The ship, formerly an ocean going container ship, was indeed big, and that was all you could say to her credit. But the heavy engineering equipment for leveling roads and building temporary bridges, including amphibious hovercrafts and ATVs, was extremely modern and sophisticated. Sam's heart was torn between gratitude that this equipment was at his disposal and guilt that the equipment will not be available to the others who needed it.
"Don't worry," Michael Kay accompanied Sam on a tour of the ship's holds and it was like he could read his mind. "They think it's a pilot rescue plan that, if accomplished successfully, will serve as a prototype for larger rescue operations in the disaster area. They'll get all the equipment back with a full, detailed report on the success of the pilot program. The only thing we haven't told them yet is that we are bringing back survivors."
Sam wasn't fully convinced, but he understood all to well that this was not the time for a discussion
"All right, let's get ready," it was clear that from Michael Kay's point of view, the debate was over and the decision was made. "We sail at sunset."
The only lights aboard the ship that night were the command bridge lights. There were hardly any lights visible on the deserted, dark coast the ship was moving away from. Besides Sam and Michael Kay, there were about thirty men and women in the crew dining room, including Sam and his two cousins. Sam knew only a few of them from previous stays at the Shelter, including Micky Abbot, Danny Simon's partner in the ATV business. There were some among them who clearly looked like ex-military and other security forces personnel, and some were members of the ship's crew who were not on duty at the time. Was it even possible to operate such a large ship with just a skeleton crew? Sam asked himself. He knew better than to ask the qustion outloud, and was painfully aware of the fact that he was the youngest in the room.
Michael Kay made a quick round of introductions and Sam shook off his thoughts and tried to concentrate on what was going on around him.
"... And last but not least, the man without whom we could not have gone on this mission, the captain of this tub, Sven Sorensen. He has a few words to say to you and I suggest you listen to him carefully."
Everyone in attendance turned to the tall, light-haired man of typical Scandinavian appearance, who rose to his feet and cleared his throat. He looked like an experienced veteran seafarer, and when he spoke, he spoke good English with a heavy Swedish accent.
"In a few hours we will be out of contact range with the coast, and then change direction and increase speed. We will spend almost a week in the sea. We will be in deep waters most of the way. The sea is expected to be calm and the weather stable, but just in case it isn't, if you get seasick and feel the urge to puke your guts out, you'd better do it in the nearest toilet or sink, and do not dare to approach the top rail, especially at night. In general, I recommend staying away from the open deck unless absolutly necessary, and even then never alone. Is that clear? "
Nods and murmurs of agreement, and even a few giggles, accompanied his words.
"Besides, I need volunteers to step up the sonar shifts. [1] We have no idea how the seismic activity has changed the seabed, and I don't want to hit any rocks or sandbars that aren't marked on the maps."
All hands were raised almost simultaniously.
"Excellent," Sorensen said with satisfaction. "And until then, it's time for dinner. The menu is limited and pretty dull, I know, but if the conditions allow, we'll try to cast our nets and catch something that will add flavour to our menu."
The murmurs of consent were louder now. Michael Kay got up. "Okay, if that's all, I suggest we let Captain Sorensen get back to work and start working on dinner. I'm not setting a lights out time, but we'd better get to bed early because tomorrow we have a long day ahead."
The living quarters in the ship were extremely spartan and simple, and some were storage areas converted into makeshift dorms - three bunks, a toilet and shower unit, a coffee corner, a small refrigerator, shelves for personal effects - almost like in the Shelter, an ironic thought crossed Sam's mind as he entered the cabin he was about to share with his two cousins. They were on night shift now, under the supervision of the ship's duty communications officer, so at least for the next few hours, the cabin was at his disposal. He arranged his few belongings on one of the shelves, showered and changed, and grabbed one of the bunks, which were quite comfortable, but it was a long time before he finally fell asleep.
