*** MAGIC EYES ONLY ***
RESTRICTED DISSEMINATION // TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
DOSSIER REF: CATALOG #1937-K // FIELD RECOVERY LOGS (PART II)
LOG ENTRY 004 // JULY 04, 1937 (08:40 LOCAL)
SURF IS TOO HEAVY. THE ELECTRA HAS SHIFTED 40 YARDS EAST ALONG THE CORAL SHELF. NOONAN SPENT THE MORNING TRYING TO SECURE THE SINKING TAIL WITH RIGGING WIRE, BUT THE TIDE CONTINUES TO ROLL OVER THE STBD WING. SALVAGED TWO CANTEENS, THE SIGNAL KIT, AND MY PERSONAL BINDER. WE HAVE MOVED OVERHEAD COVER TO A DRIFTWOOD CLEARING NEAR THE SCRUB LINE. NO DISTRESS FREQUENCIES RECEIVED. WE ARE COMPLETELY OUTSIDE THE PACIFIC LINE.
LOG ENTRY 005 // JULY 07, 1937 (17:15 LOCAL)
SQUALL CAME IN FROM THE SOUTH-SOUTHWEST LAST NIGHT. THE PLANE IS GONE FROM THE OUTER REEF EDGE—THE TIDE PULLED THE FUSELAGE OVER THE DROP-OFF AND INTO THE SHALLOW INLAND BASIN. VISIBLE FROM THE SHORELINE AS A DARK METALLIC SHAPE SUBMERGED IN THE LAGOON CHANNEL. FRESH WATER COLLECTION IS CRITICAL NOW. NOONAN ATTEMPTED TO BOIL BRACKISH WATER USING SHAPED ALUMINUM FROM THE ENGINE NACELLE. LEGS ARE SEVERELY SCRATCHED FROM CORAL HEADS.
LOG ENTRY 006 // JULY 11, 1937 (12:00 LOCAL)
THIS ATOLL IS UNINHABITED, BUT WE FOUND CRUDE SHACKS MADE OF CUT CORAL AND COCONUT THATCH NEAR THE LAGOON GAP—LIKELY AN OLD TEMPORARY CAMP USED BY SEASONAL TURTLE HUNTERS OR COPRA WORKERS. SPOTTED THIN SMOKE ACROSS THE CHANNEL THIS MORNING. SOMEONE HAS TEMPORARILY ANCHORED A SMALL OUTRIGGER BOAT ON THE LEEWARD SIDE. NO AIRCRAFT OR SHIPS VISIBLE ON THE HORIZON. IF RECOVERY PATROLS ARE OUT THERE, THEY ARE LOOKING IN THE WRONG SECTOR.
LOG ENTRY 007 // JULY 14, 1937 (15:30 LOCAL)
FIRST DIRECT CONTACT. TWO TRANSIENT ISLAND TRADERS/FISHERMEN STOPPED AT THE BASIN ENTRANCE TO HARVEST COCONUTS. EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS. COMMUNICATED USING HAND SIGNALS AND MAP DRAWINGS IN THE SAND. OFFERED THEM METAL STRAPS AND COPPER WIRING SALVAGED FROM THE ELECTRA IN EXCHANGE FOR DRIED FISH AND FRESH WATER. THEY EXAMINED MY LEATHER JOURNAL WITH CURIOSITY, BUT I KEPT IT SECURED IN MY PACK. THEY ARE PREPARING TO SAIL NORTHWARD TO MAIN TRADE ROUTES IN A FEW DAYS.
LOG ENTRY 008 // JULY 18, 1937 (FINAL ENTRY)
NOONAN’S FEVER IS WORSENING. RATIONS ARE ONCE AGAIN EXHAUSTED. THE VISITING FISHERMEN ARE LEAVING THE ATOLL THIS EVENING. WE HAVE NO CASH OR SURVIVAL GEAR LEFT TO OFFER FOR THEIR REMAINING PROVISIONS. IN DESPERATION, I AM HANDING OVER THIS VOLUME AND MY LEATHER BINDER TO THEIR CAPTAIN IN EXCHANGE FOR EMERGENCY RATIONS AND A PACK OF COMMERCIAL CIGARETTES FROM THEIR SCHOONER CACHE. THEY PROMISED TO HAND IT TO BRITISH OR U.S. AUTHORITIES AT THEIR NEXT PORT OF CALL. IF THIS REACHES NAVAL COMMAND... WE ARE stranded ON THE UNINHABITED SOUTHERN ATOLL.
[END OF RECOVERED FILE TRANSCRIPT // CATALOG #1937-K CLOSED]