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...