The adventures of John Storm and the Elizabeth Swann. John Storm is an ocean adventurer and conservationist. The Elizabeth Swann is a fast solar powered boat. During a race around the world, news of the sinking of a pirate whaling ship reaches John Storm and his mate Dan Hook. They decide to abandon the race and try and save the whale.

(Original Book Chapter 26) – Rash Move - 14⁰ N, 180⁰ E

$BILLION DOLLAR WHALE <<<

Storm looked back and down at the wash from the centre hull, then up to confirm ‘Starlight’ was falling further behind. He knew Sarah was watching him and guessed she was desperately trying to get more speed out of her boat, much as he was doing his best to keep the Elizabeth Swann efficiently in the lead.

“How far Dan?” John correctly guessed Dan would be tracking the rival boats.

“Oh, about 900 metres, and 1400 metres. She’s doing about 11 knots according to the GPS.” Both men looked pleased.

“Why don’t you give her a shout skip?”

“I would, but we’re doing so well, it might look bad. If we keep this up it’s a done deal.”

In the next three hours the Elizabeth Swan increased her lead over Starlight by 12 miles. Sarah’s boat was now just a vague spot on the horizon. Two more hours and 20 miles in the lead and John had lost sight of the other competitors. It simply was not fair on the other entrants, the Swann was that much more technologically advanced and so very much faster.

“Dan can you see Starlight?”

Dan was standing on the upper deck on tiptoe using a pair of binoculars.

“Nope. But that is what our instruments are for. We can’t see the other boats with these optical antiques, but we can see them on the radar.”

“Sure, but I had to have a second visual, or rather non-visual confirmation.”

The press had been summarizing the performance of the pack for their viewers. The reports confirmed the early lead and predictions as to the ETA and the order of running were making headlines across the globe, especially with Sky Sports and the National Geographic channels. Dan tuned into a news report just as they heard a helicopter flying up behind them and then swooping ahead to catch sight of the crew. A cameraman was leaning out of the open doorway waving exaggeratedly. This suddenly noisy invasion of the silent ocean corresponded with the dialogue on the radio.

“At this rate our boffins tell us that the Elizabeth Swann will be gaining roughly 96 miles every day over the next fastest boat, Starlight. Starlight is doing much the same over the slowest of the pack, Khufu Kraft, which was finally overtaken by Seashine, Sunriser and Photon Planet in the last two hours. You can see the Elizabeth Swan now on Sky Sports, where she is some ninety miles out from Hawaii, setting a blistering pace that many fast sailing yachts would find hard to match.”

The broadcast was interrupted by a newsflash.

“We interrupt this program to bring you a breaking news item. In the last few minutes we have heard that a Japanese fishing vessel has sunk roughly 900 miles out from Nagasaki harbour. Apparently, all of the crew are safe. It’s not clear exactly what the cause of the sinking is, but reliable sources say that a collision with a whale may have been the reason.”

John looked at Dan. Both men were speechless for a minute, and then Dan opened. “They’re joking.”

John could not resist. “Don’t tell me it’s a giant white sperm whale with the skeleton of a one legged sea captain roped to it.”

The broadcast resumed. “We’ll keep you posted with all the latest on these breaking stories as the news comes in.” Both men laughed.

“We can’t wait.”

They sailed on checking the trim of the Swann, or rather checking that the computer tracker was tracking. A soft wind was coming up behind them from the east. Before John or Dan could say anything the turbine boom behind them sounded as though it might be getting ready to lift. The ships computer, Captain Nemo, confirmed a state or readiness from sleep mode. The soft breeze turned into a gust and then twenty minutes later a respectable current of air, at which point the boom deployed automatically, raising itself to about 75% of full operational height. The wind turbine kicked into life with a whoooosh, settling to a harmonious hhhmmmm.

With the sun still shining and the turbines generating electricity at the same time, there was surplus energy to burn. The batteries were already brim full of charge. With the turbines providing energy for navigation, all of the charge from the solar wings would either go to the engines or cause a shut down of the harvesting system. Of course the energy went to the propulsion motors, raising the speed from 15 to near 18 knots. They were flying and it felt good.

The radio crackled into life again. “More on the tragic sinking of the Japanese fishing boat. Sources confirm that at the same time the fishing boat sank, a mature female cetacean known to SPLASH as ‘Kulo’ stopped sending signals as to her location. We also know that a whale matching her description was seen swimming away from the area of the sinking heading south-south east, trailing blood in the water. SPLASH executives are concerned for the safety of the whale who was traveling with another smaller whale, that has also stopped sending signals from a tag transmitter.”

”Christ,” said John, sitting down quickly by the radio equipment. He needed to make a ship to shore call. He picked up the satellite telephone handset and dialed 858 546-7000.

“This is the Elizabeth Swann calling from the Pacific Ocean 100 miles west of Hawaii, captain John Storm. Could I please speak to Bill Perrin – it is very urgent, tell him it's about an injured whale.”

“Thank you for calling the NOAA South West Fisheries Service, I’ll try to put you through sir if you'll hold the line.”

“Thanks miss.”

John got up and paced the deck.

“John what are you up to?”

“That whale is in trouble and we’re close by.”

“Okay. But we’re in the middle of a race.”

“Yuh. And we’re going to win hands down. Everyone knows that.”

“So. Let us win then.”

“We’re also the fastest boat out here with the best equipment. We owe a duty to that whale.”

Dan could see the logic in that, but he’d joined up with John for the technical challenge, not as a marine nursemaid. The Satphone clicked into life again.

“Hello caller, I’m putting you through.”

“Hello John, Bill here, is it about Kulo?”

“You guessed it. What have you got in place?”

“Nothing John, all our ships are miles away and we’re strapped for fuel. Budget cuts. If you are thinking what I think you’re thinking, we will keep you posted with anything that may help you find her. You'd have our full backing.”

“Okay.” Said John. “We’re going after her.”

OFF COURSE >>>

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GRAPHIC NOVEL

The graphic novel translation omits many of the above chapters (in grey) entirely, and condenses others, aiming for a dramatic visual read.

This story is a modern Moby Dick, the twist being that there is a happy ending for everyone involved with the $Billion Dollar Whale, even the whalers. Herman Melville would have approved.

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