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 Hook. They decide to abandon the race and try and save the whale.

(Original Book Chapter 31) – Whale Nurse - 10⁰ N, 165⁰ E

MEDICAL SOS <<<

Mercifully, the sea remained calm enough for John and Suki to undertake several bounce dives. Suki took samples of tissue and blood underwater, carefully filling sample bottles. John was treading water on the surface having just come up to get his bearings. He boarded the Elizabeth Swan, nimbly leaping out of the water and was half way up the steps, when Suki appeared where he had been in a froth of bubbles. John started back down the steps to help Suki onto the diving platform.

“Excuse me Mr Storm, could you get me another sample container.” John smiled, eager to please, and climbed up the ships stairway again into the cockpit well. He found two more clear plastic bottles and gently tossed them to Suki from the boarding steps. Suki deftly caught them one in each hand. Then she duck-dived and was gone. John waited for more instructions.

Finally, Suki surfaced with the sample bottles full and climbed up the stairway. She dried herself quickly. Inside the aft cabin, Suki arranged the sample containers, looking around the interior as she did so. John and Dan were loitering full of curiosity, wanting to render assistance.

“Pretty neat,” said Suki. Dan and John looked at each other puzzled. 

“The boat, it’s very tidy.” 

“Oh. Thanks.” Said Dan.” Taking all the credit.

Suki ran a series of tests on a portable medical analysis machine called a Portalab ASD. It had the name in large metallic-red letters on the lid. 

“That’s rather swish,” said John, appreciating the virtual lab. “What does ASD stand for?”

“This? What about your boat, now that is amazing.”

John almost blushed, the boat was indeed superb, but it wasn’t his design; he’d just improved it. Suki was concentrating on the display, quizzing the results. Fitted into a small alloy suitcase, they’d crammed a mini centrifuge, a spectrometer, several dozen probes and a host of other advanced equipment many labs would be proud of. It was the medical equivalent of a digital multimeter, as used by electricians. The ASD was more than just a measuring device. It had an onboard computer that did a lot of the analysis work for the operator, suggesting possible interpretation and next moves.

“It looks expensive.” John pressed Suki for an answer.

“Yes, well they were. Now you can pick one up for around $10,000. They started out at more than $200,000. Put quite a few labs and surgeries out of business to begin with. I’m not sure what the ‘ASD’ stands for, but we say: all singing and dancing. The software is unbelievable. Extremely clever.”

“Sound’s about right,” said Dan, admiring the advice on a touch-screen built into the lid.

Suki carried on with her tests; blood and tissue. Placing a little on a sensor plate, then touching the screen to execute a command.

“Normally, we’d check the urine, if this were a human.” She gave a little smile.

John and Dan nodded as if they understood.

" Yuh, difficult to collect a sample ..." Said John.

" Somewhat impossible I'd say, Dan responded." 

Suki suddenly leapt up in the air excitedly and did a little dance, waggling her head from side to side so that her hair double-bounced, as she did so rotating on the spot. Her face came alive as though she'd just won the lottery, a smile as wide as a river mouth and she let out a tremendous whelp: "Yes." Then she stopped and looked a little awkward, realizing that she had company. Coming back down to earth she said: “No. Of course, that explains a lot.”

“What? Explains what?" Said the two men in unison, somewhat amused by the antics they'd just seen.

Suki continued somewhat more composed, “Uh, hmmm, Kulo is carrying.” 

Dan chimed in, “Oh no, ladies things.”

“Yes, very big ladies things and she’s lost a lot of blood."

“Sorry,” said John more that a little confused. "Are you trying to tell me that a pregnant whale sank a 400 ton trawler. Are you sure this whale is pregnant?”

Dan laughed out loud, Suki also. John was acting just like a father hearing the news for a first time. He wobbled a bit, signifying genuine shock.

Suki noted the reaction and continued. “She needs our help badly, and yes I am absolutely positive that this whale is pregnant. I'd stake my reputation on it. You may have heard of Moby Dick?"

"Indeed, I have," said John and Dan together.

"But have you heard of the Essex?"

"No." John and Dan both looked puzzled and curious, Suki's invitation to continue.

"The Essex was a three-masted ship made from white oak, known for its strength. It measured 87 feet and weighed 240 tons. There were 21 men on board. The captain was George Pollard, Junior.

A huge male sperm whale about 85 feet long attacked the Essex on the 20th of November 1820."

"Is that big" said Dan. 

" A typical male is no bigger than 65 feet." Dan and John nodded, urging Suki on.

