The Sinking of Serenity
A vicious storm rocks the sailing ship Serenity.
--------- "Gritting his teeth, Simon tried to keep focused on his task, on the oar in his hands and the steady rhythm of Zoe's voice calling out when to pull. He tried to keep his eyes down, focused on the smooth wood, on his hands pale against the ruddy oak, on his knees, the rough wool of his pants wet and clinging, on the layer of water in the bottom of the small craft, which his sister was trying to empty with a bucket, her brow furrowed and her lips pursed as the water kept flooding back in.
He tried to focus on all of that, because if he didn't, he'd be watching the proud hull of Serenity, usually buoyant and graceful, wallow in the brutal waves. He'd be trying to pick out the detail of the captain, clinging to the wheel, struggling to steer the floundering vessel just that little bit further from his crew. He'd be watching as the ship that had become his home and the man that had made him family threw everything they had left into a last, desperate effort to protect their people." ----------