Will of Man - Part Three Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: William Scanlan
the PULL. Balow needed to get off the boat so he could start his journey. Otherwise he was going to suffer.
I went to the captain and told him of Balow's situation, that he had been PULLED. The captain gave his condolences, but said it was too dangerous to pull the boat to the shore.
He said the banks are littered with sunken trees and boulders that could puncture the hull of the boat.
The captain added he has spotted pirates following them via the edge of the river through the woods. He reassured me that Balow was strong and could hold on till we reached a safe zone.
Balow was pacing the deck clutching his chest as he walked. He was in noticeable pain and most everyone seemed to notice. The GIVERS on board came to his support and tried to comfort him. Balow seemed to know a lot of people on board. I guess he's traveled this route before, apparently many times.
I made Balow a comfortable nest in our room (closet), where he laid down. The farther we traveled, the worst he got.
He told me not to worry - but I did. Balow had me get my atlas. Together we decided on a place to meet after he returned from his PULL. He said he could tell his opponent was close and it shouldn't take long to find him. How Balow knows this, eludes me.
Balow said for me to wait for five days. If he doesn't come, then I should leave and continue on north on our preplanned route. He never said if he dies, he just made it seem like his PULL may take longer, and I shouldn't wait for him if it does. He said he’d catch up.
Tyler's Journal Entry: 388
Date: July 30
Day: Tuesday
Weather: Crazy Storm!
Miles to go: 580
Balow suffered through the night. I don’t think he slept at all. I was worried he was going to try his luck and jump ship. But he didn’t.
However, Balow’s suffering was the least of his worries for today. Mid-day a crazy storm hit us and all heck broke loose. The Cumberland River has a moderate current as it is, but with today’s storm, moderate turned into a roller coaster ride.
The river must have rose five feet in depth. The winds were gusting near hurricane levels. People were laying on the deck holding on to dear life. The captain actually had the propellers going in reverse to slow the boat down against the pulling current.
I caught glimpses of the captain trying to steer the rocking boat. He looked like a wild man trying to control the boat. A couple times the boat spun around in a complete circle.
A crew member came around and handed me and Balow life jackets. He said the river is moving too fast to try and dock near the river bank. The current has made it impossible to stop the boat. I asked when we would be able to stop. The man just looked at me and shrugged his shoulders.
He said things will get worse before they get better. The man warned that the river narrows, and making it through without running aground or capsizing, would be very difficult.
Balow and I grabbed our life jackets and proceeded to put them on. I made sure to put on my wetsuit before I put on my life jacket. Even though Balow was sick, he managed to chuckle when he saw me in my wetsuit. He said I looked like Batman in a life vest.
It was dark out by now, and I could catch glimpses of the river when ever lightning would strike. The rain was pouring and the wind was rocking the boat violently. There was no staying put in one place. I was working hard to just stay on the boat.
I saw the river starting to narrow. It went from about a half mile across, to about thirty yards. Once we entered the narrowest part of the river, the current picked up even more.
By now I was watching the trees fly by in a blur. Many of the oil lamps went out because of the rain, and I could hear the crew members franticly shoveling coal into the burners in attempts to keep the engines going.
The captain yelled out, “Fallen tree, dead ahead! Brace yourselves!” He barely finished his sentence when the boat came to sudden stop. Everyone and everything shot forward
I went to the captain and told him of Balow's situation, that he had been PULLED. The captain gave his condolences, but said it was too dangerous to pull the boat to the shore.
He said the banks are littered with sunken trees and boulders that could puncture the hull of the boat.
The captain added he has spotted pirates following them via the edge of the river through the woods. He reassured me that Balow was strong and could hold on till we reached a safe zone.
Balow was pacing the deck clutching his chest as he walked. He was in noticeable pain and most everyone seemed to notice. The GIVERS on board came to his support and tried to comfort him. Balow seemed to know a lot of people on board. I guess he's traveled this route before, apparently many times.
I made Balow a comfortable nest in our room (closet), where he laid down. The farther we traveled, the worst he got.
He told me not to worry - but I did. Balow had me get my atlas. Together we decided on a place to meet after he returned from his PULL. He said he could tell his opponent was close and it shouldn't take long to find him. How Balow knows this, eludes me.
Balow said for me to wait for five days. If he doesn't come, then I should leave and continue on north on our preplanned route. He never said if he dies, he just made it seem like his PULL may take longer, and I shouldn't wait for him if it does. He said he’d catch up.
Tyler's Journal Entry: 388
Date: July 30
Day: Tuesday
Weather: Crazy Storm!
Miles to go: 580
Balow suffered through the night. I don’t think he slept at all. I was worried he was going to try his luck and jump ship. But he didn’t.
However, Balow’s suffering was the least of his worries for today. Mid-day a crazy storm hit us and all heck broke loose. The Cumberland River has a moderate current as it is, but with today’s storm, moderate turned into a roller coaster ride.
The river must have rose five feet in depth. The winds were gusting near hurricane levels. People were laying on the deck holding on to dear life. The captain actually had the propellers going in reverse to slow the boat down against the pulling current.
I caught glimpses of the captain trying to steer the rocking boat. He looked like a wild man trying to control the boat. A couple times the boat spun around in a complete circle.
A crew member came around and handed me and Balow life jackets. He said the river is moving too fast to try and dock near the river bank. The current has made it impossible to stop the boat. I asked when we would be able to stop. The man just looked at me and shrugged his shoulders.
He said things will get worse before they get better. The man warned that the river narrows, and making it through without running aground or capsizing, would be very difficult.
Balow and I grabbed our life jackets and proceeded to put them on. I made sure to put on my wetsuit before I put on my life jacket. Even though Balow was sick, he managed to chuckle when he saw me in my wetsuit. He said I looked like Batman in a life vest.
It was dark out by now, and I could catch glimpses of the river when ever lightning would strike. The rain was pouring and the wind was rocking the boat violently. There was no staying put in one place. I was working hard to just stay on the boat.
I saw the river starting to narrow. It went from about a half mile across, to about thirty yards. Once we entered the narrowest part of the river, the current picked up even more.
By now I was watching the trees fly by in a blur. Many of the oil lamps went out because of the rain, and I could hear the crew members franticly shoveling coal into the burners in attempts to keep the engines going.
The captain yelled out, “Fallen tree, dead ahead! Brace yourselves!” He barely finished his sentence when the boat came to sudden stop. Everyone and everything shot forward
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