The Nagasaki Pearls

Leif and Jörgen were sitting up on the bow under a sky full of stars. Leif was pointing out the constellations and explaining how he navigated by the stars. Jörgen was interested but he was feeling dreamy and wished they could sit in silence. He wanted to give himself up to this beautiful night. He could not believe there were so many stars in the sky.
“If we didn’t have lights in the cities, we could see this all the time” he said.
“As our ancestors did” said Leif “You can understand how much they were in awe of the sky when you see this.”
They were motoring across the counter current off the coast of West Africa until they could pick up the south equatorial current. Then they would hoist the sails and the trade winds would take them directly across to Northern Brazil.

It had been a decision made by everyone on board in the end. Leif had recounted the telephone call with Taru Takahashi and what it would mean to him, to the family, and his company. Jörgen had been the first to agree to go to Brazil, without saying why, but Leif believed it was to do with Georgio. Jörgen had been asking questions about him since they had been away. Helen saw it as another adventure and didn’t want the holiday to end. She was also interested to meet Erik. Ella had felt trapped, but after Leif had explained that they would wait in Natal and enquire at the post office and not go to the island, she agreed. She saw the ambitious light in Leif’s eyes and he had told her the full story about the problems he had had with the STELLA and the port. It was only another two weeks voyage to get to Natal, but Ella was fearful of the long journey back. Leif was not thinking of that, she had said. “If I can produce the information this man wants, I have been promised a deal that will change our lives” Leif explained. “You don’t want me to tell Mr. Takahachi where Erik is and have him go to the islands out of the blue do you? He would probably fly in by helicopter or something and then he would tell him where the information came from” They had been in bed in their cabin and Ella was sitting up worrying what to do.
“You would like to see your father again, wouldn’t you Ella?” Leif had asked her gently.

Jörgen swung the telescope around the horizon. “Something out there” he said. Leif reached for his binoculars. “Their lights are very dim. It’s a good couple of miles away. Probably an old tanker bound for Nigeria. Should change course soon.” He put his hand on Jörgen’s shoulder.”Like a beer?”

Leif went below. Ella and Helen had grown used to the sound of the engine now and were fast asleep. He opened two beers in the galley. He had never felt so in tune, as one, with his family since they had left Gothenburg. He hummed softly to himself as he took the beers up on deck. They sat and drank their beer in silence, looking up at the stars. He would teach Jörgen more another time, Leif decided, there were not many times they could relax together like this when they were underway.

The 50,000 ton oil tanker MAMADOU rose out of the sea and the night like a malevolent black whale. It was riding high, without cargo, and the mate on the bridge had fallen asleep.

When Jörgen looked astern, he could hardly believe what he saw. “Leif!” he cried and clutched at Leif’s arm. The black bow of the tanker was only a few hundred meters from their stern, pursuing them as if meant to mow them down. The tanker dipped into the swell, moving slowly, but purposefully. It was so close. Unbelievably close. Leif saw and he knew. He ran to the wheelhouse and switched off the automatic steering and turned the helm hard to starboard. “Get Helen and your mother up on deck with their lifejackets!” he called and Jörgen ran.

Helen appeared in her pyjamas and took in the situation at a glance, her eyes full of fear. She ran to Jörgen, thinking to hoist the sails and they gripped each other’s hands, their eyes fixed on the terrible ship, willing it to go away.

Still the MAMADOU came on. Now they could hear a loose derrick on the oil tanker swinging over the manifold, screeching on its rusty bearings like a triumphant animal in pursuit. The lights on board the tanker flickered on and off. It was as if the tanker was about to die.