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Codes of Survival -Scripts - a series of short factionalized stories based
on historical events in the Subantarctic Islands written by Lloyd Godman
to accompany the exhibition and installation - 1993 - © Lloyd Godman
Codes of
Survival - Scripts
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1941 - A
SEARCH FOR THE ENEMY
Dec
13
The
others have left on a trek to the other reserve station to research penguins, carry out tidal observations and do a general check of the location and this has left just James and myself here. The weather in the morning was quite fine although there was a stiff breeze blowing from the south east. In the afternoon the wind had moderated and there were a few
mild skiffs of rain about. James spent most of the day in the top look out, but once more there was no sign of the Gerries.
Dec
14
Today
was quite fine almost for all the day. Then in the evening we could see a thin line
of grey fog out on the horizon. Before long it was creeping in from the sea across the land
and covering everything. We had walked to the top of Meggs hill  in the morning on a track clearing exercise and had enjoyed for once the fine day to work in. By the time the fog had appeared, we were well set in the hut with a good fire for the night.
We saw that strange albino penguin that has been about for the fast
month once more scurry off into the water before we left in the
morning. It is quite a strange sight and is almost pure white. We have
not been able to get close enough to see if there is a pigmentation
difference in the eyes
at this point.
Dec
15
This
thick mist has been here all day and we can see very little in any direction. From the doorway, even the end
of the hut is almost obscured, by the swirlling vapours and as there
is very little wind and it seems to seep in from the sea rather than be blown in. It has
been a good time to catch up on a few odd jobs around the hut, and the
door lock that has never been fitted, since our arrival was finally screwed in place. The chimney had been
smoking in the north east winds, and though it rarely blew it always
seemed to blow it back
down again and out into the room. So with a little time on our hands, we managed to construct a cowling to direct the gusts away.
This is a make shift arrangement and will only prove its worth once
we experience another gale.
The
mist is thick as ever and we just spent most of
the time curled up in the hut with a good fire to dry our ever present pile of washing and reading books. We always
have a mass of wet and dirty washing to deal with and this would be one of the few times we had got close to getting on top of it, though it may still take some time to dry. If there is any enemy out there we can't see them in this thick blanket.
Dec
17. 1941
The
wind sprang up and blew last night and all today from the NNE. There
was little rain, just thick mists again and we have not seen Ewing Island
for three days now. Looking for any ships in this is impossible. We didn't even try and spent the day reading and playing cards once more. The Germans  could be right outside our hut and not be seen; still sound carries well in the still mists and we have heard nothing strange, so we can only suppose all is well.
There
is a cold breeze from the s/w and a change in the weather, as the sky is now sunny and clear, at last the mist has cleared. There were no sightings again yesterday so we are still safe, just the ocean
and more ocean so New Zealand can still sleep easy. The others are still away and there is just the
two of us to keep the fort. There has been sporadic bursts of fighting
between two young male sea lions sparring below in the bay. Fights of territory seem to be the main reason for their skirmishing. I have started carving a small boat from the packing case wood using my pen knife to pass the time in the lookout. It won't be long till Christmas and the excitement of something special to eat. We should be able to spend it together for one large celebration this
year with any luck.
Dec
19
A
storm broke again last night with a real down pour so the stream is
up in a torrent past the door. It even swept up and over the small bridge we had constructed
to cross it. We both spent the day away from the hut, and I was right up at the top lookout. No
sign of the other party or the enemy. Read two good books and carved some more of the boat. On our return, a young sea lion somehow got inside the hut. It did no real damage except for knocking over most of the furniture and dragging in a little more dirt than we normally do. It was probably one of the two from the bay. We will have to fix the catch or start to use the new lock we had fitted to the door from now on.
Dec
20
The
weather is about as calm as it gets and the reflection of the bright
red flowers of the Rata canopy  in the waters of the bay is a wonderful sight. The two young seal lions
fighting in the bay have taken to opposite sides of the inlet and James and I still
can't get used to sudden outbursts of their fighting when they meet up. Every time it happens
I think the enemy has arrived undetected. I've finally taken to locking the door to keep them out of the hut and this has kept out the sea lions so far.
Dec
21
We
have had two days of still fine weather on end and it would be great if this could hold for Christmas. Last night
a small Prion crashed into the window of the hut, we wondered what the hell it was until we found
it dead below one of the windows. I lost the key to the hut in the afternoon and no matter how we searched there was just no sign of it.
Keys! Ther'e worse than the enemy to find. The spare keys were inside so that meant we were
firmly locked out. Just my luck to be embarrassed as the others arrived back as we were looking for the key ,
it was good to see them all safe and sound but not so good to be the joke of the lost key. We had to break
in through one of the windows in the end.
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