LOST AT SEA CH. 1 Pt. 1 of 3

LOST AT SEA CH. 1 Pt. 1 of 3

Where am I? I was not on my boat.

There was a window open and a warm breeze floated in. The curtains were moving gently, making shadows dance across the room. I was still near the ocean - I could hear the surf.

I had to be dreaming. I closed my eyes and tried again. When I opened them again, I was still in bed.

Then it came back to me. I closed my eyes and the nightmare replayed itself. It was near midnight, and I was in a raging storm.

Huge waves battered my boat. Off to my left was the Barracoon Reef Light, flashing through the driving rain. I struggled to stay as far from it as I could, for the reefs around the island were notoriously treacherous. But it was not happening. The combination of wind and waves pushed me closer and closer. There was little I could do. I saw the water foam where the jagged coral lay just below the surface.

Then the mast broke went over the side. Helpless, the disabled boat drifted towards the shore. I waited for the inevitable thump and crash as the boat hit the reef, but there was none. Fate had smiled on me. I put out the anchor. The last thing I remembered was a huge wave that engulfed my boat.

How I made it ashore, I do not know. How I ended up in this room was an even bigger mystery. I was too tired to care and fell asleep again.

I awoke when I heard a door open. A tall woman, with brown hair, carried a tray in. Another woman, a little slip of a thing with short, black hair followed her in.

I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, I was interrupted by the short one, who said, "Don't waste your breath. Muriel's made you some breakfast."

Muriel said, "Take it easy, you've been through a lot." She smiled at me kindly. She put her hand on my shoulder. That felt good.

She put the tray down on the table next to the bed. As they left the tall one closed the door behind them.

I had not eaten in days and the smell of the food made me ravenous.

I wolfed it down and drank the cup of coffee so fast I nearly scalded my mouth.

Then I pulled up the covers and went back to sleep.

It was dark when I heard the door open again. The tall one is back. Her name is Muriel, I think. She is carrying another tray of food and an oil lamp.

"How are you feeling?" she asks.

"Better, thank you. I want to..."

"Quiet now, you need to rest some more," replies Muriel with a smile.

Her hand brushes the hair out of my eyes. My body tingles from the contact.

She sits in the chair as I eat.

"What's your name?" asked Muriel.

"Michael. Michael Novak," I replied between bites.

"That's a pretty name. I'm Muriel and my boss is Anita."

As if on cue, Anita appeared, saying to Muriel, "Leave him alone. Can't you see he's still weak?"

I put down my fork. I roll my shoulders, and there is not any pain. "I feel a lot better now, really, and I enjoy her company," I said.

Anita holds up her hand. "You rest now. Come, Muriel. You've got work to do."

The next morning, I wake up to find my clothes have been washed and dried. Someone has folded them neatly and hung them over the back of the chair. There is a pair of flip-flops on the seat. They are big enough for me, so they could not have belonged to either of them.

Who had been their owner?

I stretched and sat up. My strength was back.

I put on my clothes and crept quietly down the stairs. Through the screen door, I could see it was another beautiful tropical morning. I opened the screen door and stepped out onto the porch.

The island I was on was not that large, barely big enough for the lighthouse and the keeper's house. In the distance, I saw the dull blue-gray shape of the mainland, St. Albans Island.

Anita was working on an engine by the lighthouse. The breeze ruffled her beautiful black hair. She is cute, I thought.

Then it struck me. There was not anyone else around besides the two women. They were the lighthouse keepers!

"There you are," says Muriel. She is standing behind me and I jump out of surprise. "Anita really doesn't want you out here. Come inside.

Do you want some breakfast?"

"Yes, thanks," I reply. I take one last look at Anita's slender figure, hunched over the engine, and then turn to follow Muriel back inside.

The kitchen is clean and well ordered, but incredibly old-fashioned.

The stove burns coal. Muriel is making bacon and eggs. A pot of coffee steamed and filled the air with its fragrance. Even with the windows open, the kitchen is hot.

I sat down and watched her cook. She has a stew cooking on the stove.

"You must be the cook," I said.

She laughed and replied, "I do a little of everything, but I like cooking best."

I watched her putter around, doing dishes, sweeping the floor. She smiles at me as he does it.

I summon up the courage to say, "Muriel, I need to get to my boat."

"It's sunk, isn't it?" she replies.

"I can see it from the window of my room. It's about a hundred yards offshore."

"I'll have to ask Anita," she said.

"OK, thank you," I replied. The way Anita acted towards me made my heart sink. I was sure she would say no. There was nothing to do but go back to my room and look out on the water.

At lunchtime, Anita mentions the food.

"You need to stay in this room. I don't want you wandering around here."

"I need to get to my boat, please," I said to her. "See, it's right off the beach." I point to it.

She looks out the window and asked, "Why?"

"I have some valuables I want to recover. All my papers are in the boat. Plus, I've got lots of food."

"It will be ruined by the water."

"No, it won't," I replied. "It's all sealed up and most of it is canned. I just need the use of your dinghy. Please." I am pleading now.

"Let me think about it."

To be continued