Chapter 2: The Search
The next morning, after the big storm, the smurfs headed back to view the mess that the flash flood caused after it destroyed the dam and half their village. Every single smurf had a lost look on their face. It wasn't the fact that the storm caused a lot of damage; it was the fact that they may have lost a member of their community during last night's disaster.
All through the night, regardless of the hard rain that still fell, the smurfs searched the riverbanks in hopes to find Hefty Smurf. So far all they were able to find was broken branches, mud and parts of the dam washed up everywhere. Things may have seemed hopeless, but they were not about to stop the search. At the moment, they were herded back to the village to hear what Papa Smurf had to say for his instructions of what should be done next.
Papa Smurf climbs onto his mushroom shape podium. He pauses to look around at his disoriented little smurfs. Smurfette held Baby Smurf close to her as she continued to weep over last night. The painful thought of not knowing where Hefty could be is felt all around village. Throughout the whole night during the search, there hasn't been a moment when Papa Smurf simply felt like breaking down and crying. He forced himself not to in order to lead his little smurfs.
Before Papa Smurf spoke, he looked down to his mentor, Grandpa Smurf. He sat on a log with the smurflings. Both Snappy and Sassette were cuddled under the smurf elder's arms, while Nat and Slouchy Smurf sat on either end on the log. Grandpa slowly looked up to meet Papa Smurf's gaze. He gave him a knowing look and nodded for him to go ahead with his speech.
With a gulp, Papa Smurf turned towards his little smurfs. "As you all know, we've had a huge storm that hit us last night. It destroyed our dam, half our village, and swept one of our own down the river."
Many of the smurfs didn't even try to block away their tears when Papa Smurf reminded them of the horrors they witnessed.
"I just want to say that we are not about to give up searching for Hefty. But we also need to begin rebuilding the dam so it would not create more damage to our village. That is why I would like to begin splitting you all into three groups. One group will focus the search to find Hefty. The second group will need to gather materials and rebuild the dam. The third group, I would like you to begin cleaning up the village and repairing the damage from the flood."
Dreamy Smurf steps forward with his hand held high. "Papa Smurf, you don't suppose Hefty could have been washed out to sea?"
Many of the other smurfs gasped at the thought. Papa Smurf pondered over the likelihood of that happening. Indeed the ocean was nearby, and that the river does flow right into it. Papa Smurf nodded at Dreamy Smurf.
"Your possibly right, Dreamy." Papa Smurf agreed. "Alright, I put you in charge of the search party. You get your crew and supplies ready. I want you to set sail as soon as possible."
"Aye, Aye, Papa Smurf." Dreamy saluted then ran off to begin the preparations.
"As for the rest of you," Papa paused to let out a sigh, "lets get the village and dam fixed."
OoOoOoOoOoOo
A WEEK LATER…The little smurf ship floated smoothly over the sea. Dreamy Smurf always loved to sail after a huge storm. Unfortunately this is not a leisure trip. He was on a mission. A mission he intends NOT to fail.
For the past six days, Dreamy and his crew have sailed endlessly. He looked down at his crew of ten smurfs and one smurfling, Sassette. She demanded to be let aboard, and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. Vanity Smurf sat up in the crow's nest overlooking the ocean. During this past week, he hadn't even glanced at his mirror once. Instead of a mirror, he held a telescope. Vanity thought that finding his fellow smurf seemed more important then his own personal appearance at this time.
Seven crewmembers scuffled through some of the broken debris they had found so far along their journey. Most of the items are parts of the dam. Surprisingly, there were even objects from the smurf village that were found along their search. Sadly, there was still no sign of Hefty.
The Captain can sense the tiredness from the crew. However, no one was complaining. Dreamy admired his crew's determination. He drew a half smile on his face as he watched them work hard. It mattered not that their food supply was now running low, and no one had had a decent night's sleep throughout this entire week. What mattered was that they find their missing fellow smurf.
Without realizing it, Dreamy started doing what he does best - day dreaming. He started to visualize Hefty Smurf standing on deck. The strong smurf stood proud as he saluted his captain on the bridge. How Hefty loved playing crewmen aboard the SS Smurf.
Dreamy realized that he was dreaming again, and shook his head back to reality. He let out a loud sigh before lifting his personal telescope up to his eye. With a more serious look, he began panning the sea level for the umpteenth time already in the past hour.
A loud groan interrupted Dreamy's concentration. He turned to see Brainy Smurf leaning over the railing of the ship.
"How are you holding up Brainy?" Dreamy asked with concern.
"You'd think after being on this ship for almost a week, I wouldn't have anything else to throw up. But here I am, and still no sign of Hefty." Complained Brainy. "Why do I ever agree on coming along on these sailing trips?"
"Well, I do need a navigator, and you are the most qualified smurf the job." Dreamy explains.
