CHAPTER 5

Pink Sky at Night

At 6:00 AM the sky became streaked with background light. Jim, the guy I relieved four hours ago appeared next to me again, and recited, “Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning…” Wisps of white hair blew around as he gripped the bridge frame against the rolling of the boat.

“It’s more pink than red, kind of eerie,” I replied. “Is this considered night or the morning?” Another vague flash of lightning struck the horizon. With his far-off stare Jim seemed either preoccupied by serious matters or not thinking about anything at all, so I needled him. “Millions of volts in that lightning, just like those electron rays you talked about!”

Before answering he clicked his cheek for some reason. “Yeah, those electron beams would pack a wallop!” He laughed, perhaps dreaming how to rain thunderbolts from the sky like those weapons. “It’s Red Sky in the morning,” he told me with a smile.

“Still looks pink to me.”

“It would to you. What are you, some kind of new age hippie flower child with those copper highlights in your hair?”

“Flower child, just call me Tulip.”

“Bet you voted for Kerry,” he added with a sly grin. “Anyway, Joni was asking how you’re doing.”

“Oh, yeah? Everyone’s checking on me?”

“Looks like you have it nailed on the heading right now.”

“How do you know?” I stared down at the covered-up compass.

“The galley also has a compass.” The man un-wrapped the instrument. “It’s dawn, I’ll take over.” He offered his hand.

“Nope,” I said. “I’ve been at this most of the night, you won’t deprive me of my first dawn behind the helm.”

“Suit yourself. But, you won’t be too chipper for diving.”

I listened to the engines rumble behind and underneath me. I watched the bow swerving and had a sinking feeling that I would not get much sleep the next few days. “Yeah, but I probably won’t be able to sleep,” I replied. “I’m not planning on doing much diving anyway. I may not like it.”

“You’re not a diver?” He was quite surprised. “You’re planning on stumbling over Captain Morgan’s treasure?” He grinned.

“No, I don’t believe in hidden treasure. Gun’s supposed to teach me how to dive. He said I could try it before going to classes or spending lots of money.”

“So...you’re not Certified?” he hesitated to say.

“What… Certified? I have to have a Certification?”

“Supposed to. But, hey, that’s Gun’s problem,” he said, putting the onus on Gun again. “Be careful. Whatever you do, don’t ever hold your breath down there. So, what are you doing here if you’re no diver?”