobes of her breasts as she came up on deck with Cameron.
"Listen guys," Kaede said firmly, "We got a tsunami coming, the best estimate is 30 feet tall. The only way we can meet it and not suffer a lot of grief, is head on and in as of deep of water as possible. That means getting beyond the continental shelf. The radio estimated it will be here around 8 in the morning. I want to be over the shelf and in deep water by then. Our speed is only 8 and a half knots. It will be questionable if we can make it or not. We're going to drop the sails and run on the motor."
Kaede pointed to Kouta, "Kouta, start the engine. As soon as the sails are down, full speed, don't turn to go around the end of France, keep headin out ta open ocean, bearing 270. Claire, I'm gonna need ya ta paddle with me. Cameron I want ya ta keep a close watch out. The second ya see it, tell Kouta so he kin point the boat right at it, then go down and make sure all hatches and portholes are shut, and if they ain't up, wake everyone an have'em hold on tight. Now, let's drop those sails!"
Kouta turned the engine on and sped up as Kaede flew around, helping to get the sails stored. She didn't even seem to notice her shirt was flying open. He got up to 10 knots, which seemed to help them get the mainsail down and stored, then fore sail. Even with the deck lights on, it was hard to see where they were.
Kaede got another radio message, the wave was traveling faster than expected. ETA to England was now 7AM. It was already making landfall in Ireland. They were,'t going to make it on just the motor.
Kaede got Claire sat down in the back and showed her how to 'dog paddle' the boat. Right after Claire was at work paddling, Kaede noted their speed, 12 knots, and went back to the chart room to re figure their position and the distance they had to go. It was 11:30 now. Marking where the continental shelf was, it was still going to be close.
Going back topside, Kaede found Cameron looking off to the north intently.
"No sign of it yet," Cameron reported.
"Kaede, won't it be better if we go back?" Kouta asked.
Kaede shook her head. "Nay, in deep water, this will be a mild lift and we get set back down. Shallower water makes it rise taller and break over. A much more dangerous place to be," Kaede explained then went back to sit in the middle of deck in front of the main mast. "Claire, we need 20 knots, paddle as hard as you can!" Kaede yelled then started paddling her arms.
Kouta watched the speed increase. "We got 14 … 15 …. 16 …. 18 … 19..."
Ron came up on deck. "I heard the motor's running, what's going on?"
"Tsunami!" Kaede called. "Trying to git ta deep water fore it gits here!"
"Right thing to do!" Ron agreed. "How far we gotta go?"
"We have to make 120 nautical miles in the next 5 or 6 hours, no specific ETA was given," Kaede told him.
Ron looked at the speed. 20.5 Knots. "It's gonna be close," he warned. He then ran back in.
A few minutes later, Kouta noted the speed climb slightly. "We're making 21 knots!" he called.
Ron came back up. "I put a bottle of vodka in the day fuel tank, thins out the fuel a bit, it'll give us another 50-60 RPM's on the motor."
Right after that, Claire announced, "I can't do any more!"
Ron turned to her. "Claire, you gotta do all you possibly can."
Kouta noted they dropped to 20 knots. "Claire, take a short break, then try again. We need you!"
"TIME!" Kaede called.
"12:45" Ron called back.
"We got a contact on radar," Kouta said. "Eight miles out, bearing 040 relative."
Ron went over to watch it.
Cameron climbed up the main mast and looked that way. After a few moments, she said, "I see a mast light, and a starboard running light!"
"They are drawing to our right, most likely will go behind us. They aren't going very fast," Ron added.
Kaede activated her radio and stated her ship and position. "We have another vessel on radar, seven point five miles out drawing east and south. Identify please."
"This is the Load-a-Fun, Sea Witch, there is a tsunami coming. Turn around and head for a safe port"
"Load-a-Fun, you're not going to make it. Turn north and meet it head on. That's your best chance."
"Sea Witch, we only have a 20 foot sailing boat, we'll get swamped."
"Lot-A-Fun. You'll get swamped worse if it catches you from behind. Best ETA right now is in about 3 hours. "You're not going to make it to a port. Head for deep water and facing it is your best chance."
"Sea Witch, the best speed we can make is 7,8 knots."
"Damn it!" Kaede spat. "Ron, we got tow ropes?"
"We do, Want me to get them?"
"Lot-A-Fun, this is Sea Witch. Change course to 260, we'll tow you out into deep water."
"Sea Witch, if it's a chance, we'll take it! Changing course."
Kaede was irritated, this was going to take time they didn't have. She stopped paddling. "Kouta, steer 300, we're going to meet that other boat," She then went quickly to the back to find a cleat. "Claire, up!" she said, motioning.
Claire got out of her way. Ron came up with thick coils of rope. "This is hemp, better for towing." He also had a thick, metal triangular piece. He dropped the ropes and said, use the aft end cleats, to this deadman, then the towing rope comes off the deadman to what you're towing."
Kaede then noted two of the ropes were shorter. Following what Ron was doing Kaede wrapped one short rope to the deadman then tied it to the port cleat as he did the starboard one.
Cameron announced, "I see them heading towards us! Aft starboard!"
Kaede said, "Kouta, match their speed get in front of them." On the radio, Kaede said, "Lot-a-Fun, get directly behind us, don't slow down or stop. We need to keep moving."
"One Fifteen AM!" Ron announced. He tied one end of the long rope onto the deadman.
Kaede grabbed the rest of the rope coil. She stood in the back. The small sailboat with what looked like a two person cabin was getting closer, very slowly. Kouta had to slow down again. This was taking way too long.
Fifty yards out, Kaede announced over the radio, "Get ready to catch!"
A man came to the front and waved his arms. "Ready!" he yelled.
It was close enough, Kaede threw the rope with a mind hand. It uncoiled in the air and landed all over the front of the boat and the man.
Kaede yelled, "Tie it off first, then worry about picking up the extra!"
The man got to work, tying the rope to his forward cleat. The cleat didn't look that big. Once he said, "Got it!", Kaede had Kouta increase speed slowly. The rope straightened up and became tight. "More, another knot!" Kaede called.
"We got eight knots," Kouta called back.
"Full throttle," Kaede told him, the turned to Claire and waved her forward. They went up onto the forward deck. There, Kaede put a hand on her shoulder. Casting a her a firm look, Kaede told her, "Hon, we need everything you got, right up until we hit that wave. Sit in front of the forward hatch and row you're hardest." Kaede then said in her radio and loudly, "Listen up people! When I say to, everyone get your ass down inside your boat, hatches shut. Make sure all portholes and vents are also shut. Tell everyone inside to hang on. This might not be a fun ride going over that wave!"
Claire nodded nervously and took her place. Cameron was still atop of the main mast, watching out to the north. Kaede sat down in front of the mast and paddled as hard a she could.
"Sea Witch, this is Lot-a-Fun, We're going to lower our sail."
"Yes, do it," Kaede said.
"Kaede, we're up to 22 knots!" Kouta announced.
They moved on for another two hours, still in the dark. Cameron announced, "Wave's coming from zero four eight and closing fast!"
Kaede stopped rowing and jumped up. "Everyone inside now!" She flew back to the helm, Kouta was already turning to get them pointed at the wave. "Kouta, let me take over, get inside!"
"No, shield us!" he snapped back.
Even in the dark, Kaede saw the wall of water coming at them. There was to time to argue.
.