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“What?”
He pointed at the uppermost photo on the wall, a four-by-six-foot enlargement. The plate beside it read:
LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM THE DECK OF
BRITISH CARGO VESSEL SALISBURY,
ANCHORED ELEVEN MILES EAST OF KRAKATOA,
AUGUST 27TH, 1883.
SHOWN: PULAU (ISLAND)
LEGUNDI AND MOUTH OF LAMPUNG BAY
“Do you see it?” Sam asked.
“I see it.”
In the foreground of the photo against the backdrop of Pulau Legundi was a square-rigged, three-masted clipper ship, her upper hull painted black.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” Remi said. “I’m sure there were plenty of ships of that era that looked identical to the Shenandoah.”
“I agree.”
“Let’s find out. Shenandoah was two hundred thirty feet, twelve hundred tons, and rigged for battle. I guarantee you that a ship like that sails into the Sunda Straits, any captain or officer of the watch worth a damn is going to make note of it.”
THEY WALKED TO THE KIOSK, played with the touch screen for a few moments, then began searching the museum’s archives, which were organized and cross-referenced by subject, date, and key word. After an hour of trying various word combinations, Sam found an entry made by the captain of a German merchant ship named Minden.
He brought the translated text up on the screen:
26th August 1883, 1415 hours: Passed close astern by sail & steam clipper ship, identity unknown. Eight cannon ports observed on starboard beam. Vessel declined to return hail. Anchored on south side of Pulau Legundi.
Sam scrolled through a few more entries, then stopped again:
27th August 1883, 0630. Eruptions worsening. Nearly swamped by rogue wave. Have ordered crew to prepare for emergency departure.
“Here we go,” Sam murmured. He tapped the touch screen and another log entry filled the screen:
27th August 1883, 0800. Proceeding flank speed, course 041. Hoping to reach leeward side of Pulau Sebesi. Unidentified clipper ship still anchored south side of Pulau Legundi. Again refused hail.
Sam kept scrolling, then stopped. “That’s it. The Minden’s last entry. Could be her. The time frame is right; so is the description: eight cannon ports. The same number as the Shenandoah.”
“And if it was?” Remi replied. “The Minden’s last entry was two hours before Krakatoa’s final eruption. Whatever ship they saw probably made a run for it and either got clear or was overtaken by the tsunami or the pyroclastic flow.”
“There’s one more possibility,” Sam replied.
“Which is?”
“She suffered the same fate as the Berouw. She was picked up and carried inland.”
“Wouldn’t she have been found by now?”
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“Sumatra’s a big island, Sam. Where do you propose we start?”
Sam pointed up at the picture again. “The last place she was anchored.”