The waves were truly terrifying.
In the observation lounge, Lian gripped the sides of her chair, while the Cape Adare fought her way into the storm. The foaming water crashed over the bow of the ship as she plunged into another giant wave. Lian closed her eyes as the ship rolled from side to side. If it was like this for a big ship like the Cape Adare, how must it be for a small yacht … and a man alone on that yacht?
‘Cor! Imagine being out there in that.’
Lian glanced up. Several of the English lads had wandered into the lounge. Well, staggered would be a better word as they lurched with the rolling of the ship, grabbing on to whatever looked solid enough to stabilise them. A couple of them looked a little green around the gills. Lian wondered if they knew that the ship’s doctor was handing out seasickness pills as if they were sweeties. Strangely enough, with the onset of the storm, her own stomach had settled – it was as if the morning sickness had retreated in the face of far bigger concerns.
She rested her hand on her stomach and thought about the new life starting there. The new life that she was supposed to protect and nurture. Yet here she was on a ship that was driving headfirst into a terrifying storm. She wasn’t afraid that the ship would sink. If there was any danger of that, the captain would turn the ship around. Wouldn’t he? She was more afraid of what might happen if she lost her balance on the heaving deck. Would a fall harm her? Harm her baby? She had no idea. What was she doing? She needed help. She couldn’t face this alone.
‘I bet we don’t find him …’ The speaker’s voice trailed off as the deck heaved, sending him running across the lounge to end up gripping a rail. His friends laughed, while maintaining a firm grip on anything nearby that was stable.
‘He’s probably already gone under.’
Lian wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. They were just talking very loudly.
‘I heard someone say the bridge had been talking to him on the radio.’
That wasn’t quite right. Jenny had told her they were tracking a radio distress beacon that must be on board the stricken yacht. Lian tried to imagine how the yachtsman must feel. Alone in those mountainous seas. How frightened he must be. Was he making his peace with whatever God he believed in? Was he still fighting for survival, or had he given up and resigned himself to joining Davy Jones down below?
‘Hello.’ A young male voice spoke close to her side. ‘Remember me?’
‘Us, you imbecile. She should remember us.’
‘Well, some of us, anyway.’
Lian was once again surrounded by eager young faces and English accents.
‘Hi guys,’ she said. She didn’t want to be rude, but she wasn’t really in the mood for them.
The ship rolled again, and the lads caught hold of each other, and her chair, to stop themselves being thrown across the room.
‘Isn’t this exciting,’ the tall one said happily. ‘Just think. We’re going to heroes.’
‘Not you mate,’ one of his companions gave him a not-so-gentle punch in the shoulder. ‘You’re just a witness.’
‘Hey, maybe we can get interviewed by the BBC,’ the first youth offered. ‘Mr Barstow, can you tell us exactly what happened?’ he intoned in a deep voice.
‘Why would anyone want to talk to you,’ his shorter friend said, ‘when they have a chance to talk to someone much nicer and far better looking?’ He focused his attention back on Lian
Lian smiled. She couldn’t help herself. She was only a couple of years older than these boys, but she felt almost motherly towards them. Must be more hormones, she guessed.
‘Hello boys, isn’t this exciting!’ Vera’s arrival effectively released Lian from the obligation to respond. She dropped into a vacant chair and placed her handbag securely in her lap. She seemed remarkably unruffled by the wild seas and the ship’s movement. ‘Hopefully we’ll get a good view of the rescue from here.’
‘That would be cool!’
Vera leaned over towards Lian, and patted her hand gently. ‘You know boys,’ she said in a sweet voice, ‘a lot of people are having trouble with the weather. Seasick you know. It’s all the heaving and tossing of the ship.’
Lian saw one boy’s face turn a slightly more obvious shade of green.
‘Of course, I imagine it will take more than a few waves to have you strong young things with your heads down the toilet bowl,’ Vera continued innocently. ‘It’s a good thing the doctor has seasickness pills for those who need them.’
‘He has?’ The young male voice was decidedly shaky.
‘He certainly does. He’s handing them out to everyone. But of course you don’t need them, do you?’
Lian chuckled quietly as the boys exchanged glances.