The days merged into each other and Sam spent most of his time in the company of the ship's navigator, a dour and introverted type, who slowly defrosted as Sam's skill at navigating and reading maps became more apparent. The main task before them was finding the nearest point to the beach and the extraction point where they could safely dock. He hardly ever saw Michael Kay, who disappeared into the holds of the ship along with the drivers and heavy equipment operators, and when they met during meals they had very little to say to each other. Andy and Toby were busy in the sonar room, and he hardly saw them either.
On the third day of the voyage (or was it the fourth?) Captain Sorensen decided that the conditions allow a few hours' break for fishing. A large school of fish was spotted near the ship, and two boats were lowered into the water with large nets. The passengers and crew who were not on duty went up to the top deck for the first time to watch the event that slightly disrupted the drearyness of the voyage. The boats came back with a modest catch, but the crewmembers who took part in the fishing expedition were met with a heroes' welcome. Taking care of the catch kept everyone busy for a few hours - most of it was stored in a walk in freezer, and that evening the passengers and crew were treated to a luxurious fish dinner.
The ship's big fog horn suddenly shook all the passengers out of their sleep as Captain Sorensen's voice was heard on the PA system: "Everyone to the crew room! This is not a drill! I repeat, grab your life vests and get to the crew room immediately!"
Sam, who was alone in the cabin, almost fell out of his bunk, but recovered quickly, grabbed the life vest that was under the bunk and rushed outside. All the emergency lights in the corridors were on, and he had no trouble finding his the way to the crew room, two decks above him. The ship was vibrating under his feet as the engine strained to break it. He arrived in the crew room, which was also lit only by emergency lights, and nearly tripped and rolled inside when the ship jolted suddenly. "What happened?" He asked anxiously.
"What the captain said would happen, a sandbar," replied a voice that Sam did not initially recognize, as the speaker was at the far end of the room, but it was Michael Kay.
"Did we hit it? Did we run aground?" Sam asked.
"I don't think so," replied another voice, probably one of the crew. "We are trying to stop the ship before that happens..."
A tense silence prevailed in the room, and the ship gradually slowed down until it came to a complete stop. Everyone waited with bated breath for the bumping sound, which never came.
The captain's voice was heard again on the PA system, this time in a calmer tone: "Damage Report. Casualty Report."
A few seconds later, all the lights in the room came on. The captain stepped in and looked around at all present one by one. "Everyone's OK?" He asked.
A wave of "yes" murmurs passed through the room.
"Okay. What happened is that we hit a sandbar. We hit it, but, but we did not run aground, thanks to our very vigilant sonar team. We are now conducting a status check to see if we can continue on our original course or have to deviate from it to get around the sandbar. It will take a few hours. Meanwhile, you can all get back to your positions. I need someone to check the holds and make sure the cargo is still secure and undamaged."
"I'll take care of it," said Michael Kay. "Do you have any idea how much of a delay we should expect?"
The captain shrugged. "We'll know more after we assess the situation. At best, hours, at worst, days."
He left the room. All eyes were now turned toward Michael Kay.
"All right, you heard him," he finally said. "Check the vehicles, right away. Let me know of any damage."
The assembly slowly left the room, each to his post. The last ones left were Sam and Michael Kay.
"Everything's fine, boy, you can go back to sleep," Michael Kay said. "We'll need you in the morning."
Sam also nodded and left the room. For the first time since boarding the ship, all the lights in the corridors were on. For some reason, this did not increase his sense of security.
Andy and Toby looked exhausted when they returned to the cabin after the night shift in the sonar room. Sam, already awake, greeted them with a shout "Hey! I heard you were the heroes of the day!"
"Nonsense," Andy said dismissively. "We were just lucky."
"Yes," said Toby, who tried, not very successfully, to hide his pride in his contribution to the effort that actually saved the ship. "And now get lost and let us sleep. They want you on the bridge."
The pillow fight that ensued in the cabin was short and intense, and for a moment Sam was able to imagine that he was on vacation at his aunt's and uncle's house rather than in a cabin aboard a ship that almost ran aground.
