The Abacus Equation

  Chapter 4

  Angela Hutton was flabbergasted and watched in disbelief her two daughters sitting sisterly next to each other on the bench. It was obvious she could and would not comprehend the news.

  “So both of you are going to give up your jobs to sail the oceans for a couple of months?” Angela repeated carefully. “More than a year as a matter of fact. And spend all your savings on such an adventure?”

  She looked for help and addressed her husband Raymond. “Say something Ray. This is a ridiculous plan. They should have taken such a world trip just after their graduation, like most of their friends. Ray?”

  Ray murmured something incomprehensible from behind his computer screen.

  “Mother, it is now or never. We have enough money to cover the trip. And you know this has been a dream of ours for years,” answered Jane, the oldest who had just turned thirty four.

  In his mind Raymond let all of the past dreams parade in review. Over the years it had become quite a collection. Most of them had been whims and from time to time he had to be very cross with them to ensure they did not develop into spoilt minxes. But he had to admit that he was secretly in favour of this trip. Even a bit envious. It had also been his dream and he felt sorry for never have taken the step. The girls had inherited the love for the sea from their father. Few years ago they had bought a yacht to enjoy the family outings along the coast of Adelaide. A trip around the world was of course another cup of tea. For Angela their plan had come as a blow for another reason. She had secretly been thinking of grand children now that Jane got more and more serious with her boy-friend. Ah well, those plans now had to be put in the fridge for some time.

  “Ray?”

  “Well,” he started not very convincingly, “your lack of experience makes me worried. Wouldn't it be better to hire a skipper?”

  “But didn't we accumulate enough experience with you?” was Jackie's argument. “We have done quite a bit of sailing with you, even in difficult circumstances. We know how to navigate, we understand the ins and outs of the radio, the boat is stacked with modern communication equipment. What can go wrong? We will mail each day, promised.”

  But Ray had other things on his mind. He made some clear statements on the route that they should follow and where they had to anchor to meet him at different stages. As a former minister and a professor he had to do a fair amount of travelling. His demand was that they should meet from time to time in places where his agenda would take him.

  And this is how Jane and Jackie left Adelaide on the family yacht The Port of Call. The forty two footer provided more than ample space and luxury for the two girls and was not too large to sail without a crew. The first couple of days had been a pleasure to sail on the calm sea pushed forward by fair winds. The girls used their satellite connection to mail as promised each day so that also at the home front the anxiety ebbed away.

  During the tenth night the first signs appeared that the weather was about to change. And not for the better.

  “Shouldn't we divert to Diego Garcia? The naval base will give us a safe shelter. I don't want to take any risks,” Jane had insisted.

  Reluctantly Jackie had nodded and had plotted a new course. They were still a fair distance from Diego and it promised to be a race against time with the storm. A race they were bound to lose.

  When the first waves flushed the deck, the lack of experience of the two took its toll. They started to yell and quarrel on how to reef the sails. The pouring rain soaked everything in minutes. They got entangled in ropes and riggings. They swayed to and fro over the slippery deck, hurting their knees and elbows. The pitch-dark sky was lightened by bolts that seemed to be everywhere.

  Finally the mast snapped because they were unable to reef the main sail as it got stuck. With a loud noise the mast fell to starboard, almost capsizing the boat. In a couple of minutes the first waves hit the cabin.

  Jane crawled to the radio and sent out the distress signal. Fortunately the boat had an advanced safety system on board. Almost instantly they received answers from nearby boats. Also the control tower of Diego responded and promised to coordinate the help.

  As fast as the tropical storm had overtaken the yacht, it lulled down again. A burning sun broke through the clouds which made place for a clear blue sky.

  In the daylight, Jane and Jackie could take a close look at the ravage on deck. It was obvious that they would not be able to continue their voyage. In the meantime, the control tower had reached them again with the news that a water plane was on its way to pick them up and bring them to the army base. While Jackie was still throwing some wet clothes in one of their travel bags, she heard Jane shout that she had spotted the plane in the distance.

  Relieved they untied the small dinghy and made attempts to start the engine. Jane ended her story with the hard landing in front of Diego's coast and the drinking of a cool beer.

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