".... Probably a territorial issue, but whatever, the whale speeded toward the port side of the Essex ramming it, passed under the ship, resurfaced stunned, then resumed its attack, according to contemporary accounts - with tenfold fury and vengeance - striking the bow and causing fatal hull damage. The Essex capsized, forcing the crew to row for land without provisions. Some were cannnibalized. Only two survived."

"Is this true?" said John.

" We know it is reasonably accurate because the First Mate, Owen Chase, wrote an account: 'Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-ship Essex' in 1821. Also, Thomas Nickerson, a fourteen year old cabin boy on the Essex, later wrote his account of the sinking and rescue. His notebook was not published until 1984, but is near identical to Chase's account. The notebook was authenticated. Herman Melville’s Moby Dick is based on Chase's publication in newspapers in the US. So, yes, a whale can sink a pretty big ship."

“Okay, on the sinking then, but what do you mean by help for the whale. Emotionally, nutritionally, what kind of help?” said the skipper, still steadying himself from the shock revelations.

“Yes, the works, both, everything really - on a monumental scale; vitamins, minerals and antibiotics. Yes, and buckets of protein. I'd tell you to be nice to her, but I think from her reaction when you are in the water that she has already taken a shine to you."

John of course felt the same way. “You’ll have to work out a shopping list for us, then I’ll, er, we'll do - what we can. We'll place an order, which will probably involve some begging.”

"According to the ASD, this whale is malnourished. Not only that, she's toxified. We need to flush out her system."

"How do we do that," John said, "I think I saw a plastic bag, or something, caught in her baleen plates."

Suki stopped quizzing the Portalab. She stored the sample bottles and closed the lid tight. Then she started writing out a list taking not very long. She handed it to John. John took a look at the list, nodded as if in approval and got on the radio. It took several minutes to make a connection. 

“We’d better keep this quiet.” He whispered to Dan.

“Hi Steve. Yes, no panic, we’re doing fine. But listen, oh and thanks for sorting us a decent marine biologist. That's why I'm calling really. She’s discovered a nutritional deficiency.

“She?”

“Yes, that’s right,” said John smiling to himself. "In fact they both are."

“What do you mean both. The whale and the doctor ........ what’s she like?”

“Capable and captivating ....... both of them.” John stopped when Suki looked over as if she could understand the conversation.

"Attractive, is she?"

John continued guardedly, “Very well equipped, and we are expecting an addition to the family." 

There was total silence on the other side. 

"Steve. Are you there, Steve."

"Yes. Sorry, did you say expecting?"

"That's right old boy. Couldn't believe it myself. So, we need the following list of foods rather urgently I’m afraid. The lady has lost a lot of blood.”

John read off Suki’s long list. “100 kilos of salmon, 200 eggs, 2 sacks of haricot beans, 200 kilos of protein shakes, and a couple of crates of a good glucose energy drink with vitamins. Have you got all that?”

“Wowee. Wow. Yes okay. It’s a bit .... this might take some time to source and er, it sounds expensive. I’ll have to get back to you.” 

"Sure. Think on the publicity. Do your best and pull out all the stops on this one. I'll owe you one. "

"You already do," said Steve.

"You might try a local aquarium......." 

The radio went dead, signifying that Steve was already on it. John cracked a wry grin that disappeared just as quickly as he realized that he had things to do. He paced up and down the cockpit area.

"Okay. Suki, just how are we going to feed the whale what's on that list?" 

Suki smiled thoughtfully, "It's not going to be easy....... Technically, we'll probably be breaking the law ......

"How so ......... "

"Well, if we were in territorial waters, we could be prosecuted for feeding the wildlife."

While all this was going on, Dan had rigged an inspection camera to a long pole. "Can we feed this to her stomach?"

"Wow, that's the longest endoscope I've seen," exclaimed Suki. "We can try. It had better be John. She trusts him for some reason." Suki laughed.

"No way." "Yes way," said Suki, no longer laughing.

John put his thinking cap on again. Why had they bothered with a marine biologist if he was going to perform this operation. He was not happy, and somewhat apprehensive.

"Okay, we'll tether the whale to the Swan. Nice and easy. Dan..."

"Yes," said Dan.

"You'll help me, while Suki calms the whale and prepares a shot of nutrients. Better prepare some for me too."

John and Dan rigged up two tethers, one for each flipper. It was hard work, but they managed to secure the whale.

The sea was obligingly calm.

John got into the water and pulled on the lips of the whale, who then opened her mouth. Speaking to the whale, he gently fed the pole down the whale's throat into her stomach.

