Todd Baxter looked toward the horizon as My Dream slipped swiftly away from shore and the marina. The sky, a brilliant blue, reflected in the water with dazzling intensity. He had sailed out of this marina many times with Julie, his first mate, sail hauler and wife so there wasn’t anything new on this beautiful summer morning. Or was there? In his early fifties, the prime of life he couldn’t understand why he felt edgy and unsatisfied. He glanced at his beautiful wife, her long brown hair flying in the breeze wondering if he still loved her.

            “Julie,” he called, “We’ll head into the wind. You haul the jib when I call.”

            “Whenever you’re ready,” she said and climbed onto the deck to loosen the lines.

            He turned the boat, stopped the motor and the sails filled. The silence relaxed him. His new job was great with benefits that allowed him to make decisions and still satisfy his need to be creative. Julie had helped him when he lost his job and supported him as he worried about his future but it had changed things between them. They talked less and didn’t share their daily activities nor even discuss plans for the future. She grew distant and their sex life became routine and then stopped altogether. He thought back to when all this to take place.  Let’s see, he thought, I started the new job eight months ago and before that I was at home for six months so it must have been over a year ago that we stopped talking. She was busy with her career and making more money than he had ever earned. That didn’t both him. He was a modern man but his life was more than half over. Was this all there is?

            Could it be me or is it her, he wondered, as she stepped back into the cockpit, her long slender legs stretching from white cotton shorts. She looked good and he felt an old itch in his crotch. Would she go for a quickie in the forward birth?

            He had never understood what went on in her mind. Maybe the change of life was affecting the way she reacted to him. They hadn’t had a passionate kiss or even a mild flirtation together for so long. Could it be the hormone replacement pills she had been prescribed that affected her? He didn’t know. Todd had attempted seduction from time to time without success. Why not try again now?

            “I could put the boat on automatic steering and we could slip into the birth for some quiet time,” he said showing his most winning smile.

“I’ll make something to eat” she replied, “keep your hands on the wheel, captain.”

He watched her step through the hatch into the cabin and turned the boat onto a beam reach scudding along the distant shoreline.

“Yep, no luck again,” he muttered into the wind. His mind went to the woman he met on his train every morning and evening. It was curious how they first became acquainted. She sometimes sat next to him, it was uncomfortable at first but he found himself liking to be with her and wondering if they were meant to get together. After all, he has sexual needs even if Julie doesn’t. He never thought of leaving Julie but the idea of an affair was intriguing. They had agreed to have lunch together on Monday. The prospect made him both anxious and excited.

He felt good and it was glorious to be on the water in control of his beautiful boat under full sail cruising with the wind near the maximum hull speed. They rapidly passed a couple of other boats waving to the other captains and he was pleased at how well Julie crewed with him. He didn’t know of many other men whose wives worked as well as Julie.

He glanced at the barometer, the needle had fallen slightly from the high-pressure reading shown on the marker needle and turned on the weather radio. In a moment a metallic voice reported conditions on the upper lakes and in the outer channels eventually describing his area. “Sunny skies will give way to a cold front from the north moving at about 15 knots in a south easterly direction. Heavy winds and rain accompanied by lightning is expected in the early afternoon. A small craft advisory is in effect for regions included in this area.”

Not good news Todd thought as he mentally calculated his distance from the marina and the time it would take to get back. They’d been out over three hours sailing with a favourable wind and he reckoned at least three hours to make home if the wind didn’t change significantly. He would sail since the boat made better time under sail than on the motor. It had been hard to start lately and was running rough anyway.

Julie came up from the cabin with a sandwich and a beer. Todd told her about the weather and that he was coming about to head home. She ducked as the boom swung across the cockpit and they reversed course. As they scanned the horizon toward home the first line of grey clouds appeared over the distant shoreline.

“The wind is dropping,” she said.

“Yes, haul the jib as tight as you can, I’ll haul the main.”

They had to tack in a less favourable direction and the wind became erratic changing direction and force frequently. He steered the boat to the wind hoping to maintain a reasonable speed on course to the marina while he ate his sandwich. Julie watched uncertainly.

“Todd”, she said, “I’ve been worried about you lately. Are you feeling okay? Is there anything going on I should know about?”

