Woods Hole

Kwoletee' Tyme entered Woods Hole Harbor at about 6:30 PM. The Coast Guard escort vessel left them only after they were in sight of the harbor. Dave reluctantly thanked them and they sped off on another mission. It was obvious that the Coast Guard was extremely busy today. Having radioed ahead to the Oceanographic Research Laboratory, Dave had arranged to be met by Professor Edwards. As they approached the dock, he saw the Professor and Carl Thomas, the Professor's assistant, waiting for them. As the boat glided to the dock, the Professor and Carl assisted with the dock lines. Once KT was safely secured the two men came on board, warmly greeted each other, and then Dave introduced Claire.

They sat in the cockpit, while Dave went below and brought up four cold beers. Back in the cockpit with beers in hand, Dave asked the Professor, "What the hell is going on?"

The Professor began to bring Dave and Claire up to date on all of the whale attacks that had been reported thus far, including the sinking of the Brington and the now identified British submarine, the Torent, which both had now been publicly blamed directly on whale attacks. Dave and Claire listened intently in utter amazement. When Dave asked how the navy thought a nuclear submarine could have been sunk by whales, the Professor explained the best theory put forward thus far was that the whales simply rested their bulk on the decks of the submerged subs. Dave would never forget the Professor's words when he explained, "Forty, fifty, two hundred tons of whale lying across the deck of a sub is something no navy had designed their subs to take or trained their crews to respond to. That is, if we had a response." Dave looked at Claire. Neither could believe what they were hearing.

"No wonder the Coast Guard wouldn't let us go unescorted into port," Dave remarked.

The Professor went on to explain that at the last count he believed there were in excess of 90 people killed or missing in these attacks, not counting the almost 300 men killed on the submarines, and over 1,000 injured.

Dave asked the Professor, "Do you any have idea what caused this sudden rash of attacks?"

The Professor, shaking his head, could only explain that at this point it was pure supposition, but he went on to fill Dave and Claire in on the Rainbow Savior and Peder ARRSETT incident, which neither of them had heard about. They were astonished as the professor told the story.

Dave asked, "Are they sure it was a Humpback? That's totally out of character for the peaceful whale," he explained. "Plus they are just not fast swimmers," he added.

Both the Professor and Carl agreed. Then the Professor explained that the Rainbow Savior was due at Woods Hole early tomorrow morning and maybe they would have some additional information.

Dave glanced at his watch, it was now 8:15. Neither he or Claire had eaten, so he asked, "Professor why don't you and Carl come below for a moment, I would like Claire to show you some equipment which we installed on the boat, and then I would like to suggest that we go ashore for pizza, since neither of us has eaten."

The Professor a little uncertain as to why they should go below, concurred and added that he and Carl hadn't eaten either and agreed to go for pizza but only if he could treat. He and Carl followed Claire below. Once in the cabin Dave took the time to explain that Claire had a Ph.D. in computer science and her specialty was the application of artificial intelligence. The Professor sat on the starboard settee as Claire showed him the laptop computer, sound synthesizer system and lifting the floorboards, the transducer that Dave had installed.

She didn't have to go any further, the Professor stood up and asked, "did you do what I think? I mean have you found a way......have you communicated with the whales?" Looking at Dave's smile the Professor didn't need an answer. He then answered his own question, "Of course you did!"

Dave reached over, and grasped Claire’s hand and nodding his head, said, "We found a way, Claire and I together." Claire looked at Dave, she was never more proud. Sitting next to the man, the man she now truly believed she loved. She didn't respond, she simply smiled. The conversation turned to the mechanics of the communication and the Professor asked question after question.

Finally Dave broke in, "Hold it, hold it, did you forget we haven't eaten? Let's go eat, and we'll finish filling you in over pizza."

They scurried up the companionway into the cockpit and onto the dock. Taking her first steps on dry land in more than a week, Claire found she was having trouble walking. Her body had gotten accustomed to the rolling deck of the boat and was attempting to compensate for it on solid terra firma. She walked like she had been drinking. Dave, noticing her problem and experiencing it himself to a lesser degree, couldn't help but laugh at her as she walked down the street as if she had one too many.