Suki was watching on a laptop screen as the make-shift endoscope travelled down Kulo's throat, then almost screamed. "Crikey! Her stomach is full of plastic. Come back out."

John carefully retracted the pole, closed the whale's mouth and swam to her left flipper, to speak to her where she could see him. The whale moaned. I would too thought John.

John went back up. "Dan, can you rig something like a pump? I'll stay with the whale."

Dan looked at Suki for help. 

"Okay, this is a world first as far as I know. We have no option but to try a gastric lavage."

"A gastric what?" said Dan.

"We need a soft big-bore tube," said Suki. "We will pump seawater into the whale's stomach, then reverse the flow and irrigate using low level suction. Do we have a pump and some tubing?"

Dan nodded.

"It works by inserting a flexible tube through the mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach. We can pump seawater into the stomach, and then remove the contents by low-level suction, taking out the contents of the stomach along with the liquid. The process is repeated until whatever needs to be removed comes out. I'm not sure if this will work with those bags I've just seen. You're not really having anything "pumped" out of your stomach, it's more like a washing or a flush that rinses out the contents of the stomach."

"I'm on it, said Dan. How about you mix up some food for the whale."

Suki rummaged through the stores cupboards, emptying out anything she thought the whale might gain from.

Dan borrowed a hose from the Swann's hull cleaning system. It was soft and could be made steer-able. He attached the inspection camera and connected the other end of the tube to a reversible large impellor pump, again borrowed from the bilges. He carried the assembly to the diving platform, and lowered the suction pipe into the sea.

"I'm ready Suki," Dan shouted up the gangway.

Suki was just finishing blending a large carboy of nutrients. She put a lid on the container and joined Dan.

Dan pulled on John's rope to gain his attention. John surfaced. "No rush, I'm freezing down there doing nothing is all."

Suki turned to Dan, "does he always whinge like this?"

Dan passed John his creation. Suki checked the camera was giving her a picture and gave a thumbs up.

"Okay John, good to go."

John parted Kulo's lips again and the giant whale opened her mouth 20 centimeters. Suki clapped.

"Ever thought of joining the circus."

"Pay no attention," said John to Kulo, "We just need your help for a few minutes."

Kulo snorted, showering them all.

"Steady girl." John inserted the tube, pushing ever so carefully. It was possible to steer by twisting the tube. Suki was shouting instructions, "left, no right. Okay, down a bit. Push harder."

"Will she be like this on your first date skip." John and Suki ignored the remarks.

Then Suki shouted, "pump Dan."

Dan switched on the pump. It bubbled for a second or two, then Suki could see water swirling the plastic in her stomach on her computer screen.

"Quick Dan, reverse the flow."

Dan switched the pump to suction, when plastic came out in sizeable chunks, going through a sieve, back into the sea. They waited a good few minutes.

John calmed Kulo, who could feel some strange sensations in her stomach, but knew that with John holding the tube in her mouth, all was well. It tickled.

"Hold on a minute," said Suki, as she waited for the swirl to stop to see what they'd achieved - and it was looking better. The sieve had about 10 kilograms of solids in it.

"Okay Dan, pump again." Both men smiled. Dan quickly switched to pump seawater in. Kulo slapped her tailfin at the rumbling sensation.

"Reverse thrust," said Suki. The solids were pouring out. Twenty, twenty-five, thirty-five kilograms.

"Okay, stop." They waited while the swirling stopped. "She's clear I think."

Dan took a moment to look at the screen. Indeed, the chamber that was Kulo's stomach seemed to be clear of plastic.

Suki then carried the carboy down to the diving platform. "Pump this mix in will you Dan."

John had been in the water for an hour and a half. "Get a move on you two."

Dan put the intake strainer into the carboy and switched on. A few minutes later, the carboy was empty.

"John, you can withdraw the tube now, Dan shouted." This time Suki smiled.

John slowly pulled Dan's rig out of the whale and closed her mouth. Kulo simulated a laugh by moving her mouth up and down.

"Suki, do whales have a sense of humour?"

"This one seems to. That mix will hold her for a while, but we are going to need a whole lot more supplies. I hope your contact Steve, is a really good friend."

"Mostly. We'll leave Kulo tethered for now, and tow her. We'd better get a move on or those pirates will be on to us."

STORM CLOUDS >>>

GRAPHIC NOVEL

The graphic novel translation omits many of the above chapters (in grey) entirely, and condenses others, aiming for an exciting 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.

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