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, but as long as people do not all shower at once, there is enough power. Engineers are working in shifts day and night to repair everything. Three, we expect to reach land in a few days. Police are investigating all incidents. We are safe.


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