Chapter Eleven
They were swimming back to the skiff after floating for a short time next to mother and baby, who was now swimming off slowly at his mother's side. Orion jumped in and swam to Sk'lar and Julsey, and they were laughing as they made their way back aboard the skiff and started back to the Watson. As they were about 40 meters away from docking with the mothership a whale surfaced right to the side of them and breached, splashing everything around it as it did. Another breached to starboard of the Wicked Wind. They had saved a life and made new friends. Mother and child stayed around circling the cluster of ships, and it was somewhat of a certainty among the crews that Big Mama and her pod knew what had been done for them that morning.
There was a sense of great accomplishment in the air. The added ships did serve to distract the other blues, but apart from that they were actually unnecessary. It was still nice having them there. The father and son from the Carolina Province had arrived in time to witness the birth as well, and word went out throughout the world of the event which had just taken place. Messages were coming in from around the globe, and the only ones really having to continue to work were communications officers on the ships. Operations were being concluded in a atmosphere of celebration. The ships were still concerned about the approaching storm, and after some celebration the Wicked Wind and the Hornet started making way back to the Shore to outrun the approaching storm. The N.A.N. Al Gore was intending to head east to escort the shrimp boat back to port, but before they left crew from the Al Gore and father and son from Carolina had come aboard to tour the Watson. The shrimper had even dumped a good deal of his catch overboard and the juvenile blue from the pod, who had continued to approach the three remaining boats with interest, rose to feed upon the shrimp his little boy had insisted his father throw overboard.
After the two boats moved off the R.V. Watson made way to the leeward side of Bermudas to ride out the storm, which was no longer a hurricane but a withering tropical depression. The jet stream was breaking it apart. The Watson was well designed and could fair harsh weather well, and after securing the boat the crew settled in to ride out what was left of the approaching storm. The boat rocked as the storm came and passed, sometimes with strong winds and other times with heavy bands of rain. When the storm had finally passed it had been just under 60 hours in the waters of Bermuda, and Sky was on the bow watching the sunset as Doctor John approached him carrying the last two cups of coffee. The luxury of the dark bean would expire after that.
“You did really well, eh...” he said handing the hot ceramic cup to his young friend. Orion was at Sky's side, and was still standing looking up at the old vet lovingly waiting for acknowledgment. “I remember when I got him from you, we didn't know if he was going to make it.” Sky reminisced. “I did. That's little doggie there just needed love, and you gave him that.” Sky smiled. Orion had been found as the last surviving pup of an orphaned litter living in the wilds near Old Trenton. Sk'lar stayed up with the pup for four days until he started to eat on his own. Sky was the first living thing the dog had seen and bonded with him like he was his mother. “Thank you for asking me to join you on this.” John said to his friend. “I haven't had this much fun in years, at least since that sick seal you brought me when you were 14.” he added thankfully.
“I couldn't think of anyone else so uniquely qualified, Doc.” Sk'lar extended his hand to shake the hand of the man with whom he had just shared one of the more exciting moments of his life. “I might be able to return the favor. There's a herd of Woolly Mammoth just below the tundra that I am going to check on next month. You can come if you want.” He offered. “I'd like that. I have to make sure the salmon project is.... oh, God, I have to check on the project!” he just remembered.
The skype to Lawrence was short and almost unnecessary. Lawrence had always been a little bit scattered and more concerned about hitting the pubs in Red Bank than doing any kind of real work. When the skype connected Lawrence was in Sky's office, and surprise, surprise, Beth was there with him. “Yo, it's tight here, no need to worry.” he told his lifelong friend. “Besides, Beth here has been helpin' me, yo.”
“Helping?” Beth cut in. “More like carrying your load, yo!” she said in a playfully confrontational tone. Julsey had come in and the girls exchanged hellos, and as they continued to chatter over the two boys Lawrence cut in. “Bro, looks like we lost this call. Everything's actually ahead of schedule and I can set the Raritan any day now. I got it, eh..” “Got it, yous ain't got it, we do. If it wasn't for.....” Beth spoke over him, then he over her. “She's a pain in the ass but she's sharp, I'll check ya later, eh.” he said as he got up from the chair at Sk'lar's desk. “I gotcha', later.” Sky adding getting up as the two began to chatter and squawk like the girls they were. That call lasted for an hour and forty minutes.
