Caboto's Diary

Written 20 years ago for a CBC Radio Contest...

                                                      CABOTO’S DIARY

June 10, 1497

My dear King will not believe the strange and fantastical dream that I and my crew experienced last dawn as the sun sank upon this ocean blue.  I call it a dream because I lack any other word to term it ... no, perhaps it was not a dream, perhaps we did indeed slip through the cracks of time.  Perhaps we did see the future? Was it possible?

While I record these words with all my senses intact, my mind still does not yet comprehend the incredible events of last evening - 20 days into our voyage westward.

At approximately 8:15 p.m., the clear still evening  suddenly turned nasty and ominous.  Many of our crew became frightened and visibly upset. While used to inclement and strong weather, the swiftness with which this storm descended upon us caused even me to become alarmed.  I alerted my men to tie themselves on to the boat.   The darkness engulfed us suddenly and after much trashing about of our bodies and our ship, the flashing of lightening and a strange sensation of  having moved at mind-boggling speed, all returned to normal ... or so we thought.

Seemingly, we were still in the same spot but the ocean looked different. No longer was it clear and inviting.  Darkness hid among its waves and much flotsam and jetsam bounced  about.  An oily black substance glistened off  the water’s surface.  Despite many hours of trying, we could not catch nary a fish.  This left us quite puzzled for earlier in the day, the waters had been teaming with cod and other fat fish. One seaman commented that the air did not smell right. We all agreed that the evening breeze felt denser and its acidity bit at our nostrils. 

Suddenly a voice from crow’s nest shouted land. We quivered with excitement at the approaching land and as we neared we saw that it was already inhabited.  Houses on top on houses sat next to each other and tall, tall buildings occupied the skyline and shut out the sun.  Hastily, we went ashore at our landfall.  Astounded and slack-jawed we walked the streets and stared at the people - they did not look happy.  As we spoke to them, they talked only of their misery - unemployment, the depletion of their resources, environmental destruction and many social ills. On and on they spoke of the negative forces which had engulfed their human lives.  They cursed a man who discovered the place 500 years previous and the coming celebrations which would mark this milestone.

My crew and I were taken back by the pessimism which hung in the air like thick, black smoke from a faulty lantern. We returned to our vessel, The Matthew, which looked so puny next to the large and unique ships anchored in the bustling harbour.  None spoke of our encounter as we slipped into sleep.  When we awoke we found ourselves back into another violent storm, which closed quickly.  Our bearings revealed we were  in the same position as before the storm of last evening.  As the crew mumbled breathlessly about the “dream” they all shared, I spoke not and retreated to my cabin to began the day’s entry in my log...

As I write my intuitions tell me that what we experienced was real and that the life we saw was not yet realized, only glimpsed.  I wonder if the man they spoke of and cursed  was me,  Giovanni Caboto  - will I be the one to discover this new found land ? 

My dear King, I am so shakened by what I have forseen that I am inclined to turn around and retreat back to your shores so I do not doom this sacred land.  I do not want to have your name, nor mine, scorned by the mouths by future citizens for generations to come. I pray for an easy resolution to my dilemma.

Later that Day

Fear not my King, after much contemplation my mind is strong - I will continue navigating westward and I will find the land in my dreams and I will start it right from the beginning.  I will call it the Happy Province and I will be the purveyor of optimism and goodwill.  I will send every curmudgeon back to the East and the people who persevere in this land will be known for their smiles and hospitality.  We will have lots of laughter, song  and merriment to hold the negativism at bay.  This isle’s inhabitants will be taught that happiness lies within and that they alone are the navigators of their own fortunes.  Yes, we will be a blessed lot and despite what falls around us,  our noble hearts will not forget the majesty and uniqueness of this new isle with all its natural beauty,  seasons and all its promise. 

I call upon you once again to invoke your greatest blessings upon our voyage and our renewed faith as we head westward to the land that awaits us, to the isle that surely will be the greatest place under the creator.