They took a table at the Woods Hole Pizzeria, the Professor and Carl directly across from the two of them. After ordering, Dave again started his explanation. "About two months ago, I found a code in the communications sequence of the whale sounds, and quite frankly it appears to hold true for all species even though their sounds differ. I was able to tell simple things like when they would indicate dive, swim, eat, rest, etc. My problem was that I couldn't do it in real time. It took me minutes, sometimes hours to decipher the sounds. You see the trick is, Professor, that the primary communication is only a small portion of the sound chain and then, well, they repeat everything, in most instances three times. That's where Claire came in. When I told her my problem she was able to generate a computer program that could recognize the commands in micro seconds, and then using the synthesizer, controlled by the computer, generate a response."

"For the last week we have been befriending different pods of whales and..... well, communicating with them."

"That is fascinating," replied the Professor.

"I have some video tape that Claire took that will I believe amaze you," added Dave.

The Professor asked a thousand other questions, all of which Dave answered. Claire did however notice that Dave never exactly gave away the actual secret to the communication, and the Professor, who she believed realized that, never really probed. An hour later, having finished two pies and a pitcher of beer, the Professor paid the bill and they walked back to the boat. During the short walk back, Dave explained how important it was that Claire get back to Boston to put the known information into the University's large computer system with the expanded artificial intelligence modules.

Professor Edwards told Carl to run to the Institute and pick up a pool car. He instructed him to call Jack Webster, the Institute Director, and have him meet him at the auditorium in 30 minutes. As Carl left to complete the errands, the Professor turned to Claire and looking over the half lenses of his glasses, the gray-haired Professor said, " I can tell by the look in your eyes, that you two do not want to be separated tonight." Claire looked at Dave who was looking at her. Neither spoke. He continued, "Call it intuition, gut feel, experience or senility, I don't know which, but suddenly I believe that somehow, I don't know how yet, but you two are going to play a significant role in this current situation."

Dave went to speak but the Professor stopped him and continued, "Claire, I'm going to have Carl drive you to Boston tonight. I know you must be tired, but you must start the programming you two discussed. I'll have Jack Webster call the university president, I believe his name is Franklin (Claire nodded). I know they are friends. I'll have Jack ask Franklin to have whatever support you need in the computer laboratory by the time you get there, so your machines can start crunching data right away. Franklin will call you in the car so start packing what you need and start thinking about what support you want. Understand?"

Claire answered, "Yes," then added, "do you really think we can help?"

The Professor looked Claire in the eyes and responded, "Well, short of God, you and Dave are the only two people I know who can talk to whales. And as I see it, we either talk them out of killing us or we kill all of them." The stark reality of that statement struck home with both Claire and Dave. Claire began packing her notes and audio tapes immediately.

Turning to Dave, the Professor asked him, "How convincing are those video tapes of yours?"

"I think they're pretty convincing," responded Dave.

"Good," replied the Professor, "You had better also decide what help you need, for I'm going to see that the assets of the laboratory are put at your disposal. Now let's get going."

As they walked off the boat, Carl was pulling up with the car. Professor Edwards opened the door and told Claire to get in." She looked at Dave. Seeing them stare at each other, the Professor turned to Dave, "Well kiss her. What the hell are you waiting for?" he said.

Dave put his arms around Claire and they kissed. As she got into the car she whispered to the Professor, "Thank you."

He winked at her. "Don't worry, he'll catch on. He's just a slow learner." They laughed as she kissed his cheek. Shutting the car door, he turned to Carl and said, "Carl, please take Claire to Boston, she'll tell you exactly where, and please drive carefully."

With that Carl started the car and Claire yelled to Dave, "I'll call you tomorrow" and she threw him a kiss. He stood there waving as they drove away. It was 10:00 PM.

The Professor and Dave walked into the auditorium at about 10:15 PM. Jack Webster, the Institute Director, and his assistant, Joel Flagler, were already there waiting. Edwards started by introducing them to Dave. Looking at Jack he said, "We are probably going to be here for a couple of hours. Dave may have an answer to our current whale dilemma. But to save time I must ask you to make a phone call to your buddy Franklin in Boston. I have just sent Dave's associate, Claire Snyder, back to the university with Carl to do some computer work. She is going to need some help tonight." Jack hesitated for a moment, and the Professor added, "Jack, trust me on this one, please, we don't have time for a long discussion, she'll be there in less that 90 minutes. Here's the car phone number. Have him call Miss Snyder and she'll tell him what she needs."

