Unexpected Detour
Our route was set. Before take-off, I handed Delilah the map so she could navigate as we went. "OKAY, SO, YOU NEED TO HEAD STRAIGHT WEST FOR NOW, FOLLOW THAT COMPASS RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP RIGHT, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN DIRECTION OR WHAT NOT, YOU GOT ALL THAT?"
"PRETTY MUCH, BE SAFE OKAY, DON'T DO ANYTHING RASH!"
I was severely panic struck, my limbs were shivering, all I knew was to keep this joystick still and press nothing else, it was going to be a very long way, I can do this, I know I can!
*beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep*
"WHAT'S GOING ON?"
"I DON'T KNOW? IT SUDDENLY STARTED BEEPING, AND THIS LIGHT ON THE COMPASS STARTED FLASHING."
"DID YOU LOSE GRIP ON THE JOYSTICK, DID YOU PRESS ANY BUTTON, DID WE RUN OUT OF FUEL?!?!"
"DELILAH DON'T GET FLUSTERED! I'M ALREADY PANICKING I DON'T NEED YOU TO ADD ON IT, JUST STAY CALM!"
Well wasn't this a test for my nerves, there was no indication whatsoever on this panel about why this was happening, the joystick became stiff and hard to keep still, it created its own will and started moving right and left with enough force that overcame my grasp, this caused the aircraft to move uncontrollably, the whole situation was out of my control now, there was nothing I could do to salvage it.....I gave up....down went the aircraft.....I had hoped I could atleast have done something good in this life to atone my actions in my previous life, it's quite unlikely I'll get another chance...
"ROBERT! LOOK AHEAD! LOOK! THERE'S A SEA DOWN THERE! JUST TRY! DON'T GIVE UP SO EASILY! THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO FINALLY REPAY YOUR FAVOR FROM ME SAVING YOU, NOW.....SAVE 'ME'!!!"
What was I thinking, I have a child aboard, I have a responsibility now, I can't give up now.
I haul that joystick, with every inch of my strength left, I needed to set it right, move the trajectory towards the sea, I didn't have enough power to set the machine upright again, though, I could salvage it like this.
"ROBBY! LOOK WHAT I FOUND! IT WAS RIGHT HERE, UNDER THE SEAT, A PARACHUTE!"
"THAT'S.....WHAT'S THAT?"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? IT LET'S YOU FLOAT AROUND IN THE AIR. IT'S VERY USEFUL IF YOU ARE JUMPING OUT OF AN AIRCRAFT."
GOOD FIND DELILAH! WAIT...OH GOODNESS ME! THERE'S AN ISLAND IN THE SEA! DELILAH LISTEN TO ME, I WANT YOU TO USE THE PARA-WHATEVER THAT IS TO LAND ON THE ISLAND THERE, I'LL DROP IN SEA AND HEAD RIGHT THERE. JUST TRUST ME, OKAY!
"I HAVE NEVER USED ONE OF THESE THINGS BEFORE, ROBBY I'M SCARED"
"DON'T BE, JUST GO WITH THE WIND, DON'T MOVE AROUND TOO MUCH, OKAY. BE READY, WE ARE APPROACHING, I'LL COUNT YOU DOWN....3....2....1.....JUMP!"
************************
*SPLASH*
"Uh....I.....I....think...uh...I hit muh.....my....head, I.....hope.....Delilah...is...sa..f...e..."
Will someone come to my rescue? Will I keep getting pulled down by the sea? I have faced death before, and it's that terrifying that whenever I'm on it's door again, I tremble, I cower, I shiver, I grit my teeth, this fear always revisits me, you don't get used to death.....
"Sir? Sir? SIR? Can you hear us?"
I slightly open my eyes to a young woman in a white coat, pressing my chest again and again, she starts leaning to my face, slowly and steadily, opens her mouth, and gets closer and closer, I abruptly get away and tell every person standing I was awake and they fill me in on the situation.
******************
"WHAT?!?! That girl, where is she now?
"Calm down, she is safe and admitted to the best hospital in the city, come in the evening when she's in a better state to visit her."
Unfortunately, Delilah landed face first right in the center of attention, she was injured badly, what could you expect from a child, I need to apologize to her no matter what. Right now, let's learn a little more about our whereabouts.
********************
Quite a bristling city I must say, rather cold too, not on par with the likes of See Green but is developed and civilised just as Heartpool was, what could I do, don't know where to begin, guess I just have to find a way to kill time until I can see Delilah.
I don't know how I couldn't realize, but everyone in See Green and Heartpool were wearing winter wear, this majestic scenery in front of me confirms it, it was winter season, and this city has been inundated with snow everywhere, it wasn't long before every inch of my body started to shiver, and due to the added fact of me being drenched after nearly drowning in that chill river, I could catch a serious cold instantly, I need to find some place warm, with warmer clothes. And right there, somehow, my luck, which has been non-existent this whole time, prevailed for me, as I spot an open spacious tavern in a distance. I quickly rush there and get some shelter; the tavern looked just as it was from outside, large and open, with an abundance of liveliness, it had a musty aroma, rusty furniture, the vintage smell of old oak was evident. As far as I knew, it was this sparkle of fireflies that gave this dim settlement its illumination, the constant chattering amongst the customers and rattling of beer bottles camouflaged it's rugged appereance.
"How can I help you?"
The bartender called me out to which I responded and sat at the counter ordering a glass of water.....as it was free...
"What? No booze? Hmph.....Woh! Look at you, you're soaked lad, forget the water I gon' get you a cup of coffee or something, don't want no one spreading sickness in my tavern."
"But...the price...."
"Oh! It don't matter son."
And just like that, the generous bartender goes away to get me a cup of coffee; my shivering calms down a little as well becuase of the warm environment of the tavern. Until the bartender came back I sighted a bizzare and enchanting object, something I have definitely not seen before, a slender rectangular shaped appliance that showcased some strange moving imagery which, from what my knowledge could perceive, seemed to have materealized from thin air, on its glassy surface; its enchantment was not confined to sight alone, it possessed a voice, a sound, that emitted from its confines. "Fascinating!"
"You like the television do ya'! Never seen one before?"
The bartender arrived back, with a full cup of hot milk coffee, 'A Television?' is what they called this machine, I have seen televisions in my life, almost no people, even in America only a few selected bunch would get the oppurtunity to get their hands on this contraption, but for a rugged old tavern on the caost of a city on a isolated island, it was inconcievable, that the rare television today has developed into something this majestic.
"Curtosy of America, this isn't one of the newest models of the television, I think it's gone even more complicated and become even more mesmorising to look at, but I was only able to get my hands on this little thing, I will put on some news if you want, here, watch some while ya' drink your coffee."
I express my gratitude for his hospitality but instead of a normal response, I was told, "I'm doing this so you don't get sick and sneeze all of your juice in my shop, I could send you off but out there yer' health will get even worse, your condition could get serious and least likely result in 'death' and because of that I would technically be called a murderer as I didn't give you the hospitality, now I don't wanna' live with that guilt, you don't wanna' die, it's best for the both of us. Athough, I'm not going to give any one special customer his own personal treatment, you will have to pay the prices for the coffe, AND, these clothes I have brought you, 'they are large'."
"Uhm, thank you, I guess..."
Time passes by quickly, I chat with the bartender a little and watch this 'television as well'. Though finally, it was evening time, I get my route to follow from the bartender and head off towards the hospital.
"Be safe Delilah, I'll be right there!"