DESTINY

THE ISLAND  By Tessa Harvey          Melati looked around the strangers' campsite on the island. The smell of breadfruit cooking was delicious and evoked sad and also happy memories of her people.     She liked these people mostly. The exception was the "devil." The young girl knew no other word for such wickedness that a son would attack his own parents and not only hurt their hearts but also their bodies. Her family had told her of such people as a warning because, although she was small, she knew herself to be thirteen island years old, growing up.     Once before strangers like these had come to their little village. They were warmly welcomed, given food and the indigenous people had held them in respect. Those people were of many colours - deep black, various browns like herself, and some more whiter-skinned. Two ot them had eyes that slanted in a different way, but her people knew that they were mostly ignorant of other places. ...

THE ISLAND  By Tessa Harvey     To the struggling men trying to reach the sandy shore, it seemed wonderful to see young Lester Shayle leading a group of five or six mostly able-bodied men towards them.     "The boy Dennis saw you leave for the beach. A nature girl helped him back to us. But....." Lester's voice trailed away. He knew the captain, Edward Starkey had been friends with Don and Dee from years ago in some college or other over in the States. But seeing how badly hurt the older man was, Lester faltered, wiping a grubby hand over his bristly face. Edward noticed at once. "What a blessing you are," he said, cheerfully.     Turning to one of the seamen in the small group, "Jones, can you organise a stretcher? There was at least one in the lifeboats we managed to salvage." Lester regained his composure.     Somehow the younger men carefully rolled Don onto the collapsible stretcher. They had to drag him carefully. Some of the passengers...

THE ISLAND  By Tessa Harvey          Thinking, well it can't hurt, Edward ran praying into the shallow water, staying in the sandy bits as much as possible, wary even now of the dangerously beautiful, harmful coral. "Don!" he called, almost weeping. "Don, hang on, I'm coming. Don, your wife is here. We have Dee. Dee is here!"      The last words seemed to touch the almost dying man. A glimpse of his battered face sent dread plunging into the captain's heart. Without words, he grabbed a handful of half a shirt stuck under the man's big round arms. They were scarred by sea, rock, coral and God knew what else, but the man was responding. He kept trying to say something, but his breathing was badly laboured.     "Captain, you have to hear," so exhausted and weary himself, the fallen ship's officer leaned on a large rock just offshore. "I'll listen if you keep breathing, okay! Don't die. Don't! I lost Taffy. I can't lose...

THE ISLAND  By Tessa Harvey          Edward Starkey sat in the shade of a pebbly part of the sandy beach, totally exhausted. Grief swept over the middle-aged man, threatening to pull him under like a raging tidal surge. He missed Taffy, his Chief Engineer and mate for almost all of his long naval career. Several times Edward had faced precarious situations, financial concerns, adequately supporting his precious family.     Taffy, formerly known as Emrys Jones had a heart as big as his pride in his Welsh heritage. But he also never lost his faith in a good God. "God didn't want robots," he had said once, "so he gave us free will."     Some people are genuinely honest and hard-working, but if they have any faith in God, it turns on a dime. Taffy meant, if inconvenient, following the easier path of never taking responsibility. Two of his sayings were: "misers like company," or as his wife had once said "liars need an army of sycophants to s...

THE ISLAND  By Tessa Harvey     Dennis marched with confidence for about twenty minutes. He had no phone, but even if he had, there was no coverage. Slowly the jungle seemed to become more and more tangled. Then the little boy stopped suddenly. A very pretty green snake was dangling down in front of him. The reptile slowly opened its wide mouth as though lazily yawning. The boy felt mesmerized by those black glistening eyes. The snake swayed. Dennis froze. The forked tongue flickered.     Staring in to that mouth, Dennis had a bright thought. It could not swallow him! He had a chance. Behind the snake appeared a nasty, leering face. Elijah! Agh!     Then, as though in a scary movie, a boy's voice whispered very low down. "Fall down child. Snake ok. Man not. No noise. Follow me. I am friend, Malati."     If he had been a few years older, Dennis would have thought something like "Yeah, so what. You're just a random like rescuer. Get lost. I got...

THE ISLAND  By Tessa Harvey     When the person called Dee opened her eyes, the boy sighed heavily and walked disconsolately away. Those odd boys had said it would be great to be on a real island. Tom said it had coconuts. So what! You could buy them at mum's supermarket. No water - none! But the sand was just like sand anywhere - except it wasn't. There were bits of clothes, ripped bags. A dead kitten. It was all awful. The kitten was tiny and sad and very much not alive. It lay limp and dead.     His mind veered away, but it was still the truth that real people might be like that somewhere. Where was his mum? She had heart problems. She did not run after him when he was little and ran away, giggling and hoping, looking back.      His dad was hurt and limped, but had hugged him hard, glad to see his boy had escaped physically unscathed.     Where was Connie? Fine. Dennis was eight. Time to be strong and brave. - a warrior.  He forg...

THE ISLAND  By Tessa Harvey     When Deidre opened her eyes again, it was still dark. Her face hurt so badly, tears were no longer possible. She felt a presence near her and was afraid. "Who are you?" she asked, querulous.                  A very small voice answered. "Dennis, miss. They sent me with a drink." Dimly, Deidre could see a shaky hand holding a juice carton containing a fixed straw. "Heaven," she thought. The child patiently held the container steady, even though she felt him crying. The drink did something amazing to the brain. She could think! Best of all, words were possible. Blinking, Deidre could see the small tousled boy. She searched her aching head for a name.     "Dennis," she croaked. The boy looked inordinantly pleased. Then his face quivered. "I can't find Connie," he whispered, afraid. "The people say we have food, but some of us are missing. I can't find my mum," he added.     "What...