Jack looked at the two of them. Knowing the Professor wasn't prone to irrational behavior, he left the room and made the call.

When Jack Webster came back into the auditorium it was about 10:45. "Everything's taken care of," he said.

Edwards stood. "Thank you Jack, now sit down and fasten your seat belts I understand were going to have a mammoth conversation." Turning to Dave he said, "Mr. Richardson, we're all ears."

Dave's tapes had been loaded into the auditoriums VCR in the director's absence. With the remote in hand, Dave began his explanation and supported his claims of communicating with the whales by showing the video tapes that Claire had made of him swimming with them. The clincher, was the film showing him kneeling on the back of the large, wild Humpback.

By the time Jack Webster and Joel Flagler had finished asking all their questions it was 1:00 AM. Dave had done a good job and they were convinced he was on to something. Like the Professor, Jack recognized the importance of Dave's findings and arranged for Dave to be present in the morning when the Rainbow Savior docked and the Institute staff was debriefed.

They bid good night and Dave returned to KT choosing to walk the short distance back to the boat. He needed the fresh air. Lying in his bunk he realized, he missed Claire. He wished he was there to help her. Tomorrow he would call her first thing. But soon fatigue overcame Dave and he fell into a restless sleep.

Fortunately on the drive to Boston, Claire was able to catch a power nap, almost a complete hour. For while Dave now slept Claire was still working. Noel Franklin had done what Jack Webster had asked. Arriving at the university, Claire was met by two of the advanced studies computer graduate students. Bewildered by the late hour, as soon as Claire explained the tie to the current whale problem, they were eager to help. The first step was to download all the information from the laptop into the system. George Samuels volunteered for that. Next Claire would have to read through the detailed notes that she and Dave had made, and enter all of the data into the computer. It was decided that she would dictate and Sandra Livingston would enter the data.

The three worked most of the night. At about 4:00 AM it was clear fatigue was overcoming Claire. Sandra, realizing that Claire was slowing the process, suggested she take a couple-hour break. Reluctantly Claire agreed and she moved to the student lounge and stretched out on one of the couches where she fell asleep almost instantly. Sandra and George continued their work.

Dave awoke to a knock on the hull, and then felt the boat rock as someone climbed aboard. He quickly got out of his bunk and glancing toward the companionway saw the Professor. "Well good morning, glad to see you were already up," greeted the Professor. Then he laughed.

Rubbing his eyes, Dave asked, "What time is it?"

"Six thirty," he replied, "Here have a cup of coffee and a bun," and he handed Dave a fresh container and a bag of six, still-warm cinnamon buns. Dave opened the coffee, took a sip and then took a bun out of the bag. Sitting on the companionway sill, the Professor sipped his coffee and helped himself to a bun. "The radio is still reporting incidents of whale attacks from around the world. There were a couple off the coast of Spain, one in Norway, and a couple in South America as I recall," he explained between bites of his bun.

Dave looked at the Professor and asked, "What about the United States?"

"Nothing yet, but the day is just beginning in this hemisphere. The ones from South America are actually yesterdays. It appears our whales only get aggressive during the day."

Dave nodded, "That makes sense, most whales do rest at night." Then he remembered a question that he had not been able to get answered. He turned to the Professor and asked, "I have been trying to get some information on two friends of mine, Jim and Nancy Stohl. They were on board the sailboat Dream Chaser that was sunk off of the Cape. Do you know anything about them?"

Professor Edwards thought for a moment, then said, "Yes...yes, as I recall he was a stock broker and she a teacher."

"Yes," answered Jim, "do you know if they're okay?"

"I believe they're fine," he explained, "I mean well he has a broken arm, but they were rescued by the Coast Guard right after the accident. I saw them interviewed on TV. Yes, as I recall they were pretty shaken up but other than that they appeared fine."

Dave exhaled a sigh of relief.

