by David Riley
Luke, Aristarchus, and Temeros crawled out of the surf to the wet sandy shore. They laid down breathing heavily as they recovered from their swim. After a couple of minutes, Luke sat up and checked his bag. He was pleased to see the container holding his parchments seemed intact. The bags containing the medical supplies seemed to be fine as well.
Luke checked the bandage on Aristarchus’ arm. The saltwater had soaked through causing him a lot of pain, but when the bandage was removed, the laceration appeared clean and was showing good signs of healing. Temeros rewrapped it for him as Luke supervised.
“I better go check to see if anyone needs my help,” Luke said as he looked around at the crowded beach.
“I’ll go with you,” Temeros volunteered. He was still eager to get as much experience and training as he could from Luke.
“You two go ahead. I’m just going to sit here and rest. If you run across any problems you can’t solve on your own, you know where to find me!” Aristarchus grinned and settled back to the sand as they got up and began to circulate unsteadily through the throng of people scattered across the area.
The survivors nearest the tree line were startled to hear voices approaching. Soon there was a sizeable group of people, evidently inhabitants of this area, emerging from the trees. Several were carrying blankets and a few had torches. All had worried looks on their faces.
“Hello! Are you all right? Does anyone need assistance?” they began calling out as they divided up and hurried to various groups.
A babble of conversations ensued, and it became apparent they had landed on the island of Malta. The Maltese natives were relieved to hear that there was no major injury or loss of life. They distributed blankets and sent a few of their group to gather wood to light a fire. The rain was not heavy but still enough to cause a chill to those who had just washed up on the beach.
Within a few minutes, four bonfires were blazing and the passengers were warming up. Spirits were rising by the minute as the realization spread that the nightmare voyage was ended. As the fear and anxiety subsided, they were acutely aware of their hunger. The citizens of the island quickly sent runners to gather food to bring to the survivors.
Julius steadied himself against a tree as he surveyed the activity on the beach. One of his men approached and cleared his throat.
“Excuse me, Centurion,” he said with a salute
Julius returned the salute. “What is it?”
“We have the head count you requested, sir. We have 275 people from the ship accounted for.”
“Are you sure?” Julius asked, concerned. “There should be 276!”
“Yes, sir. We checked it three times to make sure we did not miss someone, and each time we came up with the same number.”
Julius turned to find Gaius to inform him of this but stopped cold with the sudden realization that he had not seen him anywhere since he arrived. He had left him in the hold to be sure all got out safely. He whipped around to stare out at the sea, now seeing that the ship was disintegrating, the water filled with wooden planks and pieces of the ship.
Gaius had become more than just his second-in-command. He was his best friend. Julius knew of his fear of the water and that he was not able to swim. He strode quickly to the water’s edge, oblivious of the soldier’s voice calling after him as he scanned the wreckage hoping to see Gaius clinging to the flotsam.
There was no sign of him in the water.
—————
Gaius had been in the hold directing the men up the ladder. After the last one climbed up, he wanted to make one more pass in the murky hold to be sure he had not missed anyone. He made his way back to the stern where the water was above his knees and looked closely to be sure none remained. No one was visible.
The climb back forward was more difficult than he anticipated as the ship was constantly buffeted by the waves, bucking and twisting with each. He slipped more than once but finally was almost to the ladder. He looked forward to the hole where the figurehead was sagging off the prow, appearing to be barely attached now. In the filtered light, he could see no one there either.
He took a deep breath as he prepared to climb the ladder and vacate the ship. Just as he placed his foot on the lowest rung and reached up with his hand, there was suddenly a heaving of the ship under a powerful wave that knocked him to the floor. He cursed under his breath but he was not hurt. He was just about to climb to his feet again when there was a horrible crash above his head and the ceiling of the hold caved in to within two feet of his head.
His heart stopped with the realization that if he had been standing or on the ladder, it would have caved in his skull. His first thought was that God had protected him. He breathed a quick “Thank you!”, something he had never done before.
He caught his breath as he looked around. The floor of the hold was now littered with pieces of wood large and small and he could no longer climb up. He was trapped! What was he going to do?! He crawled forward to get out from under the broken ceiling that was sagging further with each passing moment. The stern was steadily sinking deeper into the water, and as a result, the hold was quickly being claimed by the rising water levels. All the hatches were blocked.
As he contemplated his predicament, he was faced with the real possibility that this was the end of his life. In a flash, he thought of all he had heard from Paul’s teachings and of the assurance and peace he had seen in him even under dire circumstances. He now knew he wanted that same peace.
He cleared his throat and said, “Jesus, I have heard Paul talk about You. He is convinced You are present with him and in control of all the circumstances we face. I want that same assurance. I have heard him teach that You were crucified for the sins of each of us. I know my sins are great. I can never pay for them on my own, but Paul said You died to pay the penalty for me. I believe based on his example and teaching. Save me from my sins! Help me now as I am about to die.”
Somehow, although his surroundings did not change, he felt a change within. There was a definite sense of calm that flooded his soul. He felt that his death was approaching but he was surprisingly not afraid. He almost smiled at that.
