The Sand Island Yacht Club present John Storm with an honorary title, at a special ceremony, to acknowledge the skipper of the world's fastest solar powered yacht.

(Original Book Chapter 43) – Congratulations - 25⁰ S, 153⁰ E

FRASER ISLAND <<<

INT - ABC NEWSROOM, LIVE TV

“Well now we’ve seen everything.” “A whaler kiss a whale.”

“We’ve just had it confirmed from LadBet International, that there is one winning ticket for an extraordinary amount of money.”

“Someone has made a crazy wager that the giant whale you are seeing here in this report, would sink another whaling ship – at incredible odds.” “We’ve had it confirmed that this mother of a humpback did exactly that earlier this morning.”

“There is only one ticket for such a bet.”

The camera panned to Shui and John. They were just giving each other a high-five.

Suki chimed in, “Hey guys, someone has won a huge sum of money betting Kulo would sink a second whaling ship. It’s on the news.”

John and Shui clambered out of the water, into the boat. As they motored to a jetty, they were greeted by the harbour master, Harold Harker, Todd and a number of other people to form a small reception committee. They all clapped - some much-deserved applause.

“You’ve heard that someone bet on a second whaling boat being sunk. Is that you by any chance Mr Storm?” asked the harbour master, expectantly.

John pulled out his soaked wallet, and looked into it for effect – shaking his head from side to side. 

“Sadly, no. Not that bet. You’d need to be way crazier than me to place that bet. Off the charts.”

Shui Razor pulled out his wallet. It was dry, a water-proof accessory for sports fishermen. He unzipped it, and pulled out a piece of paper.

The crowd went silent. The whole world went silent. Jaws dropped, mouths wide open. The camera homed in on Shui’s wallet. He held up the piece of paper, smiled a broad grin and said, “this bet.”

All around the world, listeners went wild ….

John reached out and slapped Shui on the shoulder. “You son of a gun.”

Suki, shed an involuntary tear, turned away from sight of the crowd. She wiped her eyes and turned into John. She grasped his hand. John returned the gesture.

Shui Razor, was just one big grin, from ear to ear. Too stunned to say anything. He looked out into the marina at the giant humpback whale and her calf, the gathering behind him completely silent still. He was at peace with the world. Honour satisfied. He bowed to the two whales. Both whales responded by moooeing, a parting message. Then turned and swam out of the marina.

The editor back in the ABC newsroom yelled, "Son of a Shogun?"

EXT – MARINA, SHUI, JOHN, DAN & SUKI

The aroma of fresh coffee and frying breakfasts called to Shui. He was starving. Suki noticed it first. She realised that Shui had no local currency. She'd been there before. She could also see that he was hungry.

"Coming in for breakfast Shui?"

He shook his head, responding to Suki with the saddest of looks on his face.

Suki whispered to John, who laughed out loud. Dan did not get what was so funny. He shook his shoulders, quizzically. John leaned over and whispered to him. Then Dan burst out laughing. 

"I bet you are hungry Shui? said John, taunting the whaling captain.

"I'm okay Mr Storm. Thank you." Anyone could see Shui Razor was far from okay.

"Sure? Breakfast is on me?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Shui broke into a broad grin. "I'm starving. All those aromas are making my stomach gurgle. I don't have any Australian dollars on me, but you knew that. Didn't you?"

Harold Harker interrupted; "no you don't Mr Storm, as the Harbour Master, I really must insist, that breakfast and champagne, is on the house."

The party filed into the restaurant and seated themselves. The staff brought around glasses and filled them with champagne.

"Tell us Mr Razor, what persuaded you to place that incredible bet?"

"Mr Harbour Master sir, I'd seen that whale in action before. I knew if she saw the Jonah, she would sink it. That ship was rusted far worse than the Suzy Wong. And it looked identical. Jonah was doomed before she set sail."

"Uh, huh. But what were the odds on the Jonah finding Kulo-Luna?"

"Well, Mr Harbour Master sir, I was Captain of the Jonah on this mission. I always find what I'm chasing. That's why they chose me. It was not a crazy gamble at all. It was a sure thing. The Jonah was doomed."

John Storm raised his glass. "Ahem, pray silence for a toast."

Everyone in the restaurant raised their glasses. "To Shui Razor, and Kulo-Luna."

The glasses chinked all over the eatery. 

"Shui Razor and Kulo-Luna."

- THE END -

They could not award John a cup for the fastest circumnavigation, because he was the last to finish the race from Honolulu, back to Hawaii. But, he did have the fastest solar powered yacht, timed and certified. So, they awarded Captain Storm an honorary mention at the "Friendliest Little Yacht Club in the Pacific."

GRAPHIC NOVEL

The graphic novel translation omits many of the above chapters entirely, and condenses others, aiming for a lively visual read.

This story is a modern Moby Dick, the twist being that there is a happy ending for everyone involved with the $Billion Dollar Whale, even the whalers. Herman Melville would have approved.

The adventures of John Storm and the Elizabeth Swann. John Storm is an ocean adventurer and conservationist. The Elizabeth Swann is a fast solar powered boat. During a race around the world, news of the sinking of a pirate whaling ship reaches John Storm and his mate Dan Hawk. They decide to abandon the race and try and save the whale.

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