6 Chapter 1 - Into the seas

Part 5

It was nighttime.

The continuous sparkling of the countless stars lighted the dark blue moonless skies. The black waters of the calm seas were not only reflecting the twinkling light from the skies above, but also the lively lights of the near city. The linear beam of yellow light of the nearby lighthouse seemed to pierce infinite was calling ships from faraway.

Nearby, the sound of the cheerful music echoed above the undisturbed seas, not loud enough to reach the lands. And the lights of the wooden ship danced along with the sounds. Laughter and giggles were heard in every corner of the ship and the dancing crew stomped their feet as if there were no tomorrow.

That was the true for me.

The lights of the city waved me, telling my journey with them had come to an end and this party was for farewell.

"OOOOO" "OOOOOO" "OOOO"

Such a waste again, I could not understand what they were saying, but at least, I could tell from their gentle smile on their faces that their cheering me on.

Ah, cheering again. That feels good... However…

I stood in the edge of the ship, away from the lively lights, and looked down in the dark water reflecting the dark skies.

"Stars, huh?" I murmured as stars sparkled like the lights of the near city lights.

"What 'bout the stars?" the old man was holding ale stood beside me. His surprise call almost made me shriek. "Don't ye get so blue, boy?"

He must be drunk for his speech became somewhat – Bar Bar Bar Bar...

"I was not, and I am not a boy anymore. I am already a young man." It was audible enough that I could reply him, however.

"But yer eyes told me so – like river that will dry run soon, longing for the heavy rain to come again. Starving for something new. Ye are too worried as tomorrow's morning. Yer shadows will depart an old ship of mine yet there a lot of thing to learn even without us. Don't ye forget that. That's why, in my antediluvian eyes, you're still a young boy."

"Is that so?" I sighed. What is this Old Man babbling about? I was not planning to oppose a mind influence by the ale, or else, I would be facing his white slashes.

He nodded and drunk his ale, "So what 'bout the stars?" he stood next to me, leaning his back to the edge, supported by his arms.

I bent forward to the edge facing the calm sea.

"Ah, I just remembered Nanang, my grandmother. About what she told me" I paused and looked up at the skies again "Our seafaring ancestors used the stars as a guide to find our home. Even today, some of us were able to learn the thing. You know, navigating the unknown seas through stars' pattern, our ancestors were good at it. My father is supposed to teach me, but things happened."

"We, seamen do that too. I could preach some, if ye told me 'bout it earlier."

"Yeah.. I suppose"

I looked to the lights of the city ahead of us. "How I wish I had learn that too so that the stars would also guide me wherever I go."

I sighed. The city lights wavered like a wriggling worm digging its way through my soul.

"If ye ask me about it, I do not give stars from the skies too much credit. Though they shine so bright in the moonless night, we could not tell regarding tomorrow if they will" he dunk his ale in one go, then "Not only that, Stars on the night are so far from here. Sometimes their guidance will make us go astray instead."

"Look at 'em" the old man, using the ale's wooden mug, pointed at his crews who were dancing and laughing shoulder to shoulder out of their drunkenness. Facing towards them, they instantly made their raucous and gibberish cheers as I looked at them. I could not help myself to laugh back to them.

"See? Stars were not supposed to be hanging only in the skies. The smiles of yer comrades, the cheers of yer allies, the lessons of yer grandma, yer family, those are more than stars in the skies, but living with and within us."

"..."

"They gave us strength to carry on, they guide us to our journey" He pattered hard my shoulders again twice. Somehow, even though it slightly hurt, his pat was comforting enough to make me smile.

"…."

I gazed at the Old man. Indeed, he was an old man. His white haired had endured everything that had passed through his lifetime. His beard had witness everything that I have not seen yet. His eyes were drooling, and tiredness and wisdom had surrounded it. He nodded as he looked at me with a gentle smile.

Oh, the old man can smile too.

"Thank you so much, Old man" I bowed my head as I said that.

"No need to do that, beside I am also indebted to ye." He slowly put his heavy hand on my back, pushing me back to the dancing crew.

The night was still young, yet, I felt the time at that moment were running so fast, like a ship in full sail heading rapidly for its longed shore.

We spent the rest of the night dancing and singing. Telling stories along with the ale and wine. Though it was always such a waste, I could not understand what they were saying. Well, it did not matter, as long as we merrily dancing together under the beat of the music, until the last beat of the music and the last flicker of the lights go out.