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******* EPISODE # 5 *******
***** THE ADVENTURES OF MOLLY MODEM *****
In our last adventure we left Molly in a real cliff hanger.
A four knot ebb current was sweeping our heroine out the Juan de
Fuca strait!
Will she be rescued before hypothermia takes it's toll? Read on!
Molly would soon have been crossing the River Styx if the
strong arms of Mark Shippes had not pulled her from a briny
grave. Mark was heading off on the start of a voyage many years
in the planning. In his early twenties Mark had bought a small
sail boat and spent many tranquil days cruising the Gulf Islands
and Georgia Strait. In those days the South Pacific was but a far
away dream. Seven years and a broken marriage later Mark had at
last sailed away from port. Now he was captain and owner of a
good sized ocean cruising vessel. The SEA MOSS as he had named
her was forty feet long from transom to tip of bowsprit and
the product of his own hands. Mark had been beating back and
forth directly into the strong westerly blowing in from the
Pacific when he spotted the strange looking object in the
water. At the time it had looked like a long stranded yacht
mop some unfortunate sailor had lost. Upon getting closer Mark
had a shock upon finding the mop was really a person with long
blond hair! Mark who was a very skilled mariner quickly hove
to and allowed the current to bring the SEA MOSS alongside the
person in the water. In moments he had dragged the young woman
over the rail into the cockpit.
Molly started gaining consciousness as she felt herself
being grabbed and pulled over a hard surface. She could not
speak but felt better when she saw the smiling yellow clad
figure standing above her. In a few moments Mark had the jib
and staysail sheeted in on the other tack and the cutter was
gaining speed away from the rocks. The self steering vane
insured they held a steady course towards the distant Olympic
Mountains. Mark now turned his attention to a very soggy Molly
Modem. He helped support her as they half climbed half fell
down the companionway ladder. Molly was soon out of most of her
wet things and wrapped in a warm woolen blanket. After throwing
Molly a pile of dry towels from one of the lockers Mark
proceeded to light the galley stove. In no more than a few
minutes the kettle was singing and strong tea was brewing. Mark
filled two large cups, adding a heaping spoon of honey to each.
One he thrust into Molly's chilled fingers the other he took
himself. "What happened did you fall off a boat? You were
almost a goner back there! Is there someone I should contact on
the VHF radio? The Coast Guard perhaps?"
"No please don't call anyone or take me back to shore" Molly
pleaded. The hot tea was beginning to take effect, Molly
was hardly shivering at all now. Trying to remain as calm
as possible Molly explained to the captain of the SEA MOSS
that she had jumped from the breakwater to avoid being
murdered. For safety sake it would be best if Baud Job and
Doctor Node assumed that Molly had perished, and the 80666
was in Davey Jone's locker!
Mark Shippes assured Molly that there would be no
problem staying onboard the SEA MOSS until it was safe to
return to Victoria. Mark explained that his plans were to
sail out the straits past Tatoosh rocks then turn left for
San Francisco. Seven or eight days later the SEA MOSS would
be tied up at one of the marinas in Sasalito. After
checking in and replenishing supplies a leisurely cruise
south to Mexico would be the order of the day. Molly
quickly signed on as crew member for the trip to
California. Mark found some dry things and an old pair of
sea boots that Molly could use for the next few days. He
then excused himself and climbed up to the cockpit to check
for the possible presence of any shipping on a collision
course. Molly found that with an extra pair of socks the
sea boots were not too bad a fit. An hour later Molly
emerged from the warm cabin. her baggy clothes were not
attractive but she was ready to help sail the boat. Mark
called "READY ABOUT!" and put the helm down. As the boat
came through the eye of the wind Molly got ready to handle
the starboard sheets. In a moment they were on port tack
heading back towards the Canadian shore. Although she had
never done any open ocean sailing Molly was not unskilled
aboard small craft. She soon found that she was experienced
enough to handle SEA MOSS for hours at a time while Mark
was below checking charts or napping. The next morning the
SEA MOSS cleared the straits and took a more Southerly
course. They were now broad reaching with a fifteen knot
breeze, ideal sailing conditions. Now that her own safety
seemed more certain Molly's thoughts returned to the
problem of VonCriptic. If only she could get a confidential
message through to Farwest! That afternoon Molly mentioned
that what she really needed was a way to phone Farwest and
leave a message. Mark's reply of "Oh are you one of those
computer nuts!" made her raise her eyebrows! With a laugh
Mark took her below and opened a teak panel beside the
chart table. Inside was a collection of very exotic looking
ham radio gear. What immediately caught Molly's eye was
the small laptop computer with twin disk drives. Mark then
explained how he had in the past often used Farwest to pass
messages and search for new software. He went on to tell
how it was possible to relay messages using packet radio
transmission, just like over the phone lines! Mark searched
in a drawer for a blank floppy . Soon Molly was typing away
on a message to Ren of Farwest. She filled him in on what
had happened with Doctor Node and Baud Job and that the
80666 was safe. She also passed on the location of her
spare apartment key and when they expected to reach San
Francisco.
