GOD of a man

“When no one gives you a chance, it’s time to make your own way and carve your own destiny.”

Chapter Thirty Three: Shrinking miles
Dated: 3rd March, 2427

Humans have always been the least animal like animals. No animal other than humans, takes from nature anything more than what it needs to fulfil its’ basic needs. Humans have always molested nature, striping it of its’ pristine greenery and mineral resources. Nature has only been shamelessly ravaged in the name of development. Humans have always been worse than animals. Humans can never master their greed but their greed always masters them. Their greed makes them see opportunity even in a catastrophe. For every natural calamity that has been, there always were people who made a fortune selling coffins. For every plague there have always been doctors who made a fortune administering the cure. Humans always find a way to fill their coffers every time humanity suffers.

However opportunity is like an unexpected shower, no one knows how much and whom it will drench. And politics is a dirty game that humans, the ones’ with the power to alter someone’s future, play. Opportunity is their slave and embellishes the house of whomsoever they pick. How naive humans can be, they forget the biggest player who’s watching all their dirty tricks. They forget it is HIS game. It always was and it always will be. The one who is talented, even if someone closes all the doors on him, if he continues to work hard and innovates new means, HE opens ten other doors for him.

Robin thought he’s won the game when he left his wife and child with five other souls at the mercy of death. But Rosalyn wanted to live for her daughter, Lisa for her son, and the other three were in no hurry to die either. They might have been caught unawares, but they were not ready to give up. They were ready to fight and had everything to gain. Their efforts finally bore the fruit they desperately needed.

“Land,” Rajon spoke the magic word that re-kindled all the hope everyone on that craft needed. Their efforts gained impetus. As nature threatened to destroy everything that dared stand erect in the way of its’ furry, Rajon and Omar oared hard to take their raft towards safety. Rosalyn, Lisa and Alexia struggled to control the sails in wind that was gaining ferocity with every passing minute. Their efforts bore fruit. Their raft hit the beach before the first drops of rain kissed the two pair of innocent extended palms.

“Yes!” Rajon and Omar let out a joyous shriek as Rosalyn, Lisa and Alexia huddled together and cried their hearts out in relief. Jaden and Suzie jumped in joy.

“Lets’ get out of the raft and pull it ashore,” Rajon said.

“Why do we need to pull the raft ashore?” Omar asked.

“In case of a heavy storm, the violent seas can smash our raft against the rocks and capsize it, which we don’t want?” Rajon replied.

“Oh I see!” Omar exclaimed, “But what place is this anyway?”

“I don’t know but we’ll definitely find it out,” Rajon quipped as everybody got off the raft. He continued with his instructions, “Get our stuff out of the raft to make it lighter to pull.”

And they started pulling their raft out of water. The kids meanwhile were all over the beach, the thickening shower inciting their playfulness.

“Suzie, Jaden, careful you kids,” Rosalyn’s motherly instincts were immediately aroused, “Don’t run too far, stay near!”

The raft was pulled offshore and because of its’ design, it immediately tilted to its’ side. While Rajon, Alexia and Rosalyn dragged the raft inland, Omar and Lisa pulled at the toeing load of oil barrels. The drums were dragged as close to the beach as was possible until they got stuck in the sand. The rope that bundled them together was then tied to a rock. Omar and Lisa then joined the others in pulling the raft deeper on to the shore.

“How much more do you want to drag it in?” Lisa asked Rajon.

“We are going to use it as our wall against the storm. We need to get it as far away from the beach as we can as the waves are going to lash the shore ferociously,” Rajon explained as the shower became heavier. The kids stopped playing and returned to their mothers’ sides.

“Mom, I am getting wet,” Jaden innocently complained to Lisa.

“I am getting wet too,” Suzie pulled at Rosalyn’s hand.

“Don’t worry my love, our shelter will be up soon,” Rosalyn replied.

As soon as they were able to drag the raft to higher land they used the spare sails to make a tent for themselves. The body of the raft served as their shield against the raging storm. Strong winds lashed against the tapering raft body and slid across its’ side and over and above the penguin skin roof that sheltered them from the lashing rain. They huddled together under one blanket to weather the storm. Suzie and Jaden clung on to Rosalyn and Lisa. They were too scared to cry.

