Lost Voyage

By Chris DiBella

In 1857, a steamship carrying a valuable cargo vanishes during a storm. For well over a century her whereabouts are unknown until one day she is discovered lying beneath the forest of the Nicaraguan jungle.
Sean Mercer, along with NESA (National Environmental Security Agency), is in Nicaragua studying the effects of water pollution that have wreaked havoc on local communities.
What they uncover is more sinister and deadly than just the threat of tainted water. Mass genocide, brutal dictatorship, and a country living in fear of its own leaders is just the beginning of what Sean and his team must put an end to before it's too late.
When knowledge of a ship with a priceless cache surfaces, two sides struggle to uncover the mystery of how and why the lost ship came to be buried so far from sea, and what exactly it is that lies beneath the dense forest floor.
Now, it's a race against time stop the bloodshed, find the ship, and retrieve the valuable cargo before Mercer and NESA become victims themselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chris DiBella
• Release date: Feb 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310932243

Chris DiBella

Chris DiBella is the author of the NESA Files series. His latest novel, Blood Dawn is the third installment to feature Sean Mercer and the rest of the NESA team. Chris lives in Carlsbad, California, where he is active in the local community with other writers helping to spread the word about the wonderful world of books. He can sometimes be seen at local golf courses, pretending he knows how to golf, and he also authors a zombie/horror series under his pen name, Chris Tucker, titled The Infected Diaries. To contact Chris, you can visit www.chrisdibella.com www.facebook.com/authorchrisdibella or email: [e-mail]

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Prologue

San Francisco 1857

She was magnificent. She had the kind of attraction that mesmerized one's inner soul. There was a grace about her that could make any man heel before her in complete and utter submission. And now, as she sat there seemingly frozen in time and awaiting her next excursion, the only thing onlookers and passersby could do was simply admire her amazing and breathtaking beauty. Only a few select men had been fortunate enough to get their chance with her, but none carried the character and prowess of Captain Thomas J. Mackie.

Mackie was a proud and stout man. Standing at five-feet ten inches and one hundred ninety pounds, the squat, yet muscular Bostonian had a confidence and poise about him that many respected and admired.

A fisherman’s son, he had grown up sailing the murky and often treacherous waters of the Grand Banks. He came from a long line of sword fishermen and grew up knowing the meaning of hard work and strong values. From childhood, he developed a love for the open water, and his father, a retired naval officer, had instilled in him a great life lesson – respect for the ocean.

From an early age, he knew his calling in life. After his father’s passing, young Thomas vowed to carry on the family legacy and continue in the footsteps of all the Mackie men before him – he was to become a Sea Captain.

After entering the Navy and rising to the rank of Lieutenant, an opportunistic assignment had presented itself to the strapping officer. He was second in command on a vessel that would lead the first scientific expedition to explore the Amazon River Valley. He would later write a book about his findings and, as a result of his experiences, was promoted to Captain. In a short time, he would be given his own ship. He couldn’t have realized then that he would become the proud commanding officer of what many would consider to be the most beautiful ship of her time, the steamship dubbed the SS Alyssa Marie.

A side-wheel steamer, from bow to stern she was three hundred and eighty-five feet long with sixty-five feet accounting for her beam. The massive three-thousand-ton vessel had been commissioned five years prior and Mackie was the third commanding officer to take her helm. He had been in command for just over two years now, safely completing sixteen voyages heading into this upcoming trip.

Some of the ships opulent features included the most amazing staterooms and dance halls, and lounges decorated the upper decks where orchestras, stewards, chefs and barbers served the needs of travelers. She was powered by ten boilers, each thirty-four feet long, and had cylinders forty-three inches in diameter. The main cabin stretched two hundred and forty feet, featuring chandeliers and a single piece of Moroccan carpet that was fifteen feet wide. The cargo area carried thousands of pounds of mail items, and since it was also a mail ship, law dictated that it must be commanded by a U.S. Naval Officer and crew. The ship could easily carry eight hundred total passengers and ninety roustabouts.

