“You will! Soon…” Tuvia gazed into the distance. “When we get to my island, I will introduce you to him. You’ll start a whole new life there. You’ll see, it is the best community in the entire world! And from what the captain told us earlier today, we should be arriving very, very soon!”

“I am looking forward to it. Then we will all have our happy ending. Kotty is happily living together with Oliver on their island together with Hafthor, and you are on your way to finally reunite with your family.”

The captain frowned suddenly.

“What’s wrong, Captain?”

“To tell you the truth, Tuvia, I cannot stand the thought of having to be a burden on others.”

“What do you mean? You’re no burden to anyone.”

“I will be. If I cannot support myself, I will be relying on the community to provide for my food and shelter while I learn Torah. As someone who always prided himself on being self-sufficient, the very thought of not earning my own income irks me to no end. I only wish I had some money, however meager, with which to pay for my personal needs. And especially because at my age, I would like to soon look for a suitable marriage partner and settle down…”

“If you are trying to do the right thing, which I know you are, then Hashem will provide a way. We’ve seen so many miracles together, captain. There’s all the reason in the world to believe that Hashem will send you exactly what you need to grow and be happy.”

“Amen!”

“Ahoy, Matey!” Jack piped up from Tuvia’s shoulder.

“Can’t believe you brought him along…” The captain smiled wryly. “You could have left him with Kotty and Oliver. I’m sure Kotty would have loved to have this chipper bird to keep him company.”

“I could never give up Jack, Captain. He’s too much fun.”

Suddenly a shadow fell across the ship. The captain and Tuvia beheld a most terrifying sight. The birds that had attacked them some time ago were back — many of them.

“The Calladus birds!” Tuvia and the Captain said simultaneously.

A moment later a rumble of thunder shook the air and sparks of lightning flashed in the darkening clouds. It began to rain, a frenzied, skin-drenching lightning storm.

“Below deck!” The captain roared, pulling Tuvia after him as he sprinted for safety.

“Jack!” Tuvia screamed as the parrot was yanked off his shoulder by the flock of Calladus birds that had descended like a dark cloud out of the sky. “Get away!”

Jack screeched as the powerful Calladus birds screeched frantically and pulled Jack into the air and over the ship.

“Tuvia, no!” The captain turned to see Tuvia sprint across the deck and launch himself through the air, tackling the largest Calladus bird that had Jack firmly tucked in its sharp talons. Across the wet deck they wrestled, punching, kicking, talons scraping and beaks snapping. Tuvia held fast and managed to pry Jack loose.

“Begone!” The captain roared, firing his pistol until it was empty. Heavy clouds of gunpowder wafted through the pouring rain and dazzling flashes of lightning strikes. The Calladus birds took off in a fury, their deafening screeches fading as they disappeared into the heart of the lightning storm swirling around the ship.

“They’re finally gone!” Tuvia said weakly.

“Watch out!”

One of the Calladus birds had decided to return, making a desperate last effort to get Jack. Tuvia twisted to shield Jack and in the process, he slid across the tilting deck, and he fell over the deck straight into the water.

He disappeared into the violent, murky waves, still holding Jack in his hand. Then, something incredible happened. Jack’s feathers began to glow and shimmer. It looked as though there were shining fins underneath his wings. Tuvia’s eyes widened in fascination. A moment later he caught a rope the Captain had thrown overboard, and he pulled himself and Jack onto the wet deck.

The storm had died out just as quickly as it had come, but Jack was still glimmering like a jewel in the sun. From beneath his feathers fell three sheets of what appeared to be scales of some sort of precious material.

“Jack is the lightning bird!” Tuvia shouted. “Just as Oliver told us about!” *

“So… The legendary creature is actually our very own Jack.” The captain shook his head. “I can’t believe this… Did Hernan know when he gave us his ship?”

“Who knows what that man knew or didn’t know.” Tuvia picked the up the priceless sheets of treasure and handed them to the Captain. “But Hashem rewards those who fear Him and obey His commandments. Here you are, Captain. I think you’re set for life.”

The sun broke across the sky, sending the dark clouds scattering as the ocean lit up brightly. They could now see an island in the distance and hundreds of people standing at the beach, waving their arms and jumping up and down. The captain could see a man and woman who looked exactly like Tuvia crying tears of joy as they sighted their long-lost son in the distance.

“And so are you, Tuvia.” The captain squeezed his young friend’s shoulder. “Welcome home.”

THE END.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 849)