Great Bear Rainforest by Patti Wheeler, Keith Hemstreet
Authors: Patti Wheeler, Keith Hemstreet
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do until daybreak. We’ve agreed that my parents will take the second tender and search the shoreline at first light.
I keep analyzing the situation, running it over and over in my mind. The fact that they have not communicated at all with the ship is strange. They left with two radios. That both radios would become inoperable is unlikely, but I guess not completely impossible. It’s also possible that the tender was damaged in the storm while they were on shore. Still, each of the tenders has a flare gun. I am sure we would have seen one streaking through the sky if they were in trouble.
With each passing minute I am more convinced that Captain Colin and Dr. Brezner are in grave danger. I wish there was something I could do. But anchored off the coast of a dark, foreboding rainforest, I am powerless to do anything more than wait and hope for the best.
GANNON
SEPTEMBER 21
EARLY MORNING
All through the night I kept listening for the sound of a boat motor and I couldn’t fall asleep and just sat there in my bed hoping that the captain would come pulling up to the ship at any moment with some incredible tale of adventure. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Everyone was awake and nervous and packing up the tender before the sun even came up. This is a search and rescue mission, nothing less. My parents took two radios and several days worth of food and water and a waterproof bag with sleeping bags, tarps, and all kinds of other survival gear. They aren’t planning to be out overnight, but neither was the captain.
As my dad revved up the motor and backed away we tested the radios.
“Wyatt to Radio One … do you copy?”
“I copy,” my mom said.
“Radio Two, do you copy?”
“Loud and clear,” my dad said. “We’ll keep regular contact. You boys help Joe and Liam take care of the ship. When we bring the captain back, you know he’s going to inspect it with a fine-toothed comb.”
“We’ve got it under control,” I said. “Please be safe out there.”
“You know we will.”
My mom blew us a kiss as my dad turned the boat and started slowly toward the island over choppy waters and the whole time I just stood there on the bow watching until they’d disappeared into the thick fog. Soon after, the sound of the boat motor trailed off and fell silent. Since then I’ve been a total wreck, just sitting here in the galley bouncing my leg and biting my nails and waiting to hear something.
WYATT
SEPTEMBER 21, 9:12 AM
Overrun by nervous energy, I walked the ship, desperate for some positive news. Each time I passed the bridge I’d holler up to Liam: “Any word?” The answer was always the same. “Nothing yet!”
I have to be honest, Gannon’s discovery of what he felt were “suspicious” files in Dr. Brezner’s room is troubling and my curiosity is getting the best of me. With my parents away, Joe occupied in the kitchen, and Liam stationed on the bridge, I considered slipping into Dr. Brezner’s cabin to have a look. I even made my way to his room, but stopped just short of entering. It would be wrong. I know it. In fact, I just yelled at Gannon for doing what I’m anxious to do myself—snoop!
The thing is, I’m desperate to prove Gannon wrong. But to debunk his accusations, I need proof that Dr. Brezner’s intentions are ethical. For that reason, maybe I could forgive myself for violating the doctor’s privacy. Maybe I should take a look.
I’m torn.
Don’t know what to do.
Wait, Gannon’s yelling to me from above. Maybe there’s news …
GANNON
My parents have trolled the shoreline and what they found is not good.
“Are you sure the debris is part of the captain’s tender?” Joe said into the radio.
“Yes,” my dad said. “We’re sure. We’ve found a large section of the aluminum hull floating offshore. It looks like the boat was smashed to pieces in the rocks. And there’s more.”
My dad was quiet for a minute before continuing. Liam paced the bow. I held my
I keep analyzing the situation, running it over and over in my mind. The fact that they have not communicated at all with the ship is strange. They left with two radios. That both radios would become inoperable is unlikely, but I guess not completely impossible. It’s also possible that the tender was damaged in the storm while they were on shore. Still, each of the tenders has a flare gun. I am sure we would have seen one streaking through the sky if they were in trouble.
With each passing minute I am more convinced that Captain Colin and Dr. Brezner are in grave danger. I wish there was something I could do. But anchored off the coast of a dark, foreboding rainforest, I am powerless to do anything more than wait and hope for the best.
GANNON
SEPTEMBER 21
EARLY MORNING
All through the night I kept listening for the sound of a boat motor and I couldn’t fall asleep and just sat there in my bed hoping that the captain would come pulling up to the ship at any moment with some incredible tale of adventure. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Everyone was awake and nervous and packing up the tender before the sun even came up. This is a search and rescue mission, nothing less. My parents took two radios and several days worth of food and water and a waterproof bag with sleeping bags, tarps, and all kinds of other survival gear. They aren’t planning to be out overnight, but neither was the captain.
As my dad revved up the motor and backed away we tested the radios.
“Wyatt to Radio One … do you copy?”
“I copy,” my mom said.
“Radio Two, do you copy?”
“Loud and clear,” my dad said. “We’ll keep regular contact. You boys help Joe and Liam take care of the ship. When we bring the captain back, you know he’s going to inspect it with a fine-toothed comb.”
“We’ve got it under control,” I said. “Please be safe out there.”
“You know we will.”
My mom blew us a kiss as my dad turned the boat and started slowly toward the island over choppy waters and the whole time I just stood there on the bow watching until they’d disappeared into the thick fog. Soon after, the sound of the boat motor trailed off and fell silent. Since then I’ve been a total wreck, just sitting here in the galley bouncing my leg and biting my nails and waiting to hear something.
WYATT
SEPTEMBER 21, 9:12 AM
Overrun by nervous energy, I walked the ship, desperate for some positive news. Each time I passed the bridge I’d holler up to Liam: “Any word?” The answer was always the same. “Nothing yet!”
I have to be honest, Gannon’s discovery of what he felt were “suspicious” files in Dr. Brezner’s room is troubling and my curiosity is getting the best of me. With my parents away, Joe occupied in the kitchen, and Liam stationed on the bridge, I considered slipping into Dr. Brezner’s cabin to have a look. I even made my way to his room, but stopped just short of entering. It would be wrong. I know it. In fact, I just yelled at Gannon for doing what I’m anxious to do myself—snoop!
The thing is, I’m desperate to prove Gannon wrong. But to debunk his accusations, I need proof that Dr. Brezner’s intentions are ethical. For that reason, maybe I could forgive myself for violating the doctor’s privacy. Maybe I should take a look.
I’m torn.
Don’t know what to do.
Wait, Gannon’s yelling to me from above. Maybe there’s news …
GANNON
My parents have trolled the shoreline and what they found is not good.
“Are you sure the debris is part of the captain’s tender?” Joe said into the radio.
“Yes,” my dad said. “We’re sure. We’ve found a large section of the aluminum hull floating offshore. It looks like the boat was smashed to pieces in the rocks. And there’s more.”
My dad was quiet for a minute before continuing. Liam paced the bow. I held my
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