Now, sitting at a dock in San Francisco, the Alyssa Marie was poised for her next journey, which would also be her final voyage. She was being decommissioned to make way for a newer fleet of steamships and on this last trip, she would carry her most precious cargo to date. Along with the standard passengers and mail she would haul, there were a few extra valuables on board in carryover containers from a boat that had shipped out only a few days prior. The ship was overstocked and could not contain all of its cargo, so Mackie had graciously agreed to bring them into port a few days later.

Only he was informed of what the contents of the crates were. The Captain of the other ship didn’t want any of the passengers and crew knowing what was amongst them, therefore avoiding thievery that came with such valuables. Mackie was slightly offended by this since his crew was personally handpicked by him and was comprised of some of the most trustworthy men he had ever known. He was sure he could count on their secrecy, but alas, had agreed on silence for the long trek to Panama, where the cargo would be transported to the Atlantic Ocean and then on to New York City.

He was told the crates contained gold bars weighing approximately a total of ten thousand pounds. The Alyssa Marie had never carried such cargo in her hauls before, at least not of this magnitude. She was simply a mail steamship that carried wealthier passengers from the west coast to the Panamanian railway during the California Gold Rush. He had no hesitation or cause for concern as to loading the extra crates for this journey and he assured the Great Northern Lights Company’s Captain the gold would arrive safely and on time. Thomas Jeremy Mackie was a man whose word could be counted on, and he intended to keep it that way.

Shortly after eight a.m., and under the fanfare of waving friends, family members, flying flags and live music playing, the SS Alyssa Marie cast off her mooring lines. Two of the three harbor tugs began gently pulling the ship away from the pier, while the third proceeded to nudge the bow towards the harbor entrance, allowing the steamship to glide off into the open waters of the Pacific Ocean. The weather was clear and all indications of a pleasant journey seemed to be in place.

***

The voyage started out with beautiful skies and light winds. One couldn’t have asked for better sailing conditions. They had been on the high seas for five days now, and the voyage had gone off without a hitch. Sitting in his quarters after a nap, Mackie decided to take a walk around the ship and mingle with a few passengers. Having just opened his cabin door, he noticed the stiff breeze at his face. He had only been asleep for a short time, but the ocean’s swells had picked up noticeably.

On his walk, he passed by an elderly couple leaning on the rail and sharing an intimate moment. He tipped his cap as he walked by and the woman let out a shameful look. He thought of his wife in that moment and longed for the voyage home, and to be in her arms again.

Upon the completion of his stroll, he entered the bridge to go over some charts. The First Mate was the first to engage him in conversation.

Good afternoon, Captain. Did you rest well?

I did, Geoffrey. Thank you. What’s the current weather status?

Well, sir, it doesn’t look promising. Swells have increased over ten feet in the past hour alone. I was just about to come wake you, but wanted to have an accurate report before doing so. All readings indicate we’re heading into a strong storm system. What course of action should we take?

Continue on course for now. We might just push through this if the Gods are on our side. You and I have been through our share of storms and have yet to back down from one. I don’t intend for this to be any different. Mackie was confident in both his ship and his crew to weather out the storm and he knew they could handle whatever came their way.

Aye, Captain, replied the First Mate. We shall indeed push through this.

Geoffrey Taylor was no stranger to the will and determination of his Captain. They had made several voyages together and all had ended safely and without incident, so he had no reason to second-guess his superior at this stage. He had the utmost confidence in his commanding officer, and friend, and knew the Captain would guide them through this as well.

As time went on, the seas grew more and more restless. Mackie could tell by the ominous cloud patterns and gale force winds that they were heading straight into the path of a hurricane. He had seen many strong storm systems on the Grand Banks as a youngster and was no stranger to the devastating destruction they could accomplish. Still, he remained steadfast in his determination to weather out this particular storm.

A few hours later, the swells were over twenty feet and all notion of a calm remainder to the journey had been laid to rest. The seas were rough and choppy, and most of the passengers were in their cabins, ill to the point of vomiting. All activities and events had been cancelled by the Captain so the crew could focus its energy on taking care of the ship and its passengers. The hammering seas had started taking its toll on the vessel and leaks began appearing in the hull. Mackie knew that for the next few days, the crew and passengers of the Alyssa Marie would be at the mercy of the hurricane barreling down on them. They were going to have to ride out the storm.