Studying the nautical maps took several hours and the discussion that ensued took a few more hours. The captain, his XO, the navigator and the sonar team managed to reach only one agreed conclusion - that the sandbar was not actually a natural sandbar, but an underwater mountain range that rose almost completely out of the water due to the seismic activity in the area. The only option was but to go back and set a new course to bypass the obstacle.
Michael Kay listened silently to the discussion. He found it difficult to hide his disappointment and anger and he was obviously frustrated at his inability to override the captain's decision.
"So how long will that take?" He finally asked.
The captain shrugged. "At least three days. We need to complete the mapping of the new course, but we will try to do it on the move. Let your group know."
Michael Kay nodded, and Sam cleared his throat and asked, "Did the mountain range rise, or did it break and fall apart?"
"That's exactly what we're trying to figure out right now," the captain replied. "Let's get back to work."
The news that the trip would take at least three extra days was received with mixed feelings, to say the least. After consulting with Michael Kay, in order to ease the tension and create a distraction especially among those who were left unimployed, the captain decided to allow those who wanted so to jump off the ship for a short swim. Some people took advantage of the unexpected opportunity, and the general mood improved significantly.
As darkness approaced, the all-out warning against going up to the upper deck was reaffirmed. The first stage of the course correction was completed, and the ship set off again.
The days blended into each other again, and Sam went back to spending most of his time with the ship's navigator, who seemed pleased that he had someone to share his vast knowledge and experience with. The two compared the sonar data that arriving every few minutes, the nautical maps and the designated docking area map, and gradually managed to plot a safer sailing course away from the underwater obstacle.
That evening all the passengers and crew gathered in the crew room again before dinner. Unlike the previous evenings, the atmosphere was saturated with tense anticipation and everyone without exception realized that this evening was different from all the previous ones. When Captain Sorensen joined them, the room went completely silenct. He looked tired and it was clear he didn't get much sleep in the past few nights, but he got straight to the point. "I am pleased to inform you that we have safely crossed the obstacle, and tonight we will resume our original course. If there are no further glitches, we will be at the designated docking point in three days."
The cheers and applause threatened to be eardeafning, but no one cared. The captain stood for a moment, embarrassed, but he left the room before the commotion subsided. Michael Kay waited a few seconds before getting up and raising his arms, calling for attention.
"All right, I hope you understand what that means," he said. "The hard work really begins tomorrow. Come on, let's have dinner!"
The room was filled with loud laughter.
Sam, Andy and Toby sat together at the dinner table, which they did not often get to do during the voyage. They did not share the atmosphere of joy that filled the room and were focused on their meals, until Sam asked casually: "What do you think our chances are of finding a closer docking point?"
Andy and Toby looked at each other. "What do you mean?" Andy asked.
"Simple, if the seabed has changed so radically, it makes sense that the coastline has also changed, doesn't it?"
The two exchanged glances again, but this time it was Toby who spoke. "Say, where do you get these crazy ideas from? If so, it's more likely that we'll have to look for a more distant point ..."
"That's exactly what I was worried about," Sam admitted sullenly.
"We spend 12 hours a day in the sonar room so that doesn't happen," Andy said softly, and then his expression suddenly changed. "What do you think, that someone would blame you if it turned out that the map you made wasn't accurate enough?"
Sam bowed his head, and Toby burst out laughing and patted his younger cousin's shoulder. "Relax, we're just messing with you! We work with equipment that was new in Noah's Arc, but the maps we make will be worth their weight in gold when we grt back, I tell you." And at the spark of panic in Sam's eyes, he quickly added: "But we will donate them all to the authorities, free of charge, of course."
Sam tried to supress a sudden urge to laugh, but not very successfully. "Of course," he said.
The next morning, Sam returned to the navigation cabin as usual. Andy and Toby got up before him and were already in the sonar room. The data that came from there, meanwhile, did not indicate any unexpected changes in the coastline.
The voyage might have been a little slower, but there were no more interruptions. In the holds of the ship, many of the men were busy tSallyng and preparing the heavy equipment and vehicles. The coast awaiting them was hardly a golden sandy beach on a tropical island, and the landing was to be a very complex operation. Even the few who had some military experience have never experienced such an operation in real time, but they trained and practiced as much as they could.