Todd looked at her. Could she read his mind too?

“Listen, Julie, nothing’s going on. What’s the matter with you? Why’d you ask something like that?”

The tone of his voice was not pleasant. She looked him in the eyes and didn’t say anything but took his plate and beer can into the cabin. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

The dark clouds were approaching very fast. The wind was very uncertain and the sails filled and then drooped followed by a blow from a different direction. Todd was confused now and uncertain.

“Julie, a storm is coming. I need you to furl the jib while I reef the main. I’m going to start the motor.”

She came up from the cabin. Her eyes were moist, maybe she was crying, but she did what she was asked. He tried the motor but it only coughed. It wouldn’t catch.

            While he worked with the engine she secured the lines, stowed the dishes the cabin, got out the rain gear and set the security lines. He admired the way she knew what to do and he asked her to call the marina and tell them where they were and the situation confirming that everything was fine for now. Suddenly a wind shear cut across the bow and drove the boat hard to the port. The boom swung wildly across the cockpit and caught tight on the line. Fortunately the sail was reefed but the boat leapt ahead through the rapidly rising swells that soon became whitecaps crashing over the bow, The sky darkened and visibility dropped to a few metres when suddenly the first blinding flash of lightening jagged into the water almost directly off their beam. A deafening thunder crash shook the boat just as another dazzled his eyes followed by another flash and another quickly followed. The water appeared to be alive as electric currents raced across the waves. It wasn’t more than a couple of minutes before a torrent of rain washed over them with hail that bounced off the deck and filled the cockpit with glassy shards of ice.  The boat began to ride better as the rain and hale smoothed the waves but the wind howled and the thunder was deafening.

Slowly the lightning moved out into the lake and Todd felt relief as the threat of a direct hit receded. The boat seemed to be making way but Todd couldn’t tell where they were. The GPS was not working but the compass showed their course to be in the general direction of home. The wind was driving them further into the lake and Todd tried to steer a course that was parallel to the shore but far enough out that he wouldn’t ground. He tried the motor again and by some miracle it caught. Maybe he had flooded it before in his anxiety but he felt better with the purr of the four cylinders under his feet. He reckoned that the front would pass soon and that the sky would clear somewhat even if the wind remained strong and the lake very rough.

Julie stood beside him during the worst of the storm and as the lightening moved away she asked if there was anything she could do. He shook his head no.

“I’ll get out of the rain, she called.”

“Be careful on the steps,” he yelled over the wind, “they’re slippery.”

She stepped into the cabin as a strong wave rolled the boat sending her sprawling on the steps, hitting her head on the counter, then she collapsed on the floor and lay still. Todd hadn’t seen her fall.

“Are you okay you, Julie?’ he called.

No answer.

He looked down the hatch. She was on the floor, blood matting her hair. The sky was still black and the wind rolled the boat from side to side as it bucked its way through the turbulence. It was dangerous to leave the helm but he had to help her. Setting the steering on automatic he ducked into the cabin and lifted her head. She moaned. Her blank eyes and the pallor of her skin frightened him. He straightened her out, put a pillow under her head and covered her with blankets as best he could in the cramped space. She moaned again.

“How are you, Julie?”

She mumbled something and drifted into unconsciousness. Todd, panic-stricken, reached for the radio to call for help.

“Come in marina base, hurry, this is Todd Baxter on My Dream, I have a medical emergency, hurry, please, over.”

“Marina base to My Dream, what is the problem?”

Todd described the situation as quickly as he could.

“I’ll patch you to police emergency rescue, standby, over.”

The marina operator relayed the message to the police emergency rescue and when they were connected he repeated what had happened.

“Rescue here, My Dream, We have a vessel ready to help. Don’t move the patient until we get there. The weather is improving in your area, over.”

“My boat is okay but I can’t see the shore. Where am I? Over.”

“We have you on radar about three kilometres from shore and two kilometres west of the marina. Steer 30 degrees, we’ll monitor you, over.”

Todd climbed on the deck, furled the mainsail and then set the course as directed. The boat bucked and rolled against the waves. He knew a sailboat likes to move with the wind, not against it and this boat fought hard to maintain headway. He called again.

“My Dream to Emergency, Come in emergency, over.”

“Emergency here, over.”

