“But I did something crazy. My father will be heartbroken. He doesn’t have so much money left”

Yonatan sat down on the ship’s deck, his mind spinning with anxiety. His first trip to the city had ended miraculously, but now it seemed that his second trip was going to end terribly. He wondered if the orphans would even bother waiting for him before traveling home.

“Yonatan!”

Yonatan stood up and saw Aharon standing alone beside the ship.

“Can you let me on?”

“Where are the others?”

“They left. They’re going to tell your father what you’ve done.”

“I don’t blame them. They’re probably furious with me.”

“They are.”

“And you?”

“I am too.”

“So why did you stay behind?”

“Let me on, would you?”

“Okay.”

********

Aharon and Yonatan sat side by side on the deck watching the sun setting in the sky. A flock of seagulls screeched overhead, circling above their heads.

“Don’t look so dejected, Yonatan.”

“But I did something crazy. My father will be heartbroken. He doesn’t have so much money left.”

“Hashem will take care of you. I’ve seen how He guides and protects you. I have a feeling something will happen to turn your bad fortune around.”

“Thanks, Aharon.”

“Now, come, let’s explore the ship one last time. Maybe there’s something you didn’t notice when you searched before.”

Yonatan and Aharon split up and began looking over every inch of the ship. They only had a little more than an hour before it was totally dark outside, so they moved with a sense of urgency.

Aharon found the captain’s room and he began poking around. His eye caught sight of a stack of papers on the desk. There were several maps and pages of the captain’s diary. He started reading from the diary, reliving the captain’s last terrifying moments inside the ship.

We are being watched. I warned the men to stay alert and not to drink from the wine storage. I need their senses sharp, not dulled by alcohol. My dear friend Captain Alexander was attacked a few months ago by ruthless pirates who tortured the passengers. Now, as I lead my men past the same area where Alexander and his crew were cruelly murdered, I feel my heart shaking in fear.

My ship is not big, perhaps the pirates will assume I do not have treasure on board. Even if they do attack, they will never discover the cargo that we carry. I am no fool, the treasure is hidden where the eye cannot see and the hand cannot reach…

Now, as I contemplate the precious jewels entrusted to myself and my crew, I remember the other precious cargo that the king himself has given me to protect. I tremble to think of what the king would do to me if I would let harm come to this human cargo. For greater than his love for jewels, is his love for his own flesh and blood.

Aharon stopped reading and steadied himself with a big breath before reading onward.

The men disobeyed my orders. They’ve gotten themselves drunk beyond belief. A bunch of worthless scalawags, the whole lot of them! I called on my assistants to flog the men, but I discovered that they too were stone drunk! Now we will all perish if —

Sounds of cannon fire! We are under attack! We are doomed, these are my last words surely. I have failed my mission. I must find the —

The captain never finished his last sentence. Aharon shuddered, imagining the captain running onto the deck to discover the looming pirate ship beside his own, helpless to stop the one-eyed rouges boarding his vessel with swords and daggers.

(Excerpted from Mishpacha Jr., Issue 774)