I shook my head negatively and said, "Can't."
"Why on Earth not?" Matt exclaimed.
"Because God said so." I said wondering what his reaction would be.
He gave me an odd look and then looked forward at the whales I was keeping a safe distance from. "Whales it is then." He said commenting softly.
After a moment he asked, "Did you ever think you would experience anything like this in life?"
"Can't say that I did." I responded truthfully.
He glanced over at me, "God has laid something on your heart to do hasn't He? That's why the sea lane was opened up to us wasn't it? And why we're following the whales?"
I nodded.
"That's a big change for you." Matt said studying me further.
"A needed one." I said in reply.
The whales swam on and on and I faithfully stayed back in their wake following their every move. I didn't even let anybody else have the wheel.
Flynn eventually butted in between me and the wheel and said, "Take a load off your feet Captain. When we get into the action you'll need something to still fight with."
Reluctantly I stepped back and let the smaller man takeover.
Curiously I asked, "You're expecting a fight Flynn?"
He didn't take his eyes off the whales ahead as he answered, "I've been at sea a long time Captain. After a while you have a way of sensing when a storm's brewing. Storm's coming Captain and we need to be ready for it."
I looked out at the mangled equipment on deck. I hadn't asked before, but now I did, "how did everything fair through the storm?"
"Betsy's all mangled up, but the Children are still here." He said stoically.
I nodded grimly. It would have been good to have had the fifty caliber machine gun, but now we would have to manage without it.
I didn't go to my cabin, instead I stayed in the wheelhouse and lay down on the floor. Surprisingly I fell asleep.