Despite the high alert, when the announcement finally came, it caught everyone by surprise. It happened early in the morning, just before Sam left his cabin. Captain Sorensen's voice, metallic and almost emotionless, came over the PA system."Attention, we're beginning to slow for a stop at the docking point. In a few minutes the coast will be within sight of the starboard stern. You are welcome to come on deck and watch."
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And that was all.
The captain and his XO, the navigator, and Michael Kaye were the only ones on the bridge when the ship came to a complete stop. Captain Sorensen turned to Michael Kay, who watched silently and uninterruptedly. "All right, this is as close as we can get," he said decisivly. "But if you don't finish unloading all your gear by the time the tide turns, I might have to move to deeper waters. I can't take a chance."
"I understand," said Michael Kay. "We will try to work as quickly as possible."
The day was clear and the visibility was good, and all the passengers and crew not on duty were already on the top deck, betting on who would be the first to notice any significant detail on the coast, but in fact the coast was still too far forany details to be clearly visuble.
Michael Kay's approach ended the discussions.
"All right, listen," he said aloud. "Our time is limited and our room to maneuver even more so. As we feared, there is not enough space for a full staging on the coast, which means we will have to go intu assembly line mode. Once we start moving away from the coast, our average speed with the vehicles, bumper to bumper, will be less than 10 mph, and on the way back, with loaded vehicles, even less than that. We have more than 100 kilometers to go in a Martian-like terrain. We will travel in a tight convoy, Sam Rozin in the lead vehicle and me in the rear. Whoever has never undergone convoy training, will have
to learn fast. All of you will receive copies of our most up-to-date map. Needless to say that anyone who strays even by an inch, will just be left in the field. Is that clear?"
Nods and murmurs of consent.
"All right, let's get to work. Everyone knows what they're supposed to do."
"Hey!"
Michael Kay, on his way to disappear in the communications room, stopped as he heard Sam's voice and turned.
"Did you manage to get in touch with the Shelter?"
Michael Kay hesitated at the direct question, uttered out loud for the first time since departure. "I send them daily updates on our progress," he finally admitted. "The last time I received a response was two days ago. The broadcast was briken up, but I believe they received all the information and they will wait for us at the extraction point, so..."
"And what shall we do if they aren't there?" Sam insisted.
Michael Kay glared at him. "If they aren't there, we can't wait for them. You got that?"
Sam understood.
"Go to your post. Don't forget you're in the lead vehicle."
And Michael Kay disappeared into the radio room without waiting for an answer.
The large cranes of the former container ship came alive with a deafening thunder and began to lower the hovercrafts laden with vehicles and equipment into the water. Each vehicle was occupied by two to three people and their gear. Some of the vehicles were actually armored troop carriers, one of which was chosen to be the convoy's lead vehicle. The driver was one of the former military men, a not so sociable guy, whom Sam knew very little about except his name, Donnie Marx. He lowered the carrier off the hovercraft with a skill that left Sam out of breath. He picked up the carrier's radio and said: "Lead to Rear, over."
The answer, in Michael Kay's metallic voice, came immediately. "Rear to Lead, what's the situation?"
"I'm moving forward to make room. Let me know when you're ready."
"Ten-Four," Came the answer.
Marx put down the radio and only then turned to Sam who was sitting next to him. "So you're the map expert who got us all here, huh?"
"I'm Sam Rosin, yes." Sam replied simply.
"Okay, kid, you better buckle up," Marx said as he started the carrier, and Sam quickly obeyed. "And get the map out of the case. You concentrate on navigation, I will concentrate on driving, and that way we'll get along fine."
The journey has begun.
Sam knew now that he was in the vicinity of ________, a well-known holiday resort, and he remembered that his family used to pass not far from there on trips to the Shelter. The resort was completely destroyed by the quake. Part of the rocky cliff collapsed onto the coast, leaving only a narrow, steep road, strewn with rubble and ruins, but not entirely impassable, and the heavy lead carrier served as a steam roller, clearing some of the obstacles and making it easier for the others to follow.
