I wouldn't even be here without Shirley recommending me to the orphanage. I just hope we can get these people some relief. and looking at you gentlemen I see hope. Holding my cross in my hands I begin scanning my surroundings. "If you see someone following me or paying too much attention during this disaster please do not hesitate to tell me. Its not my good looks they are after. Just the reward money.
"I'll always watch your back Sister Bridget, but keep your shotgun loaded. Evil is everywhere, especially now. I pray Snr Deputy Crow is ok." With the medium Cabin cruiser 'Odysseus' very well loaded up with a cacophony of supplies, the four 3rd class deputies left the dock of the Orphanage St Aquinas with all the children yelling farewells and Sisters Philomena and Kathlyn waving demurely. Terence and Sister Bridget took turns at the Odysseus' wheel and radio showing Craig and Shirley the finer nuances of the boat and its operation. High tech and old like the gps and the shiny brass compass. Terence had even packed a second inflatable lifeboat. 'The ladder can double as a gangplank....or a ladder...and more...' From the Saint Aquinas Orphanage near Jamesville, they headed down steam on the Roanoke river to the big river town of Plymouth. Sadly on the way there they had to fish and store a drowned human female aged about 40... Bridget and Shirley were the heroes there. I cried all the way to Plymouth. There we were requested by a Sheriff Jones and a National guard Lieutenant Vucemello on the radio to identify ourselves, etc.. Shirley and Craig sorted that and were given full clearance to proceed, email documents exchanged, but before having to dock and load up a plethora of extra preordered supplies. Lots of them. Many Lots. Sheriff Jones was a good buddy of Jamesvilles' Sheriff Watts. A similar taste for fine Bourbon and old yarns. They were very tender with the body of the drowned lady we'd found. Sheriff Watts in Jamesville also got his Mayor to sign the Plymouth check, something about politics? LoL. Except, Sheriff Jones asked if we'd like to convoy up with a smaller but faster cabin cruiser with two old local sea dogs, Jack and Jake? Especially through Albermarle sound where it still can get very rough. They know the way well. 'You'll need to check-in with the National guard in Fort Raleigh city, the most Northerly Town and port on Roanoke Island. Speak to Major Steel. They've even got choppers.' 'Who thought to order all that outdoor Loo gear and soap; good thinking.' Said Sheriff Jones of Plymouth. Whilst at Plymouth docks Terence insisted that he and a dozen idle but willing national guardsmen do the loading with the manical method of Terence's sorting. "please don't put the cement sacks on top of the eggs!" Their Corporal stormed off muttering obscenities. Jack n Jake laughed from nearby and said "hello!" "Hiya"said Terence and made all the introductions. That gave the rest of the Odysseus' crew some free time in Plymouth a medium sized town near the end of the Roanoke river. Ambulace, Police, National Guard and Nightclub lights flashed in syncronicity. 'Computers, beams, gps could navigate us nicely at any hour through the maze of rivers, sounds, bays, ...all whereabouts. Neither Jake nor Jack have such technology and didn't feel like moving til the early light.. 'Can ye not wait til this tired old man's been rested n fed?' 'but what if your lights fail in the dark....?' etc... half price til 8... Terence quietly said, 'let them catch up is my vote. The storm has passed. They'll be safe and I'm sure they know the worst is over, it says so on the radio n web channels.' "See." said Bridget pointing at the weather maps on the boat's laptop. The wifi password is 'passover'. Feel free to use or tap into. 'Three hours and then off I say' said Terence. 'Lives are in danger. See if you can rouse up some extra expert crew, like a doctor or SEAL guy, or gear, Whatever. We can navigate in the dark if need to, I'll get the jarheads to stock us right up full. Fort Raleigh city is big enough to have a gps default setting. Why Raleigh; wasn't he a suitor to the first Queen Elizabeth? Red hair? Sorry. Meanwhile they have a king tide all around the shoal islets flooding the majority of areas. Many are stuck on rooftops, hungry, cold, thirsty, sick, ... we are best suited to save them with a few good soldiers...? We might neeed a light strong ladder!
Gotta say Terence and I were given quite a task when the Sheriff gave us a deputy badge as there has been much looting of property from damaged homes. Most looters are taken into custody with little fuss when I start pointing my shiny new Colt at them. I did have one that tried running.. he soon back peddled when I fired a shot into the air.......