As Alexia hugged her husband tighter she noticed how Rajon was lost in some deep thoughts. He was looking out of the tent and at the sky of a dark day, a day darker than the night that had just ended.

“What’s the matter?” Alexia could finally bear it no more and asked Rajon what troubled his mind.

“Nothing,” Rajon replied with a deep sigh. After a few silent moments he finally said, “You remember how you said not even one drop will touch us before we hit the land?”

Alexia immediately sat up, “Yes!”

“Is someone really watching over us or is it just a coincidence and we are reading too much into it?” Rajon asked.

“I don’t know,” Alexia’s eyes filled up, “But it gives a lot of comfort thinking like that!”

“It does,” Rajon’s eyes brimmed as well and so did everybody else’s. They had suffered a lot over the last few days without complaining to anyone. They had felt lonely in a group and every breath had felt like a burden to be taken care of. They had felt helpless in spite of their valiant efforts. But this sudden belief in an unknown made them feel strong. The feeling of being orphans vanished.

Far from their struggles the sun shone brightly for another day on the Adelaide shores. Everybody was ready to take on another day of meaningless pursuits. Shiva however was not prepared for aimless meanderings anymore. First light he headed to Robin’s tent.

“Robin, are you up?” Shiva called out for him.

“Shiva, what’s the matter? Why are you up so early?” Robin got up rubbing his eyes.

“Robin, I was wondering what plan you have in mind for today,” Shiva asked.

“What do you expect? I am no magician who will pull out a trick within the blink of an eye!” Robin was made uneasy by Shiva’s pro-activeness and his displeasure at Shiva policing him over policy decisions was evident in his speech, “I told you I need some time to come with some plan. No one is dying of hunger or disease yet. What’s the rush and concern?”

“I am sorry Robin but I am not questioning your abilities or your authority,” Shiva realized he had inadvertently rubbed Robin the wrong way and tried his best to pacify him, “I was just worried about the people loosing their patience.”

“Shiva, people are not your responsibility anymore. Leave my job to me,” Robin was blunt in his reply.

Shiva was left speechless. He excused himself and went away but Robin realized he needed to do something before the rest of the populace lost faith in him and rose up in revolt. For the first time, he felt his position insecure. He got up and walked up to the beach where his eyes fell on giggling Andy and Natalie, both lost in their own little world unmindful of the surroundings, playfully tossing water at each other. Then the two began to wrestle each other into water. But their gaiety didn’t go down too well with Robin who immediately turned his face away and swore at them.

“Did you see that?” Daniel’s voice attracted Robin’s attention.

“What do you want me to do? She is your problem! If you can’t impress a girl than it’s not my fault,” Robin replied.

“Yes, I know it’s not your fault but then why did you kill my wife?” Daniel tried hard to control his voice from rising due to his rage, “Thanks to you I neither have my wife and nor my chick.”

“I did it for your good. Now if you are not man enough to win a girl, it’s not my problem,” Robin was not in a benevolent mood.

“I am man enough than you!” Daniel seethed with rage, “Do you want me to go and tell everything to the others now?”

Daniel’s threat took Robin by surprise and he gaped blankly at Daniel’s face. After a few silent moments he finally spoke, “Look, give me some time and I will come up with something. You need to control your emotions and not let yourself get bogged down. If we make any mistakes now we’ll loose everything. Remember, you are an equal accomplice to me in everything.”

Robin’s words calmed Daniel down. He thought about it and finally said, “I am loosing patience fast! Don’t take too long now. Do something!” Daniel walked away.

The morning had thrown up a lot at Robin to think about. His popularity among the public was at stake on one hand and at the other, his accomplice was ready to ditch him. He needed to stem the rot. He needed to give the people something to work on so that they don’t have any free time to think about and critically examine his efforts and ability as a President. He needed to give Daniel an opportunity to work on Natalie so that he doesn’t cause any trouble. And he needed to win over his wife’s sister. He had a lot of planning to do.

Later in the day, he mustered everyone for sharing his plan and dispatching instructions.

