Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Survival At Sea - by J.Arthur -

   *** On a sailing holiday both Adam and Tess having recently lost their
respective partners, formed an alliance of sorts.  When Tess is washed
overboard during a storm Adam follows, getting her unconscious form into a
life raft, surviving a fortnight till found.  Their lives are forever
joined along with Tess' mum.  The skipper and his wife join in a business
and personal partnership.  (MFF/MF, rom, cons, preg, anal)

   ***

   The wind I realised was getting up as a sudden cold gust made me look up
into the rigging at the fore stay sail above which snapped as taught as a
bow string demanding my attention.  The two masted, one hundred and thirty
ton schooner, 'Mary Dear' healed onto her starboard beam further than
anything previously this morning.

   I had been leaning back against the foremast sitting on the the forward
cabin, gazing out over the bow seeing nothing as the Mary Dear rhythmically
dipped her nose into the slow South Pacific easterly swell coming in under
her stern, as I was lost deep in thought.  Suddenly being aware, focusing
on what was going on around me.

   I looked out over the gunnel aft, out to the horizon in the direction
the strengthening wind was blowing from.  I had not noticed the clouds
building.  The local weather forecast predicting the chance of
thunderstorms in the region.  But then the weather had been changeable with
the El Nino effect in the area recently, the glass was dropping which was
never a good sign for sailors.

   Looking back at the helmsman in the half covered in raised cockpit aft I
could see he was looking out in that direction too.  He looked forward
spotting me looking back at him from around the mast giving me a shake of
his head.  I watched as he opened what I assumed was the brass speaker tube
in the compass housing talking urgently to someone in the cabin below.

   Looking out to the Easton horizon again, with my weekend sailor
experienced eye I could see why a so experienced helmsman was so urgent. 
Thunder clouds with a hammer head had suddenly manifested themselves astern
from the all round morning misty horizon.

   Thunderhead clouds that looked black and ugly underneath less than
twenty miles away.  I knew we were in for it as the weather we could see
was now bearing down on us at speed from all round the eastern horizon.

   Being a small sailing vessel in relative terms it was obvious we
couldn't run from the storm's approaching path, we were in the middle of
it. The temperature was dropping noticeably now.  I ducked down the forward
hatch into the forward cabin for a jumper and buoyancy jacket from my bunk
locker.

   There were eight bunk berths in the forward cabin.  Three were occupied
with sleeping or resting off watch crew.  A sleepy eyed Ben asked what was
up as I fitted then tied my life jacket over my jumper.  Obviously feeling
the Schooner getting livelier being curious.

   "There's a big storm heading in real fast, so get your wet weather and
safety gear on because we're in for it good and proper." I looked over at
Susan who had been reading a magazine in her bunk looking back with
apprehension in her large blue eyes.

   I smiled assuring her.  "It will be all right Sue.  These old wooden
craft can take a hell of a pounding.  Their built for this sort of
weather." I looked at Tess in the bunk in front of mine.  She was fast
asleep laying on her side facing the hull.  "OK you lot, be prepared to be
called on deck for a sail change wearing your gear.  You had better wake
Tess."

   Tess had done the morning watch between four and eight am.  I was on the
forenoon watch at the moment with Ben the afternoon, then Sue had the first
dog watch.  Then it was Tess again with the second dog watch and so on.

   That's what we paid for, crewing the schooner, doing our watches on deck
looking after the sails and other deck duties that came up on such a
vessel. Let's face it, normally there was little to do if we weren't
tacking.  Even then the skipper took two and three hour tacks so life was
pretty easy and lay-back for us.

   We were short four crew members on this trip.  The main cabins had a
full crew of twenty four to manage the fore and mainsails.  So the skipper
put the crew shortfall on the fore-deck crew.

   I should explain...  My partner Andrea and I, had booked this sailing
holiday together.  We both had an interest in sailing as we had separately
crewed racing sloops in the same class where we first met back home.  We
weren't die hard yachters but enjoyed our weekends on the water with the
following dinner and entertainment in the clubhouse after.

   We had met by accident at the club buffet, well we accidentally bumped
into each other then began talking.  Neither of us had partners at the
time, we jelled straight away.  Having dinner together ending up talking
all night.

   Shortly after we were crewing on the same boat.  It was a short step
from there to moving in together.  We had past our first anniversary,
heading for our second, deciding we would take the extra time from our
respective employment, booking a sailing holiday in the south Pacific to
celebrate our second anniversary.  I think we both wanted it to be like a
honeymoon.

   We saved hard nearly all year for this holiday and air fares.  At the
time we had looked on the Internet for sailing holidays.  Finding this one
we fancied in the South Pacific on an old sailing Schooner named the 'Mary
Dear'.  She had originally been built for the pearling industry in the old
days, then used as a trading vessel around the islands for well over fifty
years.

   The present owners purchased the vessel then virtually rebuilt her, now
making her earn her keep with sailing holidays, not cheap mind you, but
guaranteed the sailing holiday of a lifetime.

   There were one or two conditions which were a little worrying, the first
was we were happy to pay up front for thirty glorious days, leisurely
sailing the Pacific, working as a crew on the beautiful old wooden sailing
schooner from an era when ships were ships.

   There had to be a near full crew before the owners would sail.  The
owners had communicated with us they were two crew members short for the
trip, trying to canvas friends and relatives of the paying crew to fill the
vacant bunks.

   They indicated they would sail on this occasion two crew short.  The
season had been a hard one with the world economy as it was, the business
was just keeping afloat so to speak.  With the other condition was there
were no refunds.

   Well for me things got worse.  Five weeks before our holiday was due,
Andrea was killed in an auto accident.  While driving to work in the
morning.  About to pass under an overhead railway bridge when the container
on the truck slightly in front in the lane beside her hit the bottom of the
railway bridge girder with the front edge of the container.  The railway
bridge being at an angle to the road toppled the container truck onto its
side.  Unfortunately Andrea's car being crushed under the container.

   After the funeral, my friends and family encouraged me to go on the
holiday we had booked.  I figured I could take one of my friends in
Andrea's place but no one was available at sutch short notice, despite
being fully paid.  I contacted the company but they had no available
personnel to fill Andrea's place but they would endeavour to find a
replacement before my arrival.

   When I arrived at the companies base on a small island, an hour and a
half south by mail plane from the main island in the chain.  I was informed
there was no replacement plus another of the paying crew had turned up
yesterday without her partner.  I was reminded there was no refund for the
missing crew members regardless of the situation.

   The company had found a local substitute for another cancellation and
deemed it safe to proceed with the cruse with a minimum crew to keep the
company going.

   I installed my gear in my bunk locker on the starbourd side where my
name tag in big black bold letters was on the side of the locker.  I was on
the fore-deck crew being short four members, I was informed when arriving.
I was to take charge of the fore deck crew with my years of weekend sailing
experience I discovered, then invited to board by June the skipper's wife
when I checked in at the office.

   The Mary Dear was one of those beautiful old wooden schooners of about a
hundred and thirty tons, being a hundred feet in length.  She had two tall
masts, the front shorter than the rear.  I fell in love with her there and
then as I saw her as I walked along the wooden jetty with my duffel bag
towards her.  In my mind she had in my opinion a well balanced rigging with
the front fore-sale boom noticeably shorter than the main-sale boom.



   She had stepped top masts as if she had been gaff rigged at one time but
not now as there was no gaffs or associated rigging on the two masts.  I
reasoned it would be too complicated for sailing beginners to handle and
after all speed was not important in this kind of sailing.



   As I climbed the gangplank I could see she had an unusual cabin
configuration with a low cabin almost the full length of the deck, starting
in front of the foremast at the same height right back past the mainmast to
the raised half cockpit cabin of the wheelhouse near the stern having a
split windscreen for the helmsman to see to steer through.



   I had seen similar schooners over the years sailing past, I always
thought if ever there was a sailing vessel I wished to own it would be a
schooner.  Mind you I could never afford such a dream on my income.

   I found my way below deck down the forward hatch around into the forward
cabin.  I immediately noticed the two top bunks on each side had no names
tags on the bunk lockers, so there were only four of us, two males and two
females by the names, to run the fore deck sails round the clock.  I'm sure
the skipper would nominate some of the main sail crew to give us a hand if
required.

   The company had emailed lists of suitable clothing and dress codes to be
followed because of the mixed crew which on this voyage was sixty forty. 
There were three toilets and three showers aboard for the crew.  Two sets
were in the mid cabins opposite each other against the bulkheads.  The
third in our forward cabin also opposite each other against the bulkhead.
Shower and toilet water were sea water which was warm here in the tropics
south of the equator.  Fresh water is a precious commodity aboard a boat.

   I noticed the bunk forward of mine was occupied already with a figure
laying on the bunk facing the hull, wrapped in a blanket apparently asleep.
The large name tag on the locker read 'Tess'.  I could see dark brown hair,
nothing else apart from her slight figure in the bunk.  Well I was assuming
it was a her.

   There was a table with fixed bench seats four per side, taking up the
middle of the cabin for meals.  The galley was right back aft in the main
cabin where meals were prepared by the ships cook, the skipper's wife.

   The sail locker was in the bow forward of the Foremast between the small
anchor chain locker right forward in the bow and our forward cabin.  The
forward hatch in front of the forward cabin was offset on the port side
leading down into the sail locker being used by the fore deck crew to
access the deck rather than go back through the bunk cabin into the main
cabin to gain the deck where the hatch or stairs in this case was almost
right aft in the cockpit starboard side.

   The fore deck hatch cover was raised from the deck facing aft with a
wooden sloping cover with combing to keep it dry from the bow spray plus
wave wash in rougher weather.  When changing the sails they had to be
hauled up and down through the forward hatch which was large for the
purpose.

   The skipper and his wife the cook and bottle washer with everything in
between had their own cabin aft under the cockpit, separate from the main
cabin with their own shower and toilet.

   Taking my towel, with a change of clothes and toiletry bag I went ashore
to the company building where they had facilities in the back while the
boat was alongside.  I showed and shaved trying to ignore the mild case of
jet lag.  Going back to the boat to find the skipper on deck working on the
rigging, replacing a pulley block and it's ropes on the main boom.

   Although officially I didn't sign on till the next day, my bunk and
meals were available as soon as I arrived on board as there were no other
accommodation available on the island.

   Introducing myself then set about assisting him with the repairs.  I
found that having a reasonable knowledge and experience of sailing put me
in charge of the fore deck crew responsible for raising and setting of the
head-sails for this voyage.

   The skipper quizzed me on my background, where I came from, what I did
for a living, so forth and so on plus how sorry he was to hear I had lost
my partner.  He explained his permanent man an island native would be in
charge of the foresail and mainmast crews, a seasoned veteran with many
years experience with the skipper.

   We were doing further repairs to the main boom rigging as we noticed a
few young people with bags arriving at the office building.  The skipper
commented the charter plane must have arrived from the main island as I had
been booked on the morning mail plane.

   Shortly there were a whole heap of people walking down the jetty towards
the boat carrying bags or duffel.  The skipper grinned at me as he downed
tools commenting as he winked as he straightened his old battered skippers
cap saying.  "Time to do some real work." Breaking in would be weekend
sailors was a chore in itself as there was a living to be made.

   I stood back as the skipper met them, baring their way before they
climbed the gangplank as he introduced himself from the deck as William
plus his wife and partner whom they had just met in the office was June. 
He was to be address as skipper at all times and no they didn't have to
solute, where he got a laugh.  Then he warned them if they didn't pull
their weight without a good excuse they would find his number nines stuck
in their rears regardless of gender, this was a working boat and that's
what they were here for, he reminded them.

   Then he reminded them when on board the boat his master's certificate
made him God, with the power over life and death.  He looked down at them
from the deck, one by one, till they flinched demonstrating his authority
over his new crew.



   He stood aside by the gang plank welcoming them aboard one at a time as
he shook their hands.  They were lined up on deck as the skipper quizzed
each one as they came aboard individually on their sailing experience then
placed them into three sub groups, with a list he had in his pocket.

   The main sails crews had twelve members each, being divided up into
watches with one knowledgeable member to one novice for each watch on the
mainsails.

   He then gave them a lecture on sex and protocol aboard the boat.  He
warned them if the girl said no, she meant no.  He looked at the single
guys saying.  "Do you guys understand?" He went on after there was nods and
shuffling.  If they wanted to have intimate privacy then the sail locker
was the place up in the focsle away from the hatch ladder were there was a
couple of part petitions and not in the bunk cabins.

   He also warned if there was any insubordination of any kind, then the
culprit or culprits would be isolated in the exposed dingy trailing on a
line one hundred feet behind the boat for the duration.  There had been a
warning on the protocol and clothing list that alcohol and drugs were
banned aboard.  With that he welcomed them aboard inviting them to find
their bunks, explaining they could swap them round, only if the parties
involved agreed.

   I took my two charges below, down the forward hatchway into the cabin.
Showing them how the toilet and shower worked when at sea.  After they
identified their bunks inspecting their life preserver and wet weather gear
in their lockers, as they stowed their gear.  I noticed the girl Tess was
absent, thinking she must be ashore using the facilities.

   The skipper's wife June, came aboard organising some of the new arrivals
to move food stores from the office store room into the galley aboard then
began preparing supper for the crew.  This was their first meal together
with things a little disorganised as most were jet lagged.

   The Mary Dear was a beautiful old wooden working boat, not the prettiest
thing you ever saw but a well balanced sea going boat, something you fell
in love with without realising.

   I could see there where originally two holds, the forward and mid holds
with the rear the living and cooking compartment.  The forward compartment
now being two bunks plus lockers long, with eight bunks plus a table and
bench seats in the middle to seat eight comfortably.  A toilet plus shower
one each side against the hull the bulkhead with the second or middle hold
with the sail locker forward.  >>>>

   The centre hold was divided into a twelve bunk sleeping cabin with eight
bunks in the port side, with two upper and lower against the hull with same
number again down the centre being partitioned on the starboard side walk
way of the centre bunks with a shower and toilet on each side of the
doorways on the main cabin.  The main cabin access on both port and
starboard sides as the toilets and showers were on each side of the
bulkhead between the bunk-room and galley dining room so each side were
serviced appropriately.

   The main or rear cabin had six bunks in pairs along the port side with
the galley, taking up the starboard side with its ovens and low mounted
self leveling hot plates with long preparation bench plus food lockers
below with the open racks of crockery and mugs above the ovens.



   An open narrow set of stairs rather than a ladder lead up from the back
bulkhead into the cockpit were the small stern cabin was beneath with a
deep food locker on the starboard side and a deep rope and gear locker on
the port.  With a little alcove for the radios and radar unit with a fold
away work bench for maps and such on the port side at the end of the bunks
which also served as the rear cabin door and rope locker entrance.

   With a long full length dining table down the centre of the main cabin
fitted with bench seats down each side, seating sixteen shoulder to
shoulder.  The main mast going through the middle of the table near the
Forward bulkhead.  The aft part of the table hinged up revealing the narrow
boxed in engine space with the small three cylinder diesel engine used for
maneuvering and docking.

   Only those sat up this end of the table that didn't mind the trace of
oil fumes in the air and not being able to stretch out their legs.  The
exhaust pipe went down under the deck with a sloping iron water pipe out
the port side being remarkably quiet especially as it carried the cooling
water system which picked up down lower on the bottom of the keel to cool
the engine's internal cooling system.  The electric and manual bilge pumps
and pipes were located in front of the engine picking ip in the deepest
part of the keel.  The four heavy duty deep cycle lead acid batteries for
the lighting and electric cooking rings, bilge pump and shower pumps were
in a special alcove on deck were any hydrogen gas generated by the charging
would be vented to the atmosphere safely.

   Watertight bulkhead doors allowing access from the sail locker in the
front of the boat right through to the rear stairs being on the starboard
side.  The port side of the main bunk cabin amidships being reserved
exclusively for married or serious couples.  These wider bunks were
equipped with curtains for privacy regardless what the skipper had said
earlier on deck.

   Normally all doors were clipped open so fresh air purged the cabins
through the roofs old style pipe air vents pointing aft so the passage of
the boat sucked the air out from the cabins.  Only in rougher weather was
the forward hatch ever closed here in the tropics.

   I was sitting on top of the forward cabin roof facing the bow with a mug
of pea and ham soup in the dark when I noticed a lone figure making its way
along the dimly lit company jetty.  I guessed it was Tess coming back from
using the facilities then probably taken a walk ashore as I hadn't seen her
about.  The skipper had confided when we were working on the main boom
rigging earlier, Tess had recently lost her partner in a war zone, two days
before he was due to ship home.

   Telling me they had put her in the crew with me as we had much in common
plus we both had a wealth of sailing experience.  Tess was made aware I had
lost my partner recently, knowing I would be made aware of her situation.

   The slight figure came up the gangway into the near dark of the deck,
heading for the forward hatch.  "Tess." I announced myself.  I saw her
freeze not having seen me sitting there in the shadows.  "Yes." She
answered hesitantly.  "My name is Adam." There was almost as long a pause
then she replied.  "Hello Adam."

   "Have you had anything to eat Tess?" I asked as there was a longer
pause. "I'll get something later." I rose saying.  "I'll introduce you to
our bunk mates." I headed for the hatch not waiting for a reply.  There was
one single light in the sail locker to see by as I descended the ladder
turning around beside the ladder to enter the forward cabin where the step
through bulkhead watertight door was always clipped open in the tropics.

   The single led light over the table in the forward cabin was also dim as
I led Tess to the pair sitting together at the table as I smiled at them
saying.  "This is Tess, Tess this is Susan and Ben our ship mates."

   I looked at Tess for the first time in the dim cabin light.  I was
shocked, Tess was five foot two or three, short brown hair with a slight
figure.  My first overall impression was a little girl, thin and emaciated.
Her eyes were sunken and dark.  My immediate thought were of drug
addiction. I could see her arms quite clearly in the light as she wore a
tee shirt being clean of needle marks.  Her recent bereavement had
obviously affected her deeply.

   Tess nodded and her voice was stronger than she looked, when she said
Hello to the pair.  I put my mug down on the table saying to her.  "I'll
get you something to eat.  Going off to the main cabin I returned with a
bowl of thick stew and a mug of pea and ham soup, placing them on the table
behind her as Tess was busy at her locker.

   She turned and sat next to me on the outside showing no signs of
interacting with the others.  Tess ate silently, she neither spoke nor
looked up from her bowl.  I was aware of her beside me as the other's asked
questions about the boat and sailing.  I found they had years of experience
together as weekend sailors, seeing the skipper had given me all
experienced crew members as he told me Tess had been sailing summer
weekends with her father since she was a kid till her parents seperated.

   When Tess had finished she looked at me thanking me in a quite voice
taking her half finished mug of soup back to her bunk.  Tess pulled the
blanket around herself as she sat up in bed reading a magazine by a small
led bunk light above her head, slowly sipping her soup.

   I went back to the galley through the bunk cabin full of milling and
chatting people with the bowl and mug then up on deck to sit on the small
half cabin cockpit for a while thinking of Andrea trying to compare my
sorrow to that of the girl laying in her bunk obviously devastated by her
loss.  I really couldn't understand why she was here at all, finding her
presence strangely disturbing.

   I realised of course she was here the same as myself...  In the hope
that keeping busy or distracted would numb the pain, besides the voyage was
prepaid.  I wiped my eyes getting up as a couple came up on deck for some
privacy in the dark closely followed by another.  I went forward to the
hatch not wishing to go back through the main cabin.

   Susanne and Ben were still talking quietly, seated at the table when I
entered the cabin.  They looked up as I went to my bunk.  I stripped off my
shorts and sand shoes, clad in my tee shirt and jocks I looked up to see
Tess watching me as she now lay on her side curled up in her blanket on top
of her bunk as I got into bed.  I saw a reaction in her eyes as she
obviously saw my red rimmed eyes.

   The next morning at eight the ship's bell sounded long and loud, waking
the crew for the start of the working day with the commencement of our
official voyage.  We were not sailing till tomorrow morning but today was a
get to know the boat day, with a walk round first thing after a late
breakfast to get to know every rope, pulley block and sail on the vessel.

   We were still short one crew member who would arrive this morning having
missed the connections for the island yesterday as her plane was late
arriving.  The company had allowed for such eventualities sailing the day
after, giving two day's grace.

   The skipper instructed the crew on every piece of equipment on the deck.
Then he went through the rigging and sails line by line, sail by sail.  He
gave us a lecture on hand signals used on board for the different evolution
used on deck.  As he explained in a strong wind, oral orders can be
misinterpreted or not understood if heard at all.

   In the afternoon we went through an evolution of hoisting the sails. 
Bring the heavier storm sails up from the sail locker to unfurl, clip on
then hoist in place for each crew to familiarise themselves with their jobs
with every sail the rigging would carry.  Then we changed round so everyone
knew everyone's job.

   We then went through the exercise of trimming sail then shortening sail
for rough weather.  The skipper demonstrating the safety lines plus safety
harness.  He demonstrated the life vests then pointing out the three life
buoys plus the four eight man life rafts in their white Fiberglas drum type
capsules down aft stacked on each side of the stern.  Plus the four man
dingy on the davits over the almost square stern.  The dinghy was used
during the cruse to take photos of the Mary Dear under full sail coming
down wind, sailing past.  That would take half a day.

