EYE IN THE STORM

Jeremy lives on a remote island off the coast of Queensland with his parents and his younger sister, Paula, known as Pal. He is 13 years old and was blinded in an accident five years ago.

….. Jeremy no longer tried to remember what it was like to see. At least not with his eyes. He had his own way of seeing.

He knew the pungent smell of the gorse bushes. He knew by the feel of the air what sort of clouds would be in the sky…. And he knew the many faces of the ocean simply by listening to the rhythm of the surf.

He often thought his way of seeing was more accurate than other people's eyes. He always knew when a change in the weather was due or when people were saying things they didn't really mean. He called it 'feeling the air'.

Then there was his 'secret'. Whenever Jeremy could sense that someone was feeling sorry for him, which they often did and which he always hated, he'd tell himself over and over 'they don't know my secret. They don't know the power I have'. He'd told no-one but Pal and he'd sworn her to secrecy.

…..The bright blue sailing boat his father had bought him was Jeremy's pride and joy, and every spare moment the children were allowed from their schoolwork was spent sailing up to the rocky point of the island. There they'd fish for the prized barramundi and dive for the abalone shellfish on the reef.

If anything, Jeremy's prowess in skippering had improved since the accident, or rather since he'd acquired his sense of 'feeling the air'. He seemed to be one with the tides, the winds and the very ocean itself. Although Pal would 'see' for him when they were approaching the shore or reef, even this often appeared unnecessary. He seemed to sense where the rocks were by the lap of the water about them.

Jeremy's and Pal's cousin Peter is visiting from the city. Peter dares Jeremy to disobey his father's strict rules and sail them to one of the far distant islands.

….. Jeremy eased the mainsail out a little. 'That's funny,' he remarked, 'the wind's changing. Which way's the island now Pal?'

'A bit to starboard. We're half way there.'

Jeremy shook his head, puzzled. 'We won't be able to hang off the reefs from the near side in this breeze. We'll have to go around the back.'

As they neared the island, the wind suddenly dropped.

'I don't like it,' Jeremy muttered.

Pal look anxiously up at the sky. 'It's clouding over.'

'They're storm clouds too,' Jeremy nodded, 'I can feel it. I only hope we can get around to the other side before it breaks.'

Only minutes later, the wind dropped altogether and the boat drifted listlessly through the water. The sky darkened and the air was humid. On the horizon, the threatening grey sea and sky met as one, and all about them was eerie and still.

Then the storm hit. Streaks of lightning cracked the black sky, followed by a huge clap of thunder. Fierce winds ripped at the sails, and as the boat keeled over, Peter clutched frantically for a hold.

'Pal!' he yelled as the waves dragged him over the side.

'Peter's overboard!' she screamed.