“I’m having trouble on 30 degrees, the boat is hardly making way with the waves, over.”

“Ease off to 40 degrees, how’s the patient, over”

“I’ll check, over.”

He went to Julie and found her body shaking and jerking wildly. Her eyes were closed and her breath was gasping. He held her and whispered to hold on and felt her arms tighten slightly.

“Emergency, this is My Dream, she’s convulsing, I need help soon. It’s going to take an hour to get to the marina, that’s too long, help, over.”

“We’re working on it, hold on My Dream, over.”

Todd tucked the blankets around her and went back to the cockpit. The boat was still pointed on course but was drifting further out on the lake, rolling wildly. At this rate the trip would take two hours. He searched his mind for a plan but couldn’t think clearly. He felt trapped as in a dream where nothing was as it should be. Another gust of wind slanted more rain on the stricken boat as a rogue wave crashed over the bow, washed into the cockpit and down to the cabin. Stunned for a moment, his mind cleared and he jumped into the cabin to lift her head out of the water. What now, he knew he couldn’t leave even if the rescue had said not to move her. The birth is dry. I’ll put her there. Why didn’t I put her there first, she’s wet. Can’t I do anything right anymore? The water finally ran out of the cabin to be pumped out of the bilge.

At least the motor was running smoothly but the flickering needle on the gas gauge caught his eye. It was close to empty. That can’t be, he thought, we had lots of fuel last weekend. Please, don’t run out of fuel now. The motor was running at full revs and he couldn’t reduce speed or they wouldn’t make any headway at all. Oh God, is this punishment for thinking what I’ve been thinking. Please don’t let her die. It’s just not fair, the rain mixing with tears in his eyes.

            They fought on for another quarter of an hour before the engine stopped. Todd pointed the bow into the wind and called the marine operator with the bad news.

“Emergency, this is My Dream, the motor’s stopped. We’re in trouble. I’m fighting to keep from broaching. Hurry, Over.”

“My Dream, this is emergency, a rescue boat is on the way, it will be in your vicinity in ten minutes. Hold on. The wind is dropping and you’ll be fine. A medic is on our boat so don’t worry, she’ll be okay. Over.”

The sound of a motor rose over the wind and Todd became aware of the police cruiser taking shape in the rain. He picked up his radio, found the rescue frequency and heard the voice of the rescue captain.

“We’ll throw you a line and take you in tow,” the voice said carefully. “Then we’ll get the medic on board to see about your wife.”

The rescue boat was as close as possible under the conditions. Someone heaved a line. It fell short and they took precious seconds to haul it back. The second throw landed the line in the cockpit and Todd caught it just as the end was about to slip over the side. The sudden pull nearly hauled him out of his boat but he held on and gathered slack. Somehow he must attach the line to his bow cleat

It looked a long way to the bow with the boat rolling wildly. He took a deep breath and climbed out of the cockpit slowly making his way over the deck, past the main mast to the jib. Almost there, he thought, but just as he looped the line on the cleat another huge wave washed over the boat. His body began to slide toward the lake when it hit hard onto starboard railing. Pain wracked his thigh as he fought for balance and then struggled back to make the line fast.

 Easing himself carefully back into the safety of cockpit he leaned against the bulkhead to catch his breath and adjust to the pain in his thigh. The rescuers hauled the line bringing Todd’s boat close to their stern and in spite of the danger the medic leapt on board the stricken sailboat. The police slackened the line to towing length and revved up their engine heading for safety.

The medic went immediately to Julie. After a quick examination for vital signs he gave her a shot to settle her and dried her face and hands. He checked the head wound and kept her lucid.

Todd watched the powerful rescue boat tow them into the harbour and felt grateful for the strong hands that gently placed Julie in a waiting ambulance. She opened her eyes before they closed the door where Todd stood looking on anxiously.

“Sorry Todd,” she whispered.

He kissed her, “You’ll be okay now, dear. I’ll follow you to the hospital.”

“You finish things here first.” Her eyes closed.

Todd stayed to secure the boat and report to the marine police. He thanked them profusely for saving his wife. His mind was in turmoil as he climbed into his car. He was sure he loved Julie, they had been married for twenty-one years, but then he remembered the woman on the train. What will I do about lunch tomorrow now?

The End