The Brothers....Their Story Continues

Chapter Twenty Two

Kadir looked around, the table and food still there like he had left it the night before, the music was playing softly and Efe was stretched out on his back on the bow of the boat. He thought he was asleep, as he noticed the empty wine bottle and the half empty whiskey decanter sitting next to him. He started to clear the table, knowing the evening had not went as planned for him he tried to remove the evidence, when his brother spoke, " We're leaving in a hour, so make sure the coordinates are right, I've already checked the boat and it's ready to go." He said, his voice sounding dry and unemotional. Kadir grabbed what he could from the table and went below to check the map, he knew he wasn't going to question his brother about the night before. Kadir had double checked everything and they were ready to go, but Efe had to pull himself together, he thought as he watched him stare out across the bay. It had been over an hour, and he hadn't said a word, " Abi, the boats ready to shove off  if you are, just whenever you're ready." His voice was hesitant and unsure if to even speak, but he was worried about him. Efe shook his head, acknowledging what he said. He jumped up quickly, as if he had been struck by lightning, " Ok, Abi untie the boat, we are heading to Sicily, come on be quick about it." He yelled, starting the engine on the boat. And as always Kadir did as he said, and never asked a question.

The boat pulled away from the dock, ever so slowly, as if the boat itself didn't what to leave. Efe kept his eyes on the water in front of them, he knew if he looked back he would never leave this place. He never saw her there, watching the boat slip away, watching the man that had filled her soul with love float further out into the sea. She had to see him go, she had to watch him leave, if she hadn't, she would be looking for him every minute of the day.. She let the tears fall, but in her heart she felt he would be back, and she would be there. 

The wind was strong, so they hoisted the sails and let Mother Nature take care of them. The port was nothing more than a blur on the horizon when he finally looked back, he had really done it, he left, but he didn't feel good about it, in fact he didn't feel anything. He was having a hard time to even take a breath, his heart beat so hard it hurt his chest. What she must think of him, that hurt most of all, those words that still banged around in his head. Did she really think she had just been an adventure for him. In the past that  could have been true, some of the women were just another notch in his belt, so to speak, but not this time....He didn't speak, just navigated the boat through the water, with his brother watching his every move. 

It had been hours of silence, but Kadir knew better than to initiate a conversation, not with his brother. He would talk when he was ready and not before. The look on his face told most of the story, and he could imagine the rest, the alcohol, the uneaten food, their goodbye hadn't been a good one. He had never seen his brother in this shape before, and he had been involved with a lot of women in his life. He felt bad insisting that they leave and go on with their journey, but he knew Efe wouldn't have left if he didn't want to, but still he felt responsible for the way his brother was feeling right now. He made them some sandwiches hoping he would eat, " Abi, here have some food, I know you must be hungry." He handed him the plate, but Efe brushed it away. " Not now Kadir, I'm not hungry." His eyes squinted and dark. He sat the plate down and moved away from him, giving him his space. 

It was hot as the afternoon sun beat down of them, but Efe hadn't t moved from his spot at the wheel of the boat. Kadir was sitting at the stern of the boat, observing the way the waves were breaking against the boat, it was hypnotizing, the spray of water keeping him cool from the heat of the sun. He was really getting worried about his brother, what if he never spoke again, he knew that wasn't the case, but if seemed like it. Just the refusal of the food was the only words he had spoke seen they left the port hours before. The day would soon be over and he still wouldn't be able to help his brother get past it. " Kadir, start to lower the mainsails, we are anchoring for a bit." He yelled to him. It shocked him, and he jumped up quickly to obey his order. It took a few minutes but he had it done, and Efe dropped the anchors over the side. He rubbed his face hard with his hands, " Abi, watch the wheel while I wash my face, don't let the wind blow us off course." 

Kadir had sat there for quite some time watching the wheel shimmy back and forth with the wind, but he held it on their course. He began to wonder if his brother was ok, he had been below for a long time. " Efe, are you ok, can I help you with something." He called out to his brother. There was no answer, he asked again, " Abi, do you need help down there." Still no reply. The sun was passing into the water, and the darkness was quick to appear, and still his brother was silent, but he left him alone. The stars were bright and the moon was bouncing its beams off the water, making the water look like glitter, it fascinated him at the way things seemed so different on the water. They were magnified 100x brighter, the stars looked closer, almost like you  could touch them. He never cared much for solitude but right now, he didn't have a choice. It was just him and the water, the endless view of the sea, it made him feel uneasy. He hadn't realized how much his brother had meant to him until now, what if he was left alone out here. Well, that was something he didn't even want to think about.

At some point he laid back on the  bow of the boat and sleep was all he wanted. The rocking of the boat lulled him into a night of dreams, his brain taking him on a journey that turned into a nightmare. Efe had disappeared, just gone and he was left there to take care of the boat, and all of a sudden he had forgotten everything he knew, all that he had been taught by his father. He knew it was a dream, but it still made him scared. In his dream he didn't know where Efe had gone, but he thought he was alone, and then he heard him yell at him, " Kadir, Kadir...wake up." Kadir tried to open his eyes, but the sun was to bright. As he sat up he saw his brother at the wheel, " Kadir, raise the sails, the wind is good and strong." He called to him. 

What is going on, he thought, am i still asleep. He shook his head to clear it, "Abi, what's going on." His brother had a smile that brightened his whole face, " Come on Abi, get a move on, the wind is good so let go." Turn the sails." He yelled.

" Where are you going Efe, we need to go head southeast to go to Sicily."

"No my brother,  Alghero is to the north and that's where we're headed." His face full of excitement......