By the next morning, the swells were so high they completely came over the deck. The pounding onslaught of wave after wave was too much for the ship to take and Mackie could no longer subject his boat and the lives of those on board to any more railing. He was going to have to head inland. They were taking on water at an alarming rate and he knew if the water started flooding the boiler room, then the side-wheels would cease to turn, thus discontinuing the crew control of the ship that would be needed to keep them on a course into the wind and facing the waves. Without those side-wheels, they would be at the unrelenting mercy of the storm.

Mackie had gone over his charts and assessed they were still eight hundred miles from Panama City. From there, the passengers and cargo would be transported to the Panama Railroad for the four-hour journey across land where they would board a ship that would take them the rest of the way. The Captain’s first priority was the safety and well-being of his passengers and, if he didn’t head inland now, he could not guarantee they would make it safely to port. Due to the extreme weather barreling down on them, and having lost all means of communication, he made the decision to remove the ship from the open water.

After studying his maps, he concluded they would head to an inlet off the coast of Nicaragua. There was a river that headed inland near Puerto Sandino that looked to be a safe haven from the hammering winds and waves. From there, they could head up the canal to Tamarindo, a mining town they could rest at for a few days and wait for calmer seas.

The journey upstream was not a comfortable one for the crew of the Alyssa Marie. The river was only about a hundred feet wide, freeing up around thirty feet on each side of the vessel. The canal was deep enough for safe maneuverability, but the banks on either side were not so inviting. It was obvious that the canal was made for much smaller vessels than the massive steamship, but Mackie had no choice but to continue his course.

The five-mile trek seemed to take forever as the ship eased around the bends and curves of the river. The winds had subsided slightly due to the land mass forming a wall against the howling force, but the water was still choppy. Still, it wasn’t bad enough to stall the crew in their efforts to reach the safety of port. After a few more bends and turns in the river, the lights of Tamarindo could be seen through the driving rain.

They pulled up alongside a large dock and tied the mooring lines to prevent the ship from drifting off away from the pier. The river had opened up to a wider stretch, allowing for easier maneuverability of the vessel. Mackie then informed his passengers they were now safe and should get some well-deserved sleep. He told them he would brief them in the morning and then instructed his First Mate on what needed to be done from there.

A few moments later, he made his way down the boat ramp to seek out the harbor master. The torrential downpour hadn’t let up and he could see no more than twenty feet in front of him. Still, he knew he had to perform this task before retiring to his quarters for the night. He happened upon a small warehouse and hurried in through the open doorway of the structure to escape the pouring rain. He had just taken his cap off when he was greeted by the harbor master himself.

Standing a few inches shorter than the Captain, the scruffy looking man extended his hand in a friendly gesture. Mackie took notice that he was unusually jolly considering his appearance and the monsoon-like rains falling around them.

Good evening, sir. I am Duvan Quijano. Welcome to Tamarindo

Thank you Mr. Quijano. I’m Captain Thomas Mackie. We are glad to be in your port.

And we are glad to have you here safely. It must not have been easy out there. I am relieved that you arrived in one piece. I must say though, we are not accustomed to seeing ships the size of yours in our midst. I was more than a little taken back when I saw her at first.

We don’t mean to impose in any way, Mr. Quijano. There was no way we were going to make it through the night without heading inland. I hope this does not inconvenience you in any way.

Not at all, Quijano said jovially. We are shut down until the storm passes, so there will not be a lot of traffic in and out of port for at least a few days. Please make yourself at home and let us know what we can do to accommodate your stay.

Mackie smiled. He was grateful for the hospitality being offered to him. You are much too kind, sir. Thank you again. We’ll be on our way once the storm subsides. I would like to retire now if that will be all. We have had a very long day and it is late. I’m an old man who needs his rest.

I understand, Captain. Please rest well.

They shook hands and the harbor master gave the Captain an umbrella for his walk back to the ship. It didn’t take long for Mackie to fall asleep once his head was resting on his pillow.

