Captains Log - Raising the TitanicCalm seas, no wind, no visibility.  The crew was gamely manning the pumps, but losing the battle.  Water was coming in from all sides.  A thousand cuts.  A thousand slow leaks.  My ship, once the envy of the fleet, was dying.   "Let it go", I kept thinking.  Soon, I would issue it as a command, and the salvage operation would commence.  The loss of my commission would not cost me the most-prized treasure of this thirteen-year journey.  He must be protected, above all.  In a way, the ship was becoming a distraction to my responsibilities to him.  Self-pity was chased away by completely absorbing myself in preparing for the long swim to shore.  I had no idea when, or if, I would make land.  There were but a few good captains who knew of my plight, and would track me from their own vessels, but I dared not board, fearing the Jonah effect. I never saw the albatross coming and she could have pecked out my eye if it wanted.  Instead, it struck just above my brow, and drew blood.  I recovered to find it perched on the rail in front of me.  It seemed to be daring me (begging me?) to strike her down in retaliation.Seabirds are usually hearty creatures, but this one was frail and carried many scars.  It's once-white feathers were fouled with oil from at least one tragic encounter with a wreck.  There were open wounds as well.  She was in pain."Not yet.  Please.  I need to rest here.  If you allow your ship to go under, I will go with it.  You won't be able to save me and your treasure."I recognized the creature in that instant.  She was former companion of my voyage, who would swim around my ship at various ports of call.  When my son was born she sang beautiful songs to him.  She was not an albatross at all.  She was a swan.  I watched her fly off during a particularly bad storm, and thought I'd lost her for good.  In a way, I wished her well, and was relieved that she would not have to suffer this battle.  Now I see that she circled throughout, and desparately needed this moment to heal.  Surely, I owed her that much. As I turned to take my place at the pump, the fog began to clear.  GDAD