Firework display for one...
Tillymint.fortescue
Sat 19 Sep 2009 04:32
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33:44:515N 010:45:321W
Morning early risers.Your correspondent has the
last watch of the night and, since there's not a ship for 30 miles in any
direction (and maybe more), I thought you all deserved a blog.
Notwithstanding the Skipper's recent log entry of
'slow news day', there has been much to get excited about aboard. First things
first: the fish count has rocketed to record the following - tuna 0, mackers 0,
garfish (large) 1, squid (rubbery) 2 and sprat (small) 1.
These have been technically claimed by the skipper,
since the squid and sprat were discovered on his watch. However, I'm not
convinvced about the ethics of claiming sealife that has literally hurled itself
aboard during the night. The garfish came to light in the scuppers just before
supper. Though once a fine specimen, he had deteriorated somewhat in the sun,
leaving one flank well cooked and the other soggy. He went back over the side
into the briny. The squid are something of a mystery, since it's been a quiet
night of motoring and we haven't shipped any water. The Skipper is persuaded
that the senseless beasts jumped inboard under their own steam.
I think they may have been dropped by a passing
seabird, although I do agree that their perfect symmetrical positioning - by the
drain in the midships scuppers on either side is suspicious. I wonder if some
quiet giant of the sea isn't toying with us.
The elements have meanwhile put on a fantastic
nocturnal display. A cloudless sky has revealed untold millions of stars, all
blazing away like diamonds studding the cavern of the heavens. Seemingly in
homage to these fireworks, the sea has produced myriad glowing plankton to mark
TIlly Mint's passage through the water. Every wave and slap of the wash provokes
a random flickering of fluorescent green. The propellor's movement is marked by
a furious blaze of the tiny beasts, like a jet stream trailing out behind
us.
It's all rather
wonderful.
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