The Treasure Hunt 2: Chapter 1
| September 2, 2020“Who are you? Where are you?” The captain and Tuvia stormed into the hallway, looking for the mysterious intruder
In the first series of The Treasure Hunts (Issues 797-804), an exciting mashal, we met Tuvia and the captain, who were together when they found “the lost island,” a place that they thought was filled with hidden treasures. What they found instead was an old man who had spread the false legend. Hernan Corent, the explorer-turned-philosopher, explained that he was trying to teach others that there are greater treasures in life than gold and silver. Tuvia vows to teach the captain about the importance of Torah and mitzvos, the greatest treasure, and they leave the island to return home to Tuvia’s family.
Meanwhile, somewhere out in the open seas, Captain Cutthroat and a thug named John are also alive, and are seeking something of a different sort. Also aboard Tuvia’s ship is Kotty, the goofy, well-meaning assistant to the captain when he was searching for the Lost Island. Kotty helps Tuvia and the captain escape when they are prisoners aboard Cutthroat’s ship.
***
The day Tuvia and the captain prepared to leave the lost island, dark clouds appeared in the sky. A rumble of thunder sounded in the distance and they could already feel gusts of wind soaring across the ocean and blowing past their faces. Was it an ominous warning of danger to come, or simply an approaching storm like any other?
“Maybe we should stay here a few more days, Captain.” Tuvia squinted into the distance. “There’s no rush, after all.”
“No rush? Of course there is! Your parents must be worried sick about you! You’ve been separated from them for far too long.”
“Worried sick? I don’t think so… My parents have probably accepted the fact that I’m dead already. There’s no chance they think I survived.”
“All the more reason to return you to them as soon as possible. Hernan said we can use his ship. Let’s see what condition it’s in.”
*******
Hernan’s ship looked like a haunted shipwreck that had not been used for centuries. Vines and moss covered the once majestic hull and the sails were almost in tatters.
“Tell me it looks better on board…” the murmured.
“It doesn’t.” Hernan shrugged.
*******
When they had finally gotten the ship deep enough into the water, Tuvia and the captain turned to wave farewell to Hernan.
“Good luck to you!” Hernan yelled over the loud winds. “I hope you forgive me for pulling your leg about treasures being on the island.”
“I’ve pulled my own leg once before, so no worries,.” The captain replied. Tuvia laughed, remembering how the captain had taken off his fake wooden peg leg to rescue them on the pirate ship. “Farewell!”
Hernan smiled a toothless smile and then was swallowed up in the mist rising steadily around them.
“I hope we didn’t make a mistake, sailing on such a stormy day.”
“Don’t worry, Tuvia. Haven’t you been teaching me for the past few weeks how Hashem protects those who are performing a mitzvah? We are returning you to your heartbroken parents and you’re also engaged in the great mitzvah involved inwith relearning with me all of the Torah I have forgotten since my youth.”
“You are absolutely right, Captain!”
They sailed further into the ocean on the aging, wrecked ship Hernan had used many years before. The wood creaked and groaned with each wave that washed against its side, and the sails looked as though the wind would rip them away and fling them into the ocean.
“I’ll steer the ship through this storm, Tuvia. Why don’t you go below deck and explore a bit?”
*******
Below deck was even spookier than above. Hernan had made no effort to move anything since he landed on the island. Everything was left as was, perfectly intact and covered with layers of dust.
Tuvia stepped over empty bottles of rum as they rolled pastsed his feet and headed toward the sleeping quarters. Holding his nose, he began cleaning the beds.
“Ahoy, matey!”
Tuvia screamed.
“Who said that?”
Silence.
“If there’s some spirit down here, leave me alone!”
“Aye, aye, matey!”
Tuvia screamed again and whirled around, but there was no one there.
“What’s going on?” The captain appeared, looking terrified. “Is there someone down here, Tuvia?”
“Yes, there is! Someone’s talking to me.”
“Maybe you’re just hearing things… Kotty always thought he heard voices talking to him, too.”
“Captain!”
“Okay, okay. I’m just nervous, that’s all. So, tell me, what did you hear?”
“Batten down the hatches!” The voice spoke again. “Storm coming!”
“Who are you? Where are you?” The captain and Tuvia stormed into the hallway, looking for the mysterious intruder.
The captain unearthed two swords and tossed one to Tuvia. He motioned for them to split up and begin searching the lower decks. They checked every room, but they found no one.
“C-captain, maybe we should go back? I-if that’s still possible…”
A crash of thunder shook the ship violently. The captain looked at Tuvia grimly.
“It’s not.”
*******
That night was a dreadful ordeal. Lightning struck inches from the ship and kept them davening to Hashem for mercy every single moment. Tuvia tried to steady the sails by himself as the captain struggled to keep the steering mechanism from rotating in the wrong direction.
When the sun finally broke through the dark clouds the next morning, they were drenched to the skin, exhausted beyond measure, and sapped of any strength they once possessed.
“Captain, look!”
A massive flock of the strangest birds they had ever seen were flying directly overhead. The birds were bright blue, with stripes of red and yellow running across their large wings. They were breathtakingly beautiful. And, as Tuvia and the captain were about to discover, very dangerous.
To be continued…
(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 826)
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