That evening Mark switched on the radio gear and the
computer. He tapped a few keys and slowly tuned around the bottom
of the twenty meter band. Suddenly a strange sound came from the
speaker. Brrrrap Brrrrap......Brap! After throwing a few switches
a message started scrolling across the display screen. "HELLO
MARK, HOW IS THE BOAT GOING TONIGHT? YOUR SIGNAL 5&9 NOT MUCH
QRM. VE0TSR DE VE7GCT K."
Molly could hardly believe her eyes, this was just like chat
mode back on Farwest bulletin board. Mark quickly typed in a
few lines to send back to the other ham radio operator. "GOOD
EVENING GLENN. WINDS PERFECT, MAKING 7 KNOTS COURSE 194 TRUE.
QTH 46.23N 126.40W. HAVE CREW MEMBER WHO HAS TRAFFIC FOR
FARWEST BBS. CAN YOU RELAY MESSAGE? VE7GCT DE VE0TSR K."
In a moment an affirmative reply came back and Molly's
message was sent on it's way. A schedule was arranged for the
next evening so that any message from Ren could be transmitted
back to the SEA MOSS. The next evening Ren's reply was zapping
over the radio. "GOOD TO HEAR YOU ARE OK. YOUR APARTMENT TORN
APART BUT BEAST STILL THERE. DR.NODE AND BAUD JOB REPORTED TO
HAVE CAUGHT FLIGHT FOR HONG KONG. VONCRIPTIC STILL A PROBLEM!
REGARDS REN."
Molly heaved a sigh of relief, "Thank God that pair from
Macau had left Victoria!" She had a feeling that she had not seen
the last of those two.
The next few days passed quickly by. The two sailors took
their turns standing watches and cooking meals. Molly learned how
to use a sextant and plot lines of position. Before they knew it
the miles had added up and they were off Point Reyes heading for
the Golden Gate bridge. The SEA MOSS raced under the sweeping
arch into San Francisco Bay. In a short time the sails were
neatly furled and they were motoring up to the customs dock in
Sausalito. An hour later after filling many forms they were free
to wander ashore. The first thing the two sailors did was to find
hot showers and wash away the weeks accumulation of salt. Later
after a huge sea food lunch Molly called the air line office to
book a flight back to Victoria. It was going to be very difficult
saying good bye to Mark Shippes and the SEA MOSS!
The next morning found Molly with a tear in her eye as she
wished Mark "smooth seas and fair winds", and caught a cab to the
airport. An hour later at thirty thousand feet Molly was mulling
over the events of the last two weeks. Has Farwest been been
attacked by VonCriptic? Would Doctor Node and Baud Job return to
Victoria? Would the 80666 still operate? Would Mark Shippes
invite her to cruise the South seas?????????????
"Fasten your seat belts please!!!" Molly's flight was now
making it's final approach to Victoria International Airport.
..........To be continued.
Will the big battle with VonCriptic come in the next
episode? And if so who will win? Will Ren get all the door
time-outs fixed? For the answers to these and many more
questions stay tuned for episode #6 of the ADVENTURES OF
MOLLY MODEM.
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