***

The long night of rest had done the crew and passengers a great service. The motion sickness had subsided enough for the men and women to be able to leave their cabins and stroll through the small town. Mackie had informed the travelers they would be leaving port in a few hours and were free to enjoy the local scenery while they were docked and awaiting departure.

The sun was shining and the air was calm. All signs of the hurricane that had tormented them for the previous days had passed. The downed trees and toppled houses were eerie reminders of what they had been through, but at least it was over and they could continue safely on to Panama City.

Tamarindo seemed more like a village than a town to most of the passengers. There was nothing that indicated this was a thriving community. It was just another tiny coal mining town that screamed obscurity. The one discerning feature was the highly visible Mount Momotombo.

Although it was over five miles away, the twelve-thousand-foot peak could be seen through the clear blue skies. It had a menacing look to it, but all fears gave way to the magnificent beauty of the snowcapped peak.

Beautiful, isn’t she, Captain? commented the First Mate.

That she is, Geoffrey. That she is. Mackie stood in awe of the massive volcano and it was as if he was in a trance as he started at it. He couldn’t take his eyes off of the mountain, and it was a couple of seconds before he finally noticed the trembling mass of land below him.

The ground shook hard and he noticed a rolling of the land, knocking him off balance. With each passing second, the shaking of the land grew more violent. This was a massive earthquake he knew for sure was the strongest he had ever felt.

Panic ensued and the townspeople and passengers scrambled about, trying to find safe haven from the brutal movement of the land. The ship was being rocked back and forth into the river bank and into the dock, inflicting significant damage. After a few moments, the shaking subsided and the earth was once again still.

Fear now turned into an unnerving calm. Mackie could hear people screaming and crying from every direction. Houses were turned to rubble and the landscape looked like something out of a war torn battlefield. He stood there and thought, How much more misfortune can we endure on this trip?

It was only after a moment of calmness, that he realized his First Mate, and friend, was lying on the dock beside the boat. Geoffrey had been thrown off during the earthquake and landed on his head, killing him instantly.

Mackie hurriedly went down to where his friend was and wrapped Geoffrey in his arms. He pondered for a moment about what had just transpired. It all happened so fast, he thought. He never even saw his friend go over. If he had seen it, maybe he could have grabbed him before he was thrown and prevented the tragedy. Sadness came over him as he picked up his friend and carried him back on board. He took him into his own private quarters and laid him on the bed, covering him with a blanket.

Rest well, old friend, the teary eyed Captain said softly. You shall not be forgotten.

As he stepped out of his cabin and wiped the tears from his eyes, something even more disturbing caught his attention. Peering off into the distance, he noticed a heavy plume of smoke emitting from Mount Momotombo’s peak. He also noticed there was no more snow on top of the mountain.

***

A few hours had passed and the smoke coming out of the peak was getting thicker with each passing moment. Fearing an explosion of the mountain was forthcoming, Mackie summoned everyone back on board. He gave orders to the crew to repair the damage sustained during the earthquake, and then readied his ship for departure.

He sent one of his deckhands to retrieve the harbor master. When he arrived, Mackie said, Mr. Quijano, I believe we both have the same notion of what is to come. A few years ago while I was in South America, I witnessed a volcanic eruption. We do not want to be onlookers if that’s what is to happen here.

Quijano looked at him and submitted. I wholeheartedly agree, Captain. What can I do to help?

Round up as many people as you can and get them on board. If we are to have any chance, we will need to leave soon. Please hurry. Time is very important right now.

The harbor master understood. I am most gracious for what you are doing for our people. I am forever in your debt. With that, he hurried out the door and disappeared into the crowd.

Panic ripped through the countryside as the imminent explosion loomed. Mackie had rounded up and accounted for all of his passengers a few hours earlier. He was now scurrying people from the town aboard as fast as they could get on. By his estimate, he had on board an extra three hundred people. The ship was packed to more than the maximum load allowable. After ensuring all safety provisions were in place, he gave the order to untie the mooring lines and depart from the pier.

He estimated their travel time to the Pacific Ocean