Craig~I think you probably were aiming for him and that shot just went up in the air! Just kidding I trust you with my life and you can trust me to keep you alive. The looting is ridiculous but common. I caught one guy trying to carry a TV twice his size.. No need to chase him he made the fatal error of asking me to help him carry it away and he would as he put it "Make it worth my while" and then winked. Cuffing him was easy except he thought I meant a different kind of game...What can I say...
A dead and bloated cow, entangled in fencing wire and posts, floated quickly past the main jetty in Plymouth in the strong current.
Craig borrowing this motorized 'tinnie' from the Sheriff's office has been a godsend for islanders stranded in their homes....
Terence and Fred stayed on board the boat guarding supplies and serving up hot food and coffees to all comers. "Seventy miles cruise to Roanoke tomorrow where we're really needed. Best to wait for dawn with all the debris in the fast choppy waters. We should follow Jack n Jake in their small fast cruiser, safety in numbers. Is that agreeable?" said Terence over the phones. Our Odysseus in Alemarle Sound on way to drowned Roanoke Island. Jack and Jake in their 'Springray' leading us to Fort Raleigh City on Roanoke Island. tap or click on images to enlarge them.
"Swing hard to port" yelled Jack "debris ahead, . . . .crashing sounds". Craig turned the wheel hard left, whilst half slowing the engines. Still a hard thumping and ripping or scoaring sound was heard and felt along our boat's starboard. "A lamppost" said Terence dashing below decks to check damage. Water was spraying into the galley. Shirley took the radio. Sister Bridget used her eyes. Fred sat still wearing his dog life jacket panting for instructions. Jake said on the radio "not too bad a leak for us, Jack has some great repair gear, "Acme Spay n block leaks" form foam and mesh patches. Only temporary for a year; need any? $20/ can and patches." We have lots. "So have I " yelled Terence back. " Thank you!." "What's that in the flotsum 300yd to the SE ?" said Sister Bridget, "it's moving? It looks like a golden swimming dog..,, stop!, please."
Good job on patching the boat, Y'all. Y'all are a mighty fine crew to serve with. The golden dog turned out to be a golden retriever. We named him Jetson because he was floating in the river with flotsam. He will be a good companion for Fred. Remember him. He is a special dog. He was featured in Stephen King novel.
'Hey,' said Terence, wrapping up and drying the golden Retriever, 'He's got a collar too.' nothing else, nor chip I can feel. Fred licked his eyes dry and snuggled up on his blanket with Jetsam. 'He's a brave and gentle dog' said Terence. 'I'll cook up some mince, gravy n veges for the two dogs, even a few pork sausages.' Thankfully most of Roanoke's main city Fort Raleigh is on high ground where's their main base of operations.... Let's just tell them we have 2 sniffer dogs? You can see it just on the horizon now. Where the Red glow is, I hope it's not fire. "Wanna steer us into port Craig?, and you do the radio Shirley? Bridget and I can oversee youse. As will Jack n Jake in their big tinnie Springray. They saved us much grief where we found the new dog Jet, or Sam, or Jetson." I'm a one dog man myself. Nice dog tho.
I told y'all wrong about who wrote the book with the golden retriever. It was Beloved by Dean Koontz. The retriever has been genetically altered in a top secret government lab. If I recall correctly, they were going to use him as weapon of war. He could go among the enemy without raising suspicions, He is super smart. He can communicate with humans through mental telepathy. If there are people trapped inside the collapsed buildings, he can help us find them. We just have to see which of us he can "Talk" to. He can also talk to other dogs so he can talk to Fred. We need to hurry ashore as quickly as we can. That red glow worries me.
Yes Terence that red glow is in the vicinity of the Fort Raleigh National Historical site. Just north of where the Lost Colony was last seen. This mysterious place keeps cropping up....
Looking into the dogs eyes I see what he feels and is trying to tell us. He curls up gently next to me and we sit silently. I feel the fear and warning he is trying to tell us. In the jungle I knew to follow the animals instincts. More than a storm has struck this region. Hell has risen with the devils intentions. I have fought you once Satan and I will fight you once again. There is a storm coming~ The Devil whispered in my ear "You're not strong enough to withstand the storm!" I whispered in the Devil's ear. "I am a child of God, a woman of faith, A WARRIOR OF CHRIST~I AM THE STORM!" The dog began to howl and growl as if to say~"We are coming for you!"
I pulled the dog close to me and checked my weapons. I leaned in and whispered to the dog "Stay close my friend, we will find him." Terrence and Craig stood on the deck working desperately to find to survivors and avoid debris. Two of the bravest men I had ever met.