Low Flyer

You mean more alligators in Santa hats? Well, we're in the Pacific now - sharks in Santa hats?

So we're actually in a 3-week gap at the moment? I only just noticed that.

Hope you have a good trip, CJ.

I've been getting increasingly worried that you'd work too hard to make your pre-holiday deadline. The story is far too good to have the last few chapters hurried. I'd rather see a temporary slow-down in the posting rate and have the story reach its proper conclusion at a proper pace than risk having the whole thing spoilt by rushing the ending. Have a good break.

If you're talking about the number in Cairns that was called by the goons on the powerboat, I assumed it was Grey. Like others, I'm hoping that, once the full story of Bridget's dealings comes out, the cartel will turn on her. Or that the other cartels, believing that Bridget's cartel really were double dealing will start an internal war that will distract Bridget's attention from Shane and Trevor. But unless the entire cartel is wiped out, I just don't see how CJ's going to get the boys off the hook permanently. The fact remains that they've come within the cartel's orbit and people with that sort of knowledge can never be truly free. 5 chapters doesn't seem anything like enough to get this sorted out...

I'm surprised such a thought even crossed your mind. Your aversion to cliffs has been well documented on this very forum... LF

Actually, I'm pretty sure Australians use mathS rather than math...

Thanks, Mike. One lives and learns.

OK, so the "06" is 1906, but what does the 30 mean?

You might be right but the line of sight trigger in the powerboat is just a backup to the satellite phone link isn't it? If it transpires that that trigger doesn't work, then they just need to call Grey and he can activate the other trigger. It doesn't seem likely that they'd put the explosive on the wrong boat - they were moored up for several days so the bad guys really ought to have been able to figure out which was which. And anyway, the boat with the explosives must be the same as the one with the trigger so either way a boat ends up as matchwood. And we lose either our heroes or their family. I want the story to end with all the good guys alive and with Trevor and Shane running a successful two-country chartering business, which requires them still to have two boats. CJ's pulled us out of trickier situations (Indian Ocean, anyone?) but I don't see a way out of this at all. Hope I'm wrong.

I'm not sure Satan would let her in - afraid of the competition.

I don't see how they would have had time to wire it in without drawing attention to themselves. We were led to believe (by the goat, I'll freely admit) that this whole operation was performed from underwater. Mind you, on that basis, I don't see how any device could have been attached that could broadcast - unless it's possible to use the whole boat's wiring as an aerial via one of those anode thingies...

Glad to hear I wasn't the only one with tears on his cheeks whilst reading. I thought the family reunion a little bitter-sweet - yes, it's great that Shane's got some of his family back but his mum's never going to be part of it. Still, he once again has a place to call "home" where he can go and be accepted. The sticky locks are surely indicative of something bad. Obviously it can't be a cliffhanger since we're talking CJ here but I am, nonetheless, nervous. The bad timing on the destroyer pass shows that the bad guys are getting a little smarter - there must be some kind of tracker which only broadcasts its position every several hours. Greg's presence is comforting - though it does up the stakes a bit.

I desperately hope that Kookaburra isn't blown up and certainly that Trevor's mum survives - how awful to have to grieve for you mother twice. I know that Kookaburra's only a boat, but I just want Trevor and Shane to be happy and to be able to operate in both their home countries and that will require two boats. Mind you, they've already promised one boat to Joel and Lisa to use as student accommodation - I've yet to figure out how that will be possible with the boys spending half the year chartering in Florida.

Well, bang goes the weekend!

But it's OK to leave Bridget hanging...?

Yeah!! A weekend off from proof-reading!!!

Hello Alcarose and welcome aboard. You should be warned that once you've started reading CJ's stories, it's impossible to stop. The Goat is a master of his art. He's always telling us how hard he works to avoid cliffhangers in his stories, but there are times when the level of excitment and anticipation is definitely heightened. Under no circumstances should you start reading Circumnavigation unless you are prepared to devote every waking moment of the next week to it. Chris and Steve have wonderful bodies because they're horrible people - they have, presumably, made a pact with the devil. It's the only possible explanation.

Iarwain, words cannot express the level of my jealousy! I visited Melbourne two years ago and I really hope it's something I can repeat - what an amazing city in an amazing country. And if there is a next time, the animal sanctuary will be on my itinerary. As for the story - yes, the boys chattered a bit more than perhaps they should have but I'm not sure how much they actually gave away. There are two boats - well, that's about to become common knowledge. They're travelling back across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal - well, it's the only sensible route. They didn't tell Gray which boat they're on, I don't think, so what did they tell him that he didn't know or couldn't reasonably guess? Lisa and Joel, on the other hand, are about as stupid as it's possible to be. OK, they don't know that she's one of the Cartel leaders, but they can't be under any illusions that she's not a nice person at all. They know that she had no qualms about shooting down the police helicopters or feeding Henry to the alligators. And yet their first instinct is to go looking for her. Beggars belief!

Pretty obvious, I'd have thought - it must be Bridget. If Joel and Lisa want to go and play in the dragon's back garden, they can hardly be surprised if the dragon takes notices and objects. Of course, I could be wrong. It's a brave man who gets too presumptuous with the goat.

I read that in completely the wrong way...

It's nice that you have such confidence.

That's good news, though wouldn't it be nice if it were unremarkable?

Perhaps that's the real reason why those badminton players were trying to throw the match - there can't be many more powerful disincentives to win than the threat of being given a jar of marmite...

There shouldn't be an extra week on the current delay - I sent the latest chapter back yesterday (Saturday) which usually gives CJ enough time to get it finalised for the Tuesday. Don't know about next week though.