The sea breeze was delightful. It playfully wisped through Dr. Cody Martin's full head of hair. The twenty eight year old's eyes were aqua and his hair was wavy like a calm sea and golden like the warm sunlight. His face was a friendly reminder of his youth when he was a sensitive boy. But his body conformed to the harsh changes of time and was sculpted with firm pectoral and abdominal muscles. The young doctor's knuckles were calloused, but his palms were preserved with baby-like softness.

Dr. Cody Martin walked back up onto the schooner, Hydra, with a group of fellow field Anthropologists and some crewmen. They had to make one last stop at Queensland, Australia before they would return to America. As Cody boarded the seafaring vessel, he embarked on a journey to his past and reflected how he got to where he was.

Before Dr. Cody Martin reached his dream job, he worked hard at Cheever's High in Boston and continued to work his way up to his goal while pursuing a higher education. He went to Harvard University and double majored in Anthropology and Pre-Med aiming to do Forensics work. Once he got his B. A. degrees in Anthropology and Pre-Med, Cody moved onto Medical School and became a certified Medical Doctor. Cody liked his job at first but then quickly found out that he had greater interest for Anthropology. As a result, Cody left the Forensics scene and strictly focused on field Anthropology. He found the new career path to be his true calling and enjoyed his work over course of six months. Regardless of how prosperous and fulfilling his life and work may have seemed, Cody yearned a very crucial part of life that he dearly yearned to have which was to have a family of his own. He wanted to settled down and have a warm and inviting home with a loving wife and have some kids after a few years of marriage. However, Dr. Martin had very little belief on the fact that he might soon meet his other half, his better half.

Cody blinked a few times until he brought himself back to the present. He had put away his belongings and walked out on deck. He approached the railing and leaned over it gazing at the to and fro motion of the waves. Soon the boat would pull up anchor and then the sea travelers and explorers of the world culture would set sail and drift back into the vast horizon on the Pacific Ocean as they would be leaving Malaysia. Within twenty minutes, the boat left port and drifted into the deep blue. Cody relaxed at the command of the soothing breeze and went to a barrel to rest on. He had a camelback backpack on and took it off. He unzipped the main pouch and pulled out a worn, brown leather journal and a reliable, black ink pen. He opened up to the next blank page and began to record the day's event s.

As Cody wrote his personal thoughts and observations of his fellow field Anthropologists in the journal, the boat had experienced a small collision with an incoming wave. The obstacle was nothing to fret about, but the crewmen were on alert just to be safe. Dr. Martin kept on writing in his journal like there was nothing wrong. He fashioned black hiking boots, jeans, a plain white tee and a pine green, short sleeved button up shirt. His button up shirt hung loosely over his white tee. He also had a blue bandana nicely tied around his thin and fair colored neck.

The boat was on course for Queensland, Australia. Everything seemed fine since there had been no other problems since the small wave bump. The crew and Anthropologists were expecting to get to Australia since they have had smooth sailing for quite a while now. Unfortunately, something terrible was brewing within the sea.

Cody was engrossed in his journal entry as his eyes followed the clean flow of his neat cursive. It was so neat that it could be mistaken for a woman's handwriting at least in the modern age. If he was in another time, say in the 1800s, he might have been safe from query.

Journal Entry #38

March 15, 2020

Today was a fine day. My team and I learned many news things about the Malaysian culture. This trip to Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia has been successful so far. I can't wait to be in Australia, especially at this time of the year. I've heard that the fall season is wonderful there. My friend and fellow Anthropologist, John Byrne, has told me that he would like to see Queensland in the fall season, but he can't wait to return home so he can see his beloved wife and kids…..Some of the new findings we made today were…

Scratch!

Fuck! Cody cursed in his head.

He was extremely perturbed that his journal entry was ruined. He angrily set down his pen and journal and got up from his seat. Just as he was about to complain to the captain, he saw something very unpleasant. A huge wave was rushing toward the boat. He could hear the white noise of 'all hands on deck!' and 'abandon ship'. Dr. Cody Martin felt dizzy. He stared at the wave in horror. He shook out of his petrified state and rushed for his backpack, journal and pen. He collected the provisions that he may need in case he would survive the clutches of the angry sea. He slipped and slid on deck as he rushed to his carry-on belongings. Luckily for him, he got to his things in time before the captain tried in vain to steer the boat away from the roaring wave. His attempt was successful, but a cost to the passengers of his boat. They were set off course and had trouble getting back on track. Just before the crewmen and Anthropologists could relax, an un-expecting barrage of huge waves bashed into the boat. Everyone was thrown overboard. The boat sunk with all of the equipment, provisions, and research data. Everything was gone, except for Cody's camelback backpack. He was fortunate enough to keep it with him. All other items were lost forever.

The captain drifted off on a piece of wood. Most of the Anthropologists drowned along with most of the crew. Some of the crewmen survived and swam away with the aid of drift wood. Cody waded in the ocean with his camelback hanging on his right shoulder until he found a piece of wood. He quickly checked the direction of the wind and used that to help him determine where land might be. He kicked with all his might until he found a piece of land. He kicked harder and harder until he finally reached the sandy shore of a forgotten island, long ago abandoned and since then completely uninhabited.

To Be Continued…