Drabbles - Beating to Windward
The entire crew could tell a storm was brewing between their captain and his first mate long before it struck. The first dark clouds appeared on the horizon with the slamming of the cabin door and the glowering look Jack had on his face before sharply ordering them to come about, they were returning to port.
“What’s got into the Captain?” Marty groused, glancing up as Jack unceremoniously replaced Cotton at the helm.
Gibbs followed Marty’s gaze. “I reckon it’s more like what’s not gotten into the Captain lately,” he chuckled.
Marty shrugged. “Looks like some stormy weather up ahead.”
****
They were at least three days out from the nearest port, and the storm showed no signs of abating. There appeared to be no break in the clouds, the moods of both captain and first mate as dark as ever.
Gibbs, being a practical man, decided to brave the foul weather, casually approaching Will, where he sat, methodically sharpening his sword.
Scritch, Scritch
“You know, Will,” Gibbs said friendly-like, “It’s still possible to sail, even with the wind dead against you.”
Will scowled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Scritch, Scritch
Gibbs settled down on the deck next to Will. Leaning forward he said in a low voice, “Ain’t like the whole crew hasn’t noticed. Can’t but help know on a ship when things aren’t right between mates.”
Will didn’t answer, but his scowl deepened.
Scritch, Scritch
“Sailing’s a lot like life, and there’s a good many lessons to be learnt from both,” Gibbs continued, intent on giving out some fatherly advice. “Now it may be truly said, that a sailor, with no experience of nothin' but a fair wind, would be a feeble mariner, indeed. So, in the great education which life gives to us, we’d be missin' its most valuable teachings if we were never compelled to beat against the wind.”
“More like beating your head against a brick wall,” Will muttered.
The two men looked up at the sound of the cabin door banging open. Jack, after scowling in Will’s direction, turned with a flip of his coat tails and went to the helm, where he proceeded to studiously ignore them.
Will glowered in return and went back to sharpening his sword with renewed vengeance.
Scritch, Scritch, Scritch
Gibbs frowned. It was going to be a long voyage at this rate. He tried again.
“There be many times when a man finds himself tacking against a foul wind. But remember, Will, when them difficult times come, when the wind’s dead against you, a smart sailor knows to conform himself to the conditions in such a manner as to conciliate nature.”
“As in apologize?”
“No… Bargain.”
****
“Jack, this is ridiculous. How long do we go on not talking?”
“When you admit you were wrong.”
“Me? I wasn’t the one who insisted on abstinence.”
“Were to.”
“Was not. And you know it.”
“Weren’t you the one who said you thought I only wanted you for one thing?”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“And, you also said, if my memory doesn’t fail me, that you felt you needed some time alone.”
“I’d just come off watch. I was trying to sleep.”
“Humph.”
“I’m not sleepy now.”
“Really?”
“Really. Wide awake in fact.”
“I like wide. And awake.”
****
The sun broke free of the clouds that day. Whatever had materialized below decks, the benevolence spread above, the crew collectively breathing a sigh of relief.
And settled their wagers.
****
“What’s got into the Captain?” Marty groused, glancing up as Jack unceremoniously replaced Cotton at the helm.
Gibbs followed Marty’s gaze. “I reckon it’s more like what’s not gotten into the Captain lately,” he chuckled.
Marty shrugged. “Looks like some stormy weather up ahead.”
****
They were at least three days out from the nearest port, and the storm showed no signs of abating. There appeared to be no break in the clouds, the moods of both captain and first mate as dark as ever.
Gibbs, being a practical man, decided to brave the foul weather, casually approaching Will, where he sat, methodically sharpening his sword.
Scritch, Scritch
“You know, Will,” Gibbs said friendly-like, “It’s still possible to sail, even with the wind dead against you.”
Will scowled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Scritch, Scritch
Gibbs settled down on the deck next to Will. Leaning forward he said in a low voice, “Ain’t like the whole crew hasn’t noticed. Can’t but help know on a ship when things aren’t right between mates.”
Will didn’t answer, but his scowl deepened.
Scritch, Scritch
“Sailing’s a lot like life, and there’s a good many lessons to be learnt from both,” Gibbs continued, intent on giving out some fatherly advice. “Now it may be truly said, that a sailor, with no experience of nothin' but a fair wind, would be a feeble mariner, indeed. So, in the great education which life gives to us, we’d be missin' its most valuable teachings if we were never compelled to beat against the wind.”
“More like beating your head against a brick wall,” Will muttered.
The two men looked up at the sound of the cabin door banging open. Jack, after scowling in Will’s direction, turned with a flip of his coat tails and went to the helm, where he proceeded to studiously ignore them.
Will glowered in return and went back to sharpening his sword with renewed vengeance.
Scritch, Scritch, Scritch
Gibbs frowned. It was going to be a long voyage at this rate. He tried again.
“There be many times when a man finds himself tacking against a foul wind. But remember, Will, when them difficult times come, when the wind’s dead against you, a smart sailor knows to conform himself to the conditions in such a manner as to conciliate nature.”
“As in apologize?”
“No… Bargain.”
****
“Jack, this is ridiculous. How long do we go on not talking?”
“When you admit you were wrong.”
“Me? I wasn’t the one who insisted on abstinence.”
“Were to.”
“Was not. And you know it.”
“Weren’t you the one who said you thought I only wanted you for one thing?”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“And, you also said, if my memory doesn’t fail me, that you felt you needed some time alone.”
“I’d just come off watch. I was trying to sleep.”
“Humph.”
“I’m not sleepy now.”
“Really?”
“Really. Wide awake in fact.”
“I like wide. And awake.”
****
The sun broke free of the clouds that day. Whatever had materialized below decks, the benevolence spread above, the crew collectively breathing a sigh of relief.
And settled their wagers.
****