Michael Kay's estimate that the speed of progress would be less than 10 miles per hour turned out to be quite accurate. As the convoy moved away from the coast, the road, once a paved highway, gradually became something more like a rocky and unmarked dirt road, making navigation very hard. Sam divided his attention between looking at the map and compass and looking out the window in a desperate attempt to spot landmarks. Donnie Marx was aware of the inner struggle going on inside his young companion's soul and said casually: "Hey, don't tell me we are lost already.
"Sam shrugged. "Lost?" He repeated the word as if he did not understand its meaning. "No, I think I pretty much know where we are, but ..."
"Pretty much doesn't cut it, kid." it was a statement of fact, not an accusation. "When you know for sure, tell me, okay?"
Before Sam could respond, Michael Kay's voice was heard on the radio again. "Lead to Rear, over."
"Lead here."
"The sun will be setting soon. We should start looking for a camp ground."
"Lead out."
The vehicles stopped one by one in a circle. One of the most pressing issues on the agenda, of course, was the call of nature, and all the members of expedition, men and women, hurried to find a corner outside the circle of vehicles to answer the call. Sleeping bags on the ground were used as bedding and tent sheets were deployed between the vehicles to provide shelter in case of rain during the night. Everyone joined in the effort to search for firewood. Not far from the circle once grew a group of trees that were now lying on the ground, uprooted and completely dry. They were well suited to use as a kindle and at least there was no shortage of that. By the time the sun went down everyone was already sitting around the fire for a hot meal. At one point, Michael Kay stood up and clapped his hands out loud to draw attention. When things quieted down, he said simply: "Folks, we will be moving out at sunrise. There are no predators around and there is no danger that hostiles will see the fire and try to attack us, but just to be on the safe side, I have organized a guard duty list for the night. It's on the windshield of the Lead vehicle."
Sam couldn't help but admire Michael Kay's ability to take control of everyone around him. The sounds of protest were dimmer than you might expect, but Michael Kay ignored them, and the croud slowly dispersed to prepare for the night. Sam managed to take a quick glance at the duty roster, and when he noticed that his name was not on it, but his cousins' names were, he began to move towards the corner he had picked for the night. He only took a few steps before Mile Kay's voice stopped him, calling: "Sam."
Sam turned. Michael Kay was still standing by the driver sidr of the lead vehicle. Sam walked over to him and stopped, facing him silentely.
"What do you say?" Michael Kay finally asked, after a few seconds of silence. "Are we moving according to your map?"
The question almost got Sam off balance. "According to the map?" He tried to stall for a few seconds. "Yes, I think so. I think today we passed by ______, and we are on what used to be Highway X from _____ to _____. If we stick to it and not deviate from it, we will arrive at _____ junction tomorrow."
Michael Kay nodded as if agreeing with the assessment. "I think you're right," he said at last. "And after the intersection, the ________ bridge..."
"That bridge has collapsed," Sam cut him off, immediately restraining himself. "I mean, how can we cross ..."
"Let me worry about that," Now it was Michael Kay's turn to cut Sam off. "You just get us there."
"I'll do my best," Sam said.
At dawn, the convoy set off again. Nobody overslept. In the light of day the signs of destruction were painfully evident. But the further away they were from the epicenter, the clearer the road became, though not to the extent that allowed any significant increase of speed. Donnie Marx drove the Carrier silently and made no attempt to start a conversation with Sam, who was sitting next to him and was completely engrossed in looking out of the window through his binoculars. A few hours later - he had long since stopped looking at his watch - a metallic glint by the side of road made him suddenly shout: "Stop! Stop!"
Donnie Marx was unaphased. He reached for the handset and said, "Rear, this is Lead. The kid says stop."
"All right, watch out, we're stopping," Michael Kay's voice immediately said. "Stay in the vehicles until we figure out what's going on."
