Agufia was seated at the front of the garden the following evening with Ike by his side. Both men were having some discussion when a ship docked.
"Who cold that be?", Ike asked his father who stood up to take a proper look at the ship.
"Maybe one of those who roam about on the open seas", Agufia answered.
"You mean pirates?", Ike asked his father.
"Pirate is too strong a word to uszle, let's say adventurers... explorers, those who travel from one place to another on sea to get knowledge, ideas, meet people or get some new rout or at the best...Traders", Agufia coreectped his son who nodded still looking at the ship which was docked and men disembarking from it.
"Looks like they are coming aboard the ship", Ike pointed at the men.
"I'm aware son, just relax. I think they're coming for trade or supply", Agufia responded.
"I don't think so, look at those uniforms...those are soldiers not traders", Ike was getting alarmed.
I stood up from where I was sitting and approach both men.
"I don't think those are traders either, those men are definitely soldiers trying to get supplies for their journey", I chirped in on arrival while taking the lead to the docked ship.
" howdy old man... Top of the noon, what's up with you?", A man who appears to be their laeder called out to me from the deck of the ship.
" I am doing good lad what's up with you and the boys? Out of supplies?", I asked the man who nodded and pointed towards the sea.
"Our journey brought us back from the other side of the earth we are selling to Miami as you can see, but we are low on supplies and the boys want to grab few supplies before we set sail", The man replied coming aboard the ship.
"That's nice, any news from the other side of the Earth?", I queried while the man came closer offering his hand for a shake.
"The name is John and ahhh...yes, there's a big news from the other side of the Earth", The man laughed sarcastically.
"What's the news?", Agufia spoke for the first time.
"Oh... forgive me sir, didn't notice you", John apologized.
"Meet my son and grandson", i introduced both men to John.
"The name is Agufia", Agufia shook hands with John.
"Ike is the name sir...", Ike introduced himself with a thick baritone voice as he shook hands with John.
"That's us my ship and I transport soldiers on medical leave across the ocean", John pointed at his shop.
"That's awesome, I'm also a seaman", Agufia announced.
"No bloody way man...are you kidding me that you're also a seaman?", John asked Agufia with disbelief.
"That's my ship over there", Agufia pointed at his shop at the far side of the dock with few crew aboard while the majority of the crew were away.
"Wooo...that's awesomely cool man, never dreamt of meeting a seaman here", John commended Agufia.
"Anyway, you did. That's the victory, crew's been working on her for weeks now so we can set sail for another dose of adventure", Agufia announced proudly.
"To what part?", John asked Agufia.
"Europe possibly", Agufia answered.
"I'll advise against such now. There's tension there now", John informed Agufia.
"What tension and what's the cause", Agufia inquired curiously.
"The archduke of Austria-Hungary was assignated days before I arrived here. Got the Intel via a source in Europe", John answered Agufia.
"That's unbelievable...who's behind it?", I asked John with curiosity eating deep inside me.
"A Serbian nationalist with ties to the secret military group known as 'black-hand'. Gavrilo Princip is his name. He assignated the archduke alongside his wife", John explained while Agufia exchanged glances with me.
"That means one thing", Ike voiced in suddenly.
"Which is...?", Agufia asked him.
"War", Ike answered.
"Boyish talk", Agufia shook his head.
"War is brewing... seriously", Ike insisted.
"The boy is right, taking into consideration the political tension that was already on, the Ottoman empire ambition, France and Britain's imterest and then Germany's stand in it all. It's just a little string that is holding the people of Europe and middle East, any slight pressure; that string is broken and there'll be an all out war", John buttressed Ike's opinion.
"You know the political influence o the Austria-Hungary over Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbians don't want to remain the way they are. They are looking for every available reasons to break out", Ike contributed further.
"But you know that the almighty Russia backs Serbia, so Austria-Hungary won't declare war on Serbia unless Germany pledges it support for Austria-Hungary. The Bulkan region of the south East Europe is the bone of contention causing the tension. Bosnia, Serbia and Herzegovina are the ones propagating the tension most", John explained further as he tapped Ike on the shoulder.
