Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 2 – We’re Not Afraid to Die… If We Can All Be Together (Gorden Cook and Alan East) Summary

 

NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English

Hornbill

Chapter 2 – We’re Not Afraid to Die… If We Can All Be Together (Gorden Cook and Alan East)

Summary

The narrator and his wife decide to embark on a global journey reminiscent of the renowned Captain James Cook. Over the past 16 years, they have dedicated themselves to preparing and honing their seafaring skills. Acquiring a 23-meter, 30-ton wooden-hulled ship named Wave Walker, they subject it to testing in challenging weather conditions for several months.

In July 1976, their voyage commences from Plymouth, England. The initial leg, sailing from Africa to Cape Town, proves to be a pleasant journey. Before heading east, the narrator enlists the assistance of two crewmen, Larry Vigil and Herb Seigler, to navigate the treacherous Southern Indian Ocean.

Encountering formidable and alarming waves on the second day, they manage to cover 35,000 kilometers east of Cape Town by December 25. Despite facing adverse weather conditions, the family comes together to celebrate Christmas. However, the weather takes a turn for the worse, and on January 2, they are hit by massive waves.

Attempting to mitigate the impact, they drop the storm jib and use a heavy mooring rope, but their efforts prove insufficient. Undertaking life-saving measures, they conduct a life-raft drill, don life jackets, and oilskins. Later in the evening, a towering wave strikes, hurling the narrator off the ship. He contemplates his imminent death, losing consciousness.

As the ship teeters on the brink of capsizing, another colossal wave rights it. The narrator sustains injuries to his ribs and mouth but manages to cling to the guard rail and return to the ship's main boom. Taking charge, he instructs his wife to guard the wheel and realizes that the ship is taking on water. The crewmen start pumping out the water, and the narrator checks on his children, prioritizing the ship's salvation over his daughter Sue's injury.

Addressing the leaks, the narrator waterproofs the breaches, diverting water to the right side. Dealing with challenges such as a blocked hand pump and a short-circuited electric pump, they persist. Despite sending Mayday calls that go unanswered due to their remote location, they continue pumping water throughout the night.

Sue reveals her injuries, a swollen black eye and a deep cut in her arm, explaining that she didn't want her father to worry. After 15 hours, they gain control, but leaks persist below the waterline. Recognizing the ship's deteriorating condition, they abandon the plan to reach Australia and opt for the nearest island, lle Amsterdam.

Despite damaged supporting engines, they pump water continuously for 36 hours, leaving only a few centimeters. They hoist the storm jib, consume their first meal in two days, and face changing weather. The narrator's son Jonathan expresses fearlessness in the face of death as long as they are together, fueling the determination to fight.

Struggling to protect the weakened starboard side, the narrator and his wife contemplate their end. Supported by their children, they persevere through the storm. Despite setbacks, including a destroyed mainmast, they sail through the storm, calculating their position and receiving a heartfelt card from Sue.

Instructing Larry to steer to 185 degrees, the narrator dozes off but wakes up disappointed, thinking they hadn't made it. His son informs him they reached lle Amsterdam Island, praising him as the 'best daddy' and 'best captain.' With some struggle and the help of the island's inhabitants, the family and crew members never cease their efforts, ultimately overcoming the challenges that threatened their lives.