Day of Reckoning
Jenthegypsy
He had always thought himself a good man. He was as kind as his vocation allowed, when his vocation allowed him to be so, and killed only to save his own life or the lives of his mates. He wrote often to his dear wife, enclosing notes and trinkets for his little son, so that, when old enough, the boy would know that he had never been far from his papa's thoughts.
As he could not act a proper father to his own son, he took the other under wing and taught him all that he knew of ships and the deep. The lad, displaying an uncanny aptitude from the first, understood much more of the souls of the sea and the vessels which sailed upon her than most; soon student became teacher and teacher became devoted friend and protector.
But the Fates kept a different account of a man's transgressions and of his failings, every debt having its day of reckoning. His came due on a brilliant Caribbean afternoon, complete with waters smooth as glass and a sky of endless blue. He kept his eyes hard to the tiny spit of land centered in that mirrored sea as they made way from it, wondering what new pact he would have to make with the Devil to cause things to come right for the boy this time.
November 25, 2005 BPS Drabble Challenge: THINGS TO COME