Danger Bay—Episode 50—Shakedown Cruise

“Voyage of the Motor Vessel Sparrow” series inspired by Bob Carney. written by Boomer Jack Boardman

Previously—Episode 49—Arrival!

“They decided to give the boat a shakedown cruise after daylight, when most of the passengers would be up and about. The ‘transmorgification’ er—‘transit’ of the boat, however, had an unintended consequence elsewhere…”

Episode 50:

“WHADDAYA MEAN IT’S GONE?!” Allen “Big A” Simpson screamed into his two-way radio, “What are you saying?”

“There was a flash of light,” replied his minion…er associate, from the waterfront, “and the boat was gone, sir.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that!”

“How can this be?” Simpson thought, “They’ll pay for this—Oh they will pay…”

Meanwhile, the day dawned, and word spread quickly among the passengers of the almost-like-magic arrival of the MV Maryland & Virginia, and one-by-one, they appeared on deck to view the new arrival.

Expressions of “Shock & Awe” were overheard from the gathered passengers and crew:

“WOW!”

“Day-am!”

“Mercy!”

“Farrrr-out!”

“Lookit that, willya?”

“Gee-whillackers!”

“Ain’t that sumptin’?”

“How’d they do that?”

Cap & Edith were ready an hour or so later, and the MV Maryland & Virginia was launched. They took a couple of laps around the Sparrow, and then Cap decided to “Give’r a chance ta show what she’s got.” And with a huge smile on his aged face, he jammed the throttle to all the way open, and the little boat lurched ahead.

The M&V reached her top speed of around 8 knots rather quickly (if speed not stability is your goal, get a boat with a planing hull, the M&V was built for all-weather capability, not speed), and Cap tested her maneuverability and purposely ran the wake of a passing freighter a couple of times.

“This is one fine boat!” he exclaimed, “She’ll do just fine.”

“From you, Silas,” Edith observed, “high praise, indeed.”

“Guess we’d better get’r back ta th’ Sparrow,” he said with some reluctance. It had been some years since he captained a boat, and he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

The boat was recovered aboard the Sparrow and secured in her nest. The passengers retired to the main cabin. The Sparrow resumed her journey.

Currently off the coast of Maine, she had some miles in front of her before she reached her first port-of call in Connecticut.

To Be CONTINUED–Monday