Chapter 13 Another Chance Encounter?
The old seaman began to tell a story.
“Many years ago in my travels at sea I was a crewman aboard a ship that had docked at a town called Joppa, to get supplies and then sail on to the town of Tarshish.”
“A young foreigner asked me if he could board the ship and I didn't see any harm in it so I welcomed him aboard. His name was Jonah.”
“Jonah paid his fare and we set out. As we journeyed the young lad and I became friends. I told him all about my life as a seaman and he said he was a student. When I asked him what he was studying he wouldn't tell me, neither would he say where he was from or why he was going to Tarshish. I just assumed that he must be going there to get books for school.”
“The voyage was well underway and so I had much work to do on deck. I didn't have much time to talk with Jonah so we went our separate ways.”
“All of a sudden a violent wind began to blow upon the sea! And a furious tempest arose so that the ship was at the point of breaking up!”
“Everyone aboard was afraid and began to cry out to the different idols they believed had powers to save them. We even had to throw our cargo overboard to lighten the ship.”
“Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship and was fast asleep as if nothing were going on. The captain of the vessel woke Jonah up and told him to call on the one he believed had Power to save us in hopes that we might be spared.” “The crew members then cast lots to see who had brought the calamity on the ship and the lot singled out Jonah. So the captain asked him to explain who he was, where he was from, what his business was and what Power did he believed in.”
“It turned out that Jonah was a Hebrew and he believed in the Great One that was known to have created the earth and the sea that was causing us all such trouble. He told them all that the trouble which had befallen them was because he was on their ship traveling in the opposite direction of where the Great One had sent him and that their only chance at survival would be to throw him overboard.”
“Then one of the crew members told the captain that Jonah and I were traveling together and that he had seen us talking.”
“I tried to explain that I had just met Jonah as he boarded the ship but they would not listen and they took us both up and threw us overboard. That is when I saw something amazing!”
“Just as we were about to hit the water, a large fish opened it's mouth and swallowed Jonah and would have swallowed me also, but you grabbed me and carried me to dry land,” the old seaman said to the Watcher.
“It was very long ago but I still remember it like it happened just yesterday. You walked on the water as you carried me to dry land. I have never told anyone this story for fear they might think me crazy, and I had all but put it out of my mind.”
“But standing here with you today I remember it clearly. When we reached the land you laid me down and disappeared. I had always hoped to see you again but didn't think I ever would.”
“And here you are,” the old seaman said looking at the Watcher. “And you don't look one day older. You also have on the same clothes,” the seaman said laughing.
The old woman couldn't help but chuckle, also.
“Yes you are right. It was exactly as you have said,” the Watcher replied. “Had the Great One not sent me to carry you to safety, you would have drowned there that day, and died.”
“I've always wished to see the Great One,” the old seaman said. “But I never have; although I did hear his voice very clearly one day.”
The two were standing alone now at the entrance to the ship yard. They hadn't even noticed that the Watcher had disappeared.
“This has been an eventful day,” the old seaman said.
“Yes it has, and it's just 6 am,” the old woman said laughing.
“I wonder if our lives together will remain as exciting”, the old seaman said.
“We must intend it,” the old woman replied.
By this time the hustle and bustle of the dock was in full swing. As usual, workers were going back and forth carrying equipment. Ships were being loaded and unloaded. People were walking up and down the dock saying their hellos and also their goodbyes. The vendors were beginning to set up their stands and the old woman had wanted to see Carlos, but he hadn't arrived yet.
“Would you like to go and sit and have breakfast,” the old seaman asked the old woman.
“I would like that,” she replied. “There is a vendor on the dock that sells the most buttery croissants I've ever tasted.”
“Okay then, croissants it is,” the old seaman said and taking the old woman by the hand he walked her up to the dock. They strolled slowly down the dock hand in hand. They wanted to give the vendors time to prepare for the day.
The sun was high but the breeze felt cool blowing in from the ocean, and so the old woman snuggled up close to the old seaman.
“Are you chilly', he asked her.
“Just a little”, she said.
