Uni's Unicorn

Chapter 15 - The Land of the Long White Cloud

Surfacing, Uni saw the white cloud ahead had billowed to elongated proportion above the shores of what appeared to be golden-sanded beaches, spreading out as far as she could see.

Diving down, Uni swam until she needed fresh air; she rose to tread water.

Surprisingly, land had appeared on her right, quite a distance away, as though she was in an inlet. She saw a huge gap of water between two shores.

It dawned on her; the first piece of land was part of  Cape Reinga of the North Island of her country, New Zealand; the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Joy flooded her. She had made it. I will kiss the sand when I reach it, and drink the first non-salty water I find. What a place to be, what a wonderful sight to see my island from here. Surely there's no other place on earth as beautiful in all of God's creation than this country of mine. My family is here, my heart is here...

It's Barrier Reef Island on my left and Port Jackson on my right now, thanks to my geography teacher of some years back... If I swim along between here and down the East Coast of Coromandel, I should come to the beachfront at Waihi where Aunt Pats lives. I remember Mum taking me to her house on the beach where we went surfing, except Grandad. Mum had to stay on her stomach on the board but she caught a lot of waves even staying afloat while hanging on for grim life... I'll go to her house and I can call Mum collect. I have such good memories of Aunt Pats...

Visiting there had been a highlight in their lives they cherished and often spoke of doing it again sometime. The only regret was that neither Tyson, nor their father had been there to share it with her. 

Following the coast on her left would take her along the bay, between White Island and the coast of New Zealand, on around to Cape Runaway.

Diving down, she did three underwater stages before staying above to tread water again. The Island had disappeared and she wasn't sure exactly where she was now. Golden-shore beaches were still visible and the cloud seemed further inland.

Weariness and thirst threatened to overcome her. She couldn't discern how far she'd swum. No island was visible out on her left now, just the upper north-eastern coast on North Island was visible on her right.

She needed to drink water, At least two litres, she told herself. 'Salt water dehydrates you' — she'd heard that said more than once.

The look of land, small settlements, perhaps a beach resort and camping grounds, these were tempting; any one of them would do. There were always water taps at a beach, outdoor cold shower places to wash off sand, even at smaller camping sites. Most had streams of fresh-water close them, flowing from inland out to the sea. 

Turning to head in, she flicked back with her feet and prepared to dive. Something nudged at her. Spinning in the water, she saw a large shape close to her, too close.

It's a dolphin — this was her first thought. But no, the dread truth came to her mind.

Great White! —SHARK! Not too great for me, though, it's not much more than my size...

Kicking as had as she could, she swam underwater before surfacing. Seeing not only one fin, but more than three, not as big as that first, circling her, she turned, preparing to swim for the shore as fast as she could.

Something tugged at her foot, pulling her backwards. She screamed. It was as if one of the sharks had bitten her left ankle. Pushing back into the water towards it, she kicked it with her free foot. The shark, larger than Uni, flicked itself downward, away from her. Uni didn't wait, but pushed herself to swim as fast as she could to the shore. Aware of pain shooting up her leg and that she could kick with her right foot only, it was as though adrenalin kicked in. She felt unbeatable, unstoppable...

Her right foot felt sand beneath it, kicking down on it, she propelled herself on and on horizontally before feeling as though her life was draining away. Hands reached for her, dragging her from the water, others running out with badminton rackets, raising them and beating the thigh-deep water, causing a school of young sharks to swim away.

It was as though cloud descended on Uni; she was in a fog, lost in the bog, in a place she'd never before been...

Voices of strangers thundered in her ears, joining the erratic beating of her heart.

"Ewe, there are white bones sticking out, like it bit off all the flesh..."

"So much blood, I feel faint..."

"The water's red here..."

"Quick carry her up on the beach."

The crowd of teenagers parted.

Someone wound a belt around the lower calf of Uni's leg, pulling it tight before wrapping it in a towel.

"Get that iCam off and call emergence services!" a male voice yelled. It seemed to pound in her head. It was the young man who had used his belt as a tourniquet. Uni sensed he was fully dressed, wearing long trousers and a buttoned shirt.

"You're such idiots!" a girl exclaimed, "Take them away, get away from her."

"They put me on hold!"

A female voice from the young woman holding the towel around Uni's leg asked for something to secure there it firmly. 

"She must have lost a lot of blood; I hope she doesn't die..." Taking a piece of rope that was offered her, she wound it around the towel, tying the ends firmly in a knot.

Uni somehow believed they talking about someone else, surely not her...

"A helicopter with a doctor on board has been despatched."

The last thing she heard before she lapsed into some kind of unconsciousness shock, was, "Let's kneel and pray and ask God to be with this, this girl, and spare her life."

She felt gentle hands on her shoulders, arms and her fore head... then the voices faded...