This story tells how we are at times faced with grief in life and yet
be brave enough to leave it behind and sail on into the unknown .
The morning mist fell down upon the cliffs edge as a cold and bitter wind blew across the tide .
Looking out at sea stood an old womans shawl was tossed by the wind and like a stone she stood silently watching .
Routed upon her face was an empty expression gouged out of hardship
and suffering .
As the mist began to rise she could see her three sons set out to sea .
She watched them as they cut their way through the waves in a small curragh boat and the memory of another boat flodded through her mind .
Her husband , like her three sons were at home on the sea .
But the sea at times can be jealous of those who claim her .
The last voyage her husband had made was not one of his choosing but one out of duty . A small whale had become lost and found the shallow waters . If Mr Weila hadn’t went off to help it the whale would have beached itself and died . All that night Mrs Weila waited like an expectant mother on a barren island . The night was long and as dawn came to her again her heart
Knew that she would never see him again .
Religiously day after day her boys left in search for their father .
It only seemed like yesterday when he had set off .
Every day she hoped for his return .
Although he well known on the water
it’s a well known fact that once you leave the land you belong to the sea .
Memories of her lost husband had washed the cliff face each day since .
It was too much to live with .
Her family was torn apart .
Each day it was the same thing .
Her three sons would set off looking for their Father and each evening it was the same they came back .
They must have covered every inch of the ocean . Every cave on the mainland and every footstep upon the sandy shore was inspected .
Eventually the old woman gathered her boys around the dinner table .
For the first time since her husbands accident she spoke .
The three young men sat there like statues with fear and joy all over their faces . As they looked up into her eyes a deepness on her ,
She said ,
“I’m getting old now and before I die I want to see the world .“
“The world Ma ?“
quizzed Murrie the oldest boy.
“Yes . The world . I want to sail in a tall ship with big sails . Boys I want you to build for me a home for the sea . I want us to go and have fun out there sailing away . I want to find the hiding places of the sun and I want to touch the horizon . “
“I’ll build you a ship “
Skimmer the youngest relpied .
“And me too Ma . You'll have the best ship hands can make “
said Job .
“I’ll get make you fine deck Ma . One you can dance upon .”
said Murrie who stood and did a jig in the middle of the floor .
“I’ll stand you the task then boys .“
“Right Ma “ came the reply .
From that moment the work began .
It was ferocious .
A desperate passion gripped the boys in their quest . Every nail and bit of timber had love etched into the grain . Every drop of sweat was mixed with blood and tears .
Every day was one too many until finally the ship was built .
It was a tall ship and one to be proud of . Mrs Weila took her three boys on board and as she walked up and down the deck she declared the ship her home . As she lifted her arms to the sky she cried out in a loud voice ,
“Now we are born again . God give us fine winds and protect this voyage” .
At that very moment the sea seemed to rise six feet . The old woman
Smiled and it was a warm smile that wiped her face . She embraced her sons and they all began to laugh ,
“Go and get the rest of the things boys and we’ll set sail “
It wasn’t long before everything was on board .
Three hens , four mice , a cat and dog .A goat and two pigs .
Now the crew was ready for the voyage .
The Captain and the crew waved goodbye to their little cottage on the
top of the cliff top .
As they sailed out to sea a full moon
dressed the dark cape of a still night
sky and the ocean shimmered under its golden light .
As the tall ship headed for the horizon Mrs Weila went to her room and slept soundly until the morning .
The sunrise said hello to a vast ocean as Mrs Weila looked out at a new world beyond .
Two of the boys were still in their hammocks asleep while the other was on watch . There was a song in the soft wind that carried the ship through the ocean . As the wind got stronger the song became a scream .
The screaming wind ended up screeching and as the two boys were turfed from their hammocks all four crawled along the deck into the safety of the kitchen below .
Now it was a definite sobbing in the wind that pushed the ship along .
The wild wind and waves seemed to be running away from something that was chasing it . The riggings were all torn and the ship was breaking up in places .
Like beggars at Davy Jones door all on board locked themselves away underneath the deck .
Things were uneasy .
The dog chased the cat who ran amok in circles around the cabin .
When it seemed as if the wild sea was going to swallow up everyone it finished . As the crew made their way on deck the ship started to rise out of the water . It was a strange sensation to be on a ship carried by a huge hump back whale .
Life was good .
As the huge whale submerged into the deep the ship rested on the surface of the ocean that was swirling here and there in circles . Strange shellfish with glowing colours emerged to the top of the water . A blue shimmering half light dressed the sky and blue flashes seemed to fall like fire from above .
The captain and the crew watched helpless as they passed through a small porthole or crack that appeared before them . On the other side of the crack they were amazed to find a pirate ship making its way towards them .
Almost as if they had crossed into another world Mrs Weila and her sons watched with a sense of wonder . As the crew of the pirate ship grabbed hold their cannons a huge hump back whale swallowed the entire crew Jolly Roger and all . As if that wasn’t enough the whale then spurted out of its blow hole the remains of the scavengers .
The hump back whale then returned and carried Mrs Weila on its back to a the shelter of a bay where a cliff small island seemed to float just above the surface of the water . Standing on the shore of the island a man waited and watched the ship and whale approach . As they got closer to the island it was became very clear this had to be a miracle of sorts . Either they had all died and gone to heaven its was just a hallucination . Mr Weila who had been lost at sea was now reunited with his loved ones . The voyage was over .
See which way the winds have blown in the Winds of Time!!
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Author Bruce Alan Humphrey creates a fascinating world where medieval mores and cutting-edge technology converge. Winds of Time tells the gripping tale of Tarl
