SIX THOUSAND MILES UNDER THE STARS (..

SIX THOUSAND MILES UNDER THE STARS ---PART FOUR of four parts----

The swells lift her on their crest then drop her suddenly , only to be lifted again . The main luffs with the sudden drop of air and again catches the wind to blossom , fat, sleek , a giant mushroom pushing in to the evening breeze. This is Xena , the Catalina 30 I am pushing in to the depths of the South Pacific.

Lisa and I had spent a couple of weeks idling about the Hawaiian
Islands, loaded fresh provisions and were once more on our way, skidding through troughs of foam, riding the crests of giant swells, only to be beaten back by shifting winds and unpredictable currents.
We were drifting slowly and generally in the direction of Australia,
very important stops to be made at the islands en route.
We have told you about our mission, but this is it , we are on our way. A little scary I have to admit. Our nice , fat boat is seaworthy and sound, but consider that she is only a micro dot in the vastness of the Pacific.

THIS WAS THE WAY THE STORY WAS MEANT TO PLAY

Now for the rest of the story, as it actually worked out.

Before Lisa (fictitious name) and I ever embarked on our adventure of a life time, we were subject to and part of a gigantic conspiracy that I had never dreamed existed.
To begin with , I had some actual experience in the New Hebrides and in New Caledonia. I had spent time in these islands, had contacts among the people and multiple friends among the natives. I won`t go in to detail with this except to say that French is the spoken language in both places and my French is very limited.
Lisa , on the other hand, though from a fine Mid-Western family, spoke French like a native, her parents were born and grew up in France.
New Caledonia is the site of Nickel mines which supply perhaps 98% of the world`s nickel.
Nickel is an important element in the space program.
The native people of both New Caledonia and New Hebrides were actively campaigning for Independence.
I will not spell it out for you , but it is pretty obvious why we were interested in the outcome of this movement.
You are aware, from previous parts of this narrative, that when Lisa vanished our mission was scrapped.
This of course resulted in my depression. How many people get a shot at changing the political face of the planet. Well, I had that chance and blew it.
This should pretty well explain the background of The Rose and a great part of my life as it works today.

Did I mention ? I do not believe in conspiracy theories, as a rule. They are usually dreamed up by wishful thinking or some fanciful thought processes.
One of the things, one of the many, which I cannot explain: What happened to part IV of my original story.
I had it filed in at least six places on the net. Now , it is nowhere to be found. Odd ?
----- Eagle Cruagh

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A very predicatable ending in that it was unpredictable.
What I mean to say....is that when faced with such a bleeding narration, and I was mortally wounded by aspects of it, I expected the end to be frayed but I didn't know how or what direction it would take. I just knew it would be explanatory in some way because at the end of the day, there has to be reason for everything, to stop us going mad.
I didn't see the politics coming as I was so absorbed by other aspects of the misadventure but to suddenly have an ideology raised, left me somewhat in limbo. Disbelieving but of course, accepting the brutality of the theory.
Its rough to say the least. To have the savagery of politics introduced amid such poignant circumstances. I feel as if I've just been soaped with sandpaper.
The piece is interesting and although it's ended, I will remain in that limbo forever.....