Chapter 1 Because there is always a story behind it. (1/2)

”This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper” - T.S. Elliot.

Moonlight cascaded down on the assuming stretch of ocean. A small stem seemed to peak it's way upwards, like a child looking at the sun for the first time. Hesitation could almost be seen by its gentle swaying as the waves rocked back and forth around it. It would almost seem comical that a bit of wood could be sticking straight up out of the water with such little movement, looking nothing more than like a piece of driftwood which could be spotted anywhere. Reality appeared stranger than expectation. In no more than a moment, the small stem expanded out and shot up towards the sky. It's growth was like watching a time elapsed video of a tree growing, only this was happening in real time. And it was not a normal size tree. It started expanding upwards and outwards, reaching hundreds of meters high and several kilometers in width. This gravity defying behemoth had a trunk the width of several football fields in diameter with lush, green leaves growing on the branches. In barely a few breaths time, the heavens reaching tree seemed to appear out of nowhere, proudly claiming its place in the world, the the night still remained strangely silent as the waves seemed to meld around the tree, as opposed to striking against it.

On a deep sea fishing boat a few kilometers away, the men had already set the baits and had begun circling back around to check the traps while running a net.

”Hey boss, doesn't it feel strange out tonight?” Henry asked, looking out over the water.

”It's captain now Henry. I didn't sell my life away for a boat just to keep working for someone else,” Captain James replied while taking a drag of his cigarette. ”But you are right. The waves are much more calm then you would expect this time of the season.”

Both men stood side by side in the cabin while looking ahead, the harsh illumination from the flood lamps could barely light a stretch a few hundred feet ahead.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

A rapid flickering of lights on the radar screen and the sonar screen quickly lit up the dim room.

”What the hell is that Captain?” Henry shouted, while looking down.

Captain James didn't reply at first while looking down, thinking for a moment.

”It kind of looks like a big... tree....” the captain muttered while almost talking to himself.

Henry looked on in shock. ”We arn't near any land mass are we boss?”

”No, unless there is some sort of undiscovered island, we are basically sitting in the middle of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, right around the Tropic of Cancer. There should be nothing out here.”

The ship continued on it's course while the crew were making their way to the front of the ship, staring at the dense shadow that was growing bigger and bigger in front of them, rising up from the sea like a dragon.

”What the hell is that?”

”I don't know, some kind of cloud reflecting the moon light?”

”Looks like a giant tree to me boys.”

”How the hell could a giant tree be sitting in the middle of the ocean? You must still be asleep old man, or drunk.” All the crew members gathered around, discussion in loud voices while mocking each other. When things just didn't make sense, the most comforting thing was a bit of laughter.

”Hey, Captain!” One of the more seasoned seaman yelled up at the bridge.

”Where the hell did you bring us this time and what are we looking at?”

Captain James frowned while looking out ahead at the ever growing shadow as the boat approached on the eerily calm sea. Sticking his head out the window, James immediately starting barking orders.

”Pull in the nets, buckle down the deck. We are turning the hell around.”

Most of the men looked at James strangely, but immediately starting running to their positions. They locked down the holds while getting to the crane to reel in the net.

”You bastards have 5 minutes before you feel what its like to be thrown around like women in a whorehouse,” James yelled again out the window while staring ahead. Henry was wide-eyed shocked at the captains behavior and couldn't help but ask ”What the hell is wrong Boss?”