Abraham was very excited at the prospect of his first trip on a boat.

“Momma, will I be able to see fishes in the water?”

“Maybe,” replied his Momma, “you will have to hold my hand at all times and do not let go as the water can be very rough, promise me?”

“I promise Momma.”

Crystal, her husband Joseph and Abraham sat around for what seemed an eternity. They perched on upturned crates along with maybe twenty or thirty others waiting to be called to get on a boat when it finally arrived. Crystal was in her early twenties, she was petite and wore a pretty floral headscarf and a thin nylon coat. She wondered at the time of setting off if the coat would be warm enough but remembered Joseph’s words to pack light. She clung to Abraham tightly and was concerned about his safety as he had a reputation of wandering off and getting lost in his play world as most boys of five years old often do. Abraham swung his little legs and tried hard to kick pebbles with his scuffed shoes but failed, just, to reach them.

The small unattractive port was in a very secluded cove and apart from a few old fishing boats and some rundown huts, there was little else. The nearest town was some miles away inland and the nearby village was insignificant and of no importance. The sun was hot and there was little shade apart from the shadows cast by the huts but these were fully occupied by the time Crystal and her family had arrived. Crystal untied her headscarf and held it high to provide some shade for the three of them. After several minutes her arms tired and she lowered them and wafted the scarf back and forth in an attempt to create a cooling draft but to little avail.

“Are we going soon, Momma?” Abraham asked. He was becoming restless and bored like most little boys do unless suitably distracted.

“Soon son, very soon I hope.” replied his Father. “Let us count the fishing boats,” suggested his Momma. Abraham stretched out his small arm and pointed at each boat in turn, counting all six boats.

“You’ve missed one,” said his Father. “There is another half sunk in the water just out in the bay, can you see it?.

As Abraham looked out to the bay, there was a muted cheer from the waiting passengers as a boat came around the headland and made its way to the rickety jetty.

The passengers scurried to the jetty. Crystal grabbed Abraham’s collar as the crush surged forward. “Steady, please be careful you nearly knocked me and my little boy into the water.”

“Hurry now, we do not have long, we need to get into the bay before dusk,” shouted a young, athletic man barely in his twenties, the Captain. His worn sandals, ragged vest and shorts did not inspire confidence in Crystal or Joseph whose eyes met and signalled concern as they boarded. They were ushered to the rear and sat on narrow wooden seating that was bleached with the sun and splintered through wear.

The heavily laden boat made its way out to sea, gaining pace as they left the bay.

“I am hungry Momma,” declared Abraham. Crystal reached into her small bag, pulled out a handful of dried dates and handed them to Abraham.

His father took one and told Abraham not to eat them too quickly or he would be sick with the movement of the boat. Abraham turned around, knelt on the bench and looked out to the vast ocean. He was transfixed with the waves and soaring seabirds. Hoping to see a large fish he occasionally leant over the edge and peered into the murky depths as Crystal hung onto his waistband.

There was little talk on the boat, most passengers stared with blank expressions, deep in thought and dreaming of a new life that was free from war and poverty.

The skies grew dark and the weather turned significantly cooler and breezy. The sea was rough and the boat bounced over rolling waves sending cold spray into the air and soaking everyone on board. The young captain looked tired, he was shivering. “No surprise there,” thought Crystal, “he should have worn more clothes.”

Many passengers were sick, some vomiting and feeling nauseated and most were shivering with cold. Abraham lay his head in Momma’s lap. Joseph held Crystal’s hand tightly and gently rubbed Abraham’s back to help him rest, “sweet dreams my son, sweet dreams.”

“How much longer before we are there?” came a voice from the blackness.
“I do not know,” replied the captain…

As the night passed, many passengers became ill and suffering from intensifying cold including Crystal and Joseph. Earlier on they had both taken off clothing to wrap around Abraham in an attempt to keep him warm and dry.

Several passengers were angry and disruptive, demanding to know how long it would be before they reached land. Minor skirmishes broke out but were mostly short-lived as they were weak and suffering from their wet, cold and precarious situation.

“I need some food,” shouted one man. Another stood up and said that he saw the little boy’s Momma had dried fruit in her bag. He rushed forward and ripped the bag from Crystal’s arm scattering its meagre contents across the boat and into the ocean. Joseph tried to stop him but Crystal pulled him back, held him and whispered “leave it, that man is dangerous.”

As the night progressed, silence descended on the boat, the woman next to Joseph was incontinent, many slept, some removed clothing and became erratic with their movements, one man tripped and disappeared into the depths. Many drifted into unconsciousness and later died as their bodies and minds closed down with hypothermia. The captain, lay down leaving the boat rudderless and adrift.
As dawn broke, the boat dipped up and down in a gentler sea. Abraham woke as he heard a deep groan, he raised his head from his Momma’s lap.

“Momma, are we there yet?

No-one answered.