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