The old seaman took off his jacket and wrapped it around her to warm her. He found a table and told her to sit and rest herself while he went and got their breakfast. He assured her that he wasn't going far away and wouldn't be long in returning.
The old woman smiled to herself. For the first time in a very long time she felt cared for. She noticed a young man, very well dressed and distinguished looking who reminded her of Bob. She ran her finger across his ribbon that she wore daily pinned to her dress. She hoped that Bob and the old seaman would become friends. They were both very important to her now. She was beginning to feel as though she had a family.
Just as he had said, the old seaman shortly returned with their breakfast and also a rose for the old woman. He broke the stem and attached the rose to a hairpin that she had in her hair, and told her she looked beautiful.
“You're so charming Raul,” she said blushing. That was the old seaman's name, “Raul.”
As they sat and ate their breakfast together they couldn't help but hold hands every now and then. They felt so lucky to have found each other and especially at their ages. Isabel had just turned eighty-five and Raul, eighty-eight. Sitting together there at the dock however, they both felt like teenagers again. They were made better by the possibility of facing the rest of Life's Journey together.
As they watched seagulls soaring overhead and calling to one another, they felt as if life were calling to them from the sea: their own personal Siren. Beckoning them to hoist their anchor and set their sails for the mystery and magic that lay just beyond the horizon.
Isabel had never imagined herself sailing across the ocean at such an advanced age or even at all for that matter. But she knew that Raul was an experienced seaman. He had sailed the ocean for much of his life. If she would be safe out on the water with anyone, it was surely Raul.
When they had finished their breakfast the old woman cleared the table and taking the old seaman by the hand the two of them went for a stroll down the dock. The old woman thought it would be good for the old seaman to help his food digest, although she didn't tell him what she was up to. Now she had someone else's well being to look after and she didn't mind it at all. In fact she welcomed it. She was determined to keep the old seaman around for as long as she could.
As they strolled along on the dock the old woman noticed a Yacht tethered at the west end.
“That's a beautiful vessel,” she said pointing to it.
“Yes she is a beauty isn't she?” the old seaman said smiling. “Would you like to see the inside?” he asked her.
“Is she yours?” the old woman asked excitedly.
“No, She's ours,” the old seaman said taking her hand and leading her down to the Yacht.
“My goodness, when you said we'd be sailing on a Yacht, I hadn't imagined anything so magnificent!”She told him.
“I’ve saved my whole life to buy one like her,” the old seaman said as they approached the Yacht. “Only you, rival her in beauty and splendor.” As the old seaman held out
his hand to help the old woman aboard, she noticed the word “T.I.L.I.A” written across the side of the boat.
She remembered having heard him yell the word out to her as she waived to him sailing back out to sea, on the day they had met.
”What is meant by the word “T.I.L.I.A.”, you have written here on the side?”, she asked him.
“Let me get you safely aboard and I will explain it all,” he said as he helped her up the few steps and into the Yacht. Now aboard the old woman could hardly believe her eyes! The Yacht had all state of the art interior features and one of a kind materials. It was truly regal looking and as the old woman looked around in amazement, she imagined that, the many mansions mentioned in her special book must be at least remotely similar.
She saw hard woods and real gold fixtures, and there was even a fire place and swimming pool on board! All of a sudden the old woman felt as if the Yacht were moving! In all of her excitement she hadn't realized the old seaman was no longer by her side.
“Raul? Where are you my dear?” she called out to him.
“Not to worry darling!” he yelled from the upper deck. “I'm right up here, come and see but do be careful!”
The old woman made her way holding the hand railing as she climbed the stairs to the upper deck and to a sight that was most amazing! There was a Jacuzzi warm and bubbling on the upper deck and plush seating everywhere! It was truly a vessel fit for royalty she thought to herself as she looked around admiring it all. There she found the old seaman, smiling and taking them out to sea.
“I just thought I'd show you what she could do,” he said smiling at the old woman. “Don't worry, we aren't going far.”
“I'm not worried at all dear,” she told him as she snuggled up behind him. “She really is splendid,” she said of the Yacht. “You really picked a beauty,” she told the old seaman. She could feel his shoulders square with pride now.
