Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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TYPHOON By:- Fretwurst (1 M) The day began quite normally. Who could have for- seen how it was to end? We had dropped anchor at the break of day in a small lagoon in the Pacific, just off the coast of China. No-one was living on the fifty islands that surrounded the lagoon, except for a few native people in a small village. It was like a small paradise there for there were all kinds of fruits, palms and flowers. The native people lived off the plants that grew there. They made everything out of what was there and they ate wild animals that roamed around there. There were no imports or exports coming or going from the island. The only way to get to the mainland was to go by plane, there was one small airport. We were on holiday, our fee was all paid by my father ' s zoo. We went to bring him specimens for the zoo. The boat was all equiped with tanks, scuba gear that was needed. Our yawl was sixty feet long. On our first day in the lagoon we were looking down in the crystal clear waters to the coral gardens that lay 60 feet down below. That afternoon we went down diving. Captain Eddie and the mate were to stay on board and John the Scientist from the Zoo, my brother Mike and I were to go down and explore the coral gar- dens and bring up specimens. About five o ' clock we packed up and ate supper. My brother and I wanted to camp out on the island about five miles off the island so we took our sleeping bags and some food and drink and then we headed for the island. We went in a little inflatable motor boat since it was to far to row. There was a cliff that rose 200 feet out of the water covering the whole side of the island. We had to go around to the other side if we wanted to step on a beach. We pulled up the punt and rolled out our sleeping bags and went to sleep at about 9.00 o ' clock. It was dead calm when we fell asleep, we did not notice the black clouds creeping up on us on the horizon, for the cliff blocked our view. At 10 o ' clock it hit us! First thunder boomed down and awoke us with a startle. Immediately after buckets of rain came down on our heads. The winds increased from ' 0 ' to ' 40 ' knots and both my brother and I knew we were in for a typhoon! The tide was coming up rapidly. Come on, we must hurry and get to the top of the cliff before this whole island is underwater! I shouted to my little brother, watch out for the deadly coconut! At this point the wind was so strong we had to crawl. Trees and bushes were being uprooted by the dozens. We had to keep a sharp eye out for the falling ones. Then it happened, what I had dreaded, a tree fell on Mike and killed him instantly! I had to hurry now for the water covered the whole island ! I climbed to the top of the cliff and looked out into the black for our vessel, she was not at her moorings anymore in the lagoon. The combers were rising to 50 feet in height, and crashing against the huge cliff. Then I spotted her, she was 10 feet on the cliff, every comber lifted her another 3 feet. Now the island was submerged except for the cliff. All trees and shrubs had vanished and at the break of day the winds and seas decreased their incredible powers. Now we only hoped no-one was killed. When all was quiet a helicopter came to pick up anyone who was still alive. The three sailors were on the chopper already as they picked us up and flew us to a naval station to rest and eat. THE SEAFARER By:- Sean Pedro (1M) If was a dark, cold night and it was so windy that waves were washing over the side of the longship and water was leaking through the small gaps between the oar and the oarhole. Tired though we were, we plodded on into the night with our oa s being dipped into the waves to the beat of the r;;-um We rowed all night without having a bite to ear or a mouthful of drink. We were at the point of fainting bui inspiration kept us going. All we were dressed in were short, ragged pants and a light shirt which enabled us to move more freely and stop sweating. By morning the storm had died down quite considerably and we were allowed to rest. We were on the look-out for an island to get some food but as a ship went by first, we chased it, attacked and stole their food and other goods. After a feast of lamb, beef, vegetables and ale, we slept because the hearty meal had made us tired. RAINY WEATHER By:- Chapman (ID) The wind howled as it dodged in and out between the house. Branches bowed meekly to the mighty Emperor wind. The old stiff boughs which challengingly refused to do so were promptly severed off. Power lines snap- ped as the Emperor formally opened a new building. A dark mask smothered the country-side, threatening the brave humans who had ventured from their shelters. Suddenly, the dark Prime-Minister let fly his ammunition of water and, helped by the Emperor, reaching the speed of machine-gun bullets, thudded heavily into windows, walls and into the flesh and hides of humans and animals alike. A bright light danced across the sky and the low rumble of thunder rose to a deafening ' oar as if the light were an escaped prisoner who was running away from confinement. When the light would not come back, the rooves of the houses shook violently as if the Prime- Minister were beating his fists in rage upon them, he unleashed another volley of water which came down by bucket-fulls, flooding everything. This finally died to a drizzle as the storm moved of to sea and the country side was left in peace once more. 25

