Today's Reading
"What in the world?" I looked around but couldn't spot any immediate danger. It didn't appear that we were about to run into anything or be run aground. I had no sense that we could be sinking—I certainly hoped not. I scanned the nearby landmasses, the other visible islands, but didn't immediately spot anything that might be cause for trouble.
"Beth, you okay?" Tex, still empty-handed, came up beside me again, raising his voice above the siren's din. He hadn't made it to the coffee bar yet.
Though the annoying noise continued to wail, the ship regained a smooth course, seeming to head straight for an island that had come into view—not the one with birds nor the one with the frolicking grizzlies but one covered with green trees and what appeared to be forested mounds of earth taking up the southerly half.
"I'm good." I glanced at him. He was fine, too. "What's going on?"
"Not sure."
We both looked toward the island's shore. Mercifully, the siren ceased—just as we, and probably everyone else who'd come out to the deck, saw what must have garnered the captain's attention.
Standing on the shore was a woman. She was distraught, maybe in her thirties, her body language begging for help. She was also covered in blood.
"Damn," I heard Tex utter. "I'm going to see if I can do anything to help. Stay aboard the boat, Beth. You don't know these waters. Just stay here. Don't leave."
I nodded as he hurried away. I wouldn't leave the boat, but I did make my way, again with everyone else who'd come out onto the deck, to the bow. A tinny voice came from a speaker that had been secured onto a pole with a rope.
"This is your captain, Horace Moorehouse, speaking. As you might have noticed, we need to make an assist here. Folks, this happens. It appears that our rescue is standing upright, so we just need to get her aboard and make sure she's taken care of. Please stay out of our way—remain on the main deck as we get to her. As I know you've heard, it's rough country out here. Accidents happen. We'll take care of her. Please, everyone, remain calm, and...out of our way."
No one appeared panicked, but concern rumbled through the growing group of onlookers. The blood-covered woman was a terrifying sight to behold, but the captain was correct, she was upright, which was definitely good news.
I squinted toward the shore as we approached, wondering if I knew her or had seen her around, but it was more likely that she was a tourist who'd found herself in some trouble.
She didn't seem to be badly hurt, which was even better news. In fact, despite all the blood, I couldn't spot any injuries.
"Oh no," I said quietly. What if she wasn't the injured one? What if the blood came from someone else? Someone she hurt?
I was sure I wasn't alone in my evaluation. I hoped that anyone who approached her would be careful.
Still, though, my heart rate picked up as other scenarios played through my mind. What if this was a trick? What if she was luring someone to shore to hurt them?
"Oh, for goodness' sake, stop it," I muttered to my catastrophizing thoughts. It was a good thing I was in therapy.
From the bow, it was easy to observe the rescue. Most everyone else was as curious as I was, but some folks cleared off and made their way back to the seating area, where the snacks and coffee could have appealed to them more than what might just be another day, another bay rescue to them.
Tex was a local search and rescue expert, so he might have volunteered or been recruited to assist. My thoughts were confirmed as I noticed him with another man and a woman standing on the lower deck, all of them slipping into wet suits and goggles with full backpacks stacked next to them. Their level of preparation eased my worries a little more. As the boat moved closer to the island, full gear probably wasn't necessary, but it was always the right way to conduct any rescue. Even an obviously clear-cut one.
The captain, though not geared up, stood next to them, alternately looking out toward the island and seeming to give the rescue crew instructions, or maybe he was just asking questions. I couldn't hear their words. Nevertheless, thumbs-ups and nods made me think they were all in sync. Tex seemed to be leading the way.
...
