The Breeze February 2015

fully convinced by the similarities of the Canadian
Indian amulets and totems, and Pacific Islanders
amulets and idols, he was determined to provide
proof of his theory.
Named the “Illahee”, and after Albert was given the
name “Dokwaes” or “The man who looks toward
the distant horizon” by the Indian Chief, the boat
and crew, made up of university researchers, cast
off bound for Micronesia, provisioned for three
months. Two weeks out, some miles off the coast
of Baja, on a warm breezy night, with a full moon
hanging in the sky and silhouettes of clouds,
Albert began to notice something was amiss. The
far distant lights began to become closer and the
boat rising higher and higher. After some minutes
he alarmed the crew and understood what was
happening. He was being lifted up and pushed
ashore by a tsunami (caused by an earthquake
off the coast of Alaska). There was no sense of
the speed he was going and as land got closer,
the “”Illahee” crashed ashore. As light arose he
found that everyone had survived, but his boat was
sitting a hundred yards inshore, right in the middle
of a whale graveyard, Shipwrecked! The Pacific
to the west and barren Mexican desert to the
east. Rationing what food and water that was not
destroyed, in the 120-degree desert, evaporating
their urine to make water, nearing delirium.
Another miracle as a Mexican minesweeper
passing became alerted and they were rescued
from a horrible fate. The Captain had his crew dig
a slew, secured lines around the ship like a large
fishing net and pulled the “Illahee” to sea, like
they would do with a whale skeleton. Tying her
alongside they were towed to port. Out of respect
for a fellow mariner, and what he had set out to do,
the Mexican Captain secured what was necessary
to repair damages, resupplied the “Illahee” and
wished her fare winds as Albert headed to sea
alone, the researchers having been sent back to
Vancouver. The quest of proving his theory having
failed, for the time being, he headed south with a
new adventure in mind.
Albert’s story continues some months later with
English brothers, one a sheep farmer in New
Zealand, the other a sea captain who would carry
the wool to Europe each year. Captain McDonald,
with the “Tia Maria”, on one such return voyage
anchored in a Columbian harbor. While ashore he
purchased raw uncut emeralds from the annual
sheep profits, casting off immediately, for fear
of pirates or mutiny, instead of waiting for a
better season to make the Pacific crossing. A
short time out a storm sank the ship and the crew
marooned on a Panamanian Island, El Coco. Years
after rescue, Captain McDonald would build a
lucrative shipping business in Vancouver. Yes, the
old sea captain’s trunk and the log it contained
gave the location of the emeralds. Provisioning
the “Illahee” in a Panamanian fishing port he set
sail with the coordinates in hand. After several
relatively easy scary dives the wreck was found,
as were the emeralds. But Albert began to panic
with sharks circling and rose to the surface too
fast, the bends. Bleeding from his nose and ears
he passed out barely climbing over the edge of his
ketch. Two days later he was awakened with dried
blood over his face in extreme pain and deaf and
with great determination and effort returned to
the Panamanian port.
Three emeralds left. One a gift to the hospital
and caregivers that he stayed with for some time,
one to secure his needs for several years, and one
to a famous German doctor who would restore
his hearing. Having sent for his sons to join him,
earning a living with his art and having recovered
physically he set sail for Columbia and a new
adventure.
After some months of exploration, being
heralded at each port they stopped as his fame
and reputation had spread, they anchored in the
harbor of Santa Maria, Columbia. The evening was
clear with a full moon and starry night. The waves
gently lapped against the hull like a lullaby. Albert
suddenly sensed that something was deadly
wrong as he heard footsteps topside. When he
arose he was staring at an evil scared face man,
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