Hohenstaufen was a nice modern boat, which was in charge of post and other transport between Europe and South America. Otakar
Batlicka liked Rudolf Bogan best from the whole crew.
Rudolf had a remarkable motto, which he always followed religiously. He used to say.
“ When I work, I work! When I eat I eat and when I sleep I sleep!” And he always fulfilled his principals to the full. He worked really hard. He ate everything he could find and what about sleeping? Well, if Hohenstaufen sank while Rudolf was asleep he would not wake up till heaven. When Otakar went to wake him up this unforgettable morning to take over guard he used the well tried out method.
They were sailing at half-mast. The sea was submerged in thick fog and the sirens were penetratingly
screeching every five minutes in order to prevent a possible crash. A hellish wailing did not allow anybody to sleep apart from Rudolf. Otakar entered the cabin and switched the light on. He caught Rudolf by his legs and pulled him - he sits now on the floor but continues sleeping. Another trick of his tested method. A glass of icy water is flying into the face of the sleepy head. Rudolf is slowly opening his left eye, he murmurs something but before he put the glass down he is snoring heavily again. Otakar must therefore approach a third step in trying to wake Rudolf up. He gets hold of Rudolf under his arms; he pulls him over his shoulders and carries him on deck. The freezing cold does quickly what he would only manage to achieve with difficulties. Rudolf is waking up and to his amazement thinks that they are ailing trough Milky Way – such thick air.
Rudolf is asking Otakar whether he knew what he dreamt about before he carried him on deck in his pyjamas? He dreamt that there was only sea around them.And that three
rocks were rising and they were sailing towards these rocks, always nearer and nearer. Suddenly their boat crashed into something.
A roaring crash, a vehement clash and a penetrating screeching right into the marrow of a bone interrupted Rudolf’s words. The sirens and whistles are screeching like mad.
Clouds of fog are rolling over the ship; you can’t see even a step away. Hohenstaufen is not moving, is stationery, even though according to the shaking they can recognise that the machines are working to its full force in reverse.
The whistle of the first officer calls them all to go on the bow. A straight yellow wall is growing out of grey mist. Oh no, they have hit a cliff. It flashed across Otakar’s mind, how could it have happened. The chances of it were very remote with their ship being like a corn in the whole ocean. Panic set in on deck. The officer is giving out orders to shoo off all passengers back to their cabins, voluntarily or if not voluntarily then involuntarily!
They are reproving, convincing, threatening, till finally the decks are cleared.
The mechanics have in the meantime separated the ship from the rock. Hundreds of birds are flying through the air and screech in alarm.
The ship’s carpenter has found out that there is no threat to Hohenstaufen drowning. The passage finishes in the dry docks of town Bahia.
While Hohenstaufen hangs in the air held by giant crane and steel brace they can see a hole in the bow. A car could pass through comfortably.
They only managed to find the name of the cliff they crashed into on the mainland.
And do you know what was the name of the pile of stones, the tiny island in the middle of the ocean, Rudolf is whispering with a serious face
Otakar surely could not have known.
It’s called Cap trio, in English it means Three rocks.
It is incredible. Do you remember the dream?