   Next we were pulling the sails down, unhooking then folding them,
placing them back in their bags then lowered back down into the sail
locker.

   The normal lighter sails were currently ashore being repaired in the
sail loft above the company's offices by the two paid workers.

   Our missing crew member turned up at lunch time on the mail plane soon
integrated into the crew.  That evening everyone was sitting around on deck
talking and laughing mainly about the voyage.  We were all in bed early for
a very early start in the morning.

   I was woken by movement in the main cabin.  It was the skipper's wife
June starting breakfast.  Looking at my watch I could see it was half past
five.  I got up slipping on my shorts and sand-shoes wearing a jumper over
my 'T' shirt till it wormed up.

   Shaking the others awake before going into the main cabin for breakfast
of porridge and pea and ham soup...  There was always pea and ham soup on
the stove, any hour of the day and night.  Most of the crew found they
preferred drinking the thin soup to coffee, tea or coco while at sea.

   The skipper was there on deck organising the crew into teams from their
watches.  The sun was just rising when the first sail bag was carried along
the jetty like a giant snake over the crews shoulders.  Those who weren't
carrying sails were carrying food containers, drums or cartons as others
pushed the flat trolley packed with the heavier food.

   There were two sets of sails for lighter or normal sailing conditions.
Both sets were ashore.  The heavy weather set left aboard to be repaired
after this voyage was over.  When we had the sails rigged yesterday the
skipper inspected their condition taking notes.  The heavy sails had not
been used for the last three voyages.  Hopefully we wouldn't need them
either.

   The more experienced crew were showing the less experienced how to
connect the main sails on again one at a time onto the upper gaff booms,
raising them into position then furled back on the Foresail and Mainsail
booms.  The Flying jib, plus the Fore stay sail were my responsibility.  My
crew went to work with a will.  Fitting the sails one at a time onto their
Halyards, hoisting them up into position.  There was little wind in the
cove so the skipper left them up but slack on their sheets lines.

   The diesel engine was started then let warm up for five minutes till the
exhaust ran clear.  The forward and aft lines were let go as the skipper
eased the throttle forward a touch as the Mary Dear put her weight on the
remaining spring line as the forward part of the bow pressed gently in
against the tire fender protecting the jetty piles as the stern of the Mary
Deer kicked out away as the paid crewman handled the now slack spring line
as the the engine went slow astern.  Flipping the end loop off the jetty
pile, severing our connection with land as the engine sped up as he backed
the Mary Dear gently away from their jetty at an angle.  Spinning the wheel
hard to port as the bow cleared the end of the jetty backing her out into
deeper water.

   She was sluggish as he kept the port rudder on till she was parallel
with the shore line then reversing the helm, easing the throttle control
slowly to full ahead as the spokes of the wheel flashed round to hard a
starboard.  The Mary Dear settled on her transom as the engine revs rose,
the blades of the propeller biting deep, forcing the water to churn and
boil under her counter as her hundred and thirty tons of mass started to
move forward.  She slowly came round to starboard, heading towards the
entrance of their sheltered inlet and open ocean as the skipper eased the
helm back to midships lining her up.

   As soon as they were clear of the entrance the main sails were hauled up
waiting for the breeze to shake them out and fill taking control.

   In the bow I felt the wind getting stronger.  I looked up at my charges
seeing the flying Jib billow.  I looked back at the skipper who was also
watching raising a hand with three fingers extended upside down, ease the
sail for more power signal.

   I went to the sheets lines slackening the first halyard line from around
its bally pin, easing the line as the sail loosened filling out.  I tied it
off going to the next.  Looking back I could see the main sail crew hard at
work doing the mainsail first.

   It didn't take long to slacken the Jib and Fore Stay sail.  My crew sat
beside me on the deck-house of the forward cabin watching as the noise of
the diesel engine died away with the swishing of the hull through the water
with the creaking and groaning of the boat with the breeze in the rigging
the only sounds to be heard.

   Looking around I could see everyone was on deck to watch the island
slowly recede astern as the skipper turned us from east to north east once
we were well clear of the reef marker buoy.  The sky was perfectly clear of
clouds as we headed out into the blue unknown towards the unbroken line of
horizon.

   It was my forenoon watch as I reminded the others.  Tess had gone below,
I suspected in tears.  She would be kept busy now we were under way.  I
knew June the cook would keep her busy in the galley helping prepare the
meals when she was off watch.  When the bread ran out there would be ten
loves to bake each day in the gas ovens.

   There was always soup to be made as the majority of the crew took to the
old tradition quickly.  Most were getting on well together as could be
heard by the almost continual laughter and conversation from the main cabin
plus on deck.

   It became clear in the first few days two of the girls were promiscuous,
being seen frequently off watch heading for the sail locker on deck with
different partners.



   I was depressed without Andrea.  I kept to myself up in the bow sitting
with my back against the gunnel at the base of the bowsprit looking back
along the length of the Mary Dear seeing nothing.  I did notice on
occasions Tess was having similar problems.  She spent a lot of free time
in her bunk.

   If someone spoke to her she would reply only what was necessary then
turn back to what she was doing, shutting off further conversation.  Of an
evening after dinner off watch I had taken to sitting on the forward cabin
roof, watching the golden sunsets.  Tess had sometimes joined me as after
dinner the main cabin was noisy as they talked and joked about their
experiences.  I suspected Tess was being annoyed by some of the guys.

   We hardly spoke a word as I sensed she didn't want to talk.  This
developed in the second week to discussing sailing and mainly about our
childhood plus our parents and where we had lived.  We never brought up our
partners or our loss.  We were finding common ground.  Tess did tell me she
lost her father to cancer a few years ago.  >>

   In the third week we began exchanging pleasantries when we were at the
table.  I noticed she would talk to Sue if the occasion warranted.  She
didn't seem to want to associate with Ben her partner or any of the main
cabin crew, I felt better for that.

   For some reason I was drawn to Tess, I hadn't wanted to interact with
people I don't know.  I put it down to our similar circumstances, giving us
a common bond.  Despite myself I looked forward to sitting with her up on
deck of an evening whether on watch or not.



   We were getting knowing glances from our shipmates.  Even the skipper
and his wife June smiled at us with a look.  I had noticed the girls were
not as flirtatious as they had been in the first week, the boys seemed to
leave Tess alone now.

   Despite myself I did find myself laughing now and again when I was with
Tess.  She was only small in stature like a little girl but boy was she all
women.  Her eyes didn't seem as sunken or dark now as at the beginning.



   On the eleventh day after beating a zigzag pattern course in a north
easterly direction we reached our waypoint to turn onto our western leg of
our down wind run.  As the skipper oversaw the maneuver as the helmsman,
one of the payed crew, brought us round to a heading of due west by the
compass for our eight day down wind speed run.

   Yes we did spend a day taking photos of the Mary Deer under full sail
coming down wind passing the dinghy.  We took three runs before everyone
was happy as the two in the dinghy took the photos for the crew.  She did
look magnificent under full sail bearing down on the cameras.

   Time was flying for me in the second week.  At the start of the third
week there was a full moon.  The weather was as usual fine and clear, we
were all used to the Pacific swell under the boat now, hardly noticing it
as no one had been seasick for over a week.

   The skipper changing course from our western course to due south for a
couple of hours, so the crew could take advantage of the view of the rising
moon on our port beam as we all lined up sitting on the cabin side.  Here
in the tropics the moon was so much larger.  It seemed everyone was up on
deck to watch the full moon rise into the clear eastern sky from below the
horizon.

   I was sitting on the side of the forward cabin with the crew beside me
when Tess came on deck through the forward hatch.  I could see her looking
for me despite one of the crew closer to her offering to shift up to make
room for her on the front of the cabin roof.  Spotting me coming around she
sat down between my legs as I moved back opening them wide making room for
her narrow hips between.

   There was no one more surprised, as we hadn't even shaken hands or
touched in any way till that point as I felt her snuggle back against my
body as if we had been doing it for years.  I didn't know what to do with
my hands as Tess took them from my legs putting my arms around her body
with my hands on her stomach with hers covering mine.

   Her scent filled my nostrils.  I had an instant hard on which she must
have felt poking her spine as she settled in resting her head back against
my shoulder.  I could not help myself squeezing her.  We sat there together
for near two hours watching the moon rise over the South Pacific not saying
a word.

   The skipper spoilt it by ordering the 'Mary Dear' back on course as
everyone went to their tacking stations as she came round into the wind as
we reset the sails back into the wind on the westerly leg.

   We were into our twenty first day when the storm suddenly appeared all
around our port quarter mid-morning.  We had turned onto our South Easterly
home leg the day before.  The skipper rushing up on deck at the urgent call
from the helmsman.  He looked around the Horizon then up at the sails then
yelled down the hatch as he rang the ships bell furiously.

   The crew began appearing on deck.  Those that were not dressed properly
disappeared below again as the skipper balled them out.  He made a hand
signal to me to shorten sails.

   My crew were on deck now wearing their safety vests as I gave them
orders for the revolution.  By the time we had finished, the Mary Dear was
beginning to buck under our feet as the first squall rolled in as the paid
crew were rigging safety lines, handing out safety harness to each crew
member who were now in their wet weather gear as well.

   The mainsail crew were furling the mainsail under the skippers direction
with the crew members standing by with the sail bags to slip over the boom
when completed.  He came to me ordering the heavy weather Fore stay sail to
be put on when we came about into the wind after the lighter sail was
furled and taken below.

   I dived below with Ben to sort the sails.  Finding the heavy Fore stay
sail bag then the four of us manhandled it up through the hatch.  The
lighter sail was hurriedly lowered then dragged below into the locker
without its bagging to be done later as it was raining quite hard now as it
does in the tropics.

   I looked up at the skipper behind the wheel seeing the mainsails were
down and bagged on the booms being tied down by the crew.  He signaled for
the flying Jib and Jib to be lowered.  We went about the evolution with the
deck heaving under our feet as water was coming over the gunnels in the
waist as the Mary Dear rolled drunkenly in the rising swell as we were all
drenched now.

   I realised the engine was running as the skipper made a signal to the
crew that he was cumming about up wind, to ride the storm out.  He look aft
into the approaching storm, judging the waves, he spun the wheel to
starboard as he blew his whistle, the spokes of the wheel a blur as he
pushed the throttle fully forward then signaled everyone with his whistle
again signalling to hang on.



   With the helm hard over, under full throttle the Mary Dear slowly began
to turn.  I yelled a warning for the crew to hang on to the ropes around
the foremast as we held the heavy Fore stay sail now unbagged in our arms
and under our feet with the wind threatening to take it from us as we tried
to clip it on.

   The Mary Dear rolled wickedly on her port beam, I thought she was so far
over she might stay there as the first roller hit her.  The skipper judging
it perfectly.  The roller hit her aft quarter keel first, slewing her round
on her side with such force the skipper was spinning the wheel the other
way even before she had righted herself.  Man that was the neatest bit of
helmsman-ship I had ever seen.

   He signaled to me to raise the Fore Stay sail as we took the next roller
over the bow green being now almost square on.  My crew were scattered over
the deck and cabin roof as they were washed off their feet.  It took twice
as long to get the Halyard line on and the sail pulled up as the skipper
held her head into the wind under full diesel power as there were about ten
of us pulling on the ropes.

   Finally with all our combined weight with the mainsail crew helping I
signaled the evolution completed as the skipper eased his helm for the sail
to take the weight keeping her head pointed into the storm.

   We rode the first hour out taking a battering like I had never been in
before.  Most of the crew were below trying to hold on to anything they
could to stop being thrown around.  Half were throwing up violently.  The
place was a stinking mess.

   I had gone below to check on my crew as the weather was getting worse,
we were taking them green over the bow continually now.  The forward hatch
was closed so exit and entry below was from aft only.

   We were into our second hour when the skipper had a discussion with the
more experienced of the crew.  He wanted to put out the sea anchor on the
bow to stabilise her pitching, riding out the storm.  It was finally
decided it would be tried with the understanding the canvas wind sock like
device would be lost if they had to cut it free if it didn't work.

   A sea anchor is a Drogue type of wind sock device.  The difference being
the 'Anchor' is fastened to or near the bow of the boat where a 'Drogue' is
dragged from the stern.  We found the device in the bottom of the sail
locker never having been used, dragging it out struggling with the heavy
canvas device.

   The skipper had a second crew fetching the hundred feet of two inch
Manila tow rope from the rope locker aft in the main cabin to be fastened
to the sea anchor.  This took more than half an hour and if anything the
weather had gotten worse.

   Ben and I along with some of the experienced hands, manhandled the
canvas drogue up through the forward hatch.  Sue and Tess were to close the
hatch behind us as I refused to allow them on deck.  It was timed just
after a wave came over the bow.  Ben opened the hatch then we all pulled
like hell to get the heavy drogue on deck with the girls pushing from
behind before the next wave arrived.

   Everything was going as planned.  The rope party had struggled their way
from aft along the leeward side of the rolling deck meeting us at the bow.
The skipper wanted the anchor cable on the starboard bow cleat which was a
cross between a large cleat and small bollard.  These devices, one each
side of the bow were meant to take the weight of the boat when being towed.
There was also one either side down near the stern.

   The ropes were shackled together having metal eyes spliced in in each
end.  The long rope end passed over the gunnel and back in through the fair
lead then fastened securely to the cleat.  The sea anchor was heaved
overboard along with the rope between waves.  I faced the stern signalling
to the skipper the evolution complete, receiving a reply wave he understood
my signal.

   As I turned back round there was a wave coming in over the bow as the
Mary Dear dipped her nose sharply.  To my surprise Tess was there on deck
without a safety line, bending down near the scupper, thigh deep in water
trying to capture the coaming board that had been removed from the foot of
the forward hatch to clear the sea anchor when pulled out of the sail
locker.  It had somehow got away from them.

   Grasping the board as it was about to disappear overboard Tess looked
around at me.  The sea anchor chose that moment to take effect, straining
the towline taught which snapped the bow around straight in line, forcing
those on deck to stagger off balance.  Tess was bending over as she tried
to regain her feet staggering back wards as the deck shifted under her. 
The wave coming in over the bow green, washed us all in the bow off
balance.

   I was washed back onto the forward cabin roof on my back as Tess was
swept sideways against the gunnel stanchion hitting her head, her body
tensing as she grabbed her head with both hands as she was washed back
along the starboard deck.  I could hear Susanne screaming from inside the
opening of the forward hatchway as I tried to regain my feet, unclipping my
safety line at the same time.

   I rolled off the cabin roof scrabbling on hands and knees along the deck
after her as she lay stunned holding her head face up on the deck as the
Mary Dear rolled to starboard again.

   Regaining my feet as I started after her.  I saw the skipper in my
peripheral vision leave the wheel running.  I realised it didn't matter
about the helm now we were on the anchor.  It all seemed to be in slow
motion as the gunnel of the Mary Dear dipped below the water as the next
wave swept down over the waist as the Mary Dear rolled further and further.

   I could only watch in slow motion as her body washed up against the
forward cabin side with a sickening thud I'm sure I heard as Tess' head hit
as I saw her body go limp as the wave washed back with the gunnel
underwater carrying her over the side.  I was within two feet of her foot
but could not reach her in time.

   I kept running aft as there was still a chance as I ripped off my
harness then sou'wester.  The skipper had stopped when he saw Tess go
overboard.  Going back, leaning over the rail at the corner of the stern he
tried to catch her as she passed.  I did not see this as I focused on the
lifebuoy on the main cabin side aft.  Snatching it from its cleats, heaving
it over the stern at an angle where I estimated she would be with all my
strength.

   There was a second lifebuoy on the stern rail as I grabbed for it seeing
the skipper out of the corner of my eye empty handed.  I threw the lifebuoy
out towards the first as hard as I could.  This lifebuoy had a safety line
attached to the gunnel cleat which I could see now paying out easy over the
stern.

   Looking up I could see Tess near the first lifebuoy un moving with her
arms out and head bowed in the water.  Without conscious thought I mounted
the gunnel on all fours, tumbling over into the sea as the Mary Dear's
stern dipped deep.

   It was surprisingly calm in the wake of the Mary Dear as I surfaced, as
I pulled the lanyard to inflate my life vest.  I could hear the skipper
yelling as I looked around to see he had released the white life raft
canister over the starboard side pointing to its position about twenty feet
away as I waved acknowledgement.

   I swam as hard as I could in my now cumbersome life vest towards Tess
about twenty five feet away.  I put my arm through the second lifebuoy as I
swam past towards her motionless body taking it with me as we rose up the
side of what seemed a huge wave.  I was almost within reach when the
lifebuoy was wrenched from my arm turning me around as the line had gone
tight.  I swam to Tess as we dived down the other side of the wave.  I
grasped her pulling her to me as I grasped the rear handhold on her
buoyancy vest reaching for the inflating valve line and pulled.

   Tess' vest inflated as I looked around for the other lifebuoy seeing the
two almost together.  The skipper must have cut the line to the second to
give us the best chance.  I looked up seeing the Mary Dear disappearing
into a trough in the rain squall as I waved my arm.  I suddenly realised I
was in reel deep shit.  There was little chance that our ship mates would
find us immediately once we were out of sight.  Visibility was down to just
a few hundred feet with the spray whipped up by the wind off the thirty
foot waves as they crested.

   I felt Tess neck for a pulse as a wave dumped over us as we slid down
its steep side.  I was sure I could feel one.  Tess was unconscious with a
large bruise developing on her forehead I could see under her wet matted
hair where she had hit the square corner of the stanchion.  There was a
small open wound which wasn't too bad by the looks of it.

   Another wave dumped on us in the darkness as I struggled and sputtered
towards the lifebuoys dragging Tess on her back.  I was almost exhausted by
the time I got one lifebuoy tying it to her front to keep her head out of
the water.  I looked around in the direction of the 'Mary Dear', she was
nowhere in sight, now lost in the rain squall.  I suddenly felt really
alone.  I thought I felt alone when Andrea was killed but nothing felt like
this.  I realised with a cold dread I must not make one single mistake from
here on.

   I looked around at Tess.  There was a blinding lightning flash with a
deafening thunderclap.  I had forgotten the thunderstorm approaching while
I was on the boat, as I could see a series of cresting waves bearing down
on us as I forced the lifebuoy under Tess, lifting her higher out of the
water as I tied it round her with fumbling fingers.



   Grasping the lifebuoys ropes with both hands towing Tess towards the
waves as they broke over us as I backed into them kicking hard with my
feet. We were being thrown around like two tiny corks on a giant non stop
washing machine on steroids with a giant fan on high speed added for good
measure as spray and driving rain being whipped into my faces and eyes
making them sting like hell.  Making it almost impossible to see.

   I frantically looked around in the troughs for the life raft.  It should
be close but the breaking waves and spray were obscuring and blurring my
vision and it seemed darker.  The fifth wave did not break as we crested
high on the roller coaster ride.  I spotted the white canister floating
only fifteen or so feet away in the afterglow of a flash of lightning from
further out.  I turned and kicked our way towards it knowing we must reach
it or perish.

   I kept looking around, the dam thing was no closer.  I made a decision,
letting Tess go as my energy was failing.  Taking her lifebuoy line I tied
a loop in the end thrusting my arm through striking out for the life raft
capsule on my own.

   It seemed to take ages to reach the capsule.  I finally grasped along
the side fumbling for the lanyard, jerking the line hard.  The canister
shot apart as the rubber raft inside inflated.  It was one of those rafts
with the tent type cover so I rolled myself up over onto the rope steps
with a solid steps up to the entrance flap on the side.

   I put my left arm through one of the rope ladder rungs as an anchor
pulling Tess in towards the raft with the other.  It seemed to take forever
as the raft was being pushed along with the wind faster than her body.

   I was almost exhausted as we were rising and falling twenty to thirty
feet with the waves.  I was pulling Tess in as fast as my weakened
condition would allow.  I could hardly feel my hands by the time I had her
beside the raft.

   Thank god for those intelligent people who designed the buoyancy vests
and rafts.  I had unzipped the entrance flap on the side of the raft as
high as I could reach, working my way up the ladder into the raft still
holding onto the back of Tess' life preserver one handed as I unzipped the
top each side as I slipped into the raft.

   It took all my remaining willpower and failing strength as I lent over
the side, heaving Tess sideways up towards me onto the rope steps with one
hand, holding Tess up, I grasped the bottom of her buoyancy vest dragging
Tess up by leaning down with my other hand grasping the rope ladder below
her, pulling it up over her now horizontal body in a two to one leaver as I
struggled with her weight.

   The ladder was fastened to the top inside of the raft so Tess' body
rolled up the side onto the top of the raft where I could pull her over
inside.

   I almost lost her as the raft spun maddeningly around as the wave crest
throwing us to one side as it caught us passing underneath.  Once I had her
feet inside I waited till we were going down the side of the next wave
dragged her bodily inside, lifebuoy and all.

