The Derelict and the Wandering Boy ( )

Log entry, the Catch Scarlet Queen, Philip Carney Master. Position, 9 degrees, 13 minutes south, 146 degrees, 30 minutes east. Wind fresh sky fair. Remarks, departed Port Mores v. New Guinea after completion of salvage and rescue mission.

Reason for mission, the derelict and the wandering boy. It was 50 miles off the Lewis-Said archipelago, standing across the coral sea when we ran into the wall of rain. It blotted out the whole world.

In the wheel I could hardly see the Queen's Balspritt or the tops of her spars. And it continued. It brought squalls with it. The drops slanted across our decks and bit at us like insects.

With nightfall the visibility dropped to zero. He reeked sail, leaving aloft only enough canvas to give us headway. We inched forward, blindly, into complete, streaming darkness. I was at the wheel and my chief mate, Gallagher, was below.

He'd been at the radio, sending out our position, speed and cost, and any ships that might be in our vicinity. In an hour, he hadn't found any. It didn't take long to realize that things had changed when he came out of the cabin.

Well, I got some great news. Oh, yes, Kippet. What's up, Red? A distress call from the steamship Lawson. Captain Mark Radie. You know, great news. Oh, please. What's her position, Red? She's a ground on a reef about 20 miles east of here in Messima Straits.

She's our baby, Skipper. It's not another ship within 12, 14 hours of it. Oh, a visibility like this, yeah. Okay, Red would be a fine pair if we didn't take a crack at it. Hey, Gordon!

Hi, sir. Break out the watch, stand by the trim sail, we're changing course. I said, oh, is it? Go on, plot us a course, Red. We'll see if we can find it. Oh, no, no.