Brainy hiccups a gas bubble up from his throat, thinking he was about to throw up again, but instead turned out to be just a belch. "Lucky me." He said with a whine.
"Come on Brainy, we can't give up now. We've just got to find Hefty." Sassette chirped.
Brainy turned to face the little redhead smurfling. He attempted to smile at her without letting the nausea get to him. "We can only do our best, kiddo." He said to her as he taps a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Captain Dreamy!" Vanity suddenly yelled from high up in the crow's nest. "Take a look over to the northeast!"
Dreamy quickly followed instructions and viewed the object floating on the water through his scope.
"I'm not sure from this distance, but it defiantly looked like there is something on that log." Captain Dreamy said hopefully. He hands Brainy the scope and runs up to his steering wheel to turn the boat in the direction so the crew can investigate their find.
Brainy holds the scope so he too can look at the floating debris. He pulls the scope back down from his face. Skepticism is written all over his face, but he chooses not to say anything. As much as he likes to be right all the time there are just some times he hopes he is wrong. This just happens to be one of those times.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER…The smurf ship finally sailed its way up to the crushed logs. The crew did not waist any time. Four of them prepared the small boat, while two other crewmen dropped the anchor in order to prevent the ship from floating away from the rescue team. This all went along like clockwork. The crew had done this so many times throughout the week that each time it becomes easier to prepare the boat, and paddle up to retrieve the debris.
Within minutes, the four smurfs on the wooden dingy pulled up along side the broken logs from the dam. On the logs was indeed something that could resemble a smurf-like form. Excitably, the four smurfs reached for the object, only to be disappointed to find that it wasn't Hefty. Instead it was a white cloth caught on another object from the smurf village.
"What did we find?" Dreamy called down to the four smurfs in the little boat.
"More junk. And that is no joke." Jokey Smurf called back.
Dreamy let another loud sigh escape from his mouth. "Alright," he says. "Gather what you can, and come back aboard."
As the smurfs in the little boat paddled back and prepared themselves to be pulled back up, a huge shark leaped up from beneath the ocean a mile away from the SS Smurf. It crashed back down into the water creating a huge splash. The little smurfs gasped in horror.
"W-What was that?" Sassette asked with a quiver.
"That was a s-shark, Sassette." Answered Brainy.
Captain Dreamy was so stunned that he froze, staring blankly at the spot where the shark splashed. Seeing the shark brought a fearful thought into his mind. The thought that perhaps Hefty might not have made it alive suddenly became a reality.
"Captain Dreamy?" Jokey's voice spoke up. When Dreamy broke out from his blank stare, he turned to realize his fellow smurf and crewmen had already returned aboard the ship. "We did happen to find this floating out there on those logs." Jokey handed him a piece of white cloth with bloodstains on it.
"Is that…?" Brainy started to ask.
"…A piece of Hefty's hat." Dreamy sadly finished.
"Does that mean we are getting close? That we keep searching?" Sassette innocently asks.
"No Sassette. It means we turn around and go home." Brainy sadly admitted. He turned and leaned on the railing. Absently he looked out at the flat horizon along the ocean surface. The scene seemed to go on forever. A hopeless feeling swam over him.
"We can't do that!" The little smurfling screeched. "Hefty would never give up on any of us. What makes you think we can just give up on him?" She wept.
Brainy turned to face Sassette and placed both his hands on her shoulders. "Look Sassette. I don't want to admit it, but even Hefty, and all his strength, could never have floated out here this long and survive. By now he has probably been some fish's meal…"
"Brainy…" Dreamy started to warn, but his voice was so quiet that it was barely heard.
"Chances of him still staying afloat for over a week is impossible…"
"Brainy…" Dreamy again said, but a little more loudly this time.
"Who knows, may that shark that we just saw, could have…"
"BRAINY!" Captain Dreamy finally screamed.
Brainy finally stopped talking and looked up at Dreamy Smurf.
"That's enough." The Captain sternly warned.
It was then that Brainy realized what he was saying. He looked around the ship to see every smurf with long faces and crying. When he looked back down at Sassette he realized how upset she was becoming over his speech. He quickly removed his hands from his shoulder and walked back over to the railing. With his hand over his forehead, Brainy's tears of grief began to fall. He mentally admitted to being a real jerk sometimes.
"Captain Dreamy?" Sassette's little voice squeaked. Dreamy brought his attention down to her. "What do we do now?" She asked with innocence in her teary eyes.
Before he answered he paned over the bridge to see the rest of his crew looking up at him for his instructions. It was at that moment he realized that it is now time to stop dreaming and face reality. As much as he hated to admit it, Brainy was right. With a heavy heart he replied. "We raise the anchor, and…" He paused as he struggled to bring up his command. "…head for home."