Against the Sea: Tales On and Under the Sea by Christ John E

Author:Christ, John E. [Christ, John E.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2015-03-22T04:00:00+00:00

Wipe Out

The full moon slowly rose above the watery horizon. John watched with mounting anticipation of what he would finally see under ideal conditions. The cloudless sky dazzled him with a countless collection of stars. Sand crabs skittered across the beach at the water’s edge outlined by the ever growing moonlight. This was paradise, this was nowhere; this was just this. A warm breeze blew gently across the shore.

“I have lived for this moment,” John said softly. “I am…”

The words caught in his throat. For countless years he had talked about being in this spot with his brother. From the beginning, he and his brother shared a consummate love of the firmament and the sea. Where one was more comfortable in the sea, the other was in the sky. Each complemented the other, as right is best assisted with left.

“Where are you?” John choked.

The agony of separation weighed on his chest making it momentarily difficult to take a deep breath. The sensation passed quickly as he focused attention back on the face of the moon rising ever higher. He gazed through the telescope admiring the magnificent pattern of chaos caused so many eons ago. For once he felt unsure that being alone was wise. A shiver ran down his spine. Suppose this island was inhabited? His research told him no, but what was written was, more often than not, at odds with reality. The thought of hostile natives were replaced with noisy tourists, neither one helpful to ease his state of mind.

His wristwatch held the time, but he did not care what it was. The moment was near and there was no way he would miss it. Within arm’s reach was the telescope, camera and radio. As for any sort of weapon he merely had a fillet knife which served everything from kitchen utensil, serving implement and all-around tool.

Several days ago he sailed out by himself, setting course toward the southeast. The weather was fair with idle breezes pushing him toward this tropical paradise. A man against the sea is a man face-to-face with God. The awesome might of the ocean at a whim could send him to eternity. Days of basking in the sun went by thinking of the past. He glorified the present not worrying about the doubtful future, whatever that might be. John opened a small Bible to Psalms. “Those that go down to the sea in ships,” he said softly. He flashed back to the time when he had stood with his brother in front of the fisherman’s statue in Gloucester posing for a picture.

A large wave crept through the dark and crashed noisily on the beach. John turned toward the sound unsure of the meaning it presented. He scanned the dark watery horizon for signs of a boat passing nearby. The view remained unspoiled by any creation of man. He sighed heavily.

Alone, alone, alone, all alone, on a South Pacific island far from the madness and turmoil of civilization. As a child, reality disappeared in flights of imagination to far and impossible places.

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