“Silver Adventures”- Captain Joshua Slane – 09AP19 – ‘Shove-off quickly my friend…before this ship sinks you!’

⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵. . . "Tour of the Gulf of Aden". . . (cont.)

[Last time...]

“Tells heem they ur free tae gang an' will hae safe passage ower th' northern horizan as far as Ahh can see’s!"

Hearing the reply, Asif slowly extended his hand across the table in agreement. The Captain took hold and gave him a firm shake while Galligan smiled slightly in approval.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

News spread quickly about the ship that the Captain had struck a ‘deal’ with the Arab skipper Asif. Cockpit Mate- Midshipman's Mate Fisky gathered the Petty Officers on the main deck and gave them commands...

“Th’ Keptin an' Commander hav settled th' affair wi' th' Arab skipper an' will be up-top shortly! Th' Keptin has given th' commain tae set-sail immediately! Hoist anchur an' git th' forward jibs flappin’! We’re breakin' fresh water fur th' channel ootwith o’ th' Bay o’ Victoria!” He yelled out.

The men all scurried to their positions just as the Commander, the Captain and Asif stepped out onto the main deck from the galley stairs. The Captain made straight for the bridge where he met with Fisky and said a few words in private while the Commander stayed on the main deck and oversaw the preparations for setting sail.

Meanwhile, Asif ran to the starboard rail and hailed his First Mate Abdul below with his crew…

“Abdul! Abdul?!”
“Yes sir?!”
“I have good news for you my old friend!” Asif continued in Arabic.
“Good news would be to leave this warship for good and never see it again!” Abdul jested with an anxious smile.
“Your wish has been granted Abdul! You are free!” Asif yelled over the rail.
“What do you mean Sir?!”
“The Dhow is yours my friend! Take it now, and go home to your family!” Asif yelled out.
“The Dhow is mine?! What do you mean sir?! This is your vessel, your life’s wealth and your silver!”
“I give it all to you Abdul! Take it and go home!”

Abdul gave a confused and even frightened look as he realized what was happening…

“But Sir…you are not coming with us?!”
“No Abdul! I have a different path now and I must follow it!”
“Shit man! What will we do without you skipper?! How will we sail and trade without your guidance?!!”
“You are the skipper now Abdul! You are a better sailor than you know! Now take this chance and make your way home before the Scottish Captain changes his mind!” Asif yelled as the big ship began to move and bump against the Dhow, forcing a wake of water that almost swamped the small vessel.
“Skipper Sir! I am in great joy but also great sorrow!” Abdul yelled back with wet eyes as he steadied himself on the small bridge of the Dhow.
“Shove off my friend! Quickly, before this ship sinks you! God be with you!”
“And…also with you Asif!!” Abdul yelled back as he turned away, shielding his eyes from his crew as he gave the command to set the oars in place and pull away from the great warship!

The Silverton now had hoisted and secured its anchor and the wind was pushing it swiftly out to sea! In another moment the Dhow was nearly two hundred yards behind her in the Bay of Victoria and Asif stood straight on the starboard rail, waving goodbye to the only men he had known since childhood. A lone tear fell down his cheek and he finally turned away from the rail as the Dhow became just a speck on the western waters of the Bay of Victoria.

Turning around abruptly, Asif came face to face with Commander Galligan and he quickly wiped away the tear as he locked eyes with him. The Commander nodded and gave him a slight smile as if to say...“Well done mate.”

⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵

"Holy Halibuts! Wi' aw thes belaw deck dealin', Ahh nearly forgot tae check mah charts! Swatch at thes! Silvers spotprice has cut th' wake o' th' Ten Day runnin' average an' is sailin' strang tae th' north! Th' Hold Cycle is stengthenin' again! Steady cheils, steady as she goes!" 😮 - Keptin

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Confused? Ascared? Seasick? Need a private chat with the Captain?" - [email protected]

References: Pictures froms: www.freeimages.com, www.pexels.com, pixabay.com, steemit.com an’ www.google.com/maps. Data loosely interpretted froms: www.wikipedia.org an' sometimes reit from th' author's extensiff personal experience an' such.