‘Well,’ the one called Barstow said. ‘I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have some, just in case one of the other lads felt poorly.’
‘Yes. That’s a good idea,’ agreed his green-tinged companion. ‘After all, we wouldn’t want them to miss the rescue … because they are …’ He broke off in mid-sentence and darted away. His friends followed, breaking into a semi-run as the ship rolled again.
‘Oh dear,’ said Vera. ‘Not very strong of stomach are they?’
Lian grinned. ‘I guess not.’
‘What about you my dear, how are you coping with the weather?’
‘The weather is fine really,’ Lian said.
‘But …’
Lian looked at Vera’s kind face, and felt that she just wanted to burst into tears. She gulped the feeling down. ‘It’s a little bit scary though,’ she said.
‘Don’t you worry,’ Vera said, her voice brimming with confidence. ‘William – that’s the doctor – tells me the ship has been through far worse than this. And the captain is very experienced. He hasn’t lost a ship yet!’
Instead of giggling as Vera had no doubt intended, Lian suddenly felt tears running down her face. ‘Oh Vera, what on earth am I doing here? I’m frightened. Really frightened. Not for me. For my baby. What on earth possessed me to do this?’
‘You are taking your baby to meet his – or her – father. You’re going to give your young man the very best news in the world. You are doing the right thing.’
‘But it’s not supposed to be like this,’ Lian waved her arms to take in the room, and the groups of passengers who were clinging tight to every stable surface while watching the huge seas. ‘I always used to imagine what it would be like. Having a baby. Telling my husband. My parents. I used to dream about the things we would do to welcome a new member of the family. But … it’s …’ Her voice trailed off.
‘It’s not like you imagined? Goodness, dear. Having a baby never is. It’s the most unpredictable thing on the planet. Why, I realised I was pregnant with my first when I fainted in a graveyard.’
‘A graveyard?’
‘Yes. I keeled over right next to a grand marble mausoleum. My poor husband thought I’d died. It was so unlike me to faint in such a fascinating place.’
‘You husband is …’ Lian wasn’t quite sure how to frame the question.
‘Gone? Sadly, yes.’ Vera anticipated her. ‘Five years ago now. Heart attack.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry.’
For a few seconds Vera’s eyes clouded over and the ever-present smile dimmed just a fraction. The she took a deep breath. ‘I do still miss him you know. We were married for more than forty years.’
‘Wow.’ Lian was impressed. ‘That’s wonderful.’
‘Yes. Yes, it was,’ Vera said. ‘And it will be for you too, my dear. Don’t you worry.’
Lian nodded, surprised to find her fear had faded. They sat in silence for a few minutes as the boat continued its brave struggle into the storm. Every few seconds, the deck heaved and tossed beneath their chairs, which were securely bolted to the floor.
‘I am beginning to understand the way they’ve decorated this place,’ Vera finally said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, these chairs, with the high sides. Without them, we’d be tossed on the floor every few seconds.’
At that moment, a sudden burst of brilliant white light exploded in the sky directly in front of the ship.
‘What was that?’ Lian asked, blinking.
‘A flare,’ a voice said as Jenny staggered up and sat down next to them. ‘One of ours.’
‘Have they spotted him?’ Vera asked.
‘Not yet. But we’re close to where he should be. That’s why they’re sending up flares. Hopefully he’ll respond.’
‘What happens then?’ Vera asked.
‘I’m not entirely sure.’ Jenny stood up. Her injured wrist was still strapped, but with the other she took a firm hold on the back of her seat for balance and raised her voice to address all the assembled passengers.
‘As you have probably worked out, we’re getting close to the yacht’s expected location,’ she told the silent room. ‘Can I ask you all please to stay here in the observation lounge. Don’t go out on deck. Apart from the fact that it’s dangerous out there in these heavy seas, our crew need to focus all their efforts on that yacht. We don’t want to have to go fishing for passengers as well.’
The last line brought a small laugh.
‘How are they going to save him?’ someone asked.
‘They’re experienced seamen,’ Jenny said. ‘They’ll know what to do.’ She dropped back into her chair.
‘I hope so,’ Lian said softly as she stared out through the glass at the angry ocean.