The Carrier slowed down, but Sam jumped out even before the heavy vehicle came to a full stop. He started running back, a few tens of meters, toward the spot where he noticed the metallic sparkle. Michael Kay jumped off the Rear vehicle and hurried toward Sam. He yelled something, but Sam didn't hear him. The metal object that caught Sam's attention was a battered, crushed and rusty road sign. Michael Kay stopped beside him, took hold of his shoulder and shook it violently. "What's the matter, kid? What did you see?"
The tension, anxiety, and abysmal fatigue, mixed with a sensation of unparalleled relief, overwhelmed Sam at once. He dropped to his knees at the sign with, exhustaed.
"Look," was the only word he could finally utter.
Michael Kay looked at the sign. The writing, barely legible, was "Bridge X - 25 km".
Michael Kay waited for a few seconds, then grabbed Sam's shoulders and helped him to his feet. "Well done, kid, you did it," he said with sincere appreciation, in a first real expression of human emotion on his part. "Now go back to the vehicle and give them the good news. You've earned it fair and square."
Since no one in the expedition had any experience, practical or otherwise, in assuming Mobile bridges, they had to work according to an old military manual that Donnie Marx pulled out of his Carrier. The technical specifications in the manual were not necessarily designed for the specific bridge model they brough with them, but at least the width and length matched. The original bridge did collapse, but some of its foundations were still standing, and it was clear that they could still serve as stable supports for the base of the new bridge. One by one the heavy vehicles approached and unloaded their equipment, then moved away and to make room for the next ones in line. Donnie Marx, for want of a better term, assumed the role of theforeman. Every once in a while he was forced to stop to check calculations in the manual and compare them to the actual conditions on the scene. He was assisted by one of the other army veterans, who appearently was a math teacher in civillian life. The noise of the heavy equipment was almost deafening. The rolling of the chains, the laying of the beams, the pounding of the jackhammers and the rattling of the drill bits - it was all almost unbearable, and Sam moved a little away from the center of the hustle and stood next to one of the vehicles, watching. His special drawing and reading maps skills were no longer essential, at least for the time being. He sat down on the ground next to one of the vehicles, leaning on the big tire, and dosed off without being aware of it.
Sam was startled by the sounds of the shattering chain, the battering beam and the cries of horror and pain. It was near sunset and the first thought that crossed Sam's mind was, did I really sleep that long? But he was fully awake when he realized that everyone around him was running in the same direction, and he jumped off and hurried to join them. He worked his way firmly through the circle of spectators until he reached the front row and stopped at once. One of the chains holding the railing's beams broke, and the heavy beam attached to it dropped and crushed the rear part of one of the crews engaged in connecting the railing. There were two people in the vehicle, a man and a woman, who were now trapped in the vehicle, unable to get out.
Donnie Marx and Michael Kay were the first to arrive at the vehicle, trying to assess its status and the condition of the trapped occupants, they had a quiet consultation, accompanied by vigorous hand movements, and it was clear that there was a difference of opinion regarding the way to handle the situation. From where he was standing, Sam couldn't make out who the trapped occupants were, but he took a quick look around him and was relieved to findToby and Andy standing not far from him.
"What's going on?" A cry was heard suddenly behind Sam, and one of the men broke out of the circle, almost knocking Sam down. Sam recognised him as Tom Parker, another one of Danny Simon's partners. Parker tried to run towards the crushed vehicle, shouting: "We have to lift this beam!" But Donnie Marx grabbed Parker by the arm with a force that nearly knocked him to the ground and stopped him.
"Right now the beam is the only thing keeping the vehicle from falling into the abyss!" He replied with a shout. "First we get Reggie and Louise out and then, as far as I'm concerned, both the beam and the vehicle cad drop!" He let go of Parker without paying any extra attention to him and turned to the crew members. "Come on, secure the vehicle!"
