Bombay Star

He had just begun to wonder if the morning paper had arrived when the phone rang, breaking the silence and briefly startling him. He picked up the phone next to his chair, "Hello, Alan speaking."

"Captain, Alan -- Johnny Yo here. You ready to come to work for Star Lines, again?"

"Hey, Johnny Yo! Good to hear from you. I might be. What's up?"

Johnny Yo, a port captain for Star Lines, replied, "The Bombay Star is in the Bombay port. The captain died suddenly. Heart attack. We're in desperate need of a replacement. You're the best one I know for the job. I'll need you to leave immediately and go straight to Bombay."

Alan was more than ready, but he didn't want to seem too eager. Also, he wanted to know a little more about the Bombay Star.

He was very pleased to learn she was only three years old and loaded with the latest technological equipment. The trip would take him from Bombay to Alexandria, Egypt. The voyage would include passage across the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean Ocean. The ship was being loaded now and needed to sail as soon as possible. The monsoon rains would be starting at any time.

"Sounds good!" Alan said. "What kind of crew does she have, Johnny?"

Hearing the list of names, Alan was both surprised and pleased to find out that the first mate was a long-time sailing companion and friend by the name of Martin, whom he respected and trusted.

Also included on the list was Engineer Blair. Blair was well known in the shipping industry as one of the finest ship engineers around. It would be good to see that bear of a man again, Alan thought.

Alan's mind was racing as he accepted Johnny Yo's offer. He felt a surge of excitement go through his body as he ran his hand over a two-day growth of stubble on his face and thought over the things that would have to be done in the next few hours.

There was an obvious sense of relief in Mr. Yo's voice as he thanked Alan. He said a limo would pick Alan up at 1600 hours and take him to Houston Intercontinental Airport where his tickets would be waiting.

Alan laughed. "Johnny Yo," he said, "you sure do know the people you employ, don't you?"

"Yes, Captain, I do. That's why I called you. Have a safe flight and voyage, Alan."

Alan, hung up the phone with the feeling that Mr. Yo had known all along that he would accept. He finished off another cup of coffee while packing. His thoughts turned to all the years he had been going to sea. Each trip had been an experience -- challenging circumstances would always arise. He wondered what he would encounter this time. His last assignment had been over a year ago. Right after that, he requested a leave of absence to put his life back in order after the loss of his wife. Now he was well rested and eager to return to the allure of the sea.

Anticipating that the Bombay Star was equipped only with showers, he decided to take a long, hot bath. He shaved, then soaked in the tub until the water started getting cold. As he left the bathtub, he noticed himself in the full-length mirror. His 5'10" frame was in pretty good condition for a man of the sea. A bit of gray at the temples of his brown hair was the only hint of aging. Alan suddenly remembered he need to call a neighbor and a few friends to tell them he was leaving. Then dressed and drove to a mall just outside of Houston to pick up a few things to take along on the trip. It was after 3:00 when he pulled his new Jaguar onto the exit ramp for the Woodlands, a suburb of Houston, and his home.

Alan loved living in the Texas pine country, and even though he was now alone, he still treasured this rolling, ranch-style house he and his wife once shared.

The limo was scheduled to arrive any minute, so Alan stuffed the few items he had just purchased into his suitcases then checked his briefcase, making certain he had his passport and necessary papers.

Just as he had secured the locks on the house and turned to walk down the driveway, the limo pulled up. The driver jumped out, put Alan's bags in the trunk, and opened the rear door for him. They sped away into the heavy freeway traffic.

Having already been informed as to the gate, the driver pulled into the entrance of the Houston Intercontinental Airport and rolled to a stop at the Continental Airlines terminal. He got out, opened the door for Alan, then summoned the porter to load his bags. Alan thanked him for a safe trip and gave him a generous tip. The porter led the way to the ticket counter where he checked Alan's bags straight through to Bombay. Alan paid him and looked at the overhead directory. The departure gate was # 17. He looked at his watch. He had twenty-five minutes until departure time. He knew he would have to hurry to get to the gate before flight time, but "tight schedules" were nothing new to him.

He boarded the plane and, as usual, Star Lines had booked him in first class. After finding his seat and buckling up for take-off, the flight captain's voice came over the speaker, "Flight attendants be seated, we've been cleared for take-off." The plane started to taxi. Alan looked out the window and watched as the runway markers began to slip past his window. He estimated the ground speed was nearing the necessary 150 miles per hour when he felt the plane lift off the runway, climb, then bank, heading toward the West Coast.