A New Beat

Early February, 2013

So what I find particularly amazing right now is that is that I have found yet another channel of information for the Drum story. It seems that the little notice I had posted on Cruisers Forum has yielded some interest. There are more than enough small items to deal with in the story right now, but as I ponder this new avenue, I see yet another aspect of the story developing which can provide a certain balance to the discovery aspect of the plot. There is Jade's story, the one unfolding out of the sort of cascading effect that most of our lives are subject to; and there is the narrative arc of discovery--the emotional discovery--which is the necessary component of the plot. This late development is something provocative if not game changing.

An individual by the name of [deleted] called me yesterday to let me know he had known Michael and Cordelia in Hawaii. He had built his own Brown Searunner 31 at the same time as Mike, and had sailed over to Hawaii sometime within the same window as they. This insider knowledge is compelling for several reasons:

1. having someone to talk to about the specific characteristics of sailing the these boats is invaluable. One big question is how easy it would be for Drum to pitch-pole and under what conditions would this occur.
2. a description of the marina where [deleted] shared moorage with Drum. I'm especially interested in the date Drum left for Kauai.
3. He mentioned Mike not working much, what did he do during ghat time? Was Cordelia working? I'm interested in Anderson's characterization of their partnership?
4. How seriously were M&C taking their upcoming voyage? Why did they choose to leave from Hanalie Bay? Were they provisioning there or waiting to stock the boat in Kauai? Do you know if any other boat was accompanying them to Kauai?
5. Does he recall any other friends or acquaintances from that time?
6. Is there any particular image he has of Michael, Cordelia or Drum that  stands out? Something telling of who they were, what they were about?
7. Did he ever sail his tri back to the mainland and if so, can he share any written account of the voyage?
8. Was he ever interviewed by the FBI regarding M&C or does he know anyone who was?

These are questions that I have already sent to [deleted]. What is encouraging is that he seemed very easy to talk to and was not at all unwilling to participate as a source. No reply yet, but I'm confident he will.

I have let him know that the novel is developing very much along the lines of the discoveries I am making and that with his permission I intend to make use of the information he can provide me. So what can I use this information for?

Assuming that [deleted] will reply to my message, I expect I will have a wealth of detail to work with. At this point, I see that his perspective can some lifting against that of Seamus the websleuth in Drum. Jade may well "discover" that in fact there is no conspiracy, that Seamus is in fact off base entirely.

One thing I need to do is peruse the letters and photos for [deleted] and/or his boat. I believe it is the "big sister" that Mike mentions in reference to a photo of a bigger tri under sail.

So, regarding the balance of "source material" that Jade is using, the material can actually serve as personal ammunition against Seamus, whose theory is gradually taking over her own perspective. Her own perspective is what is at stake. She needs to move on with her life, and this connection with a potential ally represents a new connection to her past, a reboot.

It is this revival of her memory that she is looking for. It is this connection that she needs in order to effectively sever it, releasing herself not only from Drum, Michael & Cordelia, but from the tyranny of the story over her life. These observations can work to alleviate Jade's sense that Seamus is effectively hijacking Drum away from her again, handing it back to her so that she can claim it, more consciously now, then release it.