The storm raged throughout the night.
Hour after hour, the Santa Lucia fought against the fury of the Mediterranean.
No one slept.
No one could.
Passengers sat in silence, listening to the relentless assault of wind and waves.
Every creak of the ship sounded like a warning.
Every groan of metal made hearts race.
Captain Lubasi remained awake, seated near a window.
The darkness outside seemed endless.
Yet something had changed within him.
Fernando's song still echoed in his mind.
"It is well with my soul..."
How could a man possess such peace?
The question refused to leave him.
Shortly after four in the morning, the violence of the storm began to lessen.
The waves were still dangerous, but no longer monstrous.
The thunder grew more distant.
The rain softened.
Passengers began noticing the change.
Hope cautiously returned.
Then, through one of the windows, someone shouted.
"Look!"
Several passengers rushed toward the glass.
Far away, beyond the dark sea, a faint line of light appeared.
Dawn.
The first light of morning.
A cheer rose from the lounge.
Some people cried.
Others hugged complete strangers.
For the first time all night, it seemed possible that they might survive.
Moments later, the loudspeaker crackled to life.
Static filled the room.
Then the captain's voice emerged.
This time he sounded exhausted.
But hopeful.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have encouraging news."
The passengers listened carefully.
"We are approximately five kilometers from the Italian coast."
Applause erupted.
Several people thanked God aloud.
Others simply sat down and wept with relief.
Five kilometers.
After everything they had endured, safety was finally within reach.
Captain Lubasi looked toward Fernando.
The old teacher merely smiled.
"As I suspected," he said.
Lubasi raised an eyebrow.
"You suspected?"
Fernando nodded.
"My Captain knows how to bring a ship home."
Before Lubasi could respond, another announcement followed.
The captain's tone became serious.
"However, I must ask everyone to remain cautious. The vessel has sustained significant damage, and we are not yet out of danger."
The celebration quickly faded.
The words hung heavily in the air.
Not out of danger.
Five kilometers suddenly felt very far away.
The sea was calmer, but the ship was wounded.
A wounded ship could still die.
As if to emphasize the point, a loud grinding noise echoed from somewhere below deck.
Passengers exchanged nervous glances.
Another sound followed.
Then another.
The vessel shuddered.
Not from the waves.
From within.
Crew members immediately began running through the corridors.
Captain Lubasi noticed their expressions.
The fear was back.
And this time it seemed worse than before.
A young engineer sprinted past the lounge carrying a toolbox.
Another followed close behind.
Neither stopped.
Neither spoke.
Fernando watched them disappear.
Then he quietly closed his Bible.
For the first time since Lubasi had met him, the old teacher looked concerned.
Not afraid.
Concerned.
Lubasi felt a knot forming in his stomach.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Then, without warning, the steady vibration of the ship disappeared.
The engines had stopped.
The sudden silence was more terrifying than the storm itself.