Sky went to a far corner and sat at a terminal and composed an email to his parents, Orion still staying close by his side. He hadn't had a personal call with his parents yet either, but this would do. When the next day broke and the storm was long gone they took the skiff to the island and hunted down the man who first noticed the big blue in trouble. Sk'lar asked him how he knew what the deal was and that she was in trouble. “I be raised here my 'tire life mon, dontcha tink I'd-a know if an big one was in disss-tress. I've seeen bunches of big babies come into the world out dare. Dey come here ya tink it was dare priavate nursery or sumting.” There were only about 200 people on the entire island, and they were very self-sufficient. They were ecstatic when the Watson left behind loads of supplies much easier to come by on Shore. There was a beach party before the Watson left, and Sk'lar and Julsey got to enjoy a honeymoon even before the question was even thought about being asked.
To think that 300 years ago whales were being hunted and were on their way to extinction, and then 200 years later mankind had realized the damage that was being caused and there was a war for the survival of man, the earth, and many of the species that were being driven to extinction, and further that 100 years ago the oceans and lands were in many places still reeling from the wars and devastation that came with the Great Collapse, to see the advancements in humanity, the civility, compassion, and concern of man, and see the results of hard work and dedication to a new manner of human conduct, the young couple discussed how bright the future seemed for them. Einstein had said “I fear the day when the technology overlaps with our humanity. The world will only have a generation of idiots.” It seems Einstein's prediction had finally been reversed.
As the skiff approached the R.V. Watson to start the journey home a school of spotted dolphin joined them as they made their way to the old research vessel and as it started its way back home. They had to stop because Orion had jumped in, he was always jumping in to swim with porpoises. They seemed to like him.
Sky finally got his parents on a skype. “I's proud of ya dare, son, eh?” Al Duncan said softly, in the intimacy of a call between just himself and his wife. Lynn put her hand over her heart and said, “I told you you were destined to have a rewarding life and do special things, Sky. We'll have Julsey's parents down here waiting for her when you two get back here. They spent the night when you left and we love them. They play spades and hearts. Your daddy found him another fishin' buddy as well, eh” Lynn told her son. “Just email me the time you 'spect to get back. Mike Mazza wants to have a party for ya and I told him that we can use your home when you get in, unless you want to wait.”
“No, mom, at long as he doesn't try to put accolades on me for everything that's fine. Where's Lawrence at?” he asked. “Off tending to your fish, I think” was all she had left to say. They ended the call and he made his way to the Watson's forward deck. Julsey was there with Orion and they were standing on the bow of the Watson staring into the setting of the sun. “So now we sail off into the sunset?” he asked her.
“No,” she said quickly. “this is just like another sunrise to me, full of hope.” She paused, she was holding a piece of pape
r in her left hand. “I found this in the cloud. This boat was named for Paul Watson, who lived 150 years ago. He worked to save the seas and fight for whales when they were still being hunted.”
“I know,” Sky responded, “I know who he was.” She finished her point and then drove it home. “I found this quote by him in the cloud when I was digging. I think you fulfilled the legacy of this ship.”
The paper had a quote printed on it:
“If the whales survive and flourish, if the seals continue to live and give birth, and if I can contribute to ensuring their future prosperity, I will be forever happy." - Paul Watson
800 miles away in the Delaware River just above New Trenton, about 200 salmon swam in place facing upstream in a stainless and organic polymer pen that Lawrence had crafted from one of Sk'lars designs. Beth and Laurence were arguing as they were working together, yet fighting over transferring the last few fish in truck's live well into the river water pen. A stupid argument about doing one at a time or two. The salmon would live there for about two weeks or less, and be released as soon as they were ready to move upstream and spawn. The two were both fairly quick-witted and as much as they said they disliked each other, they didn't venture too far from each others company since she came down to see Julsey off. They would have their own adventure in a month or so that would break down the walls between them and bring them together, but that was another story.
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