“Friends, we by the virtue of our courage, have finally arrived at the Adelaide shores. These shores represent a countless number of opportunities for us. It is up to us to tap all the resources available to the utmost efficiency,” Robin started his Presidential monologue, “Friends, we need to make a new world out of these sand dunes, a world as rich, diverse and developed as the one of our ancestors. We need to recreate the human glory of yore.”

“We all are with you! What would you like us to do?” Shiva’s interrupted the political broadcast.

“I was coming to exactly the same thing before my friend, you interrupted me,” Robin reacted with calculated aggression against Shiva. Robin realized that to save his position he needed to tackle Shiva and stop him from fragmenting his public persona. Robin continued, “The first thing we need to do is bring more people back from Hatsu Saisho over here. The more the number of hands, the quicker will be our progress. Besides, everyone will have to come over here anyway.”

“So what do you propose?” Shiva asked him again.

“My friend Shiva, I would like you to take our ship and the nine rafts back to Hatsu Saisho,” Robin knew the best way to tackle Shiva would be to send him away.

“But,” Shiva was taken by surprise and didn’t know what to say.

“There are no ifs and buts mate,” Robin continued, “You are one of the most experienced amongst us and you know the way now.”

“But I cannot do it on my own,” Shiva exclaimed.

“You won’t be alone my dear friend,” Robin replied, “Larry will travel along with you to make sure you get to the other end safely, and also going along with you will be Doctor Natalie. So you don’t need to worry about anything my friend.”

“Doctor Natalie, but she can’t go on this trip! What if we need a doctor over here?” Daniel objected much to Robin’s chagrin.

Robin hid his rage well and replied, “Don’t worry about us, we have Kina to take care of us.”

“What do you mean by us?” Daniel got suspicious.

“I would like you to accompany Shiva, Larry and Doctor Natalie on this trip,” Robin replied with a slight stress on Natalie’s name, almost enough to arouse suspicion in everyone’s mind yet in a way that wouldn’t invite a direct questioning. Daniel got confused as to Robin’s intentions but decided to keep quiet for the moment.

“I would like to go on this trip as well,” Andy put his name in the fray.

“I am sorry Andy but you cannot go on this trip. We need men to work over here,” Robin replied, “And this time it’s an order. Besides how long will it take for these people to return anyway? No, you are not allowed to go.”

Andy and Natalie both wanted to object but Robin’s authoritarian approach dissuaded them from it.

“But how are we going to toe these crafts unmanned? It’s impossible,” Shiva wasn’t too impressed by the plan.”

“What makes you think that I wouldn’t have come up with its’ solution?” Robin wasn’t taking any objections kindly anymore. His position was in danger and he was in no way going to let anyone jeopardise his plans.

“So what is your plan?” Shiva was losing his composure as well.

“The plan is to build a platform propelled by sails and stacking all the rafts above it. The platform will be like a bigger raft that will carry smaller rafts on it, and toed behind your ship,” Robin shared his plan, “Besides the wood used to make it, they might be able to use it to construct more rafts at Hatsu Saisho.”

Shiva was finally left speechless and could only say, “That just might work.”

“I am sure it will and Taio Bayer, our Boatwright should be able to create it for us,” Robin quipped.

“I think it can be done,” Taio Bayer replied.

“Good, then we can start digging for trees from today itself,” Robin set out the work to be done, “Lets’ start by recovering the map book from Steve’s possession. Shiva, he is your old friend, perhaps you could try and get it from him.”

“He sure was my old friend but after what we have done to him, I don’t think I’ll be welcome anymore. I think you are better of intrusting this task to someone else, perhaps Andy,” Shiva expressed unwillingness.

“No, I would like you to do it for us,” Robin wasn’t too keen on Andy getting a chance to be with Steve.

The meeting was dispersed for a while with instructions to regroup after the map book has been recovered from Steve. As everybody left, Daniel walked up to Robin.

“Why are you sending me on this trip?” Daniel asked Robin.

“You are such an idiot!” Robin replied, “Duffer, I am giving you two opportunities in one go. Not only can you impress the people of Hatsu Saisho with your credentials as a top bloke but I am giving you a chance to be with Natalie minus that jerk Andy. What more do you want from me?”

Robin’s words left Daniel dumbfounded. After an uncomfortable silence he sheepishly replied, “Thanks!”

Robin walked away.

