AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 162

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018

 

"Don't give up hope yet, Sun-Mi... Perhaps, if you keep on believing, your dream can still come true" -- Min-Cho Atwater

 

 

SEA OF JAPAN, OFF BUSAN ...

 

"Trim the jib, and steer two points on the starboard bow..."

 

Min-Cho delivers the orders from the cockpit in the aft of The Priceless Pearl as the boat sails toward the misty horizon, where a dusky orange sun is dropping from the fiery red sky...

 

Immediately, the electric winches purr, precisely adjusting the lines. The boat's wheel turns slightly for the new heading, and the two-masted, gaff-rigged schooner heels over slightly on a southwesterly tack, sails straining in the stiff wind, as a splash of cold spray breaks over the port bow...

 

"Jib trimmed, steering two points on the starboard bow," a soft feminine voice from the cockpit speakers confirms the execution.

 

"Very well. Keep 'er close-hauled on this course, until we're off Maemul-do, while I go below," he commands.

 

"Aye, aye, Captain."

 

 

Min-Cho looks forward and smiles contentedly as he watches Sun-Mi...

 

Perched amidships on the cabintop forward of the main mast, where she had taken up residence as they left the slip in Suyeongman into Busan's harbor, she is dressed warmly for the cruise in a red Burberry windbreaker zipped up tight over a heavy Scottish cashmere wool sweater, her dark blue knit stocking cap pulled down snug over ears and brow against the blustery breeze.

 

She turns and looks back at him, her lively eyes sparkling in a pert face, nose and cheeks flushed pink from the chill...

 

"Can DORIS really sail the boat, all on her own?" she asks, having overheard the exchange.

 

"Actually, DORIS, or VIONA as she's called here, can command the boat entirely by herself," he explains, then adds jokingly, "I just give her commands, because I like hearing 'Aye, aye, Captain' --� it makes me feel useful."

 

Sun-Mi laughs, then is curious, "VIONA?"

 

"Vessel Intelligent Operation and Navigation Application," he expands the acronym with its English words.

 

 

The 15-meter boat rolls as another swell sweeps the port bow, sending a splash of water flying skyward...

 

 

"This is amazing!" Sun-Mi marvels at the white-capped sea and clouds scudding the expanse of darkening sky. "Being out here is so refreshing... I see now why you love sailing."

 

"Come on down now, and let's cook up some grub in the galley before we call it a night," he suggests.

 

"Aye, aye, Captain," Sun-Mi replies drolly, turning and giving him a rakish salute.

 

She swings her legs over to the port beam and nimbly moves astern, holding the grab rails for balance when the boat pitches, the rubber soles of her Sperry boat shoes secure on the wet teak deck.

 

Reaching the cockpit, Sun-Mi steps over the coaming forward of the helm, and stands next to Min-Cho. On the starboard side, they can see lights glimmering in the growing dusk.

 

"That would be Geoje-do," he tells her. "We're making good time, despite the head wind."

 

"How do you know for sure where we are? All the lights look alike."

 

Min-Cho points to a flat panel screen attached to the helm. Sun-Mi sees a small boat-shaped symbol at the center, with nearby islands and points of interest identified.

 

"It's the new GPS navigation system," he explains, "let me demonstrate... VIONA, chart a course from Geoje-do for Jeju,"

 

"Setting a course for Jeju," VIONA confirms the order, quickly performing the charting as they watch directional lines appear on the screen.

 

"We should make port about 1500 hours tomorrow," she announces the results.

 

 

"Very good. The helm is yours for the night. Just file your reports, and I'll check with you again at sunrise," Min-Cho directs.

 

"Aye, aye, Captain," VIONA replies.

 

"You're not worried about running into other boats at night?" Sun-Mi expresses her concerns.

 

"We're fitted with radar and night-vision cameras for visual observation," he informs her of the boat's safety features, " VIONA can sense any danger well in advance and take evasive action. She can also hail other craft and coordinate with their crews."

 

Sun-Mi is impressed. "When Su-Ji told me you were spending most of your time sailing, I thought you were just lazing off," she replies. "I see now I was wrong."

 

"First it's yachts like this one, then commercial ships," he relates his goal. "Someday, we'll have intelligent cars on the roads, too, and VIONA, or some AI program like her, will be directing vehicle traffic and eliminating accidents. If I'm successful here, I'll be in a good position to capitalize on that market, too."

 

"Those are big dreams," Sun-Mi replies admiringly.

 

"Big dreams, big rewards," he reminds her with a grin.

 

 

"I saw much larger yachts in the harbor," she remarks, offhandedly changing the subject, "Wouldn't a bigger boat be nicer?"

 

"I don't need a larger boat, for the same reason I don't need bigger apartments," he explains. "I don't need something impressive, just a cozy place for two."

