“I should have known that ship we spotted would return.Should have anticipated it.Especially after all the troubles we’ve encountered of late.”
Alden slanted his lips.“Perhaps, but you could never have anticipated the rats.”
Halting, Caleb stared at his friend, his quartermaster.“True.What in the name of all that is holy….?”
“There was naught holy about them.”Alden moved to sit in a chair.“Quit your pacing, Caleb.Rest.’Tis been a long night.”
But Caleb couldn’t rest.Too much was at stake, and he couldn’t afford another mistake.Halting, he turned and stared out the stern windows.Glittering gold feathered atop rolling waves, making it seem all was well with the world.On his desk, Patches licked her wounds, seemingly faring better than most of his crew.“You are right, my friend.Those rats were not of this world.”
“Nay.”Alden leaned forward on his knees.“Something evil lurks on this ship.From whence I do not know.”
“I’d suspect the lady if not that our troubles began before she arrived.”As his thoughts drifted to Miss Starr, he wondered how she fared.He’d asked Brandt to tend to her wounds.“Who knows”—he gripped the edge of his desk—“perhaps the entire journey is cursed.”
“You know that is not true.You are on a mission to rid the world of evil.’Tis expected that the powers of darkness would do their best to hinder your success.”
Caleb only nodded.Had his father not warned him he’d face opposition?
Son, whenever we are doing God’s will and battling evil, the enemy will come like a flood against you.But,he had added,the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
Caleb closed his eyes, listening to the creak and groan of timbers and the purl of water against the hull, sounds that always becalmed his nerves.
“You did the right thing, Caleb.”Alden stroked the cross around his neck.“You called on the only One who can defeat such evil.Hence, the rats had no recourse but to leave.”
Caleb fingered the Ring, sunlight setting the red jewel in the center aglow.Yet when he’d first put it on, hadn’t it glowed on its own?A sign he was meant to use it?For good and not evil.Yet, how could he tell his friend that ’twas the Ring that sent the rats away, not his prayer, not his command in the name of Jesus?Guilt raked over him.How could he have relied on anything over Almighty God?He knew better.
He faced Alden, admiring the man’s ever-present confidence and faith.“In truth, ’twas the Ring that saved us.”He held up his hand, fluttering his fingers, revealing the artifact to his friend.“Or the power within it.”
Alden’s expression soured, like a cloud passing over the sun, stealing all warmth and joy from his face.Instead of shouting, berating Caleb, or castigating him for his actions.Instead of reminding him of his promise to his father not to use the Ring, Alden merely released a heavy sigh and said, “Now why would you do that?”
Gripping the hilt of his blade, Caleb ground his teeth.“You were there.The rats were overwhelming us.They would have eaten us alive within minutes.And that ghost ship”—he waved toward the sea outside the window—“they were on their way to sinking us.I had to do something.”
“Youweredoing something.You showed more skill, wisdom, quick thinking, and composure than most men.But the Ring?”Alden rubbed the scar on his cheek, a look of disappointment sinking his features.“When you knew a better way.”
“Did I?”Caleb ploughed a hand through his hair as the deck tilted to larboard.“I couldn’t make another mistake.I couldn’t risk that God would not answer me.”
“I marvel at your lack of faith, Caleb.After all the miracles you’ve seen, all the ones God used you to perform.What about that time you commanded the roaring seas of a hurricane to be still and they did?Or when you took that single basket of fish and used it to feed an entire town?
Memories of those events flooded Caleb, bringing a smile to his lips.But then a final memory blew them all away like chaff beneath a violent storm.
“You’re thinking ofÎle Du Crâne,” Alden said.“’Twas not your fault.”
Caleb gave his friend a venomous look.“They were in my charge.I was tasked with their protection.”
“You were tricked, deceived.”
“I should have known.”
“You are not God, Caleb.”
“Nay.But He should have warned me.”He squeezed the bridge of his nose and turned to stare out the window again.“Or perhaps I wasn’t listening.”
“Faith now, you can hardly allow one disaster to determine the course of your life.”
Caleb gripped the cross, remembering when his father, Alexander Merrick Hyde, had gifted it to him.This was your grandfather’s who gave it to me.It is a symbol of the love our Lord has for us.Keep it with you always and remember you are a child of the Most High God.
A child, aye, but perhaps an unworthy one.“I suppose I’m loathed to trust myself anymore.”
“Then trust God.He has already forgiven you.You need to forgive yourself.”
