[]
CHAPTER II
SAILING THE OTHER WAY
When Robert reached Nagasaki, a wave of nostalgia flew over him. He remembered all the times her mother took him to the docks. She would always tell him about how she came from the other side of the world. His favorite story was the story of how she had helped the crew of the Calliope navigate a storm once. He heard the story so many times, he felt that he would be able to help with anything the sea could throw at him. All Robert figured he had to do is find a ship that he figured would be willing to take him aboard.
Coincidentally, when Robert saw a ship at harbor that caught his attention, he recognized it: the Calliope. With a smile, he approached the Calliope, eager to see the ship that had carried his mother to the Land of the Rising Sun.
When an elderly man sitting on the boarding ramp, he smiled as if he recognized Robert.
"You heading somewhere, lad?" the man asked,
"England, sir. You see something familiar?"
"Your eyes, lad. They resemble the eyes of my friend George Tole's daughter, Isabella." the man said,
Weary, Robert said in a demanding tone, "You know my mother? How?", but then realization hit him, "Wait. You're John Hindal. I recognised the Calliope from all the stories my mother told me many times over." Robert said,
"Aye, lad. Though we only ever had her aboard once, it was still a trip to remember." John said,
"I'm guessing you sailed with my grandfather, George many times?" Robert asked,
"I could tell you many stories that I shared with your grandfather, lad." John said,
"Do you think you could take me aboard your next venture?" Robert asked,
"Where are you going?" John asked,
"England, er…?" Robert hesitated,
"Because your grandfather's my friend, you can call me 'John'." John said,
"Thank you. England, John." Robert said,
"You're in luck, lad. The Calliope sets sail tonight." John said,
As much as Robert Ibeada tried, he could not sleep a wink that night. His mind was completely filled with thoughts of venturing to the sea and at last fulfilling the promise he had made to his mother all those years ago.
The following dawn, Robert returned to the dock where the Calliope was waiting to depart.
As soon as Robert approached the boarding ramp, he saw John smiling.
"Ready to sail, boy?" John asked,
"No, John;" Robert said, "I'm ready to see England."
"Then climb aboard, boy. Let us not keep her waiting." John said,
Barely managing to avoid having a skip in his step, Robert boarded the Calliope.
As the Calliope sailed out to sea, John approached Robert.
"What are ya thinking, lad?"
"I don't know, Captain." Robert said, "I feel a bit stretched; as if Japan is begging me to stay while England pulls me to her."
"You lived in Japan for 18 years. A hard thing." John said,
"Especially since, unlike my mother, I still have ties to my home country." Robert said,
"I heard George is not feeling great these days." John said,
"No. In fact, he wrote me a letter, but told me not to open it until I lived eighteen years in England." John said,
"And you no doubt intend to keep that promise." John said,
"Do not doubt it, John." Robert said,
"Well I hope England is all you believe it is." John said,
"If my mother's beauty is anything to go by, I am certain there will be much to enjoy when we get there." Robert said,
John smiled and said, "Rest assured that the Calliope has survived this journey many times over. She'll not fail us now."
Robert smiled and turned his gaze out to the sea.
Although days since they departed Japan turned to months at sea, Robert enjoyed every minute of it. Every month at sea, Robert would look at the sea from rotating angles. He would start at the bow, then go along starboard, then the stern, then starboard, and back to the bow.
Sometimes, Robert would meditate on the crow's nest. During these meditations, Robert would claim to see the seas as his mother saw them: a great, wide, unpredictable road that went no where and everywhere. He understood why his mother viewed it that way. In Japan, he needed to only rely on eighteen years of memory. Out at sea, there were no roads, no streetsigns, no citizens to point one right. Making it safely home, being stranded forever, or dying a watery death was dependant on the efforts and capability of captain and crew alike. Having either an incompetent captain or an irresponsible crew would mean certain doom for both.
After each meditation, Robert would look out to the sea and say, "God, let me live one more day. Calm the seas, that I may reach England. Let me see the land from where my mother hails."
Thankfully, God was so far willing to oblige Robert's prayers, as no storms or rogue winds hampered the Calliope's progress. Every night that preceded a successful day, Robert would say a prayer of thanks to God for keeping the Calliope safe.
Regardless of all of the peace and tranquility, Robert was still somewhat uneasy. While he was happy that his mother had managed to get through whatever the sea had to throw at her, he felt as though the ocean may want revenge for being denied a death. Perhaps the sea was waiting for the right moment to strike. However, the closer and closer he got to England, the more and more optimistic he felt.
It soon became routine for him, that every day that they neared England, Robert would say every midnight, "48 hours more and less, mother. 24 hours further away from Japan. 24 hours closer to England."
On November 12, 1664, it had been six months, nine days, and ten hours at sea when John Hindal and the crew of the Calliope woke Robert as he slept.
"What is it, John?" Robert asked,
"Today's the day of your birth, right?" John asked,
"Yeah." Robert said,
"Then, happy birthday to you, Robert. Me and the crew have a present for you." John said,
"Ooh. What is it?" Robert asked enthusiastically,
"England." John said,
No sooner had John said that, Robert ran to the upper deck as if his life depended on it.
As he watched the helmsman of the Calliope dock, he went to the Calliope's stern and said, "I've made it, mother. I have reached your home. I have reached England."