Closed Door *Gold* — Elizabeth Taylor

Why would 13 diverse people board a small ship with six tons of pure gold in her belly and set out from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and sail to an obscure island group deep in the South Pacific? If the year were 1943, would they be mad or simply determined? How could this audacious group think they could shorten or end World War II? Individually, they were not particularly special, but as a group, they were quite remarkable. Would it be worth the risk to put the entire voyage in the hands of a 25 year-old man who was considered by his superiors to be organized and capable? Yes. Arthur Kennedy was that man, the Project Manager, but so much more.

It would take over 50 days for the crew, officers and Captain to voyage this group over open water, with no escort, safely. The thirteen representatives expected to travel without having to explain anything to anyone. Kennedy, who knew he would not be included in the two-month meeting designed to determine a way to shorten or end World War II, decided unilaterally to mingle with the representatives and ask them personally what they would say or do. At first, what he initiated as his own personal form of interviews, the representatives considered interesting, but not much more. It would take a gale to interrupt what was considered to be a risky, but peaceful trip and ignite the 13 into animated participation, since the idea that they could be lost at sea might be a reality.

What Kennedy found out enlightened him to the point where he realized how little he knew and how much he needed to know. Travel with this group and find out what happened and what each day brought to the voyage. One thing is certain, those who left Vancouver were not the same people who arrived in Shoppolis Islands over 50 days later.