The water was getting closer to his feet and he turned to the prow, looking at the hole in the bulkhead. It was just large enough that he could put his head through it. He crawled closer to look out and was surprised to see that the water was not too far below him. The figurehead of the lady and her child was now leaning out over the water and moved easily as he rested against it.
Suddenly he heard a voice. “Go!”
He looked around quickly but saw no one. He felt a chill go up his spine. “Who said that?!” he called out.
He turned back to the opening and leaned out to see if there was someone hanging on below him that he did not see before. No one.
As he was leaning out, his hand resting on the figurehead, he felt a hand on his back pushing him with some force out of the opening. He lost his balance falling directly onto the figurehead, and under his weight, the whole thing separated, falling to the water. He braced himself, expecting the worst, but the landing was surprisingly gentle.
He found himself floating on the wooden figurehead, the lady and her child upright ahead of him in the water. The waves caught him and pushed him steadily toward shore. He was rescued! He glanced back at the ship seeing the waves washing over the top of the deck, knowing that he escaped just in time.
He was struck by the immediate conviction that the voice he heard and the hand he felt on his back were God, saving him and answering his prayer. Tears came to his eyes at this thought, and he quickly wiped them away, not wanting to be seen crying when he arrived on shore.
Chapter Thirty
Julius saw Captain Sahaq sitting on the sand looking out at the broken hulk of his ship, shoulders slumped. He hurried over to him.
“Captain! Have you seen Gaius? My second-in-command?” he called out breathlessly.
The captain looked up at him. “What? No, I haven’
t, but I haven’t really been up looking. Why?”
Julius continued to scan the wreckage approaching shore. “He has not made it to shore! He was staying behind in the hold to be sure everyone got out safely. Did you see him evacuate?”
An alarmed look spread over the captain’s face. “No! I thought everyone was gone! No one else was coming up the ladder so I thought it was empty! Then when the mast collapsed and crashed onto the deck, we jumped!” He rubbed his face dejectedly. “If he was still down in the hold, I’m afraid there is not much hope for him. The deck was crumbling under the mast and the hatch was blocked.”
Julius sank to the sand, sadness and guilt enveloping him at the loss of his friend. He should have been the one to remain behind evacuating the ship! He was in command. How could he have left Gaius there alone? He held his head in his hands, his heart heavy.
He and captain Sahaq sat in silence, dimly aware of wreckage washing up on shore around them. The figurehead rolled onto the beach nearby, but they did not notice the human figure that scooted awkwardly from it onto the sand.
Gaius stood up but immediately fell to his knees. He knelt there for a moment as the ground stopped moving and then saw the two men nearby, recognizing Julius and the captain. Rather than risking falling again, he crawled to them approaching from behind.
“Julius!” he called. “Everyone was out of the hold. Did they all make it to shore?”
Both Julius and the captain jumped and whirled around. “Gaius! You’re alive!” Julius called out reaching out for him. “Where did you come from?”
Gaius was taken aback at the greeting. “Yes, I’m fine. Had a little rough time getting off the ship but I got here. I floated to shore on the ship’s figurehead.”
Julius hugged him. “I thought you were dead!” he said with a laugh.
Gaius smiled. “No, I’m alive. I don’t think I can stand up yet, but thank God for solid ground!”
“Sit here and rest. I need to tell the men you made it. I’ll have someone bring you a blanket and something to eat!” Julius said. He hurried off, leaving Gaius and the captain sitting on the sand.
After the joy of seeing Gaius alive on shore, reality set in again. Captain Sahaq slumped forward and brooded as he watched the ship sinking lower in the water with each wave.
Gaius watched as well, but with relief and joy as he considered what they had come through.
“Captain, you did an amazing job of keeping us afloat for the past two weeks. I am grateful to you for everything you did.”
The captain grunted in response as he slowly turned to look at Gaius. “I’m not sure I did much. Our cargo is lost, the ship is being battered to pieces as we speak, and we are stranded on this island. I don’t see this as my finest hour!”
“You are forgetting that we just came through a storm that did not end for fourteen days! The ship held together and the people survived, all with no way to navigate or steer. I don’t know of anyone else on earth that could have accomplished that.”
Captain Sahaq turned toward the water again, his eyes watering at these words of praise. After a moment, he cleared his throat. “Thank you for your kind words.” He waved his arm out toward the ship. “I just wish the ship had made it to port. It was a fine ship.”
They both were silent as they watched flotsam washing up on the beach. Gaius turned to see the figurehead nearby, bobbing in the surf. The carved lady and child had been his salvation, carrying him to shore.
“Captain, I’ve been meaning to ask you about the ship’s name. The Emir? I thought that meant prince but the figurehead is of a woman. Why is it called The Emir?”
Captain Sahaq smiled at the question. “The woman is not the Emir, but she is holding a child. The child is the Emir. My father told me the story as I was growing up. He was a shipbuilder and was the foreman of the shipyard where this ship was built some sixty years ago. When they were working on this ship, one day a man showed up looking for work. My father was a good boss, always looking to help those who needed an opportunity and were willing to work for it. Turns out the man was a carpenter by training but had never worked on ships. He and his wife and young child had fled to Egypt from Canaan to escape some threat, I don’t remember what. Well, he turned out to be a hard worker and my father quickly developed a friendship and deep respect for him.” He paused.
