Off the west coast, the coast guard cutter Frisco was summoned by a fishing boat to a two masted schooner that had sunk in shallow water, its masts creating a navigational hazard. The cutter's captain sent divers down to examine the wreck and they found and retrieved six bodies, and discovered the drugs hidden in the tanks of gas. The coast guard seized three other ships belonging to the same company and found similar contraband in their gas tanks. The maritime commission's report read as folllows....
"Apparently from evidence gathered by the divers, there was a seventh person on board, and for some reason which will never be known, that person killed the rest of the crew by administering to them an overdose of the drugs they were transporting. Afterwards this seventh person abandoned the ship, and apparently drove three holes in the side with a sledge hammer, causing the ship to sink. There can be little doubt that this seventh person was a man of considerable stature, for the strength used to overcome the rest of the crew was substantial, and could not have been accomplished by a woman. Of course the court realizes that this conclusion is pure speculative, but it's the best they can do with the facts they have."
For three days Maria had floated in the raft. On the third night a fishing boat appeared out of the darkness and she waved and cried. The boat came alongside and the crew helped her aboard, whistling and calling at her skimpy attire. A burly, dark-skinned captain descended a ladder.
"Stop that, you ignorant fools!" he said, "Can't you see the little thing's terrified? Do you want her to think you're animals? Take her up to my cabin. Put her to bed, then get back to your duties. Frank, you're the smallest, how about loaning her some of your clothes for tomorrow? We've only got half a catch, but we'd better make for shore. She may need medical attention."
"I'm alright," Maria said, "just tired. I can wait 'til you finish your load."
"Well, we'll see in the morning," the captain said. "If you look stronger then, maybe we can do some fishing on the way in. But God granted we find you, and as a good seaman I'll see right done by you. Come, child, you can barely stand. Let them put you to bed. They're course-tongued fellows, but they're gentlemen, all, and would not take advantage."
Maria curled up in the warm bed and real sleep came to her. When she awoke she found the captain, a blanket pulled over him, asleep in the in the chair beside her. When she began to stir, he quickly sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Awake," he said, "glad to see you look better! Breakfast is coming. Cook is making you some hotcakes. When you're showered and dressed I want to hear your tale. I have a feeling it will be an interesting one."
The food, shower and clean clothes lifted Maria's spirits, and sitting at the table drinking coffee, she told the captain her whole story, and The Ancient One's words to her. She did not mention, however, that The Ancient One had said he would propose to her.
"I was expecting quite a tale," the burly captain said, rising and walking about the room, "but nothing such as this! 'You are the answer to a prayer!'; that is what he said?" Maria nodded. "Maria, when I ws a younger man I was not the best of men. Then I met a woman who tried to make me into something better than I was. I married her and we were very happy, and she became full with my child. But in my greed to get money for material things rather than the true things men need, I left her in a bad place to go off on a job that was not very honorable but would make me a lot of money. While I was gone, the crewmen of another boat broke into her room and did their worst to her. After they left, she lost the child she was carrying, and died. When I returned, I learned what had happened and went after these men in my boat. But God's hand came upon them before mine could. We were both caught in a terrible storm. They went down, but somehow I managed to survive. The next morning I found the skipper of the boat's young son floating in the water, clinging to a piece of wreckage. It was in my heart to leave him there, to punish his father. but I knew he had been on the boat when the others had been with my wife, so I picked him up and have kept him ever since.
For many years I have prayed that God forgive me, that I have been punished enough, and to give me another chance. You are light skinned, Maria, I am dark. You are young, I am old. There will be problems but I am a good man, and you will need a father for your daughter. Will you be my wife? I will swear by The Blessed Mother that you will never regret it. I have sworn that if I AM given another chance, never again will hard liquor pass my lips, nor will I curse or smoke. But I will be the best husband I can be!"
Maria rose, and took the man's hand. "Such promises," she said, "will be hard for a man to keep ALL the time. If you slip once and a while, I'm sure The Blessed Mother will forgive you, as I will."
The captain opened the door. "James!" he said, "Come in here!"
A smiling young man entered. "Yes, poppa?" he said.
The captain opened a cabinet, took out several liquor bottles and a carton of ciggarettes. "Give these to the crew," he said, "and radio Father Romera. Tell him I want the church for a wedding Sunday!"
The young man looked at Maria. "A wedding, poppa?" he said then a big smile crossed his face. "Whatever you say, poppa!" he said, "But the Father will want to know the bride's name."
"Maria Lomanta," Maria announced, walking over and taking the captain's hand again.
"Soon to be Maria DuChamplain," the captain said, "or does the young DuChamplain object?"
"It will be hard," the young man said, "for the young to think of the fair flower as his mother, but as his father's wife he will show her all the respect and honor she is due!"
The captain put his arm around the younger man and pulled him close. "Could a father," he said, "have a better son?"
The young man smiled and retreated. Maria would be very happy. Her husband would never break his promise, and her daughter would have many brothers and sisters to share the joy of the loving house that sat on the hill overlooking the little harbor.