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By:- L. Smith (2 A) If only men knew how to live with each other, If only men joined hands and worked with one another, If only men of war would destroy all their devastating toy, If only men had a heart of joy. If only men could share the earth with all of nature ' s Children, If only men wouldtry to save them from extinction. If only men would let God into their heart. And from them Satan would depart. If only men would hold the population level down There would be enough food to go around. If only men would try to remove Crime ' s ciaw. Of only men made sensible laws. If only men wouldn ' t descriminate one ' s races, creeds or colours, If only men learned to live like brothers. If only men would walk the path of righteousness and love. We all would live eternally in that beautiful city above. If only ... Improved Pembroke Canal R. Amos 2A FOG IN THE COUNTRY By:- Mark Hamilton (1M) In the early mornings in New Zealand when the fog settled down upon the country side like a white blanket, we could see the dew drops clinging to the cobwebs like a necklace of pearls. Many mornings when we had gone for a walk and had reached the top of a hill, we could just see the tips of them, for the fog had covered most parts of the hills and it looked to us as though we were on an island surrounded by a pure white sea. There was a crispness in the air and when we took deep breaths we exhaled long white vapours which disappeared into the surrounding mist. Soon the sun would appear like a hazy glow and gradually disperse the heavy blanket of fog from the valleys below. APPROACH OF A THUNDERSTORM By:- Marl Hamilton (1M) The night was pitch black and all was silent, until a blinding white streak of light flashed across the sky. You could hear the thunder crash like the voice of an angry God. With a resounding crack, the old oak split in two when hit by the forked lighting, whilst the wind howled through the trees and disturbed the white foaming sea, which pounded at the foot of the cliff. The clouds scuttled across the dark angry sky. All of a sud- den a cloud burst and sent sheets of driving rain down upon the cottage of the lighthouse which stood remotely upon the cliff top. After the Gale 24

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ANIMAL ATTACK By:- A. Smith (1D) Silently and gracefully the sleek figure slithered through the jungle, like an apparition, toward the small village. The great shepanther ' s red eyes shone in the night and her nose twitched at the smell of human blood not far away. Because of a past injury, the once great huntress was compelled to prey on weak humans in order to sur- vive. In the village, a lone woman was returning to her home after seeing the witch doctor who had warned her that great evil would soon come upon her. Slightly aware of a faint noise behind her, she turned around to see a shocking sight. Behind her were two eyes and a set of sharp, white teeth. She could determine nothing else because of the darkness of the starless night. She opened her mouth to scream but the creature with the evil eyes lept, and the teeth, like a door, close.: on her flesh and opened, revealing traces of red around the previously white teeth. The beast seized her frai! bouy and carried it into the forbidding dark of the jungle. The next day brought both grief and fear to the villagers. Some people said that the witch doctor had killed the woman and others said that a halfman half-wolf had killed her and would continue to kill the others unless it was put to death. The leader of the people was more realistic than others and said that it was probably Timba, the vicious she-panther which had brought death to many villagers in the past. It was thought up until now that the creature had been killed, but there was a possibility that she might still be roaming the jungles as long as she did, so the life of every villager was in jeopardy of being stolen away if he ventured too far into the wilderness, or even if he dared to be alone. It was decided that a professional hunter would be brought to the country immediately because procrastination could mean death. Mr. Peter McGregger, the hunter, was very greedy, and extremely unlikeable but he had a determination to catch any animal he had set out to. He had brought some helpers with him and was very confident that if Timba was still alive, her ' ,death was not far away. Immediately upon his arrival he requested to be taken to a clearing near the jungle and soon, with his ten men, he set up camp. On the night of his arrival, Timba could smell, for the first time in months, the blood of a deer. She silently ap- proached the area where the smell was coming from and located a dead deer with ropes attached to it. She moved cautiously toward it and, remembering when her mate had seized a deer in this position she never saw him again. She knew that man had to be nearby so she waited until two men came to check the trap. Soon they separated and began to search the area. Timba followed one and jumped him, killing him with a devastating scratch and then she followed the other. He saw her and aimed his gun at her, but, instead of running away, she looked at him. The man could not bear the penetrating stare and remained still as the creature killed him and carried him away. McGregger was not shaken by the fact that the two men had not returned and he became even more determined to kill Timba when she began to frequent the camp and even to drag men away as they slept. Timba moved like a ghost and was never heard nor seen but her presence could be felt. Soon the men were reduced to three and, as they slept one night, a silent figure stalked their tent and jumped upon it slitting it to shreds. One man, who was near the devasting claws, was killed and the cat ran away, followed by the two frightened men. They split up and one man was killed, leaving only McGregger. Timber was tired, now, and approached McGregger, fixing a piercing stare on him, never blinking her eyes and never changing her pace. McGregger was soon forced to look at her eyes and he stood as if glued to his spot. The cat slowly advanced and the hand on the trigger of the rifle slowly closed until suddenly the cat jumped and at the same time, the rifle went off. The bullet lodged in the great cat ' s left leg and the cat hit its mark expertly. McGregger stayed alive, pointing at the cat, swearing to get revenge and he met the cat ' s cold stare. He died with his eyes opened and his index finger pointing at the cat, calling it a demon. The cat watched him until he died and then she walked away, her eyes seeming to reflect the feeling of contentment, but still they were cold and red and death-bearing.