“I'm glad you like her,” he said. “But if you hadn't, I would trade her back in for another.”
“Don't be silly,” the old woman said laughing. “I've never seen anything so magnificent in all of my life.”
“Would you like to see how fast she can move?” the old seaman asked her.
“Sure, let's see!” the old woman exclaimed holding on tighter to the old seaman.
“She's strong, but she's light so she can travel pretty fast” the old seaman said and he steadily increased the speed of the Yacht until they were fully opened up at 37 knots.
“This is amazing,” the old woman whispered in the old seaman's ear.
“Well, there's much more where that comes from,” he said smiling. He felt young again feeling the old woman holding on tightly to him. He had fallen very much in love with her and he vowed to himself there on the water, that he would never let any harm come to her.
The old woman felt so free out on the ocean. The wind blowing through her hair felt exhilarating! And she felt so safe with the old seaman. She wanted to stay out on the water with her love forever!
“Look there!” the old seaman told her pointing to a school of dolphins jumping up out of the water and diving back in.
“I see them,” the old woman said excitedly.
“And, look over there!” the old seaman said pointing to a whale just breaking through up out of the water.
“Yes, I see him!” the old woman exclaimed! The old seaman smiled to himself at her excitement. The old woman appeared to be happy out on the water and it made him feel good.
“Tell me what is meant by the word “T.I.L.I.A.,” the old woman whispered in his ear. “Why did you pick such a name for her?” she asked him.
“Well, it's the abbreviation of a term I adopted many years ago as I sailed these waters hoping to find love. One day as I was sailing and feeling sorry for myself it just seemed to come to me. It made me feel better and I vowed that I would call my first Yacht by that name,” he said.
“Well, what does the abbreviation stand for?” she asked him impatiently.
“T.I.L.I.A.” means “To Imagine Love Is Amazing,” he said smiling.
“That's beautiful!” the old woman said. “Tell me more.”
“Well, I just think that love is so amazing that even if one never finds it, to even imagine it is just as amazing,” he said.
“Yes, I agree...but I'm so glad we found each other,” the old woman replied.
“So am I my darling,” the old seaman said. “So am I.”
Suddenly the old woman noticed the old seaman turning the vessel around.
“We're going back so soon?” the old woman asked him disappointingly.
“We'll have many days out here on the ocean my love,” he assured her. “I just wanted you to meet her and to feel how powerful she is. So that you know how safe she will keep you out on the ocean,” he said.
“You will keep me safe,” the old woman said squeezing him tighter.
“Yes I will, but we still need to get you all packed,” he reminded her.
“I guess you're right,” the old woman said. But she still wished they could stay out on the water a little longer. When they reached the dock the old seaman dropped the anchor, helped the old woman off and tethered the Yacht.
“I had an amazing time,” she said.
“I'm glad”, the old seaman replied.
“Actually, I hadn't planned to take much along”, the old woman said. “I was looking forward to buying beautiful fashions from Madrid and breath taking beaded saris from India,” she told the old seaman.
“And so you shall,” he said. “But you mentioned there was something special you didn't want to leave behind and I don't want you to get out on the water and then remember and long for it,” the old seaman told her.
“Yes, you're right!” the old woman said excitedly. “I have a few pieces of jewelry that belonged to my mother. They are very precious to me and I can't leave them behind,” she said remembering.
“Well then we shall get them,” the old seaman said taking her hand and leading her back up the dock toward home. It seemed like only moments had passed when they reached the old woman's house. The two so enjoyed being together, they hardly noticed the time passing anymore. It was as if time were standing still just for them. The old woman opened the door and took the old seaman by the hand leading him to her bedroom, where she kept a hand carved jewelry box she had brought with her from EL Salvador as a young woman.
There she kept the few pieces of jewelry that her mother had given her for safe keeping. When she opened the box the old seaman noticed a little solid gold key. Taking it into his hand he held it close to his heart.
“Where did you get this key?” he asked the old woman. “It's quite a story,” she said, “and a rather lengthy one at that.”
“I'd really like to hear it if you don't mind,” he said.