“Was he the Emir? The Prince?” Gaius asked.
“No, not him. His wife and young son began coming to visit him at work. My father remembers the boy being something special. He was only about two or three years old but seemed somehow to make an impression on all the men working. One day, my father called him a little prince. The boy’s father said that he had been called that before but did not volunteer more details. Of course this piqued my father’s curiosity and he pressed him for more information. My father is not much of a superstitious or religious man, but the story this carpenter told him amazed him and left quite an impression that lasted for the rest of his life.” He gazed into the distance as he remembered the story. He had not thought much about it for years.
“What did he say?” Gaius said, eager for more of the story.
The captain blinked and sighed as he turned to Gaius. “Well, it turns out, when this boy was born, there was an angelic vision that declared he was a savior sent from God himself. Even wise men from the east traveled to seek him out as a King. The Roman ruler in the area became jealous and issued some threat to any young children in order to wipe out any rivals to his own throne, and that is why they fled the country and came to Egypt. The carpenter told my father that this boy had been prophesied hundreds of years ago by a Jewish prophet that had referred to him the Prince of Peace. My father christened this ship Emir Al Salaam, which means Prince of Peace in our language, after that little boy. The figurehead is his mother holding him. I never heard what happened to him.”
Gaius’ heart jumped at this as he considered the captain’s words. Could it really be the same child his grandfather was ordered to find, the reason for slaughtering the children of Canaan?
“Captain, do you remember the boy’s name?” he asked, almost holding his breath.
The captain looked at him quizzically. “I haven’t thought of this story in a long time. When my father used to tell me about it, he usually called him the Emir, the Prince. I do remember him saying that the angels had given the boy his name. They called him Yeshua, or something like that.”
Gaius leaned back on the sand, a smile on his face as he considered this. It had to be Jesus. From his grandfather, to his father, and now to him on this voyage with Paul, it was as if Jesus had been following him, pursuing him all of his life. Now, He had saved him from certain death on the ship, but more than that, Gaius had a certainty that He had also saved his soul leading him to eternal life. He shook his head in amazement, knowing that God had orchestrated all that had happened.
As he laid there contemplating these revelations, he heard someone approaching. He turned to see Luke and Temeros making their way toward him. He waved in greeting.
“How are you feeling?” Luke asked as he knelt by him in the sand. He watched him closely as he sat up and was pleased to see that he seemed to be fairly strong. He even had a smile on his face.
“I actually am feeling better by the minute. I think the ground finally stopped moving!”
“Any cuts or injuries?” Luke quickly surveyed him physically, feeling his arms and legs. There were no apparent injuries or painful areas.
“No, surprisingly I feel good. I guess I should not be surprised since Paul said God would protect us!”
At this, Luke smiled. “Yes, praise God. It appears you have come to believe that Paul’s teaching is true!”
Gaius smiled and nodded. “Yes, there are too many things that have happened through my life to be coincidences. And I know God saved me from the ship.”
Temeros was standing nearby observing, pleased to hear of Gaius’ new faith. Suddenly, a glint of metal on Gaius’ belt caught
his eye. He glanced at it, expecting it was just his sword, but was stunned to see a small silver dagger with a figure of Artemis on the handle.
“Where did you get that?” he blurted out, interrupting their conversation. He pointed a shaking finger at the dagger. “Where did that come from?” he repeated, an urgent tone in his voice.
Gaius and Luke looked up, puzzled by his reaction.
Gaius glanced at his belt, following the direction Temeros was pointing. He was almost surprised to see the dagger was still there. He had forgotten it after all that had happened.
“Oh, that is the knife from Paul’s attacker. When we grabbed him, I stuck it in my belt and forgot about it.” He pulled it from his belt as he held it out for a better view.
Temeros was staring wide eyed at the knife. He reached out and picked it up, turning it over and over in his hands, his breathing shallow. There it was. The mark. “It can’t be!”
Luke was concerned. “What is it?” he asked, his hand on Temeros’ shoulder. “Are you ok?”
Temeros licked his lips and gulped. “How…? What…?” He looked up at Gaius. “Tell me about the man that had this! Where is he? What did he look like?”
Gaius looked bewildered. “Well, he was angry and arrogant. He kept his left arm close to him like it was damaged or something. Now that I think about it, he may have been the same guy that brought me back to the ship after we had stopped in Fair Havens, but it was pretty dark. Why, what’s going on?”
Temeros held up the silver dagger. “This is my father’s knife. It has his mark on it right there,” he said pointing. “I’d know it anywhere. It is the same mark that is on this silver pendant that was my mother’s. See?” he pulled the pendant from where it hung under his shirt. “I was sure he had died in the fire. I saw the burning roof fall directly on him and I barely escaped.” He grimaced. “I don’t understand! How is he here?”
Chapter Thirty-One
