The Great Eastern

Large version of Paul at the Funks.

“Treeless, barren, 49 degrees, forty-five minutes north; fifty-three degrees, eleven minutes east, the Funk Islands are comprised of several reefs out in the roaring North Atlantic--Brennan Rocks, Little Funk, Grand Funk, Blue Funk, and the only shoal that regularly stays above water--the islet that supports the huge metal tracery of the BCN Eiffel-Reid tower--Funk Island itself--the outpost to end all outposts.”

“The repeater itself is a battery--400,000 watts--60 tons of mercury and 12,000 gallons of sulfuric acid. Guaranteed to run until the year 2000. The metal tower is built in a wooden matrix that also serves as the futtocks in the superstructure of a mammoth barge....”
Ish Lundrigan on the origins onthe repeater station.
Real Audio

H O M E

“A trip to the Funks”

"Don't get me wrong. There's good folks in Valleyfield. But that's Pentecost country. They don't take kindly to strangers with microphones." Paul meets the strangely familiar Cartwright family of Gambo.
Real Audio
MP3

"We'll need thirty-eight fathoms of hemp rope...a firkin of limes...and a rundle of pork...and a couple of bags of them roasted almonds". Paul meets Captain Jerry Kane.
Real Audio
MP3

"This is it Paul...we're lost...it's Davey Joneses locker for us...". A bad trip to the Funks. Warning: contains parrot.
Real Audio
MP3

"The consequent excitation of the nerve bundles in the ... extremities.... Such a torment when one is alone." Paul gets that old familiar feeling of 40,000 watts of direct current.
Real Audio
MP3

"It's OK Erling. You're alright. You're just having a nervous breakdown. Happens all the time. Just give me the gun...and I'll make some Ovaltine." Paul comforts a distraught Erling.
Real Audio
MP3

"Trust me Erling. The seas were pretty bad when I came over here, but...how bad can they get." Paul utters fateful words as they cast off for home.
Real Audio
MP3


Larger version of repeater station.