Through The Storm by Margot Bish Read Free Book Online

and having stowed that in the motor boat was carefully
tying the boom, rudder and dagger board so they couldn’t
escape.
    “OK. Everyone
else, let’s get rigged and set you off. Patrick, can you keep
Maureen’s boat clear of the bay entrance rocks as I tow out and
then catch the others up? Then they can follow you home.”
    “Aye aye sir”,
Patrick said with a grin, enjoying the responsibility and
acceptance of his ability.
    “Good. Jack,
you can lead the way until Patrick passes you. Dean, copy Jack
EXACTLY. Susan next, and Ross bring up the rear. There’s only half
an hour of outgoing tide to go, now, but remember to go a long way
passed the rocks before you turn at the corner of the island just
in case the wind changes or you drift sideways. Head for the valley
over there, and you’ll need your sails tighter. Don’t try tacking
until I’ve caught you up, and then tack where I tell you”.
    Even Dean had
lost his bounce, seeing the worry which Jerry was trying not to
show, mostly about Maureen’s arm. Maureen was paler than vanilla
milkshake, and the waves looked bumpier than before. Dean
remembered when he had broken his wrist, playing football and how
it had hurt just to stand up. Bumping over those waves was really
going to hurt. Secretly, he was glad it wasn’t him. He’d nearly
fainted last time and that was just in a car. Soberly, he followed
the others back to their boats, and they hauled them back into the
sea.
    “Be careful”,
Jerry called after them, as they launched. “One injury a day is my
absolute limit”.
    With Jack
leading, as planned, they cleared the headland with ease, and
sailed a bit further before turning to head for the valley. Jack
was full of pride, leading the small group of boats, and despite
the odd buffeting wave, they felt more confident as they altered
course towards the valley. The sails had to be really tight now to
avoid flapping and this was making it harder to control their
speed. Jack was still at the front, but as Dean struggled, the line
became a clump as both Ross and Susan accidentally overtook Dean,
one on each side. It didn’t seem to matter. With no adult present,
they were having a real adventure.
    “Come on Dean.
Keep up”, Ross called, and laughed as a wave bumped against the bow
and soaked him with spray. A bit cold, but the warm sun would dry
him off in no time. He shared a wide grin with Jack. This was real
sailing. Then, quite suddenly, the sun disappeared, as if never to
return, behind a mass of black clouds boiling overhead, and the
adventure turned scary. A squall swooped down the valley, as if
alive, picked the adventurers out, and flew at them. Ahead, they
saw the water turn dark and the waves rise up as if to meet the
darkening sky, spitting white water. Salt and spray drove into
their faces so that they blindly ducked to avoid the angry sting.
The wind snatched at Jack and filled his sail so that he spurted
away into the darkness of the angry beast, fighting for control.
Dean was blown over, screaming his fear as he fell helplessly into
the treacherous sea. Ross glanced towards Susan, the only one left
in his sight, and just had time to see her ducking low, hands over
her head, and boom and sail flailing madly above her, like a
trapped alligator trying to break free, and then the wind grabbed
him too. The boom swung towards him, hard and fast, hitting his
head so that he wasn’t sure if the flash of brightness was
lightning or concussion. The boom swung again, violently, as if
trying to break free of the ferocious wind. The rope caught on
Ross’s foot and the sail filled above his head, unbalancing Ross as
the boat tried to tip him into the grasping waves. Diving across
the boat to avoid the capsize, the rope tightened and tried to drag
him backwards into the greedy sea. Kicking out savagely, he hung as
if seasick over the high side, hands gripping tightly to the
bucking bronco beneath, while the boat, completely out of control,
chose its own