The people rushed to tie the vehicles in thick ropes and secure it by tying them to two of the heaviest vehicles. The vehicle creaked under the heavy weight of the beam, but remained steady while Donkey Marx himself and one of the men climbed onto the hood, smashed the windshield and pulled the two trapped occupants out. Some of the others rushed to help and move the two away to safety. As soon as the area was clear, Donnie Marx shouted loudly, "Okay, let go!"
The chain carrying the beam and the ropes securing the vehicle were released at once. The crashed vehicle dropped into the abyss with a thunder, followed immediately by the heavy beam, leaving behind a gaping hole the bridge rail.
The two wounded were laid on stretchers under one of the makeshift shelters. They suffered concussions, blunt force traumas and broken bones. In the absence of appropriate medical equipment, it was hard to give them more than primary care including bone setting, bandaging and pain medication, but at that stage their condition was not life-threatening.
Michael Kay and Donnie Marks spent some time by the damaged railing, continuing their silent discussion while the others stood around, whispering, still in shock. Finally, Michael Kay turned to the gathering, cleared his throat and said: "All right, it's all over. We have two people whose conditions are still unclear. We've lost one vehicle and one railing beam, but the bridge will hold."
After the gathering had dispersed, Sam walked over to Michael Kay. "This accident will cause us a serious delay, right?"
Michael Kay shrugged. "I sent the Shelter an update on what happened, but if they took off before they received the message, the question would be not whether we will wait for them, but whether they can wait for us," Michael Kay said. "We will leave the wounded here in one of the empty vehicles, with water and food for a few days, and pick them them up on the way back." And before Sam could respond, he called out: "Listen up, we have to be across this bridge before dark! If you don't drive, you pick up whatever you can carry and cross on foot. After the last one arrives safely to the other side, we will start moving the vehicles. Food, water and supplies first, then everything else. Let's go!"
Crossing the bridge took several hours. First the people crossed on foot, carrying whatever they could carry. The heavy equipment was left behind and the vehicles were now empty and less crowded, but they crossed the bridge one by one according to their size, from the lightest to the heaviest, with everyone giving a wide berth to the gaping hole in the railing. The last to cross was the lead heavy carrier deiven by Donnie Marx. After a short refreshmenstop on the other side and a quick change of drivers, the convoy moved on.
The night was bright and star-studded, and at first glance one could easily be confused betweem the flicker of light and the glitter of a distant star. But the flicker appeared again and again, in a constant pattern - three dots, three dashes and three dots -which was unmistakable. The debate over who was the first to notice the flashing was never resolved, but all the vehicles came to a stop almost at once, completely ignoring all the safety rules observed by the convoy up to now, and the roars of joy filled the air. The Lead vehicle's high headlights responded to the signal, and the reply came almost immediately. Sam, frustrated at his inability to understand the answer, grasped Donnie Marx's arm without being fully aware of what he was doing, and shouted, "What are they saying? What are they saying?!"
"'What took you so long,'" Marx easily freed himselg from Sam's grip and then reached for the handset. "Lead to Rear. Do we continue?"
"Full steam ahead," replied Michael Kay's voice.
The last leg of the journey was short, but every second of it seemed like an eternity as the lights drew closer. The convoy was moving as fast as the road conditions would allow for towards the source of the lights. The deviation from the point indicated on the maps was of only a few miles, but the maps were no longer necessary.
The survivors set up their camp in the first clearing they were able to reach after getting out of the Shelter and from which they sent the homing beacon. They sat huddled around small bonfires, wide awake and alert inspite of their exhaustion. None of them could sleep once they found out that the rescuers were coming.
Daniel was the first to rise as the rescuers approached. Michael Kay, who took the lead this time, rushed over and the two hugged in silence. When they finally seperated, Daniel was the one who spoke first. "Boy, are we glad to see you," he said, and then turned to the rescuers facing him. "And not a moment too soon."
"I'm sorry, this whole operation was a bit like digging the tunnel under the English Channel blindly," Michael Kay replied. "Up to the very last minute we weren't sure..."
"The main thing is that we finally met in the middle," Daniel said. "And you will tell me exactly how it happened. In the meantime..."
