Page 5 of The Space Traveller's Lover
For a while, they had some hope that the violent winds would change direction and miss the island altogether, but the zigzag path of the advancing typhoon is invariably pointing towards the rugged west coast.
The islanders rush to the secured underground shelters, but the Sheppards have joined the Lobarts in the tuna farm’s control room. They reckon they have a better chance of spotting Sam and Erin from the high tower if the pair decide to come out from hiding.
As the wind brings in the strong smell of acidic rain, Sheppard and Lobart lock the shatterproof windows and doors. On the horizon, they can see the black clouds rolling over the agitated ocean, forming ever-increasing bulges as if preparing to engulf the whole island.
The bright lightning bolts fork through the clouds in random patterns as the sound of thunder vibrates through the supercharged atmosphere. The storm has arrived at their shores.
The reinforced steel tower is withstanding the brunt of the mighty two hundred and fifty kilometres per hour gales. Still, the howling winds and the constant deluge make the two anxious families fear that the thick metal trusses could begin to collapse after all.
“The control room will hold,” Lobart reassures them.
But no sooner has he spoken than the ear-splitting thunder and its blinding lightning strike rip through the air as if the sky had cracked into smithereens.
They sit tight with their backs against the wall, looking at each other in sheer awe and then bury their heads between their knees as if trying to protect themselves from an impending collapse, even though they know the sturdy tower was built to endure this type of weather.
As they huddle together in their sleeping bags, the sturdy towering structure is keeping at bay the unyielding winds and battering waves. Despite their initial fears, they eventually share a comforting feeling of security as they fall asleep.
The following day, when they finally hear a pause in the bucketing rain, after a whole night of relentless pounding, they are relieved that, at last, the raging storm appears to be moving away.
Lobart climbs onto one of the desks to get a better view from the window.
He reckons this must be the most powerful typhoon he has experienced in his whole life.
Wiping off the misty stormproof glass panes, he tries to discern any details through the thinning fog, barely making out the ghostly outline of the imposing cliffs in the distance.
“At least we’re in one piece,” he says as he turns around to face the rest of the group, now gathered behind him.
“The storms are getting more frequent and more powerful.” Martha sobs, fearing the worst for her son and Erin. “To think … if they got caught up in the tidal surge …”
“There’s no point in getting so upset, Martha. They are young and fit. They know how to look after themselves.” Pat tries to console her.
Lobart jumps down as Stella climbs up the desk. She contemplates the desolate grey scene with her eyes fixed on the same place she last saw her brother take Erin.
“Stella, come on down.” Sheppard urges her to take his hand. “There’s nothing to see until the weather clears.”
Stella gloomily nods as she reaches out to take her father’s hand, but before jumping down, she glances towards the window once more, as a sudden orange glow from the corner of her eye catches her attention.
“What was that?” She strains her eyes and focuses on the glittering orange light coming from the black cliffs.
“Stella! You’ve got to come down. We’re leaving!” Bill insists while Stella keeps staring into the distance.
She points towards the bright glow, but as she is about to ask her father to join her, the orange light goes out of her sight.
“Uh! I think I got a bit dizzy … I swear I saw a big bright orange light,” she claims as she jumps from the desk.
“Maybe it was one of the rescue helicopters!” Stella tries to justify herself under her father’s sceptical stare. “They should be resuming the search soon.”
“Stella, the helicopter lights are green, not orange,” Sheppard counters.
“Oh, forget it! It was the fog. I am so tired.” Stella gives up, noticing the dismissive look on everyone’s face.
The dwindling patting of the receding raindrops brings about an edgy aura of comfort as the emerging breaks in the clouds slowly restore their hopes to restart their search.
Lobart and Sheppard carefully sweep the ocean and the coast through the lookout telescopes, but all they can see is grim desolation .
As the group walks towards the exit doors and Mr Lobart unbolts the locking mechanism, all are eager to breathe in the fresh air.
Soon the fog starts to lift, and with renewed expectation, they watch as the helicopters fly along the coast, their roaring engines rattling and lifting their spirits.
The ARA’s rescue team is here to attend to the injured and repair the damages.
Surely the special brigades can make the difference in finding Sam and Erin. That is the thought in everyone’s mind.
But the storm is not done yet. The rain that follows lasts for two consecutive days while it seems the entire region will soon drown in the sea.
As the rain falls like a thick, impenetrable curtain, swollen water streams rush down the hills and form new waterfalls, blocking the roads with dislodged rocks and mudslides.
The ARA has already classified the mighty storm ravaging the small but vital island of Tinian as a Level 1 Emergency, the highest level.
Most of the island’s replanted trees have been mercilessly ripped off in mangled chunks and strewn across the landscape. The swollen water currents have carved new paths across the landscape, and the artificial reservoirs are now joined into a large single water basin.
The reinforced steel houses have fared better; they’re still standing up in one piece amidst the waterlogged fields.
When the rain eventually stops and as the water levels start to subside, everyone steps out into the open to face a landscape that has been mostly uprooted and remodelled.
The Sun’s shimmering disc shines through the now thinning higher clouds, signalling the long-awaited break in the weather. The warming sunbeams disperse through the floating water droplets, forming a brightly coloured rainbow over the ocean as if celebrating the end of the storm.
Finally, after four days of disruption, the rescue operations can resume across the island. At the same time, preparations are underway for their next attempt at the cave system’s most inaccessible site.
Now, the last hope of finding Sam and Erin rests in the unlikely area of Diablo’s cave’s gorge. But their families and the ARA’s rescuers haven’t given up yet.