The Rescue
By Jason Silks
A chill shock struck Mate Tilman in the chest as his body sank deep into the ocean. A slight panic set in as Tilman realized he didn't know which way was up. The cold shock of the water and the darkness of the night had Tilman disoriented. The sensation passed as he turned frantically about searching for any sign of the boy.
For a moment now we must return to our stowaway. From the moment Dolbe, which is what we named the boy who had come to this port town to escape to the sea. The boy was an orphan and he had often found himself in homes in which he never felt welcome. The people who took him in were some times cruel to him and it was just that Dolbe for some reason could never really come to the place where he felt part of any family. Dolbe knew about his parents, who had died while he was a child. He knew that his father was once a great sailor in the king's navy. This had created an intense desire to sail and an irresistible compulsion that he must begin his life as a sailor at once.
One warm summer's night a month ago Dolbe had set in his mind to run away from home again. He had spoken with all the merchants in the small town that he was living in and discovered that there was a port town no more than ten miles to the south. He packed his things as carefully as a twelve-year old knows how, Dolbe set out on his journey. That first night Dolbe traveled west, not south. He knew that for his plan to succeed he must not be followed or found before he was far out to sea. After a long night in the woods Dolbe stooped low to the ground and pulled a shirt from his knapsack which was covered in a red substance. A mixture of water, dye and sap from a tree it looked very much like blood. During the night Dolbe had been careful to break branches, drag his feet and walk in a manner which would be sure to leave a traceable trail to his current location. It was Dolbe's plan that his orphan family would very well be able to track his journey and would be able to easily find their way to what they would think was his blood soaked shirt. He hoped his family would think he was dead, Dolbe turned his face to the south and did his best now to leave no trail as he began his journey south.
Despite his detour to the west, Dolbe was able to reach the port town in one day day. He had spent a lot of time stealing from the merchants to keep himself fed and doing his best to remain undiscovered. As the weeks slowly dragged on he was beginning to feel as though this wasn’t really an active port town at all, as there had been no ships in the harbor all month. He had just about set his resolve to return back to his home when he saw sails on the horizon. Suddenly the port was filled with ships, each one trying to escape the storm that was approaching and among them, the Golden Lobster.
Dolbe, seeing the ships decided that he had been in the port town long enough, and began to make his preparations to board one of the ships. He went about his normal tour of the town, stealing slightly more than usual, as he didn't know how long he would have to remain a stowaway. As Dolbe did not wish to be discovered before the vessel was at sea and the captain of the ship had no choice but to accept him as a crew member. He was twelve and had no experience at sea Dolb, no idea that stowaways were often whipped and put into the brig at best or perhaps even murdered. Dolbe waited for nightfall and then boarded the Golden Lobster.
Dolbe had no idea how to swim. The moment he hit the water his legs and arms started flailing instinctively. In the end his body bobbed up and down in the water. Although he bravely fought and thrust his body in the waves his body sank deeper and deeper into the ocean and he knew that very soon he would lose his battle with the sea. His body aching, his eyes burning from the salt water, Dolbe shuddered as he prepared to dip into the ocean again. But this time something caught him. Soon he felt a strong arm wrapped around him and Dolbe could feel his body being pulled through the water. In that moment he heard a calm deep voice say, "Stay calm. Stop fighting, I've got you." It was Tilman who found Dolbe. The moment of crisis was over for the moment, Dolbe relaxed and allowed mate Tilman to pull him to safety.
A few moments later both figures sat on the deck of the golden lobster wrapped in warm blankets though still shivering from the cold. "Well then son, I believe an explanation is in order." said the Captain. And Dolbe, who realized he was not yet quite out of “hot water” proceeded to tell the Captain his entire story. And how he had been pushed around from home to home and had never really felt at home anywhere.
Maybe you feel like you don't belong. Maybe you don't know your father or mother. I want you to know that you do have a Father. And this Father wants very much for you to be a part of His family. That father is God and he loves and will accept you just as you are!
As for Dolbe, the Captain agreed to allow him to sail on the Golden Lobster with three conditions. One he must obtain the permission of his orphan family, who Dolbe would have to return to and tell them the truth of how he had run away. He would have to apologize to anyone he had hurt or frightened by his faking his death. Secondly Dolbe must return to the merchants and offer to pay them for everything he had stolen, even up to three times the value of the item if that is what they demanded.
The Captain would put the money up for Dolbe, who would have to work off his debts on the Golden Lobster. Third, Dolbe must know that he was loved and belonged to the family of the Golden Lobster. Dolbe sailed with the Captain and paid all of his debts! He enjoyed an exciting career as a sailor on the Golden Lobster and will appear in future stories of Captain Hawk® and his Adventures!
|