"In the meantime, we owe a debt of gratitude to this boy..." Michael Kay's eyes searched for Sam, who until then was standing next to him, but Sam was no longer there because suddenly there were cries coming out of the darkness: "Sam! Sam!"
Sally, Jonathan and Sam fell into each other's arms, the three of them crying uncontrolably, until Sam finally blurted out: "Dina and Roy are fine! They are with Aunt Lily! They are fine! Andy! Toby..."
Andy and Toby also emerged from the darkness and quickly joined the family. This was the signal for some more emotional family reunions, until the rescuers and survivors mingled with one another and the two groups could no longer be distinguished.
Michael Kay and Daniel stood aside, their faces expressionless as they watched the reunions. Finally, Michael Kay turned to Daniel, cleared his throat and asked, "So, did everybody make it out OK?"
"Yes," Daniel replied. "Except for exhaustion and dehidration, they're all fine."
Michael Kay turned to the rescuers. "Okay, help them into the vehicles and give them water. Let's go!"
The vehicles were crowded, but nobody cared. To make room for passengers, it was decided to leave all non-essential equipment behind. And to make it easier to find the equipment in the future, another homing beacon was left at the site.
Sam went to take his place in the Lead vehicle, along with his parents, Andy and Toby, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned and found Daniel in front of him.
"I've heard a lot about you," he said. "The last time we met you were just a kid, and when your parents told me what you did, I swore to myself that if I ever saw you again, I'd beat the crap out of you. And now look at you."
Sam looked down. "I'm sorry," he finally said. "I didn't mean to..."
"Don't be sorry," Daniel interrupted. "You did a crazy thing, and for what you did to your parents I really hope they will be able to forgive you sometime, but as far as I'm concerned, you saved us the trouble of worrying about two more young children, so we're even."
Before Sam could shake off his bewilderment, Daniel disappeared into the darkness and Michael Kay's voice, from his position by the Rear vehicle, shouted: "Let's move!"
The stop at the camp site was short and intended solely for collecting the remaining food, water and fuel and leaving another homing beacon. The convoy made its way to the bridge without stopping except for refreshment and change of drivers. The vehicles may have been less loaded, but this time, too, they all crooded on foot first. The sight of the gaping hole in the railing served as a last reminder of what might have happened.
The drive to the beach wert on without incident, but it felt like a last sprint on the way to the finish line of a marathon race. By the time the convoy arrived at the coast at dawn, the hovercrafts and boats were already waiting on the beach, and the process of transferring survivors and rescuers to the ship began immediately, the first being the two casualties of the accident on the bridge. All of the ship's crew, led by Captain Sorensen, abandoned left their posts and climbed to the upper deck as the first survivor-laden hovercraft reached the ship. Even the toughest and most experienced ones did not bother to hide their excitement.
The ship was able to restock on food, water and supplies, and the large holds were converted into makeshift accommodations. Blankets, hot water for bathing, a change of clothes, and hot cooked food for the first time in many days were welcomed by the both the exhausted survivors and their rescuers.
Sam and his parents spent most of their time together. They talked for a long time about everything and nothing. Both Toby and Andy, whose shifts in the sonar room were greatly reduced, joined their uncle and aunt at every opportunity. When Captain Sorensen announced another fishing stop, everyone volunteered to join in. That evening, Sarah, who was in charge of the "restaurant", prepared a meal which was unanimousley acclaimed as Gourmet.
After recovering somewhat from the hardships of the journey and hearing the full story of the rescue mission, the survivors, and especially those who knew Sam and his family, never missed an opportunity to express their gratitude to Sam, until his parents had to intervene more than once to protect him and allow him some privacy. Andy and Toby have taken on, though a little too seriously, the role of his bodyguards. Michael Kay and Daniel, on the other hand, were rarely seen during the days at sea. They spent most of their time at the command bridge with the captain and none of them requested Sam's company again. Sam suspected that at least for Michael Kay this state of affairs was very covvenient, as he did not want to be at the center of attention himself.
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