Westpoint Tales

by Kiwi

Entangled Tales - 103 - Justin

Justin saw a half submerged tree headed for him and pushed it away but for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction and Justin was plastered against the prow of the boat. The impact knocked him unconscious and he slipped into the water. The water and the need to breathe revived him and he struggled to the surface but not before the current had taken him under the boat and down the river. He dogpaddled as hard as he could but he was not a good enough swimmer to overcome and get out of the current.

A huge wooden crate floated by. It must have been one that contained a large piece of machinery. He grabbed on to it and it supported him, but it carried him down the river and out to sea. There was nothing he could do. The speed of the current was incredible. If the crate with Justin had been a boat the Harbormaster would have cited him for speeding.

After the crate reached the sea it slowed down a bit and Justin, exhausted, used the last of his strength to hoist himself on to the crate. It was four-fifths submerged, but it supported him. He drifted in and out of consciousness as the coastal current and tide took him and his crate further out to sea.

Hugh Macleod was at the helm of the beam fishing trawler that he and his two younger brothers owned and depended on for their livelihood. There was a large something in the water ahead of him. He steered off a bit to avoid and passed a huge crate with what looked like a body on top of it. He called to his brothers Jamie and Rick.

"There is something floating in the water that looks like a body on a crate of some sort. We need to investigate."

He swung the helm and turned the fishing boat in a circle so that he was able to come up from down wind. Jamie climbed into a bosun's harness and hooked himself to the beam that suspended the fishing net. As Hugh brought the ship along side, Rick swung the fishing boom outboard and lowered Jamie to take a closer look.

"It is a body, lower me closer."

Jamie reached the body.

"It's a boy, and he's still alive."

Jamie grabbed the boy and put him over his shoulder. Rick raised them up, swung the boom back over the boat and gently lowered them down on to the deck.

Justin woke and wondered if he was in a coffin. He realized that he had no clothes on but he was covered by blankets. He raised himself up and saw that it was not a coffin but a bunk, one of four bunks in what appeared to be the bow of a boat. Just aft of the bunks was a table on gimbals and a galley with a sink and a three burner stove with an oven also on gimbals. His clothes were hanging on the table and a padded bench across from the table.

"You're awake," said Hugh Macleod as he dropped down through the companionway.

"Where am I?"

"You're on the SallyAnn, a beam trawler fisherman out of Hoki. I'm Hugh Macleod. My brothers Jamie and Rick and I own and fish this boat. Who are you and where are you from?

"I'm Justin Reynolds. I live with my grandparents in Westpoint."

"Well, Justin, welcome aboard. When you feel up to it, you can get up and get dressed. Your clothes seem to be all dry. You did not have any shoes, but you are about the size of my son and I think his boots will fit you. You will find them with your clothes here. We will be eating in about an hour. Here, you'd better drink some water."

Hugh filled a mug with water from the galley sink and handed it to Justin. Justin drank it and lay back down. He was still groggy and did not feel like getting up just yet. He dozed off.

About forty-five minutes later, Justin was awakened by noise from on deck. He got up and put on his clothes including the fisherman boots that were left for him. He was about to climb up the companionway when two men climbed down.

"Hi, I'm Jamie."

"And I'm Rick. It's time to eat something and we are going to start dinner. You must be hungry; you've been sleeping and have not eaten since we found you yesterday evening."

Justin was hungry but he did not realize how hungry until he could smell the stew as it cooked on the stove. When it was done the three of them sat down at the gimbaled table for supper. Rick finished first and went up to relieve Hugh who came down to eat. Justin was asked how he happened to be on the box floating in the sea. Justin did not know how to explain. He was not about to tell them that he had to save three kids on a raft. He just said that he fell into the river and that he was not a very good swimmer.

Hugh explained that they would be at sea until the fish hold was full and then they would return to port to sell their catch. They could not afford to make a special trip to port to drop him off, but there was plenty of food to feed him. They would radio shore and ask that Justin's grandparents be called and told that he would be at sea with them. Jamie went to do so but came back with some bad news. The radio transmitter was not working. Something may have happened in the storm. In any event they could not contact shore and arrange for a call to Justin's grandparents.

As the days passed, Justin got better and better and he tried to contribute to the group effort. He could not cook but he could clean and clean he did. The SallyAnn was never so clean. They taught him how to clean and treat the fish that they caught. When they brought a full net on board, the decks were awash with fish. The four of them, Justin wearing oilskins that belonged to Hugh's son, would set to cleaning, classifying and storing them in the fish hold in brine. Justin learned that the best fish would be sold at the fish market for restaurants and shops. Fish that were not in quite as good condition would be processed at the fish plant as food for humans and as animal feed including pet food. Fish that was not considered to be edible would be used to make fertilizer.

The fishing was good. Hugh told Justin that he must have brought them luck and he certainly helped them with the processing of each catch. They were heading home and should be in port on Saturday morning the 17th.

They were greeted at the dock shortly before 11 am by the three wives and by Hugh's son, Tim, whose fishing boots Justin was still wearing. The entrance to the harbor was a long one and the arrival of the SallyAnn was noted long before it reached the dock. Hugh's wife went immediately to call Justin's grandparents.

She came back after a little bit. "Justin, I could not reach your grand parents. There was no answer. I called some other people that we know in Westpoint to ask them to relay the message, but they did not answer either."

Jamie's wife, Ann, said, "West FM is broadcasting some sort of a memorial service from the race course for a boy who was lost at sea. Maybe everyone one is there."