Then the Professor looked at his watch and said, "We had better hurry, the Rainbow Savior should be docking in the next 30 minutes." Dave finished his coffee and hurried to finish dressing. They left the boat at 7:05 AM to walk to the dock four blocks away.

News media from all over the world were jamming the small roads in the town, there was no parking anywhere and even the limited sidewalks were jammed. At the request of the Institute's Director, the Governor had ordered the state police to Woods Hole to help maintain some semblance of order. They did what they could, but eventually the roads coming into town had to be closed.

Entrepreneur fishermen soon found they could make more money transporting the press to Woods Hole by boat, avoiding the massive traffic jams and now with the closed roads, a whole new cottage industry developed in a matter of hours.

By 9:00 AM, the Rainbow Savior had docked at Woods Hole, the press had taken a million pictures showing every conceivable view of the boat, from the shore, the water, atop buildings, and even from helicopters. Reporters carrying microphones or note pads attempted to interview anybody who wasn't carrying a camera. It soon became a real circus.

Dave and the Professor, retreated to the safety of the Institute and decided to wait in the auditorium for the prearranged staff debriefing. Upon entering, Dave and the Professor were quite surprised to see a large number of people already in attendance including Jack Webster. Seeing them enter, Jack excused himself from the two men with whom he was talking came over to the greet Dave. He motioned them to follow him and they exited through a rear door to a small office.

Jack turned to the two men and said, "This has turned into a real fiasco."

"Who are all those people?" asked the Professor.

"Well........ when Greenpeace asked me to allow the Rainbow Savior to slip into Woods Hole, I naturally agreed. At that time I also agreed to allow them to bring a few of their members to debrief the crew before the press got to them. Of course that was before the attacks started. After word leaked out that the Savior was coming here, those few people have grown to what you just saw."

After a moment of silence Jack continued, "I have decided that I am not going to introduce Dave to these people. If anyone gets wind of what you have discovered you will not be allowed to finish your work, and I agree with Professor Edwards, you may hold the only solution to this situation. There is however, one person I would like you to work with, his name is Jack Sherman. Jack was the only scientist, a cetologist by training, aboard the Rainbow Savior."

Professor Edwards interrupted, "Oh, is that where Jack went? I was wondering I hadn't seen him around lately.” Turning to Dave he added, “You'll like Jack, he's a real down to earth type guy and a great cetologist."

Jack Webster continued, "His job aboard the Rainbow Savior was to observe whale behavior. See if the Zodiacs, or for that matter the whale boat affected them. When he gets here, I will have him brought to this office. Maybe, just maybe, he will have some useful information for you."

Jack Webster excused himself and went back to the auditorium. Dave looked at the Professor and said, "What a mess. What do you think will happen?"

He replied while shaking his head, "I really don't know.......I have no idea."

Dave saw a phone on the desk and picking up the receiver, said, "Let's see how Claire is doing." He reached into his pocket and picked out the crumpled piece of paper on which she had written the university telephone number. Dave dialed.

"Computer center," answered the operator.

"May I speak to Claire Snyder please," replied Dave. He was put on hold.

After a short wait, he heard her voice. "Hello." "Hi, it sure was lonely last night."

"Hi,.......and it’s about time," she added.

"I've been busy."

"So have I," she responded.

"How is it going?" he asked. As she started to reply he told her to wait a minute. Activating the speaker phone, he returned the receiver to the cradle and then said, "I have you on the speaker phone, I'm here with Professor Edwards."

"Hi Professor," she interjected. He returned her greeting and then she started to explain where they were in the study. She explained that they had downloaded the information from the laptop into the main frame. They had taken all the suppositions that she and Dave had made from their observations and entered them. "We have just completed electronically coupling the artificial intelligence module that we used aboard KT and the laptop to the main frame. We are just running a verification check and when that's complete, were going to put this big electron cruncher to work."

She ended with, "We might know something by the end of the day."

"Great," replied Dave. He brought her up to date on the situation at the laboratory. They had a big laugh especially when he told her about the reporters.

Just then someone at the university interrupted and Claire said, "Dave, I have to go, the verification check is complete."

They said good-bye, and both reluctantly hung up.

Dave thought to himself, it's going to be another very long day.