   Poking my head outside looking for the second lifebuoy which was nowhere
in sight.  Once the zip was done up after pulling Tess' lifebuoy safety
line inside.  Things weren't as bad as they were outside being out of the
driven rain swept wind and blinding salt spray.



   I undid the line with great difficulty as my fingers wouldn't work, then
deflating our vests.  Her pulse was weak plus she was cold, so was I, my
teeth were chattering I realised.  I propped her up against the side of the
raft tying her upper body to the side so she would not fall over into the
water in the raft bottom.  Opening one of the pockets that contained
thermal blankets, unfolding then opening it out wrapping it around Tess,
tucking it under her body where I could.

   I suddenly felt exhausted.  I mean it was all I could do to unwrap a
second blanket covering myself tucking it in before falling asleep.  I
heard or felt nothing of the storm that raged outside that night.  It was
the rain around dawn that woke me from my exhausted sleep.

   It took a long time to sort my fatigued mind, realising I was in the
raft.  It all seemed such a bad dream.  I stiffened as I realised looking
around at Tess when I remembered she was with me.  My blood ran cold seeing
her there behind me as I lay on my side against the raft side.  Scrambling
around pushing my thermal blanket aside I reached to feel the side of her
neck.  Thank god she was cold but not deathly cold.  I found a pulse under
my fingers.  I cried, I couldn't help it, from deep in my heart.  So
relieved finding she was still with me after what she had gone through.

   Slowly I came to my senses.  Looking up it was raining harder.  I
searched the inside pockets finding the drinking tumblers with the plastic
bladder.  Plugging in the tube from the guttering on the tent back,
designed for catching rainwater.  The bladder began to fill to my relief.

   In fifteen minutes the three gallon bladder was full so I unplugged the
hose, plugging it into the ballast bladders beneath the raft.  When they
were full I let the hose free into the bottom of the raft watching the slow
stream run into the bottom of the raft.  I had read in a yachting magazine
years ago, where the survivors of a sinking yacht had survived an
unbelievable length of time at sea by filling the inside of their raft with
rainwater.  I unzipped the flap folding it back on top.  I bailed with the
tumbler to reduce the salt water in the raft as fresh water diluted what
was there.



   An hour later the raft did not seem to be bobbing around as violently as
before or was I getting used to the motion.  The rain was as heavy as when
it first started about two hours ago but the wind had now died.  Well that
made sense.

   I was freezing cold as the water was now almost half way up the side of
the raft, I had to admit the raft rode better for it, being sluggish, not
so violent in the turmoil outside.

   Tess was still unconscious.  I held her against me trying to transfer my
body heat.  Her pulse seemed to be even and stronger.  That was probably my
imagination now we were in the sheltered confines of the raft, her
breathing was about normal I figured as I put my ear over her mouth to feel
the heat of her breath otherwise I could not hear a thing for the storm.

   Finally it had stopped raining.  I ventured to unzip the flap fastening
it back as I struggled to stand up as the raft was still bobbing around
like a cork in a washing machine.  Visibility was out to less than a mile I
judged.  The waves were not quite as high and not cresting as often as I
was knocked off my feet this time as we slid over the crest of a breaking
big one.  The wind was still strong but I judged not as bad, the noise
seemed irrelevant.

   I spoke too soon, there was more lightening heading our way as I zipped
the flaps back up sitting back beside Tess holding her from sliding down
into the water as the raft was still bucking and heaving in the waves.  I
hadn't thought of Tess falling down in the water but it was a danger I had
to risk for the rainwater if we were going to be at sea for some time with
the storm showing no real signs of abating.  I didn't want to think it
further.

   I tied Tess up to the raft's inner safety rope tie loops by the lifebuoy
line to hold her upper body up in place by her life jacket, her head
naturally lay forward as she lay against the rubber sides of the raft.  The
storm was still making a racket outside.  The rain was heavy again as I
went back to sleep as lightening flashes lit the interior of the raft
frequently.  The thunder claps were nearly overhead.  I tried not to think
about a lightning strike on the raft.

   There was something wrong.  The raft was still rising and falling, being
thrown around with the waves.  It took me some time to realise there was no
noise.  Tess was still there wrapped in the thermal blanket.  It looked
like she hadn't moved.  I looked at my watch which said it was one thirty
pm.  I had only been asleep for two hours.  That couldn't be right I felt
so cramped and cold from not moving.

   I looked again as if I was not seeing the dial properly, it said
Thursday afternoon.  That was not right.  I backtracked in my fuddled mind.
It was mid Monday morning when the storm came up on us.  That was why I was
so dam stiff, sore and hungry.  I took a tumbler from a pocket tasting the
water in the raft.  It tasted a bit brackish but I drank and felt better. I
held Tess' head straight, dribbling a little water into her mouth to wet it
slowly.

   Her pulse was strong, more than I remember.  I dripped a little more
water into her mouth.  There was no reaction so I put the tumbler away.  I
unzipped the flap looking out.  The sky was still angry and dark with low
overcast.  I stood up unsteadily holding the top for support.  I could see
for about a mile all round, there was nothing in sight.  I zipped up the
flap.

   I awoke again.  It was dark and there was flashing lightning far off, I
couldn't hear the thunder as I went back to sleep.

   I awoke with a dry mouth.  It was light.  Tess looked so calm, so
peaceful laying there as I untangled myself from the inside safety rope,
another good idea.  I drank thirstily.  Then held Tess' head up straight,
dripping water into her mouth pushing her head up with my hand as far back
over the curve of the raft side so the water would drip down the back of
her throat and hopefully not the front and into her lungs.

   There was no reaction as I dripped a little more a drip at a time.  I
managed to get down her throat drip by drip as I listened to her breathing
which didn't change.  I spoke to her all the time telling her to drink but
there was nothing from her.  I went back to sleep hungry.  I was going to
have to do a lot of fishing when the storm died.

   Day 4 Friday.  I was woken by something.  It must have been a large fish
or whale breaching close by.  It was just light.  I could make out Tess'
outline as her head lay a little sideways on her shoulder.  I found the
tumbler and drank.  I held Tess' head right back steady tipping the tumbler
slowly letting the water drip by drip into her mouth a bit at a time.  Her
breathing sounded the same.  That was encouraging.

   "Tess, wake up." I called sharply.  There was no reply.  I remembered
the last night of a safety first aid class the yacht club held where the
resident doctor who was the club treasurer held these courses for newer
members about twice a year.  After the course was finished I remember the
five of us were sitting around the table in the corner of the club after
the course having a drink with the doctor as he was well past retiring age
and didn't take much for him to give us younger members the benefit of his
life long experiences.



   He was an army doctor during the war also being a prisoner of war.  The
stories he told of blood transfusions using thin bamboo sticks as needles
was breathtaking.  Another of the stories that had stuck in my mind was how
they would place a cup of salt water and sugar up the rear passage of
patents with fever when there was no intravenous equipment available to
hydrate the patient.  He impressed upon us there was many ways around what
you couldn't do at the time, if you applied the problem with some lateral
thinking.



   I became aware the wave action on the raft didn't seem as bad.  I
considered it safe to remove our safety jackets, as mine was chaffing me
under the arms.  I untied Tess' removing hers with difficulty.  I could see
she was chafed also with the wild motion of the raft in the storm plus
being immersed in water didn't help.

   I removed Tess' jumper then her tea shirt, seeing the red marks under
her arms around to the sides of her breasts where the jacket had chaffed.
Next her shorts then panties which was a good decision as her crutch and
upper thigh were chaffed red too.  I knew this must be so as mine was
giving me hell.  Her sand shoes were not a problem but came off anyway.  We
both lay there naked.

   It was quite warm during the day inside the raft.  I unzipped the flap
to cool the interior.  It was still heavily overcast and the sea was
rolling now not as high or sharp and choppy.  The waves were only
occasionally cresting as I could see misty rain on the horizon but nothing
else in sight.

   I went looking through the survival pockets in the raft, finding sixty
little plastic satchels of electrolyte powder.  I could have kicked myself
for not looking through them sooner.  I immediately tore open one mixing it
with a tumbler of water drinking the liquid.



   As the good doctor said, use what you have at hand.  Well I looked
around, There wasn't much.  I smiled as I realised I had a rubber tube for
filling the water bag with rain water.  I smiled as I decided how I could
handle Tess.  I decided I couldn't lift her so following the good doctor's
advice I unclipped a section of the raft's canopy then worked Tess' limp
form up sideways till I had her bending over the rubber raft sides.



   I had the presence of mind to tie Tess' wrists to the inside of the
raft's safety loops, so she wouldn't slip overboard as I needed to get her
rear high in the air to insert electrolyte fluid into her bowel to hydrate
her.



   I was weaker than I thought, taking ages struggling with her weight. 
I'm sure at any other time I would have no problem but not in these
circumstances.  My superhuman effort to get Tess into the raft had drained
my strength plus I hadn't had anything to eat for nearly four days had
taken it's toll.



   Lucky the sun wasn't shining or our swollen and sensitive skin would
burn easily as I prepared a satchel of electrolyte powder in the tumbler. I
had planned to use my spit to lubricate the rubber tube and Tess' anus. 
Well that didn't work as my spit what there was of it was not slippery. 
This was a set back.  I thought I could cheat by getting Tess excited but
her body didn't respond.  So I moved in behind Tess placing my fast growing
erection between Tess' bum cheeks to get her slippery.



   Well that worked, as going anywhere near Tess got me hard.  In no time I
was dribbling slippery fluid between her cheeks.  I lost myself as I
groaned with excitement feeling Tess' skin through my now rock hard
erection rubbing against her.  I lost control.  What should have been a
simple exercise of rubbing some of my slippery seminal fluid against her
body turned into a full blown masturbation session as I groaned loudly as I
suddenly peaked pressing my erection head against Tess' anus entrance as I
groaned streaming hard holding her hips tightly.

   I must admit I did smile to myself as I eased the now slippery rubber
hose into her rear, she was dam slippery now.  Holding the end up I poured
the cupful of electrolytes slowly into the hose end.  I slid the hose out
after something like ten minutes, confident her body would hold it in.  I
held Tess in my arms smiling to myself.  I had masturbated against Tess in
a good cause.  Would she be unhappy with me?  I didn't think so.

   Later when the seas had caled further I decided I had better start
fishing, I opened the fishing tackle pouches.  Going through what was
available.  Picking out a solid lure with a triple hook that looked like a
tiddler and a heavy breaking strain line.  I had nothing to use as bait so
hoped the fish wouldn't know the difference.

   I spent over an hour throwing the line out then pulling it back in with
no luck.  There was no sign of fish in the water till I spied a dorsal fin
about a hundred yard out.  Yes there would be no fish.

   I found a waterproof manual in one of the pockets.  The instructions
were simple and easy to read.  I read it from cover to cover paying
particular attention to the first aid section covering unconscious
patients.

   I inserted more electrolytes into Tess.  Calling her continuously to
wake up while I held her in my arms after.  Tess seemed to be different.  I
kept checking her pulse and breathing, it kept telling me she was all
right. I was ever careful she didn't choke on her tongue now keeping her
head forward.  It was the forth day.  I was worried about her and the knock
she had on the side of her head.  I could feel a fair lump above her ear
under her hair.

   The weather was abating slowly, it wasn't as hard to stay upright
against the side of the raft, with the motion of the raft defiantly easing.
I felt confident enough to unzip the canopy on one side from the raft side
rolling it half way open.  I could kneel in the raft fishing from that side
easier than from the entry flap because of the rope steps, they were
annoying whether on the outside or inside of the raft.

   The sea was slowly calming as I tried fishing for the remaining daylight
hours without a sign of a fish.  Maybe they went deep in a storm or with
the shark out there.  If there was a moon tonight I would try then.  I was
starving, I had to catch something.  I filled up on water to try and stop
the hunger pains I was now feeling.

   I was feeling very tired closing my eyes for a while.  I woke to find it
dark.  It was eerie being there slowly rising and falling without a sound.
No birds, no wind, no moon and no big breaking waves and yes no dam fish. I
went to sleep again.

   Day 5 Saturday.  I could see it just getting light under the furled up
side of the cover.  I had a drink then tried to wet Tess' mouth dripping
water slowly as I held her lip open with the tumbler.

   I decided I would insert one cup of fluids per day.  Her pulse seemed
stronger and her breathing was regular but she wouldn't wake up.  I had
come to the conclusion she may have concussion with the bump she got on the
side of the head.  There was nothing I could do for that but keep her warm
with two thermal blankets.

   Bailing out the raft was not an option, we might need that water when
the weather cleared.  When I could, I untied her lifting her up sitting her
on my lap sideways holding her side against me to keep her as far out of
the water as possible, covering our bodies with the thermal blankets
helped.

   When I awoke I tried fishing again.  I tried different lures.  There
were no fish to be seen in the water and I didn't see the fin.  I would try
again tonight.

   I was feeling light headed and weak, I was having trouble kneeling and
dare not try standing as I didn't have the energy.  I had gotten to the
stage I couldn't even drag Tess onto my lap the last time I tried.  It was
all I could do to push her body up the side of the raft with my shoulder
from underneath.

   I had to leave her tied up taking me ages to tuck the blanket in around
her.  What did it matter, I had plenty of time I figured in my confused
state of mind.

   I had saved Tess from a certain quick death, to die slowly of hunger and
exposure.  It was just not fair.  I went to sleep.

   That night I caught a fish.  It was not a big one.  The moon was out, a
waning gibbous moon as I trailed the line over the side of the raft.  I had
been trying for hours as the near three quarter moon slowly marched across
the sky.  I was sick of throwing the line out then pulling it in.  Now I
was letting it hang down pulling it up then down over my shoulder as I sat
in the raft with my back against the side.

   The tug by the fish on my fingers pulled the line out of my hand.  I
suddenly realised what was happening making a mad grab for the reel laying
between my legs as the line payed out, yanking the line as I felt it
shivering and tugging as I frantically started pulling it in.

   Eventually a fish flipped over the raft side splashing into the raft
then swam around frantically.  I grabbed the fish as it swam between my
legs holding it up in the air till it stopped moving.  I had nothing solid
to hit it with, waiting for it to die.

   There was a crude fishing knife in one of the fishing pouches.  By
moonlight and on the raft rubber side over the hatch were there was a
double layer of rubber where the ladder hung over.  I cut the head off,
removing the entrails as I frantically cleaned the scales of the fish then
slicing the meat into a fillet up the backbone I began eating the meat raw.

   I was forced to slow and chew the meat as I almost choked on the first
swallow.  I had to calm myself take it easy as I sat there for a long time
feeling my stomach bloated now with something in it.

   I dare not give Tess anything for fear she would choke.  I was
increasingly worried about her.  She would not wake up.  She had a nasty
lump on her forehead where she had struck her head against the gunnel
stanchion and above her left ear against the cabin side.  Again I checked
her pulse and breathing.  They were normal but she was cold, I had expected
that.  The water in the raft would warm up during the day.  >>

   I tried catching another fish without success.  I tried live bait now
using part of the fish also with no luck.

   Day 6 Sunday.  It was still overcast.  The water seemed oily and smooth
as the raft rose and fell in and out of the troughs.  I looked around
forlornly, there was nothing in sight.

   I realised that down near sea level, I would be lucky to see a boat the
size of the Mary Dear six nautical miles away.  On a calm clear day maybe
ten.  I would see her topmasts but they wouldn't see us.

   Oh yes I was sure the skipper would be looking for us.  I was positive
that if there was wind in their sails, diesel and water in her tanks with
food in the locker, the skipper would not give up searching for us.  He
would have radioed a general message and every plane and boat in the area
would be looking for us.  Not that there were many mind you, this was the
South Seas and about as isolated as you could get from anywhere.  I
realised I had not heard a plane in the sky's since we had set sail from
the island, knowing the mail plane flew out and back each day on it's run
somewhere down the middle of our triangular course.

   The Mary Dear had been near her most westerly point of the cruise,
heading back south east to the chain of islands where she was based.  This
leg was the deep sea leg where the nearest island let alone a habitable
island down wind was two hundred nautical miles to the north east.

   Our base was a week and a halfs sailing to the south east, the nearest
island was three days sailing to the east and deserted, the only trouble
was we weren't drifting that way.  The weather was pushing us west and I
was pretty sure the El Nino current at the moment was west on the surface
in this part of the ocean as I had checked before leaving home.

   I gave us little hope of being found.  I laughed cynically, it was not
like looking for a needle in a haystack but a needle in a hundred acre
paddock.  Our luck seems to have ended with the storm.

   The Mary Dear would be getting low on water and food as she was due to
arrive back in port today so the crew could fly out tomorrow heading home.

   She would have the best chance of finding us being on the spot so to
speak.  I knew the skipper would do his damnedest.  I went to sleep.

   Day 7 Monday.  I woke up feeling terrible in the light of day.  I looked
at Tess.  She was still a little cold but not deathly cold, I relaxed a
little.  She was still breathing and her pulse was strong.  I looked at my
watch seeing it was Monday.  The Mary Dear was due in today.  For some
illogical reason I knew they had given up the search.  We were on our own.

   The sky was broken overcast with the wind dropping looking like it was
clearing to the east where the sun had risen an hour earlier by my
reckoning.  The yellow orb was one hand width, with my thumb in against my
finger said one hour above the horizon as I held out my hand away from me
as far as I could to measure.

   Bracing myself I tried to kneel up to look around the horizon.  Holding
myself on the side of the canopy I looked round then collapsed.  There was
nothing in sight.  I didn't expect anyone but I had to look.

   I tried fishing for hours...  Nothing.  I could not see any sign in the
water.  I slept as the day got hotter with high humidity.  Well we were in
the tropics, not that far from the equator to our north.

   I fastened the canopy to the raft as the day got hotter so our water
soaked delicate skin didn't burn.  When the sun went down I furled up the
side of the canopy again.  I was still fishing, there was nothing not even
a fin.

   That night the stars were magnificent.  They were as crystal clear as I
would ever see them.  The panorama of the heavens were laid out before us.
It was a sight to see indeed.

   The reality it was bloody cold.  I was forced to lower the side of the
canopy hooking the fastening hooks to the raft side to retain what heat
there was in the water in the raft for as long as possible.  I kept the
door flap fastened tight while I cuddled Tess to keep her warm, wrapped in
our blankets.  I thought things were pretty bad as I went to sleep but
things were about to get a whole lot worse.



   I was awoken by a noise beside the raft.  It was pitch dark.  I realised
it must be early in the morning as it was cold.  The water in the raft was
cold with my legs cold as I tried to wrap the thermal blanket around them
tighter.  I suddenly looked up as something large broached outside the
raft. It must have been a whale as another broached on the other side as
the raft began turning in the wash as if in the wake of a boat.



   I groped for Tess.  Finding her in the dark I held her in my arms
holding onto the side ropes of the raft as the noises of broaching animals
around us increased as the raft suddenly began heaving and tossing as if we
were back in the storm.



   The pitch black dark made it terrifying as I hung on with all my
strength as the raft was suddenly impacted being thrown in the air,
spinning around as it slid back into the water with our off-set weight.



   A pod of whales probably humpback in this area, had swam right through
us on their slow migratory path to their winter mating grounds further
north along the equator, as the raft was tossed and turned first one way
then the other.  It lasted just a few minutes I guess, but seemed to go on
and on as I clung to the raft's inner safety rope with Tess pinned in my
arms.



   Finally the ordeal was over as the raft settled back to it's riding up
and down on the swell.  It took me some time to quieten fearful more whales
might be following the first pod's path.  I could still hear the whales
broaching in the distance now drawing further away on their migratory
journey.



   Slowly I released my grip on the rope easing myself away from Tess still
not sure we were safe.  The sounds of the pod were diminishing now being
much fainter.  I was very tired, I fell asleep cuddled in to Tess' side.



   Day 8 Tuesday.  It was daylight when I next woke.  I thought I had heard
someone talking.  I crawled to the flap unzipping it to looked out. 
Nothing again, bloody nothing.  It was my imagination working overtime, I
was hallucinating.

   I drank a tumbler of water.  It seemed a lot saltier than before. 
Seawater must have splashed in when we were tossed around by the whale pod
or when I had the top open yesterday.  I must be more careful.  I would not
leave it open as I been doing.  I whetted Tess' lips with drops of
electrolytes again as I had been doing every hour.  Her lips were becoming
cracked as were mine.  There was nothing in the raft I could use in the
first aid kit.  Well they weren't so intelligent were they?  I went back to
sleep.

   I sat bolt upright scrambling to my knees, unzipping the flap looking
out.  There was nothing I could see.  I paddled the raft round in a circle
because I couldn't stand now as hard as I tried.  There was nothing, not a
thing but I'm positive I heard someone talking.

   I looked back at Tess.  She seemed the same.  I zipped up the flap
sliding in beside Tess lifting her face a little.  "Tess are you awake." I
asked as I felt her pulse for the millionth time.  It was there still the
same.  "TESS." I shouted...  Nothing.

   I flopped back beside her pulling the metal blanket away from her body
as it was quite hot in the raft now as the water was warming up.  I held
her against my chest as I lay sideways against the raft and cried.  I was
loosing my mind.

