Excerpt from A Storm in Any Port – Chapter 15

The shipping forecast had just started and everyone listened intently as the un-modulated voice of the announcer went through the sea areas;

“Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber.” When he got to, “Rockall, Mallin, Hebrides”, the guests’ ears pricked up.

“South westerly gales, seven to nine, occasional force ten, showers increasing to persistent heavy rain, visibility poor.”

The announcer went on to give barometric highs and lows, but by then the guests were looking apprehensively at Zander for his interpretation. Their spokesman asked,

“What exactly did all that mean?”

A glum-faced Zander switched off the radio.

“It’s not good,” he confided. “Not good at all. In fact, it is bad, very bad. It means that if we’re sensible, we’ll just sit here for the next day or two, until it all blows over.”

His little lambs looked suitably downhearted. Their earlier bravado had now been supplanted by a feeling getting very close to panic.

When they pressed Zander for a longer term view, his mouth turned down at the ends and his head canted to one side as he said, “As far as I can see, the weather is unlikely to improve for the next few days.”

At this pronouncement all of his listeners  suddenly remembered they had everyday responsibilities and work needing their personal attention. If they stayed here and were not in their offices to attend to attend their business affairs personally, all sorts of things might go wrong. Gloom and despondency tinged with uncertainty were gnawing at their thoughts, so once again they consulted their local advisor.

“What are our options?” piped up their spokesman.

Zander made a mime of thinking hard.

“We could try to get you back to Crinan. The puffer is perfectly capable of getting you there, but battering against wind and tide, it would be a very rough passage. On the other hand….

You will have to purchase a copy of A Storm in Any Port, to find out what happens next.