"And if Britain and France should go to war against Germany, there's high probability that the U.S will also go to war", Agufia intoned.
"No doubt about that, we all know how the allies are", Ike cuts in.
"We better hope it does not get to what we fear most...an all out war", John concluded as he faced his now ready ship waiting for him to board it for sail.
"I also do hope so", I contributed as I watched John taking a respectful bow.
"It was nice meeting and discussing with you gentlemen, I hope to see you all again... sometimes in the future", John hard us farewell as he return back to the ship.
"We watched John board the starline, for that was his ship's name and soon they set sail from the dock.
"Such a jolly good and nice fellow, wonder how long he had been at sea away from home and how many adventures he had encountered", Agufia spoke out as we turned away from the dock toward our home.
"Does all seamen stay away from home that long?", Ike asked Agufia.
"Yes, considering all factors involved unless it's only seamen who ply home to a nearby place...let's say, within the Caribbean for instance, such seaman don't go beyond the Caribbean. There are those who cross the Atlantic ocean to the other part of the world like John. They hardly spend much time at home...since majority of their adult life is spent on the high seas", Agufia answered Ike.
"So, which category do you fall under?", Ike queried his father Agufia.
"I fall under the category of seamen who spend years on sea, we seal to the far side of the earth. For adventure, transportation, and above all... expedition", Agufia replied proudly.
"Expedition you say? What type of expedition?", I asked Agufia with a raised eye brow.
"Military expedition" Agufia answered.
"But you aren't a military man", Ike cut in.
"Yes, but there are times we are hired by the military to convey it's men for such expedition. Remember you work for a ship company, and each ship are registered with an operational license. The victory was originally designed for military warfare but was later converted to a Frontline supply vessel. I applied as a seaman in training, trained for years under the merchant Navy before I was certified a qualified seaman. My sea fairing started when I passed out and was assigned as one of the crew members on the starline 2", Agufia explained proudly. I nodded at him with a smile as we settled down taking a seat each while Catherine brought us wine and fruits with some bread while we continued our discussion.
"You boys should be patient for lunch will soon be ready", Catherine announced happily as she moved over to Agufia with a smile and parted his shoulder.
"Don't we also deserve patting?", I asked Catherine pointing at Ike and myself.
"No, patting isn't for conspirators", Catherine replies as she laughed and return back into the house to continue with what she was doing.
"Someone finally snatched my wife from me", I groaned under my breath which made Agufia and Ike burst into a fit of laughter.
"As you were saying dad...?", Ike turned towards Agufia.
"I began work aboard the starline 2 as a crew, worked my ass out and after some years began progressing in rank. One day, we were given supplies to deliver and on our way we were attacked by pirates. The goddamn old captain of our ship died due to gun shot while we tried resisting them. Everyone aboard began to panic and loosing nuts, even my senior colleagues. I had to summon courage and take charge. Took command of the ship and fought our way through, made the delivery and returned back to base after 2 years on the sea, it was a challenging period for me...one filled with nightmare and death threats, but I was also fun. 6 years later, I was transferred aboard the victory as the third man in charge and you know what that means. Worked only a year and was transferred to the Maiden to resume as third lad I'm charge, worked my ass out for solid 4 years before I was called to come for my captainship exam and drills which I passed with no difficulties as a result of experience. That was when I was transferred back to the victory to captain her, although they wanted to jeopardize it die to my colour. Our primary jobs involves special military services such as logistics and welfaring", I saw Ike grinning ear to ear as Agufia took a pause.
"I've captained the victory for a year now and she has proven herself to be the best ship I've been on", Agufia concluded.
"That's awesome son, atleast you have your own take of adventures now", I gave him a thumb up.
"Pops, both you and grandpa already have tales to share, maybe one day, I'll also go on an adventure so I'll also have a tale to share", Ike grinned while we all laughed.