   "Don't cry Adam.  Josh is gone now." I stiffened as if shocked by live
electrical wires.  Tess had spoken.  "Tess your awake at last." "I'm
thirsty." Tess had not opened her eyes.  I scrabbled for one of the
tumblers.  Ripping a satchels open, pouring in the powder dipping it in the
water then stirring it with my finger I placed it against her lips feeding
it in slowly.

   Tess' hand tried to grasp the tumbler, I had to force them down beside
her.  "No Tess let me do it or you'll throw up." She seem to relax as I
placed the tumbler against her lips again feeding it slowly between her
lips as she swallowed.

   I spent a long time feeding her the fluid slowly.  She complained
repeatedly of a headache.  There were a packet of headache capsules I broke
two out getting her to swallow them.  Tess seem to go back to sleep as I
held her body against mine as I cried.

   It was almost dark when I felt Tess stir.  I held the tumbler to her
lips as she swallowed the fluid slowly.  After a while she seemed fine but
she wouldn't open her eyes.  "That's really salty Adam." She pulled a face
as I smiled telling her.  "You have to keep your electrolytes up or you
will dehydrate.  "No Adam, it's really salty."



   I dipped my hand into the water as I noticed it was a bit salty before
when I had a drink.  Lifting my cupped hand to my mouth to taste the
liquid. I spat it out.  Tess was right it was salty as I realised sea water
was getting into the raft somehow.  Then it dawned on me.  The whales had
damaged the raft bottom last night.  I could do nothing about it.  We were
down to our last three gallons of fresh water.  I made up another mug using
fresh water from the container with the electrolyte powder as I gave it to
Tess to sip slowly.

   "Where are we?" It was much later when the tumbler was empty.  "We're in
a life raft." There was nothing for some time.  She seemed reluctant to
open her eyes.  "How did we get here did the boat sink?" I chuckled.  "No,
you were washed overboard when you hit your head during the storm."

   There was silence again.  "Did you get washed overboard too?" I chuckled
again replying.  "No Tess, I went in after you." There was a longer pause,
then.  "Why would you do that?" I grinned to myself telling her.  "Because
I just found you and didn't want to loose you." There was no response at
first.  Then she cuddle into me saying.  "You felt it too." I held her to
me.  Feeling her warmth and hard nipple press in under my breast.

   "Yes darling I felt something I thought I would never feel again
especially so soon after..." I faltered then fell silent as I held her.  "I
dare not believe, the first time you spoke to me on deck.  Your voice." I
held her tighter adding.  "The first time I saw you in the cabin a few
minutes later my heart went out to you.  I first thought you were a druggie
then I realised it was your loss.  Tears filled my eyes as I almost cried
when I went for your dinner."

   They were silent for a long time.  Tess had more fluid, sipping slowly.
"Are we going to die Adam?" I answered without trying to sugar-coat it.  "I
believe so, were almost out of water now, we only have a couple of gallons
left.  That won't last long, a few days if were careful."

   Tess was quite for some time.  "Adam my head hurts so bad." "Yes darling
you have concussion, your brain was bruised when you hit your head on the
side of the cabin." I eased her away as she hung onto the internal rope
retrieving more capsules.  There weren't a lot there.  I gave her two more,
she seem to go back to sleep.

   It was a long day as I tried to fish.  I could see nothing in the water
not even a fin.  Towards evening I saw a turtle surface about thirty feet
away.  I tried to paddle to it but it swam away from the raft then
disappeared.  The first sign of aquatic life since the fish.

   That night things were looking up, I caught three fish.  One big one and
two little ones.  Don't ask me what type they were because I have no idea.
What I did know was some fish were poisonous.  These fish looked good to
me. They didn't have big spikes or spines on what I thought was their
Dorsal fin.

   I pushed the knife through the brain of the big fish and left the little
ones to swim round in the bottom of the raft which was about four inches
deep.  I cleaned the carcass cutting the fillets into little chew able
squires.  There were a number of seal-able plastic bags in the fishing
tackle packs I assume were for holding bait or fish.

   I filled the four plastic bags with fish finding a nylon bag in a pocket
with a small plastic hand pump for pumping the raft dry then with a half
full bag I crawled over to Tess gently stroking her face till she woke up.

   She was a little disorientated looking at me in the moonlight then shut
her eyes in pain.  "Do you want more pain killers Tess?" I asked.  "Yes
please."

   Tess held her head in her hands.  I retrieved the first aid pouch
holding up one of the foils of capsules saying.  "We only have twenty four
capsules Tess, take one every two hours." I gave her one with a small drink
of water.

   I handed her a piece of diced fish explaining.  "This is raw fish watch
out for bones." Tess must have realised she was ravines, eating as if she
hadn't for a week.  I tried to slow her down and chew her food for as twice
as long as normal.  When Tess found a bone she handed it to me to throw out
the partly unzipped flap.  We had moved so we were sitting in the centre of
the flap, I threw our bones over the side as I related how I caught the
fish.

   Tess was a little uncomfortable when I told her she was sharing the raft
with two live fish.  She was silent as I handed her more fish pieces.  Her
eyes were looking at me in the moonlight I could see as they gleamed in
reflection.  I reached out gently stroking her cheek feeling her hand reach
up and cover mine squeezing.  I slid in against her putting my arm over
behind her as she cuddled into me.  I felt her hand on my upper thigh, it
felt good as my heart raced.

   Tess ate steadily on and off till I stopped her for a while.  Her
headache eased only slightly.  I knew a little about concussion explaining
she would have a headache for a few days maybe a week, most likely be dizzy
if she stood up and walked around.  Tess smiled at my joke as she sipped
the remaining fluid in the tumbler.

   After Tess had eaten then drank a little more I made up a better
shoulder harness for the both of us from the lifebuoy line so she could
slip her arms in as I tightened it so she could sleep.  Tess was very weak,
the harness would hold her up out of the water.

   I let her sleep.  It was in the wee hours of the morning when I finally
went to sleep.

   I woke with a start thinking I was home in bed with Andrea.  I smiled
before opening my eyes.  It was light and worming up.  I realised I was in
the raft with Tess.  I looked down to see I had a boner and Tess' hand was
laying around the base.  I looked at her cuddled in against me.

   She must have woken earlier getting herself out of the harness then
cuddled into me.  I gently lifted her head under her chin, kissing her on
the lips.  She groaned with pain as moving her head had been the wrong
thing to do.

   "I'm sorry darling." She squeezed my base.  "Do you want a painkiller?"
"Yes when we eat."

   That was now as I was hungry and we had to eat the fish before it went
off.  I broke out one of the fish bags and we sat there eating slowly.  I
had given her a capsule and she sat there beside me trying to eat slowly. I
had packed the packets of fish in one of the pockets below water level to
keep it as cool as I could as it was hot and very humid inside the raft
during the day and cold of a night.

   Tess was not as hungry as I, so I put her into her harness where she
went back to sleep.  I felt safer with her like that in case I went to
sleep and she toppled over.

   I was fiddling round with an idea.  There were eight thermal blankets in
the raft pockets.  We were using four.  One each under us with one each
over us of a night.  That left four spare.

   I was toying with this idea, if I cut two small holes one each end in
the hip of the raft canopy I could pass a line outside across the top like
a clothes line, folding a thermal blanket over it laying the blanket down
the side of the raft so the aluminium surface would act as a radar
reflector.

   The holes were easy to cut from the inside.  They were made on the outer
side of the light weight upside down 'U' frame, where the two foil blanket
I had cut corresponding holes so they could be tied with fishing line to
hold up in place.

   I had to crawl around the top edge of the raft to pull the line through
the hole to feed it back around the top then back in the hole above the
flap.  After I had got back inside I realised I should pass enough rope to
go round between holes twice for one blanket on each side.

   I seem to have spent hours inside then outside threading the line
through.  I realised just how weak I was becoming finding it difficult to
do the simplest of tasks now.

   With the thermal blankets one each side of the canopy, wrapped around I
was exhausted as I curled up going to sleep beside Tess.

   When I woke it was dark and Tess was shaking me.  "Adam you must eat."
She was urging me.  I stirred waking up to the sound of her voice.  I
shared a tumbler of water mixed with the electrolyte powder then ate a
little of the fish finishing the bag between us.

   I woke some time later hearing Tess at the flap making a noise.  I came
instantly awake realising she was throwing up.  It was dark as I fumbled
around feeling her back as I went to comfort her, my stomach began to heave
finding myself beside Tess heaving over the side as well.

   I realised the fish we had eaten was bad or poisonous.  After some time
there was nothing left to throw up.  Of all my pet hates throwing up is the
worst of them.  Something I absolutely detest.  It wasn't so bad if I just
threw up through my mouth but no I would throw up through my nose as well.

   This time thankfully I only threw up through my mouth.  I rinsed my
mouth out with salt water handing the tumbler to Tess to do hers.  We both
spent a few hours hanging over the side of the raft.  I had struggled
putting our jumpers on as the night was bloody cold again.

   Day 9 Wednesday.  We lay there most of the day not moving.  I was so
physically wrung out I didn't have the energy to move.  Tess was the same.
Late afternoon I managed to remove my jumper I had sweltered in all day,
then pulled Tess' jumper off.  While I was on my knees I caught one of the
remaining fish holding it tightly I managed to hold it on the side of the
raft through the flap where it was double layered and pushed the knife
through its brain.

   It seemed to take ages to clean then cut it into fillets.  We ate one
fillet each with a tumbler of fluid between us then went back to sleep as I
worried there was little water left.

   Day 10 Thursday.  I managed to look out the flap kneeling this time as I
didn't have the energy.  I paddled around in a circle or what I thought was
a circle then zipped the flap up again.  There was nothing to see,
absolutely nothing.

   I was not thinking clearly.  I knew I had to kill the remaining fish. 
It was a struggle.  I almost lost it overboard when it struggled as I held
it to me tightly when I pushed the knife through its head.

   I can't remember how long it took to clean the fish but I do remember
cutting myself while trying to fillet the body.  I was amazed as the knife
didn't seem that sharp.

   I washed the cut in salt water.  Tess put a band aid around my finger.
We ate the fish then Tess cuddled into me.  Her headaches weren't so bad
but she still needed the capsules.

   During the afternoon we were talking.  Tess suggested if we weren't
going to survive and before we became too weak we should do it together
once.  I smiled at her agreeing.

   Tess wanted to take three capsules so she could be headache free.  While
we waited for them to take affect we hugged holding each other exploring
each others bodies.  Tess was sore around her crutch as she held her legs
wide for my hand.  I felt her shudder as my finger stroked her clitoris. 
She was so sensitive.

   We lay still as Tess' headache had got worse as she became excited.  So
we held each other in our arms till she felt the capsules kicking in
properly.

   I found it hard to get excited.  Yesterday or was it the day before when
she held me I had no trouble at all.  Tess was coaxing me now with her
straddling my legs with her head in my lap working me with her mouth where
I became hard.  I must admit not as hard as I normally was but I was there.

   I had to push her head gently away as she smiled understanding I was
ready.  Coming up into my lap she lay her upper body against me as I sucked
her nipple hearing her groan with pleasure.

   I felt Tess grasp my head lining it up with her entrance working it back
and forth as neither of us were really slippery.  It took some time before
we were sliding freely as our juices slowly became plentiful then Tess
slowly worked me in deeper.

   Boy was Tess something.  When I was in deep Tess began shuddering by
herself as I eased my hand between her legs to rub her clitoris.  She went
ballistic as I touched her hard little organ.  I think she climaxed
immediately as she shuddered and groaned dragging herself on me as I pushed
into her with pleasure.

   I can't remember it all or how long it lasted but towards the end I was
arched up with my shoulders and head back on the raft side with my heals
dug into the bottom as Tess rode my erection to the most muscle locking
shuddering climax I had ever had.

   I asked Tess later, she remembers three climaxes.  I tell you I was used
to women who would have one climax to my two if I didn't hold back.  But
boy Tess was something very special.

   I have read somewhere that people having sex in life threatening
situations find their senses enhanced to unbelievable heights.  Well folks
I only half believe it.  Tess and I for some reason are highly compatible.
These days when I go near her...  Well I'm getting way ahead of myself.

   Having sex with Tess for the first time was a mind blowing experience.
Tess collapsed onto my chest past out as I held her in my now very week
arms.  I could feel our mixed fluids running from us between my legs.  I
smiled as I realised we had just reduced our survival expectancy probably
by a week.



   It was near dark when Tess woke.  I helped ease her off me tying her
into her harness.  She went back to sleep as I wrapped the thermal blankets
around her.  I lay beside her too exhausted to do any fishing.

   Day 11 Friday because my watch said it was.  I woke drowsy and fuddled.
I could hardly read the watch dial.  I knew I had to fish today, and hope
like hell it rained but the sky was so clear.  Tess stirred so I fed her a
headache capsule with the last of our water in the bottom of the tumbler.
She went back to sleep as I pondered our fate.

   I made the effort to fish.  What was wrong with this place, it was the
dam ocean, supposedly full of dam fish.  I thought, as there was nothing,
absolutely nothing.  I couldn't see anything in the water, not even a fin.
I heard Tess calling, it was time to give her a headache capsule, the
second last one.  I pushed it into her mouth where she got it slippery with
her saliva first before swallowing it down as there was no more water.

   We cuddled together while I talked until she went back to sleep.  Our
little escapade yesterday had drained her completely.  I tied her back up
then crawled back to fishing.



   I fished well into the knight till Tess called.  I untied her.  We
cuddled together without saying anything wrapped in our thermal blankets.

   I remember tying Tess up again, I remember vaguely snuggling in against
her going to sleep.

   Day 12 Saturday.  The days were running together.  There were no more
headache capsules for Tess.  I could see the pain in her eyes, I could do
nothing.  I couldn't even catch a bloody fish.  I spent every hour I could
fishing between sleeping.

   Tess was awake again.  Her headache was no better and preferred to hold
her head in her hands when she was awake.  She would say nothing not a
complaint.

   I would go to her from fishing, gently lift her head kiss her just as
gently then go back to fishing.  There was no fish, not a dam nibble.  The
day seemed unbearably long plus unbearably hot.

   To my relief it became dark very quickly in the tropics.  Coming from a
latitude almost half way to the pole it was unnerving.  You no sooner
turned your back, it was dark.  A short twilight as the earth was larger at
the equator by twenty six miles or was that kilometers, my mind was so
fuzzy but I knew there was no dam fish.  I couldn't understand what I was
doing wrong.

   We cuddled together after dark.  There was nothing to say.  Tess hung
onto me as I held her.  We slept in each others arms.  We were at our
limit. The heat of the day was draining our energy away.  Without water
there was nothing we could do.

   Day 13 Sunday.  It was hot again when I woke.  Tess was in my arms with
her upper body resting on my lap.  I managed to tie her up in her harness.

   I could just work out I left the fishing line out all night tied to the
inside of the raft.  I was disappointed there was nothing on the hook when
I pulled it in.

   I had to catch something today.  I tried to look at my watch which I had
tied to the side of the raft as my wrist was chaffed and raw.

   It was getting hotter as I cuddled Tess.  I had not the strength to put
our jumpers on last night.  With no chance of taking them off this morning.

   I was beginning to hallucinate, I thought it was Andrea with me till I
realised it was Tess.  She was asleep.  I felt her neck, I could feel a
pulse.  Her breathing seemed normal.

   I didn't have the energy to fish leaving the line over the side.  I went
back to sleep.

   Something woke me, someone was talking.  I looked at Tess.  Ben was
there on her other side kneeling down talking to her.  I was hallucinating
again.  I looked back, he wasn't there at all.

   I could hear something outside like yelling and screaming.  I had it
bad. The flap suddenly opened and a pair of sand shoes attached to hairy
legs appeared in the raft between us.  Slowly there was more light, as the
top disappeared off the raft.  This was the end.  I thought I would have
lasted longer.

   I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  There was a large vessel beside
us and Ben was there in the raft again.  He was leaning over Tess again
then to my astonishment as I watched Tess went flying up in the air like
the angel she was.

   I slowly realised it was the Mary Dear.  Tess was being pulled up by
block and tackle on the end of the Foresail boom which I could see was
furled and with the boom swung out over the raft above us.  Then Tess was
swung inboard disappearing.

   I looked back aft to see the skipper giving orders as he Lent over the
rail.  He looked down at me in the raft facing me then stood to attention
where I could see him as he saluted.  I smiled raising my arm as high as I
could about shoulder height.  I was in heaven as I watched Ben climb down
the scrambling net towards me into the raft then knelt over me as he tied a
rope around my chest.

   Ben was crying as he talked to me.  I couldn't understand a word he was
saying he was crying so hard.  Then I was flying through the air as I
watched the deck of the Mary dear swing under me as I felt hands holding me
as familiar faces crowded round as I felt myself being carried as the girls
were crying as they hugged me as things went black.

   I woke up in a bed, it was dark as I recognised the sounds and motion of
a sailing ship with its creaking and healing with the sound of waves
washing along the side.

   I looked around, Tess was beside me in bed, a double bed.  We had died
and gone to sailing heaven.  I looked up to the low deck head.  I was
puzzled as I had been sure I was on the Mary Dear in heaven.

   June the skippers wife came into the cabin, seeing I was awake she was
smiling with tears in her eyes as she came to me kissing me on my chapped
and swollen lips as she hugged me gently.  "Oh Adam you did it.  We can't
believe, it's a miracle.  We had almost given up hope of finding you two."

   I looked at her bewildered as she sat beside me as I asked.  "Where are
we?" June looked surprised answering.  "You're in our cabin on the Mary
Dear."

   Then I realised I had never seen their cabin which was aft below the
cockpit hence the low deck head.  June went on.  "We're heading for the
hospital on the main island.  We need supplies, were right out.  Were out
of gas so there's no bread and were out of food.  The only thing we have is
water or pea and ham soup.  Would you like some?" I nodded then June
disappeared.

   She came back with a mug helping me to sit up with her arm around my
shoulders.  I could not hold the mug myself as June held it to my lips as I
sipped the liquid expecting it to be hot.  It was nearly cold as June
stopped me gulping it down.

   When I finished she laid me back removing the bed covers putting cream
on my lips, then the insides of my legs, hands then under my arms and watch
band.  I watched as June went round to Tess repeating the process as I
could see Tess' chaffed skin.  Wasn't it funny, in the raft I hardly
noticed?

   My mind had settled when I realised I wasn't hallucinating, I was indeed
back on the Mary Dear, safe from our ordeal.  I wanted to ask questions but
the black vale descended over me as I went back to sleep.  I heard voices
close by.  I recognised one as the skippers but I could not surface as hard
as I tried.

   When I woke again June was talking to Tess trying to wake her.  She was
holding her limp body trying to get Tess to sip some soup with Susanne
assisting.  I learnt later it was laced with crushed pain killers.

   I kept drifting in and out of sleep.  June woke me some time later to
sip another half mug of pea and ham soup.  She asked me if I wanted to go
to the toilet.  I indicated I needed to pee.  Pulling the cover back she
eased me round to the side of the bed sitting me up realising I couldn't
stand.

   June grabbed the small bucket by the side of the bed pushing it in
between my legs telling me to pee.  I was so weak I could hardly sit up as
June steadied me.  Laying back down as she covered me.  I reached out for
Tess holding her arm as I went back to sleep.

   Someone was talking to me pinching my arm.  I groaned looking over. 
Tess' eyes were open looking bewildered.  "Where are we Adam?" I smiled at
her as I turned on my side to face her saying.  "Were back aboard the 'Mary
Dear'.  They found us Tess, just in time." She looked around with her eyes
not moving her head.  I could see she was as puzzled as I was.  I
explained. "Were in the skippers cabin in his bed.  I didn't recognise it
either." I explained.

   She was quite for some time then looked at me saying.  "I'm glad were
not dead." I could only smile adding.  "Me too."

   "Have something to drink Tess.  There's pea and ham soup.  You must be
hungry." Tess licked her swollen, cracked lips.  I worked my way up into a
sitting position in the middle digging my feet under the pillow leaning
back against the headboard as I worked my knees around Tess' hips as I
eased her upper body back between my legs.

   I reached for the mug June had left on the bedside table with a spoon in
it.  I began to spoon feed Tess from behind as I held her back against me.

   When June came in she found us like that with Tess laying back in my
encircled arms with our heads bent together fast asleep.

   We didn't know till much later, almost everyone on board poked their
head in the cabin door when word got round.  There are photos of us sitting
along our lounge room wall.  A series starting with the Mary Dear coming up
on the raft with one of us sitting up in bed asleep together, till the
ambulance took us to hospital.  I must admit I look very ungainly being
hoisted aboard nude with my willy hanging out there.

   I remember June waking us, putting us back into bed.  I also remember
Tess moving in against me as I put my arm under her head as she cuddled
into me.

   We were a day and a half out from the main island when I woke next.  I
felt much better but I needed to go to the toilet bad.  I crawled from the
bottom of the bed after making my way down the side using it for support on
hands and knees.

