Chapter 15
The sun was bright red, as it ascended form the almost flat Caribbean. Sam made ready to sail while Irene made their breakfast. The eggs they had gotten in Cancun, were splattering happily in the frying pan and the biscuits were almost the perfect shade of golden brown. Irene slid the eggs onto the plates, and added the sausage patties and a couple of buttered biscuits. Grabbing two cups, she fixed their coffee and whistled for Sam.
“This looks remarkable”, Sam praised her, “as soon as we finish, we will head East and should see some islands in about three hours.”
The coffee was hot and the biscuits were light and flavorful and the fresh eggs were surprisingly good. Sam could not help but give Irene a kiss on the cheek and thank her profusely.
“If you can handle the clean up, I will get us on the way,” Sam said.
“Do whatever you need to do”, Irene responded, I will be up on deck with a fresh cup for you as soon as I get these dishes taken care of.”
Sam climbed up the four steps to the deck and remarked to his self just how lucky he was, not only for missing the devastation to his home, but to have found Irene. He was certain this was a relationship that would pass the test of time.
While the couple was on the foredeck, enjoying their second cup of coffee, Sam suddenly cocked his head to one side. “Listen,” he said.
“I don’t hear a thing,” Irene replied.
Sam quickly placed his index finger across his lips in the universal signal for quiet.
“Quickly, Grab the rods and get a line in the water,” Sam barked as he started pulling down the sails. “We need to look like a couple on a fishing trip, and we might need to be very convincing.”
Irene was quick to follow Sam’s instructions, and was paying out the line, when she heard the unmistakeable sound of a motor powered boat getting louder by the minute.
Sam hailed the boat as it pulled along side. It appeared to be a couple of locals but Sam was not taking any chances.
“How can I help you”, Sam asked the older of the two men.
“No help needed man”, replied the old man. “We thought maybe it was you that was to be needing some help.”
“We’re find,” Sam replied, “Just looking to catch a little something for dinner. Where might you two fellows be out of” Sam asked?
“We are from Cayman Brac” the old man replied, “We are looking for a friend that went out last night and hasn’t made it back to his home. You haven’t been seeing anyone have you?”
Sam replied, “We left from Cozumel, and are heading to Grand Cayman, and you are the first boat we have seen. Tell me the name of your friend, and I will radio the harbor master if we see him.”
“Thanks, but it is likely the demon rum has a hold on him. This isn’t the first time we have gone looking.”
Sam had one more question, but wasn’t sure how to ask it. “It seems the misses and I have somewhat overspent on our trip. We can’t afford the hotels on the Cayman Islands. Do you know of a small island where a newlywed couple could camp and have a little privacy?”
“I know just the place, man. Han me you chart and I’ll mark it for you. Nothing but the lizards, birds and turtles.”
Sam handed the man the chart and the two of them discussed the best entry point. The old man told Sam there was a deep water cove on the East side of the island so it would be best to sail around.
“Once you are in the cove, the trees will hide you boat,” the old man said, “Maybe you will hanging some palm fronds from your mast, just in case.”
Sam thanked the old man as he deftly jumped back on his boat and Sam and the younger of the two men pushed them apart.
“Sam,” came an urgent call from Irene, “Help!”
Sam turned to see Irene holding the nearly bent double rod. He quickly eased the drag off some and let the fish take some line. When he was able, he took the rod from Irene, and after a short time, he brought a giant grouper alongside the boat.
“Cut the line,” he told Irene.
“Why, aren’t they good to eat”?
“Not when they get this big,” Sam explained, “Cut the line and let him go.”
As Sam was stowing the fishing gear, he told Irene,”There is a disease that fish can transmit to humans. It is called ciguatera. The fish get it from eating algae. That grouper may have been OK, but there is no point in taking an unnecessary chance. The most likely fish to make you ill is a large grouper, besides, we still have plenty of Tuna.