SARGASSO SAILS

CHAPTER 7

SAILING TO ATALANTOLL




   Whew! I am safely ensconced on Sargasso again. The Herb had really gone to my head and I had paddled around in circles before the Wandering Windigo finally wandered into the mother ship. Hungry...oh boy! The Herb had whetted my appetite as well. I should really throw a line overboard and try fishing for a change. Too much work...maybe later. I have a basket of fruit from Coco Key but I need something more substantial right now...a peanut butter and rhubarb sandwich. I'm not a vegan but we only had fruit and vegetables on board. Sargasso didn't have a refrigerator. Even if she did, it wouldn't work without the batteries that were still disabled. Oh no...this is my last jar of rhubarb. I wondered if they had any at Atalantoll. After several rhubarb sandwiches, I am finally sated. Back up to the cockpit.
   Decision time. Atalantoll is supposed to be on the far side of Konkerland but I cannot see it from here. The formidable cone of Konkerland stood tall, black and ominous, while the clouds around its summit swirled unnaturally and in all directions. It impeded all visibility beyond it. I had the choice of port or starboard as the wind was hitting Sargaso right on her nose. I chose starboard...bad choice. The boat seemed sluggish as it bobbed through the confused waters. I was not making much headway. Then a rogue wave splashed into the cockpit and I realized that the water was fresh. I had inadvertently sailed into a freshwater stream that seemed to be encircling Konkerland. It was only flowing at a knot or two, but this was enough to encumber my passagemaking.
   I hadn't gone more than a mile when I encountered what I thought was shoaling. Then I seemed to be getting sucked into a wild current as invisible things began hitting the starboard hull. Looking over the side, I was greeted by the sight of several one-eyed creatures from which protruded these pointed, probiscus-like appendages that were attached to the hull.
   Whoa! I thought I was supposed to be a passive observer. I shouldn't be involved with this. For the first time in the Summerlands, I felt the cold grip of fear. I thought about grabbing the gaff hook and ripping these seedy squiders apart. Instead I quickly jibed and took Sargasso hard towards the open sea. One by one, the Coners released their grip and disappeared beneath the grayish foam.
   Not all nature is benevolent. I gave a wide berth to the island while I thought about my close call. These creatures had attacked without provocation and without warning. How involved was I getting in the activities of these Summerlands?
   I was now glad not to have tried fishing. Who knows what I could have dragged on board only to turn on me? I had never worried about this up in Canada. I could just picture Larry back at the Tiki-Key:
   -Canadian fish...best in the world...and aluminum too.
   With Konkerland behind me, the weather cleared and I could make out the twin peaks of Atalantoll ahead. I had some time on my hands so I brought my keyboard up to the cockpit. It was strange that it worked but not the boat's batteries. I had rigged up a solar unit to power the keyboard and with all this Summerland sun, it worked fine. I had been composing a new rhapsody for some time now. I decided to try and incorporated some of the new sounds I had encountered thus far in my travels here. Technology had certainly taken a turn for the better. The digital era had ushered in a power-efficient and lightweight arsenal of sonic devices. By the time I was comfortable with any new software, the techies were already a couple of generations ahead of me. The old stuff could always be used for ballast. I saved my indulgences in the built-in digital recorder and stowed the keyboard below.
   Next, I tidied up the boat as I approached Atalantoll. I was finally rewarded for my long and arduous sail as I entered an idyllic lagoon. I had never before beheld such tropical beauty. There was no doubt that this was the most spectacular of all the Summerland islands.

ON TO CHAPTER 8 "IROGATORS"
GET ME OUTTA HERE...CONERS ATE MY GRANDMA