THE ISLAND  By Tessa Harvey     Elijah was lying nearby. Not being stupid, he made sure he was in the shade before feigning slow collapse. Before this catastrophe he had just been an unobtrusive, but skillful thief. So he lay down a bit and watched and listened.     The stupid female crying for "Don" should have opted out of life years ago, he figured. These new laws were good. Clear the debris of society's oldies. Still, Elijah had managed to "find" a good haul in her nearby bag - plastic cash, a credit card and nice necklace.     A hand tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me mate." The voice was steely, but polite. Elijah forced open his eyes. "Oh, who are you, sir?" he asked, weakly as though confused. "First mate, Lester Shayle, as you know well Elijah Cummings. I suggest you hand over your ill-gotten gains, as they say." "Now!" he added, still soft and smooth, but all the velvet had gone from his voice."     Elij...

DESTINY - PART TWO THE ISLAND By Tessa Harvey       Deidre had been dreaming she was with Don and a couple of friends. They had been to their usual local cafe for a warm croissant and latte. Ordinary latte, not pumpkin spice anything, a drink that likely had never met a pumpkin! But the sandwiches they then ordered to take out with them for lunch were literally, sandwiches!!     She groaned, her back was on fire, sunstroke? But they never ever lay out long in the sun. Turning stiffly, despite her aching head, she actually spat out a mouthful of real sand. Trying to open her eyes was not possible. Deidre groaned again. "Don," she tried to cry out, but seemed unable to move. Salty tears ran down her face. Then she became aware of other inchoate sounds - moaning, mumbling, crying.     "Oh God!" she cried, croaky, almost choking, her tears streaming, adding to the salt encrusting her face. Then she remembered - and began to scream. Mountainous waves, thund...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     Turning reluctantly to leave, Edward heard sloshing noises in the companion way and a young boy's voice. The ship's boy, a helper for the cook, a youngster living in a cardboard box near a pub, waiting for a dad who never returned.      Tony had waited a year and cried when "cookie" rescued him.     "Sir," he cried, now skidding around the door, "I've come to get Daisie. Oh look, wow, sir, you are the best. You are saving them." The captain turned back. The boy'd deep faith in him was overwhelming.     Without hesitating, the boy rushed into the flooded area. He passe two tiny half-dead kittens, talking to them as he did so. "Here Penny, our captain's got you. Come on Roscoe, baby. Where's mum and baby Danny?" "Oh here, come on. Don't worry."     Tony hesitated. "Look sir, I'm really wet. Could you push them in your pockets with mum, please sir? And the mean mate said to ...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     As the boats were lowered carefully, Lester Shayle was given clear instructions and diligently followed them. There was a new deeper respect for the captain and so Lester forgot ambition and gave his all. Families were to be kept together. Crew were included in each of the six- life craft. Their experience would be invaluable.\     Seeing the mother of the two toddlers struggling, Tom and Josh approached the captain. Josh tugged his sleeve nervously, and Tom asked if they could help. Edward looked at the eleven- year old. "Do you mean it?" he asked. They both nodded, resolute. "Fine, but you will be watched."     "We know the little girls, sir," ventured Josh, only nine. Their so-called guardian had assumed the boys were older, or lied.     The boats were launched safely. The last boat was of the remaining crew. Although the ship had already been checked, the captain made one final search alone.     He d...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     The storm was a living fury, raging and terrible. Crashing thunder, monstrous winds made their convergent sound horrendous.     People huddled together in their cabins in families or with friends. The crew, clinging to rails, tried hard to look after everyone, but most of all to look after the ship, their haven. Many sought God as an anchor, clinging to hope.     Then the crew became aware of something they had all feared. The anchor, facing  the tempest head-on was slowly, unwillingly it seemed, beginning to yield, to give ground. Some passengers sensed the anchor dragging, but kept it to themselves so as not to frighten others.     But, inexorably it gave ground, slewing the stricken ship sideways. A grinding, groaning noise was added to the cacophony.      The passengers and most of the crew assembled in the dining room. The captain prayed. Then the storm stopped. But it was a temporary lull...

DESTINY  By Tessa Harvey     The captain was kind to the abandoned boys, Tom and Josh. Angelo offered to have Tom temporarily and Dennis and his parents were happy to have Josh. The captain went to find a man called Davo Daniels.     Davo was at least sixty years old, strong, wiry and above all, loyal. He worked hard and was usually cheerful. His craggy face lit up when he saw the captain, and greeted him cheerfully.      "Bit of a quandary, sir! Stay or leave the ship, and yes, I do think land is near as those rascals believed." Edward looked at him sharply. "You have been at sea over forty years, and I count you a friend. I have no wish for the sea to crash through the glass of the upper deck and drown us all. Is it wise to stay, or go? I need some advice."     "What does the Chief Mate advise?" queried the elderly sailor. "Lester Shayle believed we should stay with the ship. There are passengers on board who are elderly. Some women ha...

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...