   I managed to lift myself up onto the seat after I gained the toilet. 
June came in to check on us while I was there waking Tess to give her more
headache capsules and soup.

   Helping me back into bed June sat beside me facing and holding my hand
explaining to me how they had searched for us since we had gone overboard
over two weeks ago.

   June with a tear in her eye explained how the crew unanimously chose to
stay out beyond the cruse time ending, searching for us.  Not one of them
wanted to quit while there was food and water on aboard.

   June smiled explaining.  "Most of the crew want to come back next year
for a reunion.  Bill and I are thinking of doing something special for that
fortnight at cost to this crew.  Bill wants to come out here where it
happened and sail around like a re-enactment sort of.  Just be together
under the same conditions in the same place would be something".

   June suddenly lent forward hugging then kissing me gently on the lips,
there was something in her eyes as she squeezed my hands in hers.  There
was something on her mind as she smiled saying.

   "Adam there is a Seventy three foot Ketch coming up for sale in the near
future.  Bill and I want to purchase it.  We couldn't afford the down
payment before but now with all this happening when word gets out in the
sailing magazines we will be putting on extra sailing cruses, hopefully
near all season round so the ketch is within reach for us now."

   June smiled saying with conviction and passion.  "Adam darling, Bill and
I want you and Tess to stay.  We are offering the pair of you a partnership
in the business with the understanding you will study for your master's
ticket under Bills supervision.  We will eventually have two boats in the
business.  We have been planning this for some time, we haven't found
anyone suitable as a partner till now."

   June smiled as I began to understand as I asked.  "That was why I was
put in charge of the Fore deck crew?" June grinned nodding.  Bill said you
made a fair fist of it which means you did well in his eyes and as you know
Bill is hard to please."

   I laughed knowing that was coming from a real seaman.  In fact one of
the best I had ever known.  Praise coming from Bill made me feel proud. 
Now I understood better that salute he gave me in the raft.  It was a
salute to a fellow sailor that had done a job expected of him doing it
well. I think it was then that I decided I would stay if Tess was happy
with the decision and situation.

   With tears welling in my eyes I smiled at June saying.  "June if Tess
agrees we will stay.  I have no idea of her family situation but I'm sure
she will stay.  I'll discuss it with her when she wakes."

   June smiled adding.  "There's two houses with a boat building shed and
slipway next door to us.  The owner retired years ago offering it to us as
he can't find a buyer elsewhere.  We can't buy both the ketch and the
business so you and Tess might consider buying the property and business.
The owner is asking a price equivalent to that of a house in one of the big
cities suburbs."

   Her eyes were sparkling with enthusiasm as I realised here was the
brains behind the business being confirmed.  "June, I have the funds or I
can get the funds to purchase the business." June squeezed my hand as I saw
the gleam in her eyes brighten as she smiled realising their plans were
coming together as I added.  "My parents will no doubt be on their way here
now, hearing we have been found.  I will show them the business and explain
the circumstances." I laughed adding.  "I have to introduce them to their
new daughter in law.  I think they will fall in love with her as I have."

   We both laughed.  June rose from the side of the bed leaning over
kissing me gently on the lips, I felt her hand tweak me through the sheets.
She smiled as she stood up.  The meaning was only too clear.  I smiled as
she turned leaving the cabin.  I cuddled up to Tess.

   June woke me in the afternoon with a mug of soup.  Then she woke Tess
giving her a capsule with her soup.  Tess cuddled in against me going back
to sleep.  I think June was keeping her well drugged as we headed for the
hospital.

   June urged me to try and get up to sit out in the main cabin to talk
with the crew, as a return for the effort they had put in.  yes June was
business smart.

   June helped me up to sit on the side of the bed.  Recovering a pair of
shorts and a tee shirt from my bag helping me on with my shorts seemed to
take a little handling as she tucked me in.  The tee shirt was easier
involving a hug then a tender kiss.

   June helped me out to the main cabin table.  I eased myself onto the end
of the bench with the help of one of the girls off watch.  I received a rib
crushing hug with a passionate kiss and oh yes a tweak.  Being a hero was
all right.

   June placed a mug of pea and ham soup in front of me, this time it was
hot as I didn't have a chance as those in the cabin were pumping my hand so
hard I thought it would fall off.

   The girls...  well what can I say, with tear filled eyes they hugged me
one by one and yes there was a tweak here and there.  I believe there would
have been more for the fact some of their boyfriends were there watching.

   I could see June in her open galley on the other side watching with a
smile as she made another pot of soup on the electric ring supplied by the
wind generator on the port stern davit.

   I was being bombarded with questions.  I had to hold my hand up in the
end saying.  "I will tell you what happened then you tell me what happened
aboard the Mary Deer." The ones who weren't seated sat down.  I slid round
the end of the table so everyone could see me on the corner.

   "You know I went over after Tess.  The truth is despite my recent
bereavement I had fallen in love with Tess and vice versa.  I suppose
subconsciously I didn't want to loose her having just found her.  She would
have died if I hadn't gone in after her as I found myself in the water
swimming towards her.  I had no doubt in my mind that I could get her and
get her to the raft." I looked around at their attentive faces then went
on.

   "I thought I was on my own when my partner died recently but it did not
compared to the feeling of seeing the stern of the Mary Dear disappear into
that rain squall."

   I smiled at them grimly commenting.  "I tell you if you hadn't found us
when you did I doubt if we could have lasted another day maybe two as we
run out of water a couple of days ago."

   They were quite as they realised how close it was.  "I thought I was
hallucinating when Ben was leaning over Tess in the raft.  Then he
disappeared, I knew I was.  Then there was a pair of sand shoes and hairy
legs in the flap.  When the top of the raft disappeared seeing the Mary
Dear I thought I was in sailing heaven.  Tess was flying through the air
like an angel, then Ben made me fly, that was how far I was gone.  It
wasn't till I woke up in the cabin I realised where I was as June talked to
me."

   They were quite as I tried to get my thoughts together.  "It was hard
swimming with Tess and the two life rings towards the raft capsule.  I
could not swim fast enough as it was drifting away with the wind.  I had to
let Tess go as I tied the end of the lifebuoy line to my arm then swam
after the raft capsule.  If the skipper had inflated the raft when he
released it overboard I would have never caught it in the wind."

   I looked around, no one had moved.  They were all looking at me.  "When
I got to the raft I inflated it, it was dragging me along then I got my arm
through the raft ladder.  Hauling Tess to me with the line was really hard.
I got her inside using the ladder double over, rolling her up, otherwise I
would have had a harder time getting her into the raft.  Well I tied Tess
against the side of the raft as we were getting thrown around as she was
still breathing and had a pulse.  The next day I saved some rainwater in
the water bag then let the raft half fill with it.  It was brackish but
drinkable."

   "Tess didn't wake up for nearly, I forget maybe a week.  I thought I was
going to loose her any time.  I kept dribbling water into her mouth to keep
it moist.  I know you shouldn't give an unconscious person oral fluids so I
gave her anal fluids with the rubber hose, one cup at a time.  I was
desperate to keep her alive."

   There was nods of understanding as I changed the subject.  "You know I
only caught five fish.  One of them nearly poisoned us.  I think it went
bad on us with the heat, I don't know.  I fished on and off as much as I
could with hardly a bite." I was silent for a little looking at the table
thinking when they began to stir.  I looked up smiling adding.



   "Then we got hit by a pod of whales.  One surfaced right underneath the
raft almost turning the raft upside down.  It damaged the raft underneath
allowing salt water to mix with our fresh so we only had the emergency
water from then on.  That run out two days before you found us." We were
all quite for a while then I changed the subject.

   "I understand all of you refused to go back till you either found us or
you run out of food, it was a close run thing.  Tess and I thank you from
the bottom of our hearts.  Thank you from us both."

   They clapped and cheered at that as I received handshakes and hugs. 
There was hardly a dry eye in sight including myself.  I looked across at
June who was wiping her eyes with her apron smiling at me.

   "All right you lot, who is due on watch.  Come and get your soup." I
looked on realising they were on rations.  June brought me one but my
protests were dismissed as she ordered me to drink.  June explained they
only had enough water to last till tomorrow night.  The skipper had stayed
out as long as they possibly could.  I felt good about that.

   June helped me back to the cabin as I lay down after stripping as I
cuddled against Tess.  I felt guilty at having deserted her even for a
short while.

   I slept till June came in to give Tess a capsule and feed her a mug of
soup.  Tess lay in my arms after wanting to know what was going on.  I
explained we were back on the Mary Dear.  How the whole crew had wanted to
stay out looking for us till the food was gone.  They were on their way
back still searching as they went when they found us."

   Tess was quite cuddling into me harder.  I was on my back, Tess had her
head on my chest as I held her gently.  "Tess darling.  I know it's a bit
early to talk about our future but June and Bill have offered you and I a
partnership in the sailing business.  They want to buy another boat and
have been looking for someone suitable to join the company in a
partnership. They have decided you and I are perfect.  I will have to get
my master's certificate with Bill's help.  The boat building business next
door to them has been for sale for some years.  There are two houses that
go with the business...  We could hire a shipwright to work the business
but I'm sure June would have something in mind as she has a real business
head on her shoulders."

   We were quite for some time then I added.  "I wanted to put the idea in
your head before things get complicated tomorrow.  Our families will be
there waiting for us plus being in hospital."

   Tess was quite, I didn't know if she had gone back to sleep, I asked. 
"You awake?" She hugged me in reply.  I informed her.  "Tess I would really
like to do this, I love the boat and the islands, the thought of making a
living sailing.  I love the whole idea of it.  You will meet my parent's
tomorrow I know they will fall in love you.  They will loan me the money if
I ask them."

   I lay quietly letting her absorb the idea until she said.  "My mum will
be there." This worried me the way she said it, I hadn't thought of that
feeling suddenly afraid asking.  "Will she take you home?" Tess giggled
then went quite for some time as her head must have hurt.  "She doesn't
know about us yet."

   Well that was no surprise as only the crew knew.  "Is that a problem
Tess?" Tess slowly lifting her head looking at me saying.  "Josh called us
the terrible twins." She smiled as she looked into mine for a reaction. 
She must have seen it as the thought struck me.

   I was the one suddenly lost in thought.  When I did say something I had
trouble getting it out.  "You mean you didn't mind...  I mean she will..."
Tess put her hand over my mouth to stop me, saying.  "You haven't met her
yet."

   I was quite for a while.  I felt she was tense then I asked.  "Was Josh
your partner?" I felt her squeeze me a little then replied.  "Our partner."

   I was quite for some time.  I felt her squeeze me as I was as hard as a
rock now wanting me to say something.  I sighed making a decision.  "The
terrible twins.  If she is anything like you, I'm going to fall head over
heels." Tess squeezed me hard.  I yelped and felt the pressure ease as she
rubbed the spot.

   "Don't.  You'll get into trouble, June will kick my ass for spoiling her
sheets." Tess giggled as I asked.  "She won't come between us?" Tess looked
up surprised answering.  "No she's not like that." Her sudden movement must
have hurt as she winced shutting her eyes.

   I was sorry easing her head back on my chest.  I felt her hand and
smiled saying.  "No other surprises?" She squeezed me.  "No." I stroked her
face gently as Tess began squeezing and rubbing.  I gasped, then about to
roll over onto her when the door opened, June came in...  Perfect timing.

   We only had a sheet over us, it was obvious as I rolled back I had an
erection.  June could see Tess' hand move away.  She didn't bat an eyelid.
As she went around to Tess with tablets plus a mug of soup.

   She made Tess take the tablet feeding her the soup as she held the mug
for Tess who held her hands as she sipped.  June looked at me smiling
saying.  "There are hand towels in the bottom drawer your side.  The
Vaseline is there too.  Put it on her as she is still very tender and be
gentle, I'll give you an hour." June kissed Tess on the forehead leaving
taking the mug.

   Tess rolled into my arms.  We held each other for some time till she
started stroking.  Well I couldn't help myself.  I eased her down the bed
having recovered hand towels and the Vaseline from the drawer.  I liberally
coated her and myself after placing a towel under her rear, then on my
elbows lying between Tess' legs with hers wrapped around mine I slid slowly
into her.  She sighed with pleasure as she stiffened as I entered.

   Suddenly Tess let loose as I pulled and pushed in deep.  I had to jam my
mouth on hers as she began making a noise as she thrust and squirmed under
me.  I think she climaxed from then till I climaxed.  It was only a few
minutes maybe five but I couldn't help myself.  The words, a velvet gloved
vice, was giving me pleasure I thought would only happen the once in the
raft but boy I came so hard my balls ached all night plus the next morning
after that.

   I lifted off her chest as her body was still shuddering.  I held her
kissing her sweet beautiful mouth then gasped.  "God Tess that was bloody
fantastic." She smiled drawing me down on her as I cuddled against her
cheek as she whispered.  "Adam I love you so much.  I'm sorry about Josh
but I did love him." Hugging me tighter she whispered.  "I think Andrea and
Josh sent you for me.  I do hope their together as happy as we are."

   I couldn't help it.  I started crying.  I couldn't stop as I held onto
Tess as she held me.  I did have the presence of mind to roll us onto our
sides as we held each other.  I remember holding her in my arms for a long
long time.

   I woke to see by the nautical clock it was nearly twenty two hundred
hours or ten pm.  Tess was on her back asleep.  I cleaned her up as she
groaned and moaned with tenderness as I wiped between her legs then kissed
her pubic hair.  She giggled then went back to sleep as I drew the sheet
over her tucking her in.  I kissed her on the lips, she murmured then was
asleep.

   I made my way to the shower I, was getting stronger kneeling in the
shower washing myself as I quite couldn't handle the roll of the Mary Dear
yet.  After drying I slid my shorts on over my jocks then my Tee shirt.  I
then made my way slowly out into the main cabin holding onto whatever I
could to steady myself.

   The skipper was there in the corner under by the door where the radios
and radar gear were in the alcove at the end of the bunks and rope locker.
I eased myself down on the bench seat at the table.  The effort of
showering had shown me how weak I was.  Yes and the encounter with Tess had
drained me.  Man that woman.  I smiled feeling warm and comfortable as my
balls were aching.

   "You look pleased with yourself." The skipper grinned as he stood across
the corner from me leaning over.  He looked tired as if he had just woken
up.  He grabbed my hand shaking it that tight it hurt, saying.  "Adam, I've
seen some gutsy things in my time but going over after Tess just beats the
hell out of anything.  How the hell you got her in the raft unconscious was
something I just can't imagine."

   He let my hand go to my relief, turning back to the radio corner
extracting a map from a pipe container beside the desk and a note pad bring
them back, spreading the map on the table end between us.  I could see it
was a large scale map of the island chain showing the complete upside down
blue track the Mary Dear was to follow and the red line beside it showing
where she had traveled so far.  With their little island at the start and
finish point.

   The upside down triangle.  It represented eleven days on the first leg
tacking each side of the line then seven days on the downwind leg or west
with the third leg being the homeward leg or south east.  The line on the
end of the second leg turned from the west heading onto the south east
heading then turned a little north of west zigzagging tightly back and
forth.  I realised that's when they were looking for us.

   Bill smiled at me as he unfolded the note pad where I could see the
carefully plotted red line crossing a blue line.  "The blue line was made
on the third day when we couldn't find you.  We dropped another raft over
the side with coiled rope in it equivalent to your body weights.  We stood
off to leeward plotting the raft's movement.  I realised the wind had
dropped but hadn't changed direction.  We followed that raft for a day and
a night plotting its position every hour from the GPS."

   He looked up at me saying seriously.  We should have found you two days
later, but there was no sign.  The weather was getting better and it
shouldn't have been a problem.  I cannot see where I went wrong in my
calculations.  Then I realised there might have only been one of you in the
raft so we went further West to search till we only had enough food to get
home.  We were still searching as we were heading back when Ben spotted the
raft from the foremast head.  The sun had glinted of the foil blankets. 
The radar didn't pick you up till we were closer.  Must have been something
to do with the angle plus smooth sides of the foil."

   He smiled suggesting.  "You might give Ben a big kiss.  That boy was up
the mast every day all day.  We had to take food up to him.  We were
tacking on the north west leg, away from your position at the time.  If we
had been on the other leg we would have run you over." He smiled broadly
adding.  "That was why Ben went into the raft.  He earned it.  I tell you
Adam, when he came back out from inside the raft grinning with two fingers
up on one hand and a thumbs up on the other to indicate you were both there
and alive, I never felt so relieved in my life."

   He put his hand on my shoulder with tears in his eyes adding.  "This one
just had to turn out right for you two." He squeezed my shoulder then wiped
his eyes as June arrived with two mugs of soup sitting down with us asking.

   "Is Tess all right?" I laughed replying.  "You should be asking me if
I'm all right?" They both laughed.  Bill smiling announcing.  "The good
news is, I've just got off the radio with the harbour master.  We will have
food tomorrow lunchtime.  I've ordered 100 pies and pasties to come out
tomorrow.  Their sending the customs launch once we're within range with a
doctor for Tess.  Your mother and father will be aboard with Tess' mom. 
They've been waiting for news since they arrived on the main island almost
a week ago apparently."

   Adam smiled to himself.  He could imagine the rush to fly out to get as
close as they could to where their son was missing.  He could not imagine
how they felt especially after loosing Andrea so recently.  He hoped they
were looking after Tess' mum...  Of course they would, he reasoned, knew
his parents.

   Bill looked at us saying.  "Well that seems to be that.  We will loose
our crew tomorrow afternoon.  You and Tess will go to hospital.  The five
of us can sail her back home in a couple of days.  Assuming they will only
keep you overnight so will give us three more crew with your parents.  I'm
sure they will want to stay close.  He looked at June commenting.  "And we
get our cabin back." She screwed her nose up at him as they laughed at each
other.

   Bill looked at Adam asking.  "Have you spoke with Tess about staying on
with us?" I nodded saying.  "We had a bit of a discussion.  She seems
positive about it when I indicated it was what I wanted.  But there is a
problem." I looked at them with a grim face adding.  "Tess doesn't want to
be separated from her mum.  It looks like a package deal or no deal."

   Bill grimaced commenting.  "Burdened with a mother in law.  Of all the
rotten luck." I looked at him shaking my head.  "No you don't understand.
Tess partner called them the terrible twins." Bill looked at me astonished
saying.  "You mean..." I nodded as June laughed as I blushed then Bill
burst out laughing as well.

   June slapped him on the arm for him to behave himself.  Bill pulled a
straight face but his eyes were twinkling with mirth.  He held out his hand
grasping mine again shaking it just as hard, yes and as painful as before
saying.  "Welcome aboard Adam I think you will find life on the island
pleasant and lay back." He looked up at the clock on the bulkhead saying.
"Almost time for the watch change.  I'd better go and check the course and
wind." He lent kissing June on the ear whispering.  "Ask him." It had been
loud enough for me to hear as he got up heading up on deck.

   June put her hand over my hand as I was about to get up to return to the
cabin.  She waited till he had gone then in a low voice so no one else
could hear said as she lent forward towards me as she slipped her fingers
between mine, locking our hands together.  "Adam...  Bill and I have been
unable to have children.  We are getting on and have decided to use a sperm
donor."

   June blushed as she gripped my hand tighter with hers.  "Adam we would
like you to be the donor for us.  We couldn't think of anyone more
suitable." June was looking at me so intently I blushed as she whispered.
"Please Adam, it means so much to us."

   What could I say.  I smiled nodding still blushing.  June leaned forward
kissing me on the lips gently saying.  "I'll tell you when I'm fertile and
we'll slip away somewhere and do it." I was surprised saying.  "You mean
you and me, we will..." June giggled whispering.  "Why not it's more fun."
I began to protest.  "But Bill?" June smiled adding.  "Yes he understands.
It was he who suggested it." I was amazed.  June kissed me gently again
smiling adding.  "Two weeks Adam.  You will have to fit me round Tess and
your mother in law." She giggled squeezing my hand letting me go as she got
up going to the stove.

   I sat there bewildered.  June was a handsome woman of about thirty five
or six.  Bill was about ten or so years older.  June was obviously devoted
to him.  She had the business head and probably the driving force behind
the business.  Bill was a first class skipper who loved the old sailing
boats and would have been in his element fifty or a hundred years ago.

   I was looking at the chart Bill had plotted then leafed through his pad
looking at his figures for the projected course of the raft's drift.

   I was distracted as those on watch ducked below to wake their
successors. There was some backslapping and handshakes with me as the main
cabin became active as June handed out mugs of soup telling them there
would be pies and pasties for lunch tomorrow.  This seemed to change the
mood to excitement knowing they would be back in touch with the real world
late tomorrow morning after five weeks of isolation at sea when the customs
launch would rendezvous with us.

   Slowly the cabin became quite as the watch went up on deck.  I looked at
the numbers again, they could not be faulted, the skipper was thorough. 
Those on watch were coming below where June met them with a cheery smile as
the news had gone through the crew like wild fire.  They were animated,
laughing and joking.  I got up making my way back to the cabin where it was
quieter.  June gave me a hand.  She slipped my shorts down as I stripped my
tee shirt tucking me in with a tweak, I went to sleep.

