Overboard

The luxury yacht traveled with the best and brightest and richest and wealthiest aboard. We were off to Calmino Island for the mukamuks and high rollers to enjoy fun and festivities in the sun for a day. John Rogers captained the yacht for the journey and he had promised our travelers a good time in the sun. He meant to make good on that promise. I was a simple crewman underneath his tutelage; but John Rogers was a proud man. He had made our wealthiest passengers a promise that fateful day; and, as his youngest and newest crewman with the least seniority on the team, I was almost honored when he had invited me along. If the rich and the wealthy could enjoy five days in the eternal sunshine of Calmino Island, so could Captain Rogers; so could I!

I spied the clouds moving in first as they darkened a midafternoon sky. Then, the seas seemed to swell. I noticed the shift and wondered how the captain had missed it. We couldn't expect any of the celebrity clients to notice a shift in the atmosphere; this was our profession. However, if I had noticed it, the passengers couldn't, and the captain didn't seem to be bothered yet...

"Captain..." I began cautiously as I entered the stern of the yacht.

Captain Rogers remained focused deadset on a destination that he couldn't see yet if only to allow the celebrity clients the trip that they had been promised. I took pause for a moment before choosing to disturb him. However, this too was important and I tugged him on a shoulder to shake him out of his stupor.

"Yes, Cabin Boy?" Captain Rogers barked in consternation over the interruption to his steering.

I was aghast at the reaction to my arrival. However, I now had his attention and could continue.

"Some clouds are moving in off the Starboard Bow." I continued. "The seas are acting up a bit too. It might be nothing; but if there's the slightest chance, with passengers' safety on the docket..."

"...No." Captain Rogers answered. "The nearest place to anchor is Calmino Island; where it never darkens."

The captain probably had a point; and he wasn't turning the ship around one way or another. I could only make my way back up to the top deck to check on the comfort of our passengers. Their luxury vacation was only a few minutes off and they could at least enjoy their final crucial moments on the ship with us before reaching their destination.

I made my way up the steps to the deck to find the guests lounging by the pool, enjoying their buffet meals, or speaking with one another before they should arrive on the island. I nodded in satisfaction. I had been silly before. Nothing could trouble our passengers today and for the duration of their trip...

...Suddenly, the seas rose up violently. The shifting disturbed a few chairs and plates and raised the concerns of our clients. The sudden shift dumped me to all fours as well as one more disturbing sight for our passengers to behold in the new harsh conditions. I had our passengers' comfort to consider as well and went to manfully get back to my feet for their benefit.

Suddenly, the boat rocked violently yet again; there was no mistaking the disturbance. Our passengers clung to one another in defense. However, I was already off balance when the boat shook. I could only stagger backward into a guard rail. The third shifting of the ship dumped me overboard.

"Man OVERBOARD!" one of the celebrity starlets shrieked.

A few more guests ran to alert the captain as well. However, they were too late for even a life preserver. I was beneath the seas; and all of our guests seemed to only care about their own protection and defense as Captain John Rogers only tried to continue to prove his navigational abilities...