The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing - Part 1
Cloud Atlas begins with the journal entries of an American notary named Adam Ewing. While waiting on Chatham Isle (a small island off the coast of New Zealand) for his ship the Prophetess to be repaired, he meets an English doctor by the name of Henry Goose. At first Adam dislikes the new acquaintance, but the two soon form a bond. While on one of their many outings, the men come across a public flogging in the settlement of the Moriori natives. Adam shares a moment of profound connection with the native being whipped when the native looked him in the eyes and gave him a knowing smile. Ewing continued to bond with Dr. Goose while waiting for the Prophetess to be repaired. Adam tried to persuade his new friend to accompany him on the Prophetess’s journey to gold-laden San Francisco, but Goose continuously refused.
While on a solo trek up the foggy Conical Tor, a mountain on the island, Ewing falls down a chasm. Despite tumbling down 20 feet, he escapes without breaking any bones. This fall triggers Ewing’s “Aliment,” which Dr. Goose diagnoses as a tropical parasite. After days of waiting, the ship was finally ready to set sail and Henry decided he would join the crew as a doctor to watch over Adam and treat him for his “Ailment.”
One night in his bunk (which he calls his coffin) Ewing discovers a native stowaway named Autua. To his surprise, it is the very same man who he saw being flogged on Chatham Isle. Ewing agrees to help Autua and asks Captain Molyneux to give him a place on the Prophetess. Autua dispels the captain’s initial doubt and outrage when he proves that he is as skilled a seafarer as any. Molyneux is inclined to provide Autua with room and board but refuses him pay.
As the Prophetess gains headway in the Pacific, Adam’s “Ailment” tightens it’s grip. Dr. Goose provides Ewing with medicine that he ensures will kill the noxious parasitic worm that is making it’s home in his brain. The section abruptly ends in mid-sentence, leaving the fate of Adam Ewing up in the air.
While on a solo trek up the foggy Conical Tor, a mountain on the island, Ewing falls down a chasm. Despite tumbling down 20 feet, he escapes without breaking any bones. This fall triggers Ewing’s “Aliment,” which Dr. Goose diagnoses as a tropical parasite. After days of waiting, the ship was finally ready to set sail and Henry decided he would join the crew as a doctor to watch over Adam and treat him for his “Ailment.”
One night in his bunk (which he calls his coffin) Ewing discovers a native stowaway named Autua. To his surprise, it is the very same man who he saw being flogged on Chatham Isle. Ewing agrees to help Autua and asks Captain Molyneux to give him a place on the Prophetess. Autua dispels the captain’s initial doubt and outrage when he proves that he is as skilled a seafarer as any. Molyneux is inclined to provide Autua with room and board but refuses him pay.
As the Prophetess gains headway in the Pacific, Adam’s “Ailment” tightens it’s grip. Dr. Goose provides Ewing with medicine that he ensures will kill the noxious parasitic worm that is making it’s home in his brain. The section abruptly ends in mid-sentence, leaving the fate of Adam Ewing up in the air.
The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing - Part 2
Ending at the beginning, Adam’s journal picks up exactly where it left off. The Prophetess has anchored in the waters of Bethlehem Bay, off the shores of Raiatea. Adam and Henry join Captain Molyneux as he visits the island settlement of Nazareth where they meet the acquaintance of Preacher Horrox. As Molyneux and Horrox talk business and Dr. Goose treats patients, Adam explores the island. He discovers a “Smoking School” and observes the native/whiteman interactions, getting a feel for the enslaved Nazarenes.
Back on the seas and headed for the Hawaiian Islands, cruel shenanigans on the Prophetess occur and Adam’s condition continues to decline. Rafael, a young boy who underwent a brutal initiation into the “Sons of Neptune” approached Adam and asked him for advice. Adam did not think much of the boy’s questions until the next day, when it was discovered that he hung himself because he had been repeatedly raped by the first mate, Boerhaave, and his friends. Adam was repulsed by the occurrences and the lack of authoritative punishment.
Adam felt his death looming in the distance and arranged for his journal to be sent to his son, Jackson. Slipping in and out of consciousness, Adam hears Goose outside his “coffin” warding away visitors and blatantly lying to Autua. It is then that he finally realizes what Goose’s motive has been all along. At his bedside, Goose confirms Adam’s epiphany that his “Ailment” was nonexistent and that he had been slowly poisoning Adam in order to gain access to his belongings. Believing Ewing had documents to an estate, Goose was disappointed to find little of value in a chest and leaves Adam close to death.
Autua went back for Adam and forced him drink brine in order to expel the poison that Goose had administered. By this time, the Prophetess had finally arrived in Hawaii and Autua was determined to save the life of the man who saved his. Autua then tossed Boerhaave overboard because he tried to separate Adam from him, and proceeded to get Adam to a real doctor in the town. As Adam recovered from his ordeal, he philosophized about society and it’s inevitable ups and downs.
Back on the seas and headed for the Hawaiian Islands, cruel shenanigans on the Prophetess occur and Adam’s condition continues to decline. Rafael, a young boy who underwent a brutal initiation into the “Sons of Neptune” approached Adam and asked him for advice. Adam did not think much of the boy’s questions until the next day, when it was discovered that he hung himself because he had been repeatedly raped by the first mate, Boerhaave, and his friends. Adam was repulsed by the occurrences and the lack of authoritative punishment.
Adam felt his death looming in the distance and arranged for his journal to be sent to his son, Jackson. Slipping in and out of consciousness, Adam hears Goose outside his “coffin” warding away visitors and blatantly lying to Autua. It is then that he finally realizes what Goose’s motive has been all along. At his bedside, Goose confirms Adam’s epiphany that his “Ailment” was nonexistent and that he had been slowly poisoning Adam in order to gain access to his belongings. Believing Ewing had documents to an estate, Goose was disappointed to find little of value in a chest and leaves Adam close to death.
Autua went back for Adam and forced him drink brine in order to expel the poison that Goose had administered. By this time, the Prophetess had finally arrived in Hawaii and Autua was determined to save the life of the man who saved his. Autua then tossed Boerhaave overboard because he tried to separate Adam from him, and proceeded to get Adam to a real doctor in the town. As Adam recovered from his ordeal, he philosophized about society and it’s inevitable ups and downs.