   I woke to hear Tess asking if I was awake.  I cuddled her into my chest
as she held me tight.  Her head was aching which was no surprise.  Nowhere
near as severe as it had been in the raft.  I reached for her tablets
giving her one.

   She cuddled into me waiting for the tablet to take effect.  They were
extra strong which June kept aboard for emergencies.  I told Tess about our
parent's waiting for us on the main island.  They would be coming out on
the customs launch tomorrow with the doctor.  I told her how happy Bill and
June were to hear we were staying.  I didn't mention about her mother or
June.  That would be later.  She went back to sleep as I held her.

   It was eight o'clock when I woke.  The watch was changing to the
forenoon watch and there was excited chatter as June opened the door poking
her head in.  she informed me the harbour master had just contacted us for
our GPS location so they could set a course as the launch was about to
leave.

   I suddenly felt uneasy.  The safe world I had been in for the past few
days was about to be interrupted by demanding outsiders.  June came in with
a mug of soup.  Boy how I have grown to love pea and ham soup.  She sat on
the side of the bed with her hand on my knee through the sheet as I sat up
against the headboard sipping the soup.  I grimaced saying.  "I'm not
looking forward to the next week or so."

   She patted my knee squeezing it saying.  "You will have to grin and bear
it.  There are going to be lots of offers coming in for interviews for TV,
magazines possibly books even moves.  I suggest you hire a publicist to
handle your affairs.  There's one on the main island."

   I shook my head saying.  "June you look after it for us.  You have a
business head on your shoulders, I want you to handle it for us.  You know
what is best for the business." She looked a little surprised then nodded
saying.  "Keep it in the family." I nodded agreeing.  Leaning forward
kissing me on the lips she suggested.  "Try and mix with the crew as much
as you can before the launch arrives.

   She winked then went round to Tess shaking her gently calling her until
she woke saying.  "Come on darling one more tablet before the doctor
arrives.  Tess was grumpy and wanted to go to the toilet.  June helped her
as we waited talking to me about the rescue and the search.

   I suddenly sat bolt upright looking wide eyed at June saying.  "I know
why you couldn't find us." I flung the bed sheet back easing out of bed
reaching for my shorts on the cabin floor as I struggled to get them on. 
"It was the water, the fresh water.  We had an extra half ton in the raft.
Bill said he threw a second raft overboard plotting its drift with coils of
rope in it to compensate for our body weight.  June I had taken on half a
ton of fresh water in the storm to keep us alive if you couldn't find us."

   I could see she didn't follow me.  "June it slowed our drift." Then her
eyes brightened with understanding.  I made my way to the cabin door as the
Mary Dear was rolling a little heavy as she worked her way north at an
angle into the swell.  June caught me as I stumbled helping me out the door
to the aft stairs.  I climbed the stairs into the cockpit where the skipper
was seated working with a sheet of paper on a clip board.

   I sat beside him after clinging to the helmsman as I passed behind him.
He looked up grinning glad to see me on deck.  "You look a lot better." He
remarked.  I grinned at him nodding.  "Haven't got my sea legs though." He
laughed as I interrupted him.  "Skipper I know why you couldn't find us."
Bill looked funny as if I had seen a flaw in his search pattern then
puzzled.  I smiled telling him as he was waiting.  "I took on half a ton of
fresh water the second day in the storm."

   I saw the light of understanding in his eyes as he nodded.  "Yes that
would slow the drift all right.  She would ride better with that weight." I
grinned, Bill was ever the seaman.

   The extension speaker in the cockpit burst into life.  "Mary Dear, Mary
Dear, this is the customs launch 'Ethel', respond...  Over." The skipper
took off below to answer the call.  They were wanting to compare current
GPS locations so course adjustments could be made to bring each vessel
within visual range.

   I made my way along the port or lee side.  I had spotted Ben on duty in
the bow.  I had frequent stops to talk and shake a hand or have a cuddle
getting a kiss here and there as I made my way up to Ben.  I shook his hand
warmly then we bear hugged each other.  I had tears in my eyes as I thanked
him for his dedication and sharp eyes.  I spent an hour sitting on the
forward cabin roof.  I think most of the crew were on deck now excited to
see the first sign of the customs launch.

   Ben helped me back to the cabin through the forward hatch.  I lay on top
of the bed dressed cuddling Tess.  I was dreading the call that the launch
was sighted which to soon came from the masthead.  I reluctantly eased away
from Tess slipping on my sand shoes making my way up on deck.

   I came out on deck to see the white launch about a mile off heading in
at a fair clip with a real bone in her teeth as she rose and fell in the
broaching swell as the skipper pushed the launch to it's limit in the swell
heading well to port of us.  Then when he was parallel turned in towards
heading for our stern to round it to come up on our lee or port side.



   The skipper was organising the fenders and scrambling net over the port
side beam as the crew prepared to slacken sail.  I heard the diesel engine
start when the launch was a few hundred yards out, the skipper ordered the
Mary Deer into the wind as the diesel engine sped up to hold steerage way
as she came round.

   The launch was coming round within hailing distance then made a turn in
towards our side.  The helmsman edging in closer as the bowman heaved a
line with a Turks head knot aboard to be grasped by a crew member on deck
then hauling the bow line aboard, taking it forward around the mainmast
stays as the launch moved forward against our fendered hull as the crew
passed it through the port midships fair lead slipping the end loop over
the bollard, signalling the launch it was secure.

   I was standing by the gunnel holding onto one of the mainmast stays. 
The big launch was chock a block with people.  Some were hanging over the
stern heaving their breakfast into the sea.  There were cameras everywhere.
I could hardly see a face for cameras.

   I immediately picked out Mum and Dad sitting in the half cabin of the
launch out of the weather.  As the launch was being made fast at our
midsection as the helmsman steered so the launch was just kept in the Mary
Dear's lee.  A large case was handed up to those on the scrambling net from
the launch with a big red cross on the lid, followed by a man in casual
clothes I was to learn was the doctor, being ushered straight below by June
after the skipper shook his hand.

   Dad was next up over the side, leaning back down along with the skipper
together hauling up what I thought would be mum but when her head appeared
over the gunnel to my surprise it was Tess.  I did a double take.  How the
hell did Tess get in the launch as my heart beat faster?  She stood there
looking around bewildered.  As mum came over the gunnel I realised it was
Tess' mother as Dad spotted me pointing me out to mum as she was now
standing on the deck.

   Mum made a beeline towards me then engulfed me in a tear jerking hug as
both of us cried.  I don't know how long it lasted but I heard Tess' mums
voice say.  "Come on Beth, let me have a go at him." Mum reluctantly let me
go as I suddenly had an older version of Tess in my arms with her pelvic
bone pressing hard against mine as her arms, one over my shoulder round my
neck with the other under my other arm down over my bum grasping firmly. 
Her lips were full on glued to mine as her tongue was pushing into my
mouth. All I could do was hang on as I heard the crew around us whistle and
cheer.

   I was beetroot red when she eased away saying.  "That's for saving my
Tess." She moved aside so dad could give me a bear hug then shook my hand
without saying a word.  I could see the misty eyes as I realised both mum
and dad looked haggard.  The skipper was standing by the gunnel grinning
his head off further adding to my embarrassment as his eye brows raised and
lowered a couple of times.

   He looked around.  "Cast off." He bellowed forward then looked down to
the launch as all the boxes of food and gas cylinder were now aboard,
having been raised aboard with the foremast boom and block and tackle in a
cargo net.  "Stand Off pilot, wait word from the doctor." I heard him
bellow then add.  "A press conference will be held immediately after we
dock.  Thank you gentlemen." He had politely refused permission for the
press and hangers-on to come board.

   He bellowed orders as the crew scurried to their stations to set the
sails.  As Tess' mum and my mum steadied me, arm in arm as we were ushered
to sit in the cockpit out of the way.  The diesel engine died as the Mary
Dear picked up way as the helmsman eased her to port to catch the wind to
continue on the port tack as the Ethel cleared our bow turning north east
to ride the swell as she headed home as we followed.

   I was busy answering questions with the three parents.  Neither Mom or
Marlene, Tess' mum would let me go as we sat in the cockpit while I related
how we had survived in the raft for so long.

   The skipper was on the wheel so I introduced my parents to him then
Marlene.  I took the opportunity to explain to the three of them, Tess and
I were now officially a couple.  With the news Bill and June had offered
Tess and myself a partnership in another boat they intended to buy if we
brought the boat building business that was for sale next door to theirs.

   My parents looked shocked when I indicated I was keen on the idea.  I
was explaining I could sell my flat for the deposit when June stuck her
head round the corner from the stairs calling Marlene down into the cabin.
The doctor must be finished with Tess.

   Bill was explaining to my parents they would have no problems with
accommodation from now on.  They would remain tied up at the big island
till tomorrow or the next day to see how Tess and myself were fairing. 
They would then sail for their smaller home island which was two days easy
sailing south south east of the main island.

   He pointed out there were plenty of beds aboard as they would loose all
but two of the crew tonight.  The charted plane was waiting to take them to
the closet international airport for them to fly home.

   June came up with hot pies and pasties for the four of us with pea and
ham soup.  My father had sailed on and off for most of his life although
never owning a boat of his own he always crewed for friends and
acquaintances being always in demand.  Mum sometimes went along as a
passenger but was never a keen sailor like dad.

   Now we were under way those off watch went below for a meal.  The first
full meal for nearly three days.

   I was called below to the cabin.  June ushered me into their cabin where
I saw Tess sitting up in bed with Marlene sitting on the bed near her knees
facing her, hanging onto her hand.  Tess had a drip in her arm with the
pouch of clear liquid hanging from a hook on the beam above.

   There was no headroom in the cabin so the doctor examined me while I lay
or sat on the bed after he introduced himself.  Tess was talking to her mum
while the doctor checked my heart and lungs then my blood pressure.  He
finally pronounced me fit considering my ordeal.  I was informed I would be
spending the night in hospital for observation.  He explained with a wry
smile, how else was he going to make a living as everyone was so fit in the
islands.

   He explained Tess of course with her concussion would spend a week or
more in hospital while she was having headaches.  Concussion patients were
monitored very closely as the affects could last longer than imagined.

   The launch was waved away as the doctor was staying aboard after we went
up into the cockpit sitting on the padded seats leaving Tess as she went to
sleep with the medication the doctor had given her in the drip.

   The launch was pulling away heading back.  The crew were sitting around
talking on deck as there was little to do.  My dad was on the helm now in
his element as Bill was talking to him and mum.

   The main island peak came into sight slowly marching up over the horizon
now two hours away.  The skipper gathered the crew together around him on
the stern announcing.  "Ladies and gentlemen.  How about we put on a show
for the press and the islanders.  We go into the harbour under full sail."
There were grins and nods from the crew.  We had sailed the cruse with just
the main sails so the work load on the crew being minimal.

   Twice in the third week for eight hours in daylight with the following
wind we had raised the three topsails namely the Fore Gaff Topsail, Main
Topmast Stay Sail and the Main Gaff Topsail.

   The crew went to work bringing up the sails from the locker, sorting the
rigging lines.  Half an hour later we were under full sail healing over. 
The skipper had tacked immediately to starboard so when the sails were set
they would be on the starboard tack which would take us directly to the
harbour entrance without tacking again.

   Set with all the sail she could carry the Mary Dear picked up her skirt
and flew.  The log indicating twelve knots, she was a schooner and
schooned, skipping from wave to wave it seemed.  Something to make any
sailors heart race.

   She must have looked magnificent as we turned in through the reef. 
Close to the port buoy at an acute starboard angle, healing over further as
the skipper adjusted the course into the northern side of the harbour.  We
could see the little harbour wharf was vacant of shipping but packed with
people as the Mary Dear healed around to port as the sails began dropping a
few hundred yards out.  The fore-stay sail was the last as the skipper used
it to swing the boat around harder then pointed his finger to drop the
sail.

   He pointed at some of the crew without a spoken order as the half a
dozen fenders went over the side as he slewed the stern further round as
she was slowing fast with her resistive keel mass.  Those on the dock
nervously moved back as a line snaked out to be caught by a harbour
employee with the eye being placed over the bollard as the skipper spun the
wheel to starboard to line the Mary Dear up with the dock as the spring
line took the weight as our two crew men let the line feed out around the
large mid waist bollard as the Mary Dear slowed to almost a stop then
drifted gently the few remaining feet in against the jetty on the spring as
the bow and stern lines went out.

   Someone up on the bow (probably Ben) started clapping which was taken up
by the crew then the people ashore.  June popped her head up from the aft
hatch coming up on deck she held Bills arm as she stretched up kissing him
on the cheek whispering.  "Show off." He laughed then went to organise the
packing away of the topsails and furling and bagged of the mainsails.

   The ambulance turned up at the end of the pier driving down beside us.
The skipper stopped all work, ordered the crew ashore for a photo session.
June organised the crew in height back to front with the front row
kneeling. The public had made room for them in front of the Mary Dear.  My
parents were on deck with Marlene holding arms behind us as Tess was half
carried down the gangplank to be placed beside me as I held her as we knelt
for the photos next to the skipper and June on either side.

   The doctor ordered us into the ambulance as the ambulance attendants
brought up the stretcher for Tess.  I held her hand as we went towards the
Ambulance as first the crew then, the public clapped.  I waved to the crew
having a sense of disappointment as we walked away with mum, dad and
Marlene following.

   I was ushered into the ambulance with Tess and the doctor.  I sat beside
the doctor on the short trip to the hospital one block away.  I could see
out the back window our parent following on foot.

   Typical hospitals, we spent the afternoon twiddling our thumbs in
outpatients.  Tess was taken up to the woman's ward first then I was seen
to.  I eventually said good bye to mum and dad when I was wheeled up to the
men's ward for the night.

   Back at the boat after we left, the crew packed up as June provided them
with an early supper as their plane was waiting.  There were hasty goodbyes
as June and the skipper shook the hands of every member thanking them for
their extra ordinary effort.  The message was they would be in touch
regularly either by text message or email as to the progress of Tess and
how the plans were progressing for next year.

   The airline had sent the only two mini buses on the island to transport
the crew to the airport located clear round the other side.  We were
informed later the airline had put the word out to honour the tickets of
their passengers which we understand did without exception.

   With the crew gone the remaining members had a quite night after the
crowd dispersed.

   The press conference was held on the jetty beside the Mary Dear
immediately after we left in the ambulance.  The skipper toning down the
fact that at the time there was a crew member on deck against orders
without a life line.

   He played up Adam's heroism going in after Tess to get her unconscious
form into the life raft in a raging force eight gale when they went over,
dropping back to force six by midnight.

   He also explained how he had thrown a second life raft overboard with
the equivalent weight in coiled rope to the pairs body weight.  Plotting
its drift for a day and a half then going searching for the missing pair
based on those figures for the next ten days tacking back and forth across
the projected track with no results.

   He explained how they had rationed their food aboard the Mary Dear
almost immediately to half rations then quarter rations when the pair were
not found to stay out as long as possible.  Explaining how they were
finally forced to return as they were almost out of food and water, still
zigzagging back across the raft's projected course still searching when
they spotted the raft with the occupants still alive after thirteen days.

   The skipper explained how his drift calculation were completely
incorrect because he hadn't accounted for Adam's survival instincts to take
on board during the storm half a ton of fresh water till the broaching
whales damaged the raft bottom.  That water had indeed saved their lives.
As they were unable to catch many fish being on their last days when
finally found.

   The skipper emphasised the fact the whole crew refused to abandon their
ship mates staying out searching as long as was humanly possible.  The
press were agog with the story as the press conference lasted twice as long
as expected.  June was handing out company business cards to anyone who
would take one.  Making it quite clear that the company had been empowered
to represent both Tess and Adam.

   Adam was put into a four bed ward with two other patients.  One, a very
old man waiting for God with a middle aged man next to Adam with a broken
leg as he was in traction.  The nurses were nice leaving him alone after he
decided what he wanted for dinner.  Then went for a shower and shave.  He
had only shaved once aboard the Mary Dear, where June had shaved him.

   He struck up a conversation with the middle aged man finding out the
layout of the hospital so he knew where Tess would be on the first floor
down the passage when he looked for her.

   His ward companion was happy to have someone to talk to.  Adam found the
time flew as he had to explain his thirteen days lost at sea in a rubber
raft.  It was almost visiting hours before his companion was satisfied he
knew all Adam's exciting survival tail.  The nurses were in and out taking
his pulse and blood pressure regularly as he was under observation.

   Visiting hours rolled round as his Dad and Mum appeared in the doorway
with Marlene.  She threw herself on him giving Adam an embarrassing kiss in
front of his parents then went off to find Tess as his parents settled down
to visit.

   They filled him in on what went on after they left the Mary Dear as they
had gone back after he and Tess had been taken to the wards.  The crowd on
the pier had dissipated when the crew had left on the buses for the
airport. They had informed Adam they had moved aboard the Mary Dear at the
invitation of Bill and June.

   The plan was as soon as Adam was released they would sail for their
island after stocking up with supplies first thing.  They were discussing
how they had been invited to stay with June and Bill as long as they wished
on the island when the pair walked in.

   They were all smiles as Bill shook Adam's hand warmly as June kissed
Adam unashamedly as Marlene had done.  Adam was embarrassed at the
attention he was getting from the women.  He could see his dad smiling as
his mum was a little taken aback.

   When things settled they discussed their immediate plans for the future.
Bill and June would wait for Adam to be released.  Tess' mum would stay as
they would sail tomorrow so the two native crew members could get back to
their families on the island.

   Before visiting hours were over the five went upstairs to find Tess. 
Adam smiled at her as he sat beside her holding her hand.  She had a drip
in her arm as he sat opposite her mum with the others crowed round.  Tess
was happy to see everyone but was sleepy, soon nodding off.  They had her
drugged heavily as she still had headaches.  The doctor had been happy with
her progress they were informed.

   They discussed their immediate plans with Marlene then left as Adam and
Marlene staying with Tess.  Her mum would stay by her side till Tess was
released, then fly back to the island with her.  Both Bill and June had
assured everyone there was plenty of accommodation as there were two empty
houses with the boat business next door they had the keys and access.

   They were booked for another cruse with the Mary Dear in just over four
weeks.  Having spent an extra week at sea they were behind on their
maintenance.  June had mentioned they intended to advertise in the sailing
magazines vigorously to follow up on the articles of Adam and Tess'
survival.

   Adam and Marlene talked quietly about their future together.  Her mum
had been surprised when Tess had informed her she intended to stay with
Adam on the island changing her life style so soon after the loss of Josh.
Adam explained how they had fallen in love on the cruse.  Tess and himself
had been drawn together and Tess had explained that their respective
deceased partners were in heaven together plotting to get Tess and Adam
together coming up with the raft idea between them.

   Marlene had smiled nodding as tears filled her eyes at their near loss
at sea as she held Adam's hand across the bed nodding understanding.

   Adam walked Marlene out after visiting hours to the front door arm in
arm.  There was another hug with a passionate kiss for him as she left for
the night, with the promise of seeing him tomorrow morning if he was
released.  Marlene headed for the Mary Dear.  Adam smiled as he watched her
walk away then went back to bed.

   As predicted, Adam was released late the next morning by the doctor.  He
found his parents with Marlene in the hospital foyer waiting.  They headed
straight to the Mary Dear where Bill and June were loading supplies aboard
with the two crew members.  Bill had had his meeting with the harbour
master submitting his report concerning the accident and subsequent search.
They would sail directly after visiting hours this afternoon.

   Tess was awake when Adam and her mum walked in, arm in arm.  She smiled
as her mum winked at her.  They sat either side holding her hands as both
kissed her.  Tess was eager for news disappointed when she learnt the Mary
Dear was sailing directly so this was the last she would see of Adam for
some time.  He promised he would come to collect his girls in a week or so
when she was released.

   The doctor had been pleased with her progress when he saw her this
morning informing them smiling but added he would not release her till her
headaches had cleared up with her strength returned.

   Bill and June turned up with Adam's parents shortly after to say
goodbye. It was a teary farewell as Tess hung from Adam's neck reluctant to
part from him as she whispered her love for him in his ear.

   The Mary Dear sailed an hour later.  There was only Marlene to see them
sail with a few locals fishing from the wharf side.  They were well out of
the harbour heading out through the buoys on the reef when they came about
to south into the wind as the crew raised the main sails with the engine
now shut down.

   Everyone was busy as Adam had the wheel at Bill's insistence with the
remainder pulling on the sheet lines, his mum and June included.  Their
island was south south east of the main island so they would remain on the
present tack through the night as Bill and the crew went below to sleep as
each was doing a double shift.

   Adam stayed on the wheel till midnight when Bill would take over.  His
dad would do the morning watches then Adam would do the afternoon watches.
Bill had plotted the course for Adam with instructions to steer closer if
he could when the wind permitted then minimum amount of tacking for the
trip would be required.

   Adam was the only one on deck when his mother came up to keep him
company.  She had been impressed with Tess, subscribing to her theory that
their respective partners were in heaven together plotting the lives of
Adam and Tess together.  They laughed at the idea, then Adam confessed. 
"Mum, when I saw her go over the side I wanted to be with her alive or
dead." His mum smiled nodding saying.  "I can see." Adam smiled.

