Surreality

I contacted The Coast Guard Search & Rescue in Eastport, Maine and asked if they would try to contact Eugene's ship. I explained that I had been unable to communicate with the ship and I suspected something may be wrong. I was referred to Petty Officer, 1st Class Eteban Rey who listened to my story and said he would see what he could do and then call me back.

Two hours later, he had still not called and I contacted him again out of frustration. Petty Officer Rey said The Coast Guard had tried to hail the ship and did not receive a response. He said they were looking into it further, but he did not want to say any more or speculate until he heard more. After making him promise to call me back within the hour whether there was news or not, I hung up the phone and went back to waiting.

Sixty three minutes later he called back.

"Doctor Stevenson? I don't want to alarm you, but we still have not heard back from the ship. We have it on radar. It seems to be on auto pilot. We have contacted the shipping company that owns the boat. We've also reported the lack of communication to Washington, and they have ordered us to send out a cutter to intercept and attempt to communicate by signal and failing that, by direct contact."

"Forgive me, but that seems a little extreme unless you have reason to believe the situation is very serious."

"Well sir, there are two main reasons for this level of concern. Even in this day and age, there are pirates out there who try to hijack ships they believe to be carrying something they can make money with. I would guess this is not the case here because this ship was not obviously carrying anything of interest, and moreso because pirates are very rare in this part of the world."

"I believe that. You said there were two reasons for concern. What was the other."

"To be honest sir, there is something curious about the lack of communication."

"Curious?"

"Yeah...um...see, they're not responding to us, but they are broadcasting."

"Broadcasting what?"

"That's the problem; they're broadcasting nothing."

I sat silent.

"We can hear a low engine groan. We can hear sounds of the outside -- water splashing, birds -- as if they left the door to the pilot house open. What we can't hear is any sign of people."

"If there are no people, how are they broadcasting?"

"That's the problem, sir."

We talked a little more, and he promised to tell me what he could after the cutter made contact. I told him to call me any time of the day or night. He said they should know something within three hours.

That was five hours ago.

Amanda called while I was on the phone with Officer Rey, but I did not dare call her back before knowing more. Rey better call soon, because I have a feeling that neither Amanda nor I will be sleeping until we receive news that Eugene and his ship are okay and I doubt Amanda will wait all night before trying to call me again. I am getting more nervous by the minute. I know it is irrational, but this is all so abnormal and I am at a loss for what to do next. Rey is my lifeline. Let him call soon.