DESTINY

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     The storm flew towards the stricken vessel, hard rain spitting from every angle, the wind howling, their world growing darker, the storm closer.     A seaman warned the captain about the two boys and he tiredly smoothed his dark, unruly hair and pulled on his captain's hat. Buttoned tightly in his dark jacket, buttons gleaming, Edmund stood as tall as the uncertain movement of the ship allowed.     Angelo, the girl's father, Edmund remembered, knocked on the cabin door. He opened it and entered it at a nod, accompanied by crewmen holding two boys. The captain scowled at them "your grandfather abandoned you," he growled. "Did you help him damage my ship?" He felt incandescent with rage. "Thirty years of unblemished record. What do you say?"     "He is not our grandfather," Tom, the eldest spoke up. "He lied, showed false papers to our foster carers." Josh spoke up, crying "Look what he did to us!...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     Angelo left his wife, Helen and daughter, Consuela, to go on deck. As a child he had loved God, wanting to serve Him in some way, but gangs had reached out instead.     Narrowly avoiding imprisonment and even death, he had met and married a wonderful woman. Reaching the last companionway to the deck, bitter rain lashed his face.     Turning to retreat, he saw two small figures leaning over the rail. Ignoring the oncoming storm, they were gazing east, seemingly oblivious. Angelo approached quietly.      "Hi guys," he said, pleasantly. The boys glanced round, then both stood on the bottom rail as though to go over the ship's side. He grasped their collars very firmly and yanked them backwards, appalled and also angry.     "How dare you do this?" he yelled over the rising wind. "You could be helping others!" The youths turned on him, almost spitting with rage. "Leave us alone," they yelled, "we hate yo...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     Mike Bailey clearly believed the two officers had proof of his wrongdoing which was a relief. Captain Starkey had asked for and been given divine help, but explaining the proof was a dream would not sit well as evidence in a court of law.     They suddenly heard the sound of helicopter blades. To their surprise, an older man was already clinging to a rope ladder, kicking away a crewman. He was swiftly winched up. Officer Shayle took the young crewman away for questioning. The man was very upset at being abandoned. He held firm that the escapee had had credentials to inspect all ship's equipment.          In view of the resultant sabotage and the man believing the ship would perish, it was obvious he was complicit, though he denied receiving money. A search of his belongings revealed several hundred dollars, and no explanation.     The crew and passengers felt they were witnesses to some kind of wil...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey          Exhausted, Captain Edward Starkey reached his cabin for a few hours of vey much needed sleep. He glanced around the small area. There was a small desk and chair bolted down, his bed and a more comfortable couch which he thought ruefully had seen little use lately.     Slumping to his knees by the narrow bed, he said quietly "God, if you are real, well I need help. Please help me see."     Pulling himself up on the bed, he slid off his thick boots, worn but still serviceable.  Within minutes he was deeply asleep. In a dream, he saw a member of the passengers, an older stern looking gentleman, standing near the ship equipment room where most electrical gear was stored. A crewman saw him, but the other waved some money beneath the young seaman's chin, also showing him some sort of identification.      The captain woke up and pulling on his boots, roused Lester Shayle, first mate. Togeth...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     An elderly woman crew member moved among the passengers, quietly encouraging, sharing REAL information, listening to the many grievances, fears, concerns and anger. Her frizzy hair and plain features made her almost invisible to most people, but her words always made sense.     Helena Smith carried a good old-fashioned notebook and pen, then reported personally to the captain concisely and fairly, listing genuine complaints and questions.     Consequently, the captain gathered all available crew and passengers together in one of the comfortable lounges where there was room to sit, sprawl or merely stand.  Then he waited patiently for the barrage of abrupt questioning to end and for silence.     "Right," he began in a firm authoritative voice that was only loud enough if people listened. One, we are not sinking. There is some hull damage, almost repaired. The pumps work well. Two, some equipment is damaged, bu...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     Lester Shayle watched the captain and despite himself, felt admiration for this man. As first mate, he longed for further promotion. It was not just the prestige and power he longed for, though that was important to him. His family depended on him. More money would be useful.     The captain was aware of being scrutinised but was also aware the first mate was revealing himself to be far more than just another "go-getter."      Shayle took time to explain to children who were upset and worried, what was happening in a careful way. He knew Connie and the boy's home - what was it? Dennis, yes!     Edward was tired. He thought of his friend Taffy's last words - something about Jesus being our hope. Later maybe he would consider this, but no time today or even tomorrow.     The second and third engineers swiftly accompanied their captain to the secure rooms where propulsion unit and other vital spares we...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey         "Captain," the voice stern, a reminder of duty. Edward Starkey bent over the body of his friend, mentor and Chief Engineer, Emrys Jones. Taffy had finally felt he could leave his engine room safely.     The door had been closed, the man was only metres away, but then had come what obviously had been an unexpected explosion, blowing the door wide open and causing this stalwart man to be fatally injured. When the captain had reached him, Taffy had opened his eyes. "Eddie," he had whispered, "remember Jesus, our only Hope." He had tried to rise, to help, but then his injuries had proved too much.     