   His father poked his head up through the cabin hatchway shortly after
sitting with them for a while.  He had had a little sleep staying till he
felt tired again.  They spoke of the future as Adam explained the offer
again, he and Tess had a partnership with Bill and June.  With a second
smaller boat involved and the condition he get his masters certificate plus
purchase the boat yard next door to Bill and June's business.

   Originally his father had wanted Adam to come into his white goods
retail business with him but Adam had rebelled right from when he left
school making his own way becoming a design draughtsman.  He wanted to
build things so his younger brother Robert went in with his dad making him
happy.

   When Adam explained the price for the boat yard was equal to the price
of a house in the city his father picked up his ears.  Adam described the
boat yard with the slip and large shed with two small board and batten
sided houses with all round fly screen porches.  Adam had not taken a lot
of notice when he boarded the Mary Dear but had a good look at the slip and
shed as they backed away from the jetty when they had sailed.

   His dad went below again as his mum stayed with him.  June came up with
a mug of pea and ham soup.  Adam smiled as he tasted the welcome broth.

   He thought of Tess going quite as the two women talked among themselves.
He missed her terribly.  The way she held him, the way she had of including
him in her life.  The way she squeezed him inside like no other women had.
He shook his head.  That was enough of that as he began to stretch his
shorts.

   He steered closer watching the sails from the back light from the
navigation riding lights on each side beam stays, as the wind had changed a
point or two south of east.  The Mary Dear healed a little more as he
smiled.  They were doing well, making good time with six knots into the
slow easterly swell.

   His mother kissed him goodnight going below.  When she was out of sight
June hugged him putting her arms around him kissing him passionately
feeling with her hand around his fast rising erection as she squeezed it
tightly.  "Goodnight lover." she whispered then went below giggling.

   He smiled shaking his head.  His life was full.  There were tears in his
eyes as he smiled looking up.  "Thank you Andrea." He whispered.

   Bill, his relief, was on deck before midnight.  They talked for a while
after Bill had gone round the rigging checking every line and stay with his
experienced eye and hand taking over as Adam went below.  The two crew
members had claimed the forward cabin, his mum and dad were in the port mid
cabin so Adam climbed into the bottom rear bunk of the main cabin going to
sleep.

   It was daylight when he woke.  June was there in the galley preparing
loaves of bread for baking.  He got up dressing then sat down at the table
as she came round with his porridge kissing his ear as she lent over him.
He squeezed her hand on his shoulder as she went off humming to finish the
bread.

   He took his porridge up to talk with his dad on the wheel while he ate.
He could see immediately there was a blip on the horizon on the radar
repeater screen coming up behind them.  His father was steering fine.  Adam
took the binoculars training it on the spot.  The morning mist was
obscuring whatever was out there about ten nautical miles almost directly
astern.

   The wind was getting up, he knew they would ease the sails shortly as
the sun was an hour above the horizon heating the Earth's surface.  It was
going to be another tropical day.  An hour later the blip had turned into
the island coastal freighter, heading on an almost identical coarse coming
up on their port side.

   June explained when she looked seeing it was their island supply
freighter having left after them, doing the rounds once a month supplying
the islands in the chain with fuel, food and stores.  Everyone came up on
deck as the freighter came along side a couple of hundred yards out.  The
siren sounded on the freighter as she passed.  Bill waved from the stern
standing against the rail.

   June commented.  "There will be a beer or two flowing in the club
tonight." She laughed then went below.  Bill smiled nodding as the siren
sounded again.  He looked at the visitors explaining.  "We don't have a pub
on the island but the locals have a club.  By the time we get there she
will be unloaded."

   He, added laughing explaining.  They load the beer in the bottom so the
islanders have to unload it all to get at the beer." They all thought it
funny if not practicable.

   Sure enough just before noon the next day when the Mary Deer motored
into their lagoon harbour, the freighter was leaving.  The barge they used
to unload into was against the dock on the other side of the bay as bill
explained the lagoon was too shallow for the freighter to come right
alongside.  Their private dock was on the other end of their little lagoon
to their location, isolated away from the islands native community.

   Bill brought the Mary Dear alongside as the crew tied up.  The crews
family were there to meet them as Bill waved them off leaving themselves to
organise things.  June went to the office to open up checking the messages.
She put the kettle on so by the time they got their gear ashore there was a
drink and sandwiches.

   Adam phoned Tess' mum to inform her of their safe arrival.  She would
see Tess in a couple of hours passing his message.  They spent the
afternoon unloading the supplies, storing them in their store ashore.

   That evening after supper Bill gave them a tour of the boat yard opening
up the large shed.  The light was fading but could plainly see there was
the skeletal rib structure of a large boat in the steel cradle dominating
the shed as they entered.  The pair were to learn it was the frame of a
schooner identical to the Mary Dear.  He pointed out near all the timber
for the hull was in storage in the smaller shed out the back seasoning.

   The owner had hired a shipwright to do the work, after an argument
between the two the shipwright walked out.  The owner being too old and ill
to do the job himself left the island to live with a relative.  Bill smiled
adding, Adam would be purchasing the frame of the boat as part of the
business.

   He then showed them the houses where they would be staying.  This one
was furnished to a point where they could live with a table and chairs even
a lounge sweet and two double beds and a single in the three bedrooms. 
There was a bath/shower with a chip heater for hot water from two large
concrete fresh water tanks out the back.

   The power would be supplied by a lead from Bills small portable
emergency generator as the mains power had been disconnected when the owner
left.  In the meantime there were candles in the cupboard with plenty of
empty beer bottles outside for bases.

   There was a windmill with a well, he explained, up on the hillside on
the back of the property with a large concrete fresh water header tank
beside it which serviced both their properties.  Being the source of the
water they had been drinking aboard the Mary Dear.

   They went back next door for their gear going back to set up before it
was too dark.  June was cooking what she does best, a stew for supper.  She
had called their local butcher for fresh meat as soon as they had arrived
being delivered while they were in the boat shed.

   Over supper Bill explained the islands power and phone came from the
main island in undersea cables.  Being less costly than running generators
here on the island, explaining the island had an emergency generator. 
There was a new phone tower going in shortly so their mobile phones would
work on the island but only a single tower.

   After supper Adam with his parents retired for the night.  They had fun
collecting wood by candle light for a hot shower in the bath.

   They rose late when June knocked on the door telling them breakfast was
ready.  Fifteen minutes later they were eating as June fussed over them. 
The men then going off to help Bill on the boat as he began maintenance
with preparations for the next voyage.  He was flushing the water tanks as
he had taken on water while beside the jetty on the main island, now
flushing the remainder out.

   He intended to wash and scrub the cabin floors as half the crew had been
sea sick in the gale, not being thoroughly cleaned up.  He had the grates
up flushing what they hadn't cleaned up into the bilge where the pump was
discharging overboard.  The three men worked their way through the boat. 
Adam being assigned the hose.

   After lunch with the hatches open to dry out, with the foam mattresses
lined up on deck then washed down being left to dry in the afternoon
breeze.

   Bill decided to leave the repairs to the heavy set of sails as they were
not too bad till after the next trip, saving three or so days work for the
two employed men.  There was a sea anchor to be fabricated as the last one
was lost at sea along with a hundred feet of two and a half inch Manila
towing line.  The paid crew when they returned to work the week after next
would fabricate one out of the heavy canvas they had in the sail loft.

   Supper that night was a baked dinner.  The men were being pampered as
June explained Adam needing building up for when Tess and her mother
arrived.  They all laughed at Adam's expense as June winked slyly at him.
He caught her meaning, smiled inwardly as he blushed redder.

   The women had spent the first half of the day cleaning through the
house. The floors like the boat were swept then mopped.  It had been a
couple of years since it had been occupied.  June had organised the local
electrician/linesman to test then connect the house back onto the grid in
their name on a temporary basis.

   Adam had made up his mind to purchase the property with his dads and
mums approval.  With a partly constructed hull in the shed with the
materials paid for it was a real bargain he proclaimed.  He was on the
phone to Tess at the very moment.  Visiting hours had just started, Marlene
taking her phone into the hospital, sitting it on Tess' belly so as soon as
it vibrated she answered.

   Adam was in the office, using the phone.  He nearly cried when he heard
her voice.  Tess was crying as she curled up in the bed away from the door
with the phone on her pillow ear as her mum sat on that side keeping watch
on the door.

   There was no need as the nurses laid low during visiting hours as Tess
listened to Adam describe the house, furniture and fittings, explaining the
power would be back on in a few days after the local electrician checked
everything out.

   He described the boat in the shed, being identical in size to the Mary
Dear.  She laughed when he told her they were picking on him about her and
her mum.

   She laughed which he was pleased to hear as she had laughed little due
to her headaches.  rHe was pleased she was showing signs of recovery.  He
spoke briefly to Marlene then they hung up.

   Adam reported to the others Tess was sounding better as she actually
laughed tonight when he told her they were picking on him about her and her
mum.  There were smiles of pleasure.

   The men got into a huddle about the boat in the shed as the women washed
up.  Adam's dad was dead keen on finish the boat, firing questions at Bill
about mast and rigging cost suggesting Bill and June put their money into
the 'Sweet Mary' (he had named her already) than buy the ketch they had
their eye on?

   They went on and on till the girls went to bed as June walked Beth home.
It was after midnight when the boys retired.  There was a continuation over
breakfast the next morning which almost stretched into morning tea.  Then
they were down in the boat shed and didn't surface till June called them
for lunch.

   The boys went to work on the Mary Dear as the discussions continued till
Bill confessed he would rather have two identical boats for their business
as the Mary Dear was reasonably profitable under the present operating
conditions.

   Adam rang Tess every night during visiting hours.  Tess was slowly
getting better.  The doctor was happy with her progress indicating another
week after the first as the headaches had only just cleared.  Adam informed
her they had power on at the house now with his mother and June fixing it
up for her homecoming.  They had booked for a flight for her as he would
come to escort them home.

   Their island being almost two hundred nautical miles south south east of
the main island, the flight would take a little over an hour and a half. 
The doctor being worried about pressure change on Tess' brain the pilot
would fly below five hundred feet.

   The men worked on the Mary Dear preparing her for the next voyage. 
After the gale every inch of the rigging was to be inspected, pulley blocks
to be service with every rope inspected from end to end.  Adam and his
father become splicing and rope whipping experts.  The lines associated
directly with the sails were inspected being replaced if there was a wear
mark or end for ended if it wasn't too bad.

   Two weeks after they arrived back on the island, being a week before the
Mary Dear was due to sail.  June on a pretense of doing a job summoned Adam
up into the sail loft where she cornered him kissing him passionately as
she pulled his shorts down laying back on an old sail hiking up her dress,
opening her legs to revel no panties as she guided him in as he laid down
on her.  Adam being deprived for the last three weeks went to town.

   June was not the oldest women I had been with, being surprised at her
vigor and comfort.  Finding her sensitive being responsive to him
surprising them both.  June climaxed a number of times before Adam.  June
had raised her legs up against her chest so her lower body was higher
holding Adam's sperm in her vagina around her cervix entrance.

   After their climaxes June held him there even after he had shrunk.  Adam
was in a hands and knees position over June, a position he was to become
familiar with.  June would hold him there sealing her vagina with his
penis. They would kiss and talk till June cramped then lay side by side
together.

   The office phone in the past weeks was ever increasing in the number of
calls from media.  Yesterday a documentary company wanted to hire the Mary
Dear for a month to re-enact the storm plus the subsequent search for the
missing crew members.  June had organised the event for the same time next
year where she informed the company the original crew would be available
for the re-enactment.

   Rubbing her hands together she sought out the men to inform them of the
order.  The crew would be paid for as well as their air fares, all they had
to do was turn up on the island.  June had emailed and text every member of
that crew to inform them of the development and their good fortune.  Within
the week all but one had replied to the affirmative of a month's holiday
paid for on the Mary Dear.  All they had to do was be themselves.

   Finally it was time to go collect Tess.  Adam was on edge as June got
him into the sail loft the afternoon before.  "You'll drain me dry." He
complained as she giggled after his second climax as he knelt over her
compressed form still plugged into her.  They were kissing gently as Adam
found she liked that staying in that position till June had had enough.  He
left her laying on her back full of sperm with her feet up on a chair as
she smiled dozing off.

   Tomorrow Adam would fly back with the mail plane on the regular return
run to the main island.  He would stay with Marlene that night after
visiting with Tess.  The three would fly back on the mail plane tomorrow
morning after Tess was discharged.

   Adam walk around to the main village where he caught the mail scooter
out to the airstrip on the west side of the island in the lee of their
little mountain.

   The mail plane was on time on it's way back which was a little five
seater high winged single engine aircraft.  The same aircraft he originally
flew from the main island in.  Upon finding Adam was one of the survivors
of the Mary Dear incident was treated with friendly enthusiasm by the
pilot.

   The flight went quickly as they talked about life on the islands when
the pilot learnt he and the girl intended staying.  They landed on the main
island to find Marlene waiting for him.  A mini bus trip took them to the
hotel where Marlene had him on the bed smothering him with kisses as they
ripped the clothes from each other.

   When he closed his eyes it felt like Tess squeezing the life out of his
erection as he stroked long and hard to her groans and moans of pleasure.
He remembered the term 'terrible twins' smiling as he pounded her short and
deep how Tess liked it finding her mother no different as she hiccuped
shuddering through her first climax clawing and squeezing him mercilessly.

   Marlene had two climaxes to his one as their sweating bodies slithered
over each other.  Adam was lost in orgasmic pleasure as Marlene squeezed
him tighter as she went into her forth ridged muscle locking climax,
sucking his sperm from him as he heaved into her letting go, feeling her
cervix pressing hard against his head as she screamed feeling his sperm
shoot deep into her womb.

   They lay in each others arms till it was near time to go visit Tess. 
Showered and shaved, Marlene walked him into the hospital.  Tess was their
waiting for them with a relieved smile.  Adam was surprised how well Tess
looked as she held out her arms for him kissing him passionately.  The drip
in her arm was gone.  Tess had brushed her hair putting on a little makeup.
Adam was captivated as she drew him down to her kissing him again.

   When she let him up smiling with tears in his eyes.  "It's been so long
darling I missed you terribly." Adam kissed her gently again as she looked
up at him asking.  "I suppose mother's tried you out." She smiled then
looked at her mother who was grinning raising and lowering her eyebrows
saying to her daughter.  "He certainly knows how to use it." Tess laughed
as Adam blushed.

   Half way through the visit Tess had Adam's hand between her legs as she
lay on her side with her back to the door as her mother sat beside Adam as
lookout while Adam rubbed Tess into a shuddering groaning climax.

   Tess held his hand there till visiting hours were over.  The elderly
native woman in a bed diagonally opposite smiled as she saw Tess' body
shudder as the girl clung to his arm as they kissed.  She smiled to herself
remembering her younger days where she would have a climax at any
opportunity as she went to sleep.

   Too soon visiting hours were over, kissing and hugging Tess goodbye. 
The pair headed for the entrance, arm in arm.  They went for hamburgers
then walked along the wharf where they had docked in the Mary Dear as a few
late night fisherman were trying their luck.

   Back in Marlene's room the pair undressed each other not as urgent as
previous.  This time it was gentle and slow.  Marlene moaning with each
slow full trust as Adam tried to push into her cervix as they climaxed
together.

   Laying on top of the bed exhausted Marlene backed into Adam indicating
where he was to go next.  Slowly but surely he eased his way in little by
little till she sighed being comfortable with his head inside.  Little did
he realise the tiger he had just unleashed as she began squirming her tail
onto him as he manipulated her clitoris.

   Marlene took off in a frenzy of twists and turns as she thrust back on
him driving him in hard as he thrust deep time after time.  He held her
back against his chest to stop her writhing off him.  Somehow she had
turned sideways on the bed as Adam found himself with his feet on the floor
driving into her as hard as he could.

   He had his hand over her mouth as she screamed through a mighty climax
sucking his sperm from him as she shuddered through her third.  He lay on
top of her as they were both half on the bed with the bed now jammed
against the opposite wall.

   Adam held Marlene tightly as her panting body slowly calmed.  "Dam Adam,
that's the best I've ever had." Adam could only hold her beautiful grape
fruit size still firm breasts, kneading and twisting her rock hard nipples.
"Don't" she warned, "I'll go again."

   Adam lent down onto her shoulders as he kissed then breathed into her
ear.  She bucked as he slid his hand down between her legs stroking her
clitoris without mercy.  She reared up as he clamped his free hand over her
mouth as he felt her arch her back shuddering back onto him as he rode her
balls deep down onto the bed as she climaxed again.  This was the best he
had ever had and wanted more.

   Marlene writhed and twisting under him.  He swore he was in deeper as
she bent forcing back harder as he rotated and swiveled his body into hers
as she shuddered again as she slowly drew away then rammed down without
thought of how tender her flesh would be in the morning.

   To Adam Marlene was having one climax after another.  His hand was half
way inside her vagina as he worked her clitoris with his thumb as she
swiveled her crutch onto his hand.  He was half cupping his fingers around
his shaft inside as he drove in and out then as she shuddered again he
spurted just as hard as the first time as they collapsed on the bed.

   Slowly Adam eased out then his hand as she groaned.  He cupped her groin
pressing his fingers flat against her vulva as she placed her small hand
over his pressing harder as she calmed down.  "Dam Adam it almost went
right in." She shuddered at the thought adding.  "Boy am I going to be sore
in the morning."

   He lifted her gently then slid the bed back into position laying Marlene
down then lay beside her holding her in his arms.  She was asleep as he
held her to him.  Yes he would do the same for her, was his last thought as
he went to sleep.

   The next morning as predicted Marlene was sore having trouble moving her
aching and tender body.  Their first call was at the chemist for soothing
cream for her vagina which she put on in the toilet in the hospital while
they processed Tess.

   Waiting in the foyer for her then they caught a taxi van to the airport
where the mail plane was waiting.  Adam made sure Marlene sat in the front
seat beside the pilot which was the softer of the seats.  As Tess kept up a
conversation with Adam and her mum about the house and what it needed.

   An hour and a half later they landed on the island.  Bill and June were
there to greet them.  They had hired the only two scooter type three
wheeled flat bed vehicles, as the horse and dray being on the other side of
the island.

   Sitting on the back of the scooter trays they were delivered to their
base with their luggage.  Tess was put to bed while the women fussed.  Tess
went to sleep.  Adam showed Marlene around their little empire with his
mother, explaining how things worked.

   Lunch was late and long as they talked.  The three men went off to the
Mary Dear to work on the preparations for next week when the next voyage
would commence.  Adam was to go as a hired crew member.  Tess and her mum
would settle in while Adam's parents were due to fly back home to look
after their business.  They would come back next year for a holiday when
the crew were due, to help June with them plus the film crew.

   After supper Adam went to bed early with Tess.  Marlene was sleeping on
the bed out on the porch after Adam and his dad repaired the mosquito
netting.  Tess curled up into Adam as he cuddled her to him with his hands
cupping her breasts with his erection pressing against her vulva till she
wiggled centering it then he slowly slid into her.

   Tess began squeezing his head until he began pushing then pulling as it
went deeper and deeper till he was solidly home as Tess sighed.  The doctor
had emphasised that she was not to raise her blood pressure.  Tess smiled
as she ignored his advice squeezing her muscles hearing Adam grunt with
excitement.  She had laughed when her mum had told her about their
lovemaking last night.

   "I wore him out for you." she stated.  Tess laughed as her mum was the
one groaning when she moved.  Adam must have been tender but gave her a
nice smooth climax with him then went to sleep.  Adam smiled as Tess lay in
his arms deciding he had the best of both worlds.



   Adam was busy with Bill and his dad on the boat all day.  They replaced
the gas bottles for the next voyage.  The diesel tank was low being filled
from drums with a hand pump.

   The jetty had a little railway flat top trolley for carting goods from
their store beside the office out to the boat on tracks made with water
pipe.  From there the goods were manhandled aboard or lifted with the boom
using it as a crane.

   There was two days to go before the paying crew were due.  Two arrived
on the mail plane the day before.  That night Marlene crept into Adam and
Tess' bedroom to lay with Adam as he held his hand over her mouth as she
climaxed with him.  The three spending the night.  Adam woke to find her
mum had gone finding her in the kitchen preparing breakfast.  They kissed
passionately then parted as they heard his parent's bedroom door open.

   The main group arrived on the chartered flight using the bigger plane
with four on the mail plane.  The usual routine with June baking bread with
the two mothers helping before they sailed.  Bill armed with his list,
sorted the new crew into watches and pairs.  A skill he was long practiced.

   He gave them the lecture about slacking off and his number nines, not
tolerating insubordination and how he was God on board then the sex talk.
So everyone knew their place.  He then introduced the paid crew of which
there were three on this trip, who along with himself would do the majority
of helm work or in charge of sailing parties.