The map book was recovered from Steve who once again pleaded his innocence to an unyielding Shiva. The task was cut out for the entire group. They needed to dig up buried trees while Taio Bayer got busy designing the raft.

Meanwhile, many nautical miles away from them, the five ditched and lost travellers had just about survived the most ferocious storms of their lives. When the winds and rain subsided they, finally got out of their make shift shelter. As soon as they stepped out their eyes fell on a piece of a carved stone that had just been revealed by the lashing rains that washed away the sand layers covering it.

“What’s that?” Omar asked.

“Looks like a cenotaph or a carved stone,” Rajon replied.

“What does it read?” Lisa asked.

Rajon walked over and bend down to read it, “It says, Melbourne, Victoria.”

“Let’s check it on the map that we have,” Omar replied and rushed to the bag containing maps and gadgets they had kept safe with them inside their shelter. He quickly opened up the map of Australia and searched for Melbourne, Victoria.

“There it is,” Rosalyn’s eyes caught the place on the map and she immediately pointed it out to the others, “We are to the east of Adelaide shores.”

“That’s a lot more miles to sail,” Omar said dejectedly.

“Don’t worry, if we have made it this far, we will make through the last bit of it as well,” Lisa gave him the strength.

“Besides now we can sail closer to the shore,” Rajon added, “It will take us longer but we will always be safe.”

Everybody heaved a sigh of relief before Alexia reminded everyone, “Lets’ check our fuel barrels if they are still safe and secure.”

They rushed towards the beach but to their horror the barrels that had got stuck in the sand giving them a secure feeling, were now floating around unbundled and scattered across the breadth of the sea.

“Oh no. How did that happen?” Lisa was shocked.

“Damn it,” and so was Omar.

“Perhaps the rising sea lifted them off the sand and the ferocity of storm unbundled them,” Rajon tried to guess the possible cause.

“What do we do now?” Omar asked.

“We’ll have to collect them again, one by one,” Rajon replied, “It will be hard work, but that is the only option that we have now.”

“Don’t you stress out guys, we are in no hurry,” Rosalyn exclaimed.

And the two men took to the task eagerly. They had little time to waste as more the delay further the barrels would float. They vigorously went about the task of collecting the barrels from the sea while the women fished for food and tended to the kids. Soon enough they had collected most of the barrels that were closer to the land.

“You see those barrels floating above the water?” Rajon asked Omar, “They are all empty. That’s why they are floating above the water. We couldn’t pull them out of the bundle at the sea but now our task has been made easier by the Mother Nature.”

“Wow, so much of an easy task,” Omar quipped and they both laughed.

By the time night fell they had nearly recollected all their stray fuel. Their recollected bundle was much smaller than the original, making their toeing load lighter and their upcoming journey, slightly quicker. The night progressed from their shore to the other shore where Robin, their criminal, resided with his selfish desires.

Many nights like this punctuated the days of hard labour when almost everybody present at Adelaide shores dug out buried trees so that Taio Bayer could construct the raft out of it. Once enough wood had been collected for the purpose the next objective that required attention was the fuel requirement for this trip and the journey back. To cover this requirement Robin instructed Andy and Daniel to take a trip to Port Adelaide with a few hands and get some more oil from the oil dump they had discovered during their first voyage. At the same time, Robin was making quick progress with Kina. He used her sorrow of loosing her sister, and sympathy for his loss, to build bridges between his and her heart. She innocently walked into his trap.

One such day Robin caught up with Kina on the beach.

“How are you Robin?” Kina looked in his eyes and asked.

“Just about fine Kina,” Robin replied with a fake sorrow on his face.

“Why do you look so sad?” Kina asked.

“I just can’t get over my loss of Rosalyn,” Robin said and he fell on his knees grabbing Kina’s hand and acted to cry, “If it wasn’t for you I would have broken down irreparably by now. You give me all the strength that I need.”

“You do the same for me Robin,” Kina replied as her eyes filled up, “You have never let me feel the pain of her loss. You give me all the comfort that I need.”

“If you won’t mind Kina, can I ask you something?” Robin asked.

“Go ahead Robin! You can say anything you want,” Kina said.

“Kina, I don’t know if it is right to ask or not, but would you honour me by being my wife?” Robin asked.