Hugh interjected, "Someone lost at sea? I heard just as we were leaving port a couple of weeks ago that the Clancy Brothers of Westpoint lost their boat but that both men were rescued by helicopter."

"That's true," said Hugh's son, Tim, "but they had a boy with them who was never found."

"Do you know the Clancy brothers Justin?"

"No Sir, well I know who they are but that is all. However, I think I know the boy that was lost. His name is Kevin Jenkins, everyone called him Jinks. His family raised horses and he used to exercise them at the race course. That may be why they are having a memorial at the race course."

"Well, that all makes sense. Everyone is probably at the service. We will call again later."

But they never did. They spent the day and evening unloading the boat and loading Tom Leroy's truck. It was about 8:30 when were done.

Hugh said, "Tom, what are your plans? Will you be driving up to the North Island in the morning?"

"No, I am going to get some supper and drive up tonight. I want to catch the very first ferry in the morning."

"Tonight! Maybe you can take Justin and drop him off at Westpoint?"

"Be glad to. That will give me come company for the first two hours of the trip."

Tom and Justin ate dinner with Hugh's family. In the middle of dinner, Hugh's son suddenly turned to Justin and exclaimed, "You're the Artful Dodger! You were in the play Oliver that Westpoint High School performed here in Hoki."

Justin agreed that this was true and was pleased to learn that all the Macleod family had attended the play and thought it wonderful.

Tim gave Justin a pair of his old shoes. Justin was glad to give up the fishermen boots he had been wearing. He was also excited to be going home. Home to Billy. Home to all his family and friends. He was grateful to the Macleod's for saving his life and for their kindness. He tried to express his gratitude to them as he said goodbye but didn't do a very good job. Maybe, after he returned to Westpoint, he could make arrangements so that anytime a Macleod purchased something at the Hoki "Billy's Burgers" it would be free. However, he did not want to tell them of his connection with "Billy's Burgers" just yet. They told him that they were glad to have him on board and that he would be a great fisherman. Justin was flattered but knew that he could never be a fisherman. The boat was too confining. He needed to be where he could run.

Justin and Tom did not talk much as the truck went up the coast highway. Justin thought about Jinks and was sad to have lost yet another friend. He tried to be positive and think about getting back. Everyone must be wondering where he was. (It never occurred to him that they would think he had drowned.) He would have a good story to tell.

"Justin," Tom said, "I will take you as far as the bridge just outside of town. That bridge was badly damaged when the river flooded a few weeks ago. They have been working on it, but I do not want to take a chance with this heavy truck."

Justin responded, "That is fine. Actually you could drop me off at the intersection of the road from the coast highway to Westpoint. It is only about 5 or 6 kms to town from there. I can walk that easily."

Tom said no, that he would take him to the bridge, but Justin convinced him that he did not have to. So Tom dropped him off at the intersection.

Justin walked to and across the bridge and up Main Street to the Adelphi. What had been a beautiful day had turned to a cold and rainy night. It was close to midnight. No sense in going around back of the Adelphi. Everything would be locked up and everyone in bed. No, he would have to go to the front door and ring the night bell. His grandparents would not like that but his only other choice was to sleep on the porch. So he rang the night bell and then sat down to wait for his grandfather to come down.

A police car came slowly up the street and stopped in the middle of the street. Constable Jamieson got out and came over towards him.

He looked at the hunched down figure and said, "Damm, Jonathan! You nearly gave me a heart attack there." He looked again and exclaimed, "Jonathan? Justin! Ohmigod!!! Justin is that you?"

Justin looked up at him and said, "Hey Mr. Jamieson, Paul. I'm back!"

A light turned on and the door to the Adelphi opened. Bob Reynolds looked out and saw Constable Jamieson.

"What's up, Paul? What emergency has caused you to wake me up?"

He looked down at the hunched down boy. "Jonathan what's wrong? What happened to you? Did the girls throw you out?" And after a pause, "How did you get your hair back?"

"It is not Jonathan, Grandfather. It is me, Justin."

"What? That can't be! We saw you drown. What happened? Where have you been? This must all be a dream."

"Can we come in grandfather? The weather is not so hot out here."

"Yes, yes of course. Both of you come in."

"I had better move the police car out of the middle of the street, but I am coming in. I need to find out what is going on."

"Is Billy here, grandfather?"

"Yes, Billy is here. So are Jay and Peter and Daniel and Tony. They have made sure that Billy was never alone at night. After today's memorial service they decided that all needed to be together tonight. Jonathan is with his girls."

Paul returned. Bob, still in a state of shock, said, "Let me get Kathy and the boys."

Shortly, Kathleen came into the room followed closely by the boys. "What is all this about a miracle Robert? Why have you gotten us all up? Jonathan, what trouble have you gotten yourself into now? How, did you get your hair back?"

Billy pushed past Kathleen. He had been crying again. He rushed up and hugged Justin.

"It is a dream or some kind of cruel joke. But you feel real Justin."

"It is not a dream Billy, but you are. I am back and so glad to have you in my arms again. I have so missed you Sunny."

At this they all realized that it was Justin and not Jonathan. Bob was right when he told them to get up and come downstairs - that a miracle had happened. After considerable hugging, Kathleen made some tea and Justin told his story.

Jonathan made his daily call early the next morning and was told to come to the Adelphi immediately as a miracle had happened. Connors came in and found Kathleen up and in an incredibly happy mood. She wondered what kind of miracle this was until she found out it was a real miracle.