   He introduced Adam last, explaining Adam was still recovering from his
little thirteen day jaunt in the rubber raft from their last trip which
they may have read or heard about.  Tess his companion, unfortunately, is
still recovering from her concussion, not being aboard this trip.

   He then gave them a rundown on their time table and trip which would
cross over to the west side of the islands chain well clear of any land on
the second or down wind leg.

   He went on to emphasis safety, ticking off with his fingers about
wearing their safety vests on deck when it was rough and safety harnesses
would be worn in rough weather when safety lines were rigged.  The day
after tomorrow he reminded them they would sail when the final two arrived
that had missed their connection.  This trip they were one short due to one
of the couples having broken up.

   They were sent below to find and stow their gear in their bunk lockers.
Some of the crew sought Adam to ask him about his survival in the raft,
soon there was a large number standing around on the deck listening as he
answered their questions.

   June turned up with Marlene and his mother carrying a large stock pot of
pea and ham soup with a second large stock pot of stew for supper.  Bill
organised a few who were not huddled to help carry the supplies aboard. 
Adam's father was pushing the hand trolley stacked with stores.  June
organised thecanned food, bags of powdered potato aboard being installed in
the galley or in a pantry locker beside their cabin on the starboard side.

   While the crew were eating supper in shifts, Bill sat talking with them
making them feel at home by telling stories.  Of course the inevitable
question came up about the search with the skipper answering the question
then pointed out they never leave anyone behind no matter how long it takes
to find them.

   This drew laughs but Bill described the tenacity of the last crew in
their search to find their missing ship mates.  How they had run out of
food before heading back, finding the raft following in their wake. 
Describing how Adam had half filled the raft with fresh water to survive on
which had slowed the raft's expected drift rate.

   The crew settled in for the night as Adam went home to Tess when Bill
and June said good night.  Tess was asleep when he arrived sitting down
with his dad and mum as Marlene made a drink.  His dad and mum were waiting
for confirmation of their flight back home.  They would be with Tess and
Marlene for two or three days after the Mary Dear sailed by the looks of
it.

   By the time he got into bed Tess was awake then in his arms.  They would
not see each other for thirty days.  The pair were well into their second
climax when the door quietly opened then closed.  Marlene tiptoed to the
bed sliding in beside them.  It was going to be a long night for Adam.

   Not long after daylight June was aboard the Mary Dear preparing porridge
in the galley for breakfast so the day began.  By eight o'clock the crew
were on deck with Bill as he began going through the rigging with them,
piece by piece, explaining their stations for the different manoeuvres and
how they would not use the top set of sails till the downwind leg for a few
days to make life easier on the crew.

   They spent the morning familiarising themselves with the boat from stem
to stern.  The adrift members turned up on the morning mail plane joining
the crew.  They went through the evolution of raising and lowering the
sails twice.  Practicing tacking using hand signals, familiarising the crew
with their stations while wearing their life vests the second time through.

   That night after supper the cabins were noisy and happy.  They were
sailing in the morning first thing.

   Adam spent as much time as he could with his parents.  He would not see
them for six months till the monsoon season when they didn't sail for
obvious reasons.  They would have a prolonged visit as his dad wished to
have an involvement in building the Sweet Mary.

   The next morning it was bright and clear with a forecast high of twenty
seven degrees with ninety three percent humidity.  The crew were up early
for breakfast before dawn.  June rousing them from their beds as the
morning was so still, with the water glass calm as they had ever seen it
with a clear sunrise for their first day.

   Adam's parents with Tess and Marlene were there to say goodbye as the
Mary Deer backed out from the jetty on the diesel engine.  Then waving till
they were out of sight past the reef where they turned north east The crew
raising the sails as they headed away from the island out into the Pacific
on their first day's starboard tack till they were well clear of the
island.

   The wind was getting up as the sun rose in the sky as the Mary Dear
healed over further.  Adam watched the land slowly disappear over the
horizon at his post as coxswain.  He had the day watch with the skipper
taking the early morning with the experienced hired hand Robbie doing the
evening watch in eight hour shifts each.

   Ashore they watched till the Mary Dear was out of sight then went back
to the house.  Adam's dad heading straight for the boat shed to clean up
and organise the place as he had guaranteed the money for the purchase of
the business till Adam sold the flat he mostly owned with Andrea as she had
willed her possessions to Adam.  Being estranged from her bible thumping
parents since she left home at eighteen.

   His father would organise the sale of his flat for him plus sell the
furniture.  Adam wanted his computer and textbooks sent out as a design
droughts-man would be handy in the boat building industry in the islands.
His first job would be to design a second slipway cradle to carry two
hundred tons to slip the Mary Dear for her byanual bottom clean, undercoat
and paint.

   Bill and June deciding not to invest their money in the smaller ketch,
putting it into building the bigger Schooner in the shed.  Their input
would pay for the masts, rigging, sails and fittings.  If the business kept
improving by the time the hull was ready there would be enough to finish
the fitting with the help of an fordable loan.

   Adam smiled to himself as he steered a little closer.  His life had been
turned around since he first arrived on the island.  He had a family with
Tess and Marlene.  A business arrangement with Bill and June.  Bill whom he
idolised as one of the true seaman of our age.  From the tip of his toes to
the peak of his old battered captains cap, it would be hard to find another
skipper of his caliber anywhere in the Pacific.

   And June, he smiled as he remembered her gut wrenching climax with her
legs locked around his as she shuddered through her first climax with him
as her fingernails left marks down his back.  He hoped she didn't fall
pregnant for a long time as he remembered his intense orgasm as he shot his
potent seed deep into her receptive clamping vagina.

   He smiled again as he looked along the deck seeing most of the crew on
deck sitting or laying back on the forward part of the cabin's roof
sunbathing.  He had found paradise.  Every sailors dream as the Mary Dear
worked her way along her first eleven day leg.

   Bill would begin exercising them tomorrow, tacking to slow their
progress.  They were making seven knots through the water at present.  One
knot faster than the average as he sailed her finer, watching the log ease
half a knot.  The skipper would correct their course after five or six days
as they headed for the north eastern corner way point of the cruse.

   June would come up for a break every couple of hours to sit with him in
the half covered cockpit.  Bill was on deck talking to the crew
demonstrating some piece of gear or splicing for another for the crew
members.  It was almost midday, time for the watch change as the wind was a
little stronger as they eased the sails.  Bill came down to the cabin to
check their progress for the first four hours.  They would tack to north
west in a few minutes as he passed the word among the crew.  The team
captains organising their charges as they waited for the command.

   Adam watched the clock as midday approached then gave the hand signal to
tack as he brought the Mary Dear slowly into the wind.  The crew were
disorganised as he had to swing her back into the wind as the fore stay
sail boom crew sprawled on the cabin roof as they weren't quick enough as
he swung her off onto the wind as the sail snapped taught as the log
pointer began to rise again.  Adam punched the way point button on the GPS
unit as she settled down on her new course.  Two hours they would stay on
that tack before resuming their original course therefore slowing their
overall progress for the day.

   The crew went below for their lunch of bread and jam or cheese with pea
and ham soup.  Adam smiled as he looked forward checking on the crew as
they went back to sunbathing.  They had just logged their first twenty four
nautical miles out of eighteen hundred they would cover by the end of the
cruse.

   June appeared with his lunch having hers with him.  Bill was below
having a nap in the cabin, getting back in the rhythm of sleeping at odd
hours.  Adam was to sneak into the cabin with June while Bill was on his
watch to do his deed.  The impression he got from June was it would not
stop after the deed was done which was all right by him as June as far as
he was concerned was a good guy.

   Tess had been surprised when he told her that Bill and June had wanted
him to be their donor.  She was even more surprised when he told her both
June and Bill wanted it simple, doing it bareback together.

   She had laughed at his dilemma at having three women to service.  After
when they were laying quietly she comment.  "I suppose I shouldn't complain
if Bill wants' to fool around with me if your fooling around with June."
She giggled adding.  "I know, we'll sick Mum onto him." They both laughed.

   Tess cuddled into Adam saying.  "I know you love me and I don't mind."
Adam looked into her eyes saying.  "You know I will always love you no
matter what." She kissed him gently smiling.

   Adam's mum and dad left three days after the Mary Dear.  The two women
then set about making the house livable as they wanted.  Tess was not happy
with the old iron bath and shower combination.  Her first priority when the
property was theirs was to install a proper shower.  She figured she could
live with the rest.

   Everything was electric as their island was the closest to the main
island and the only one with an electricity supply beside the main island.
There was an old generator in the back of the boat shed for running
lighting and power tools.  The shed having never been connected to the
power grid.  They would do this soon, as the generator was expensive to run
in comparison.

   Two hours to the minute, the crew were ready and waiting on deck as Adam
blew his whistle for their attention then a circling motion with his right
hand and finger in a rotating motion indicating they were coming over onto
the starboard tack with his right arm out to resume their original course.
He brought the Mary Dear into the wind slowly holding her till the crew
look finished then let her fall away.  As she came round, the sails snapped
taught healing her further as she begin to accelerate slowly towards six
knots.

   Adam punched the way point button on the GPS then raised his thumb to
the crew as a job well done.  They settled down again working on their tans
as it was twenty six degrees and climbing with clear skies and the glass
rising.  It would have been perfect but for the heavy humidity.

   Bill appeared from below grinning at Adam saying.  "Well done, you
didn't miss me." Adam smiled, he was pleased Bill had stayed below out of
it commenting.  "They did better that time." Bill grinned maliciously
adding.  "Practice makes perfect," he grinned again with a sparkle in his
eye, "tomorrow." He promised.  They were quite for a while as they both
watched the log creeping up towards eight and a half.  "She sails closer
than anything near this size I've sailed before." He commented adding. 
"She's an absolute dream."

   Adam smiled understanding Bill.  Adam had not sailed in anything this
big or slow before.  The biggest yacht he had sailed on was back at the
yacht club.  She was a seventy two foot ocean going maxi racer.  The owner
was a close acquaintance of his fathers who had sailed in most of the great
yacht races around the world having recently returned from the Fastnet
race. The winter before he had taken his yacht and crew down to the Sydney
Hobart picking up a class win with an outright second.

   Adam was a new crew member at the time having recently met Andrea then
went to crew with her on a small yacht owned by her friend's father. 
That's why they had booked on the sailing holiday in the islands, being as
close to pure old fashioned sailing as you could get.  None of the modern
day flashy trash.  He too had felt an affection with the Mary Dear,
understanding Bills feelings.

   They were quite for a while then Adam brought up the subject of being
June's donor.  "Bill I've told Tess what June and I are doing." He looked
at Adam asking.  "How did she take it?" Adam smiled.  "Rather well really.
She laughed at me having so many women to service." Bill laughed then they
were quit for a while then Adam commented.  "Bill, Tess wouldn't mind if
you gave her a bit of slap and tickle now and again."

   He smiled as Bill looked at him then nodded saying.  "I would like
that." He didn't say any more for some time then they discussed aspects of
the structure of their new boat.  Then out of the blue Bill said.  "It
shore would be handy if Tess or her mum could fill in as cook on the boat
when June gets pregnant."

   Adam nodded agreeing.  "That's a good idea, we can install Tess in your
cabin and take turns." They both laughed as Bill added.  "Or Marlene."
Neither laughed.  He patted Adam on the shoulder getting up heading for the
bow where a couple of the male crew members were skylarking.  He sat with
them talking as the crew crowded round him on top of the forward cabin.

   The next day Bill put them through their paces from eight am to six pm
every hour on the hour they tacked from starboard to port then from port
back to starboard.  By the end of the day they were a well oiled machine.
As Bill told them, any skipper would be proud to have them aboard.  As he
told Adam later.  "Flattery goes a long way."

   He was right of course, after that the crew seemed to work well.  He
only worked them half as hard from then on.  They were still making good
time.  The wind was steady and strong.  Once a tack was set the course
rarely needed changing.

   Late on the eleventh day after dinner they turned west onto the down
wind or second leg.  The swell was long and oily as they breasted along
with the wind.  The crew were relaxed as the work was easier.  The breeze
was freshening, the Mary Dear was plunging through the swell.



   Tomorrow he promised them if the condition were right they would cram on
all sails and she will show them how fast she could really go.

   True to his word they did an eight hour run with all sail aloft.  At one
point they reached sixteen and a half knots as they slid down the forward
face of a long following swell.  You could see the excitement in the crews
faces as the Mary Dear surfed along.



   On the downwind leg there was little to do so the crew enjoyed the ride
for six days.  Adam's confidence with the boat grew in leaps and bounds as
the revolutions of trimming the sails and tacking, passed with ease.  The
second day of a speed run did not reach sixteen knots but fifteen point
seven five was close enough.

   Adam was on a high all night after the run as was most of the crew.  He
especially enjoyed June after slipping into the cabin after midnight.  June
was well out of her fertile cycle but they were still trying.

   As Bill had promised the trip was turning into a milk run.  The crew
were happy getting their money's worth.  They passed the spot within a
nautical mile of where Tess had been washed overboard.  They were now three
days into their final leg, heading south east making their way back towards
the island.

   While off watch Adam joined the crew when they were called to trim the
sails or tack.  His strength was returning.  He was missing Tess and
Marline something fierce with their forced separation.

   They were tacking every hour to slow their progress.  Bill was timing
their arrival late in the afternoon while there was still light.  The crew
could then get cleaned up showering with the fresh well water in the
facilities ashore getting themselves ready for their charter flight out the
next morning.

   Finally their island hove into sight on the last day.  The weather was
getting up rough as they sailed into the lee of the island's anchorage. 
Adam could see two figures on the sand spit off the entrance waving.  He
was the lookout in the bow as they sailed into the shelter of the lagoon
through the reef markers with the skipper on the wheel.

   He could see a crowd on their jetty as they came in through the reef as
Bill brought the Mary Dear around in an ark as the sails came down and the
diesel engine took over.  Bill signaled the experienced crew to lower the
fenders and ready the spring line as the Mary Dear glided in to the jetty.
Bill reversed the engine as she slid alongside as the spring went out with
the two crew members easing her to a stop with the spring slipping round
the bollard as she swung in gently against the jetty to a stop.

   Adam could see Tess and Marlene walking along the jetty arm in arm.  He
smiled waving as he threw the bow line out to Robbie's two boys, waiting on
the jetty with their mother to slip the end loop over a pile he indicated.
The Mary Dear was alongside as the diesel engine died as he made fast the
bow line with a half hitch.  The voyage was over.  The crew were clapping
and cheering in their appreciation for the owners.

   Like the two paid crew members, Adam joined his family on the jetty. 
Tess flew into his arms with Marlene a few seconds behind as Adam held his
two teary eyed women in his arms as they kissed and hugged him in return.

   Some of the crew were following June to the office building where the
facilities were in behind where they could shower.  They were carrying the
stock pots to prepare supper for the crew on the electric stove in the
house kitchen.

   Tess was popular as a group sat round talking while they waited for
supper which June and Marlene were preparing.  Bill gave them a tour of the
boat shed before dark showing them the beginnings of the new schooner where
Marlene found them announcing dinner was ready.

   They used the Mary Dear as a dining and bunk room.  They did their
ablutions ashore.  Adam was keen to retire with his women that night.  The
next morning Adam was drained but happy.

   The crew went off to catch the charter flight being ferried on the back
of the two three wheeled scooters in rotation.  The plane was on time to
transport the crew to the main island where they caught the bigger plane to
the closest international airport.



   This time there was time to do the maintenance scheduled on the Mary
Dear.  The heavy set of sails were dragged up to the sail loft for repairs.

   Of an evening the two families ate together planning their future
sitting around Bill and June's kitchen table.  There was much to plan with
the purchase of the boat building yard.  Because of their isolation
planning ahead was essential.  They couldn't just pop across to the main
island for a box of screws.  This was the sort of thing Adam was trained to
do.

   He started out drawing up a spread sheet for the project.  When his
computer arrived he would transfer it across.  They would pour over the
lists for hours rearranging priorities for delivery of materials.

   They had a sherry or two after, discussing June's failure to fall
pregnant.  It was decided Adam would sleep with June over the two weeks
around her fertility cycle so she could be relaxed while bill would sleep
with the girls.  Bill came in for some ragging about the girls playing tag
team wrestling with him.  Bill was happy as the girls sat either side of
him with a hand each on his thighs rubbing gently.

   It was Marlene who decided as they broke up that Bill would have a
practice run that night.  With goodnight kisses to the respective partners
the group separated.

   Adam and June lay quietly in bed in each others arms hearing the
occasional squeal coming from the bedroom of the house next door.  This
encouraged them to have a second before falling asleep.

   Despite the fear and trepidation of mixing partners this arrangement
work with them.  The five turned out to be extremely compatible.  Bill
marveled at how June became placid with a softer nature.  The men got their
heads together in order to keep the women happy.  They would go out of
their way to cuddle and hug them at every opportunity.

   It was handy having a spare woman when the menstrual cycles came round.
Again it relieved the girl for the week.  They took to having a beach
barbecue on Saturday evenings.  There was a little beach on the reef side
of the spit a short walk from the houses.  The men had carried stones to
make a crude fireplace.  They would cart their picnic hamper out then
spread their rugs and spend the evening till it was dark being driven
inside by the insects.

   The next voyage was coming up, they were a few crew short of their
total. The two women would fill in and give Marlene a run as cook while
Tess would crew on the Mainsail and Main-Gaff-Topsail being closer to the
wheelhouse.  Their bunks were together right aft opposite the radio and
radar gear by the rope locker by the skipper's cabin as the port side mid
cabin was full.  Marlene's bunk was next with the one above empty.

   Bill had bunched the singles together in the forward cabin plus the
starboard bunk cabin.  The next cruse was going to be a well balanced crew
of almost fifty fifty among the paying crew.

   Robbie was the permanent hired hand.  He was handy with his hands being
a good deck hand in charge of the main sail crews.  Robbie was a handsome
six foot three strapping islander, with short cropped curly black hair with
a disarming smile.  Robbie had a talent for making the shy lonely girls
feel comfortable on the cruse.  Bill and June let things go as it kept the
girls coming back.  Not for Robbie as he was married making no secret of
the fact, they were shore of themselves, fitting in with the crew the
second time round.  Sometimes finding a companion sometimes not.  Those
would mostly book on the next annual voyage a year on.

   The bookings were increasing.  Bill and June were considering slotting
another voyage before the monsoon season with a three week turnaround
between and a shorter three week cruse to try it out.  Now they had Adam
and Tess with them they could ramp things up a little.  The next three
voyages dates were fixed in stone but the forth was flexible till they took
bookings.  They were talking about two maybe three extra voyages next year
if the bookings kept increasing at the present rate.

   Richard, Adam's dad, called to say the flat was on the market, the sale
price might be more than they anticipated.  His books and personal things
were on their way.  He was putting together some quality white goods for
the two families.  Two identical fridges and washers plus and industrial
freezer for Bill and June as a thank you for their endeavors in searching
for their missing sailors from grateful parents.

   Tess had wanted a proper shower unit, Richard promised a shower with a
solar hot water heater with storage tank with a solar pump to go with it
for his new daughter in law.

   June fell pregnant on her next cycle.  There was much rejoicing in their
little isolated community as they went about preparing for the next cruise.

   There had been a development with the charter flights.  Their plane was
getting old needing updating.  The company were deciding whether to
continue the business.  If they purchased a new plane it would be a smaller
one carrying one third the passengers of the retiring one.  As Bill and
June were their only big customers for a trip once a month.  The charter
company decided to purchase the smaller plane when the old one was retired.
It would mean three trips to get the crew to the island but much cheaper to
run and maintain day to day per passenger plus being smaller with short
landing and take off ability, could land at more of the islands further
out.

   At one stage Bill and June were contemplating having to sail to the main
island to pick up their passengers then drop them off.  Now they still had
their weekly passenger service plus the daily mail plane as the passenger
service was slowly increasing, shortly being twice weekly.  Now with the
knowledge that Bill and June planed a second boat for their business plus
extra voyagers slotted in the new plane was going to happen.



   Once things settled down with everyone coming to grips with the
situation, things began to go smoothly.  With the three extra part time
hands the maintenance was getting done in the shorter time frame.

   Richard had indicated on his last phone call that he was advertising in
the yachting magazine for a shipwright carpenter on a working holiday in
the south pacific.  Richard also intended taking a long overdue extended
long service leave from his business so he and Beth could spend three
months out here while Richard helped the shipwright build the Sweet Mary.
Beth would take charge of the office while June was away on board.

   Both their houses needed furnishing, Richard with his store contacts,
would make that chore easier.  So they planned to get their heads together
creating a list and order the furniture so it will arrive before their off
season visit with there son and daughter in law.



   The second house needed work doing on the roof.  The men were able to
scrounge enough materials from around the island to do the repairs in
between trips.  The house was now livable as soon as the furniture arrived
which would be on the next supply ship.

   Epilogue



   June had a little boy.  A budding sea captain she told us with a second
planned with a twinkle in her eye as she looked at Adam.  Richard and Beth
were let in on the fact that June was carrying their grandson.  They had
then seen and heard enough in the following six months to ask when Tess and
Marlene were going to produce grandchildren for them as well.



   *