Page 116 of Hidden Depths

Grandpa always said...

"The hardest thing a captain will ever do...

...is to decide who deserves her trust."

I'd always thought he was talking about weather forecasts.

Or cargo.

Or passengers.

I never imagined he'd meant this.

The trawler held its position just off our port bow.

Close enough to see faces.

Far enough to respect the sea.

No one shouted.

No one reached for a weapon.

The only sound between us was the gentle slap of the Pacific against two hulls.

The older man remained where he stood.

His cap rested over his heart.

He waited.

Not impatiently.

Respectfully.

As though he understood that the next move belonged to me.

Ward stood beside me.

"What do you think?"

"I don't know."

"Good answer."

I looked at him.

"You wanted something more decisive?"

He smiled.

"No."

"The captains who scare me are the ones who always think they're right."

Ben lifted the binoculars again.

"Still no sign of the other RHIB."