Thalassa

Chapter 10

By dark, somber clouds had rolled in to an overcast. Everything was eerily quiet, apart from the splashing of the oars against the shadowy waves. The nipping cold had set in, and Thea was curled up at the bow of the boat.

"Here," Mikalis said. He handed Thea a spare cloak that one of the men had left behind.

"Thank you" Thea smiled graciously. In the past three years, she had forgotten her fondness of her best friend. She was glad that it was him with her now. Thea had never liked storms and the waves had slyly began climb up the sides of the boat.

"So how come you weren't in the trireme this time, Mikalis?" Thea would have discussed anything to remove the thought of her father sinking, his lungs filling with salt water.

"We were on an expedition to explore some more of the nearby islands. There weren't many of us and we didn't want to look threatening to any island inhabitants so we just took a boat." Mikalia explained.

"Ah, I see. Wait! Mikalis, stop!" Thea screamed.

"I can't! The waves are too rough! Do you see something?!" He shouted back. By now the lightning was flashing. Poseidon and Zeus must be angry, Mikalis thought.

"I can see the tail of a trireme! Row faster! Come on, Mikalis, we are already struggling for time!" He could see that Thea was clenching the hair at her temples in a frantic worry. He held the oars tightly in his hands and went as fast as he could as Thea pointed. Soon he could see the trireme for himself. There were many men gasping and spluttering, and he prepared himself for the reality that it wouldn't be possible to save them all. As they approached, Thea began to tug the arms of some of the closer men, but in their blind panic, they were beginning to pull her overboard. Thea struggled. Without thinking about the now crashing waves Mikalis rose from his seat and swiftly hauled Thea back into the boat.

"We have to save them! We can't let them die!" Thea cried.

"I'm not putting you in danger, Thea! Go and row, we'll find your father, then we'll try saving some more men!" Mikalis replied and following his orders, Thea held her arms out for balance as she made her way to the stern where Mikalis had sat. Meanwhile, Mikalis was trying to identify Proteo amongst a sea of desperate arms.

"Can you see my Father?"

"No, it's too dark and the waves are too high. Maybe this wasn't his ship?" said Mikalis.

"You can see the mark of Athens of the tail! Oh, please Posiden, don't let him die!" Thea's voice was muffled, due to her face being in her palms. But, with a fierce flash of lighting Mikalis caught sight of Proteo, unconscious and draped over one of the trireme's long oars.

"There, Thea! Row to that oar there!"

When they were close enough, Mikalis gripped Proteo's arms and heaved him aboard. He couldn't help but notice how worn and old Proteo looked, now that he was up close. Thea's disappearance did more damage then she knew. If she had never left, they wouldn't be at death's edge on a stormy Mediterranean night, trying to save her Father. One small girl from a great city like Athens could change so much, without even realising.

"Is he okay?" Thea asked.

"There is a small cut on his head but he's still breathing. Okay, let's try to rescue some other men." Mikalis said, but when both he and Thea turned, they saw only one man remained. Thea gasped. She thought of the men, taking their last breaths before being submerged in the murky depths. She thought of their eyes eventually closing, the inevitable surrender. Her breathing became rapid and frenzied. She put her heart to her chest to feel the thumping of her heart. 'It's okay' Thea told herself. 'You're father is here in front of you'. Her hectic thoughts were interrupted by Mikalis.

"Oh, the fates have been cruel" said Mikalis.

"Come now, we don't have much time before this man joins the others." Thea said as she started paddling over to the wild arms and the gaping mouth that was vanishing gradually. Mikalis leant over the boat, long arms outstretched. As he pulled the man into the violently rocking boat, the man whispered;

"T..Tha...Thank you, young man." He stuttered before shutting his eyes and letting his drenched body turn limp and week. For a minute both Thea and Mikalis were sure he had died, but Mikalis put a hand to his chest which was lazily rising and falling. He sighed.

"He's all right, I think. Here, Thea, sit up here and try to hold them in the boat, I will get us to that shore over there." Mikalis said. Thea steadied herself as she stood. The storm was starting to die down, but the gale was still blowing. Dizziness swirled around her head and her stomach churned. It was the sight of her father, looking so frail and helpless, joined with swaying of the boat that caused her to fall on her knees at the side of the boat and gag.

"Thea! Are you okay? Just sit down there, I'll get to that jetty as quick as I can." Mikalis shouted to her. He tied up the boat at a rotten and rickety jetty, held Thea's hand as she stepped out and instructed her to just sit down in the sand. Then, he dragged both sodden men beside her, one at a time. Thea put her hand on her fathers forehead, her thumb tracing the frown lines. Her father was so close to her now, but he was completely and utterly unaware. Only in that moment, did she realise how much she missed him. She wanted one of his warm hugs or to hear his hearty laugh. But that was all years away.

"Thea, we should find somewhere to stay, if you're not planning on returning to Athens anytime soon. Are you feeling better?" Mikalis said.

"Yes, thank you" Thea replied.

"Good. Then you can help me pull the men up the beach and under the trees" he grinned. Thea smiled back half-heartedly. Maybe this would be the last time she saw Proteo, and he couldn't hug her or say goodbye. She knew he wouldn't have anyway. He would want her to stay. But that was impossible. They took the men up and Proteo started to twitch a little. Thea kissed his wrinkled forehead.

"Come on, he's waking up. We should get going" Mikalis said and wrapped his hand around Thea's, before the two faded into the darkness.