 

"Uh... well..." Sun-Mi hems, wondering how to respond...

 

"Ahem..." VIONA interjects herself into the conversation. "Don't you mean, a place for three?"

 

Min-Cho laughs. "Of course. I didn't mean to exclude you, VIONA."

 

"That's better," VIONA replies, sounding almost smug.

 

"Since you've come aboard, VIONA's been acting touchy," Min-Cho confides quietly to Sun-Mi. "Frankly, I think she's jealous of the time I spend with you."

 

"Jealous? Me?" VIONA scoffs, having overheard. "No way! Sun-Mi and I are BFF. Right, Sun-Mi?"

 

"Right," Sun-Mi agrees with an amused smile, then whispers dubiously, "Since when do computers get jealous?"

 

 

Min-Cho turns off the cockpit microphone, so they can speak privately...

 

"While she was interacting with you verbally in London, DORIS was also recording and integrating the emotional content of your responses into her core neural network, effectively developing a personality, something I hadn't anticipated," he informs Sun-Mi. "Sometimes, by the way she talks, I feel I have your twin sister aboard with me."

 

Sun-Mi, not sure if he is serious or just making fun of her ignorance of the technology, shoots Min-Cho a dubious look...

 

"No way!" she insists. "Computers aren't like people!"

 

"Check it out for yourself," he suggests. "You'll have lots of time to get reacquainted over the next several days."

 

 

Min-Cho turns the mike on again...

 

"Sun-Mi and I are going below now for the night," he tells VIONA. "See you at 0800."

 

"Red sky at night, sailor's delight, huh?" VIONA snidely quotes the old adage with a twist in the meaning.

 

"That's all, VIONA..."

 

"Aye, aye, Captain, I get it..." VIONA grouches petulantly. "Don't disturb the Captain when the Captain's sharing the berth, right?"

 

"VIONA ... enough!"

 

 

As they go down the companionway steps to the main saloon below, Sun-Mi asks, "What was all that about?"

 

"A red sky is a clear sky, which portends calmer weather and a smoother sail, and a berth is the boat's sleeping quarters," Min-Cho answers."And as for a sailor's delight, well, VIONA was inferring doing something there, other than sleeping..."

 

Sun-Mi's eyes widen when she gets his drift... "How does a computer understand about... that?"

 

Min-Cho shrugs...

 

"You got me. But don't worry, I'll sleep on the settee here," he acts quickly to allay her concern.

 

"Every night?" she remarks doubtfully, considering the settee too short for him to stretch out and lay flat. "How will you get a good rest on that?"

 

"The alternative is that we share the berth..." he gives her a wink.

 

"No way!" she responds instinctively. "We're not in that kind of relationship... I'll sleep on the settee instead."

 

"Or we could put up a curtain in the berth," he suggests. "The bed is much more comfortable."

 

"Well... maybe, then," she reconsiders. "But only if you keep to your side, and don't try anything funny!"

 

"Funny?"

 

"You know what I mean," she says forthrightly. "There's a line I won't cross, until the day I marry!"

 

"Isn't that kind of old-fashioned in this modern day?" he teases.

 

"Old-fashioned, that's me," she replies obstinately, refusing to budge from her stance, "End of discussion!"

 

 

A grin comes over Min-Cho's face. "You know, I have a solution for your problem..." he hints.

 

Irritated, she insists, "I don't need one of your 'solutions' ... because I don't have a problem!"

 

Despite her denial he presses on. "If we get married tomorrow in Jeju, then that line goes..."

 

Seeing the stern expression directed at him, he wisely stops there...

 

 

"What if I'd rather join a convent instead?" she snaps testily. "I might do that..."

 

He looks at Sun-Mi to see if she really is serious...

 

"A nun? You? ... The last I saw, they're still wearing habits that were the peak of style a hundred years ago."

 

"Ha ha," she responds sardonically at his joke on her fashion sense. "Giving back in gratitude for the second chance I received... Why not? It seems only fitting."

 

But Min-Cho questions her reasoning, "What about your big dream... to report good news and encourage people? Will you give it up?"

 

"I think that dream can never happen now," she admits with a pang of regret. "Some dreams are too big for reality."

 

"Don't give up hope yet, Sun-Mi... Perhaps, if you keep on believing, your dream can still come true...," he hints cryptically.

 

 

She gazes wistfully out a port into the dusk and sighs. "I think I'm finished with 'believing' ... it only leads to disappointment."

 

"Maybe I have a solution for that," Min-Cho replies encouragingly.

 

Sun-Mi gives him an exasperated look and says tiredly, "I'm not interested in another of your so-called solutions..."

 

Ignoring her objection, he smiles patiently and replies, "Please, just hear me out..."