Captain Starkey turned to the chief mate who stood watching him. "Send four reliable seamen to take the body to the storage unit. Then send the other engineers. Thank you."     He could already feel the ship slow, the propulsion unit failing. Three more days and they would have reached their destination. T...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     There were a few screams, high-pitched and deeper yells of alarm. Lights flickered, went out, then came back on, dimmer with an auxiliary power source. The captain turned to his crew. "Was anyone left in the engine room?" "Only Taffy," a man murmured, mindful of passengers listening - "Emrys Jones, that is it."     Leaving two senior officers in control, the captain and several of the crew hurried to see the extent of the damage.     The ship was still moving, but slowly and Angelo felt that the course of the vessel seemed slightly erratic, packing a wobble.     Stewards were moving around checking passengers, trying to calm anxious adults. Many decide to go back to their cabins and await news of how extensive the damage was and what could be done to reach land safely, or repair the ship.     Others stayed where they were, as the lounge and dining areas were mainly on the first deck, close to escape. ...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     As usual people queued for food, much like a school or college canteen. The food choices were excellent, well presented and appetising. You could choose warm food. Toasted sandwiches were a favourite, or freshly made salads with tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and other options such as fruit.           The cheerful banter was sadly lacking. There were not many children or young people on this particular voyage. An older man seemed to be in charge of two boys in their early teens. The boys were nearly always subdued and reticent to engage with others. Two small girls were looked after by a young woman. The three were cheerful and outgoing.     As the meal finished, workers quietly collected used plates and utensils as quietly as could be managed. Many passengers helped, glad of something to do. The mother of the two young girls gave them some coloured pens and paper.     "We bought some new equipment from r...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     Anna looked at Dennis and Peter, her precious son and her husband. Her heart felt strange. This was meant to be a fun, stress-free holiday.     Finding Consuela and her parents, Angelo and Helen had been such a bonus. They got on so well together, better than many families ever could.     Helen looked at her then, the same anxious look she knew mirrored her own.     The bell sounded for lunch and the passengers filed into the large cheerful dining area. Table had room for ten people each and there were ten of them, all with artistically arranged settings of cutlery, napkins, drink glasses...     There were around fifty to sixty passengers. The captain was always present for evening meals, but today he was waiting to welcome everyone along with many of the engineers and other members of the crew. The passengers looked at them.     The captain held up a hand for silence. "After lunch, in say half...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey      Then Dennis startled her. "Can you hide my bag in your cabin, Connie? My parents are more noticing of my stuff than yours."     "Okay," Connie was puzzled. "The door isn't locked. Just hurry back. Let's go talk to our parents." It was more obvious now that something was wrong with the ship's engines - a strange, alarming grating noise.      Slowly Connie walked to climb up to top deck, waiting for Dennis who caught up quickly. They raced up the metal steps, trying to outdo each other and giggling, almost careening into an engineer. He edged past, his overalls very grimy, and hurried away without a word.     On the deck, their parents were clustered together, being anxious. So were other passengers.     Connie's parents looked warmly at their pretty daughter in her pink shorts and and animal-pictured short sleeved top.     Angelo thought how much like her mother she looked and Helen w...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     Dennis was pilfering from the kitchen. The staff were seated away around the corner bulkhead, enjoying their quiet "smoko," before the rush and rattle of lunch.     Small for his age, the boy was selective. Only light, economical packets of soup etc. slid into his backpack. Finally a small flattish pan. What else?     "Oy!" a cook yelled, "what for you in here, eh? Go!" Smiling, he tossed a bread roll at the eight year old. The man thought of his own small, bouncing, happy children, longing to see them again and their beautiful mama....Seven weeks was a long time.     Connie stepped out of the cabin just as a steward stepped on a cockroach, then ran, the polisher he was steering over the insect and shining floor until it was scarcely a wrinkle.     When he saw the girl's face he laughed and gave her a wink, wishing she was older. She smiled in return. "Your boyfriend - he raida the kitchens again. Tuttut...

 DESTINY By Tessa Harvey     Consuela glanced into the burnished panel that passed for a mirror in the small cabin. Outside the sea seemed relatively calm and Connie was no longer bothered by seasickness.     Her friend, Dennis had laughed when she was seasick before the ship even left harbour!     Her hair was long, dark and shiny. Her face was okay, except she thought her nose a little too large. The engines thrummed beneath her feet and Connie felt uneasy. The engine beat unsettled the young ten year old.     Connie was a musician of sorts, learning the piano and loving to sing. But something still jarred as she listened to the noises of the vessel: children calling, adults chattering, footsteps loud, running, thumping...cries of joy as people laughed in the ship's pool. It was fun in the pool, water swirling up to your chest, then down, down below the waist as waves unfurled beneath them.     Connie resolved to find Dennis and a...