Darkness swallowed the Santa Lucia.
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
The storm roared outside like a living creature, and without the lights, it felt as though the sea itself had climbed aboard the ship.
Then panic exploded.
People screamed.
Children cried.
Someone shouted for help.
Another passenger began praying loudly in Italian.
The ship lurched violently, throwing several people to the floor.
Captain Lubasi grabbed the back of a chair to steady himself.
The darkness made everything worse.
You could fight what you could see.
But not what you couldn't.
A little girl's voice pierced through the confusion.
"Mama! Mama!"
Then another voice cried out.
"Has anyone seen my son?"
The fear in the woman's voice silenced several passengers.
"My son!" she shouted again. "Where is my son?"
Lubasi felt a chill run through him.
The child had become separated from his mother.
In this darkness, with the ship tossing violently, anything could happen.
Another wave struck.
The vessel groaned.
Somewhere below deck came the sound of metal crashing against metal.
The mother began sobbing.
"My son! Please help me find my son!"
Then, from somewhere in the darkness, a calm voice spoke.
"Everyone, please remain where you are."
It was Fernando.
His voice was steady.
Unhurried.
Almost peaceful.
The contrast was astonishing.
The old teacher slowly stood.
"Fear is spreading faster than the storm," he said.
Another flash of lightning briefly illuminated the lounge through the windows.
For a split second, passengers saw Fernando standing among them with his Bible in one hand.
Then darkness returned.
The old teacher bowed his head.
"May I pray?"
No one objected.
In fact, many seemed relieved that someone was willing to speak.
Fernando began.
"Heavenly Father, You are the Lord of the sea and the wind. The waves obey You. The storms obey You. Even in darkness, You remain our light."
A thunderclap shook the vessel.
Yet Fernando continued.
"Lord, many hearts are troubled tonight. Fear has entered this ship. But You have said, 'Let not your heart be troubled.' Therefore, we place ourselves into Your hands."
The passengers listened.
Even those who claimed not to believe listened.
"Protect every soul aboard this vessel. Give wisdom to the captain and strength to the crew. And remind us that no storm is greater than the God who made the sea."
"Amen," several voices replied.
At that very moment, a small voice emerged from the darkness.
"Mama?"
The crying mother gasped.
"My son!"
Another flash of lightning illuminated the room.
This time everyone saw him.
A frightened little boy standing beside Fernando.
The child had somehow found his way to the old teacher during the confusion.
The mother rushed forward and embraced him tightly.
Tears streamed down her face.
The passengers sighed with relief.
Then something unexpected happened.
Fernando reached into his travel bag.
From the darkness came the sound of a packet rustling.
A moment later, he pulled out a packet of cornflake snacks.
Captain Lubasi stared.
The ship was fighting for survival.
The passengers were terrified.
And Fernando was opening snacks.
The old teacher offered some to the little boy.
Then he took a handful for himself.
Captain Lubasi could hardly believe what he was seeing.
"Fernando!" he shouted over the storm.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Are you seriously eating at a time like this?"
The old teacher smiled.
"Captain, if the ship survives, I shall need my strength."
A few nervous passengers laughed.
"And if it sinks?" Lubasi asked.
Fernando calmly placed a cornflake into his mouth.
"Then I certainly won't need to worry about my diet."
For the first time that night, genuine laughter spread through the lounge.
Even Captain Lubasi found himself smiling.
But before anyone could say another word, a deafening alarm sounded through the ship.
The emergency alarm.
And this time, it did not stop.