Slave Of Destiny

by Derek Easterbrook

“Ah, no one Mum, no one, except the girl of my dreams” he admitted.

  “Well you’re back with us now and it’s for real, son” she whispered, kissing him again on his forehead.

  Chapter 19

  The next few years seemed to fly past Michael, as if Father Time was trying to encourage him to go somewhere quickly. He had matured after his bout of Ross River Fever and his immanent coma, much to the relief of his parents. At school Michael had excelled at history and geography, while at the same time he had excellent results in all his other subjects, but he finished the summer recuperating and began an electrical apprenticeship. Over the next four years Michael had a few girlfriends and one that he was especially keen on, but he never ever forgot the girl of his dreams; a brown-skinned, almond-eyed princess.

  It was a Saturday and Michael had just finished an overtime stint at work. He decided to go past the Marina on the way home, because they occasionally advertised used boats for sale on their notice board. As Michael stopped his blue Ford Cortina, he glanced over the array of sailing and power boats. The serene setting of boats bobbing on the water stirred up his emotions and he wished, one day, to own his own sailing boat. Bertram fly-bridge cruisers, Farr sailing sloops, Mottle sloops, Roberts’ sloops and many other brands of vessels adorned the marina. Michael sighed and strolled over to the notice board, mounted on the side of the chandlery.

  “Wow, a boat for sale” he mumbled to himself; trying not to be too eager.

  Tailor Maid could be a great cruising boat and Duncanson yachts are renowned for their strength and heavy weather capabilities. Built in 1967, this 35’ boat is to be sold ‘as is’ and some safety gear is included. It sleeps 6, carries 100 litres fuel and 230 litres water. The boat’s sea kindly performance makes sailing in all but the worst conditions very comfortable. Urgent sale $7,000. Please contact the chandlery for further details.

  It sounded too good to be true, but Michael wandered into the chandlery anyway.

  “What can do for you, young fellow?” grumbled the bearded man sitting behind the counter.

  “I see that you have a boat for sale” he enquired.

  “The Duncanson? Yea it’s for sale, but it’s in a sorry state. You interested in buying it?” he asked, perking up.

  “I wouldn’t mind taking a look…” Michael replied.

  “My name’s Arthur Morgan” he said, reaching out with his hand.

  “Michael Hart” He said as he shook it. “Do you have a photo of it?”

  “I can do better than that, because I can show you it if you like?” he suggested.

  “That would be great thanks, Arthur” he said.

  “I’m going to lock up the shop, so if you wait outside I’ll meet you out there soon” he said, ushering him outside.

  While Michael stood there with his back to the door, he looked over the large anchor adorning the front garden, then at the Australian flag fluttering at the top of the pole.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting, Michael” Arthur said few minutes later.

  Michael turned around and his jaw nearly hit the ground when he saw Arthur pushing himself in a wheelchair and his legs ending in stumps.

  “I didn’t realize before you were sitting in a wheelchair” he admitted.

  “Yea I do seem to have that effect on people who see me for the first time. Walk beside me and I tell you a short story of my life” he suggested.

  The two of them wandered around the back of the shop and the then down to a gate in the middle of a wire fence, before going through it.

  “I began building the Duncanson here in my spare time in April 1967. My wife and I ran the business together and we had dreams of cruising the world when Tailor Maid was completed. Cassie became pregnant in the summer of ’69 and our baby, Jessie, was born in August the following year…..” he said quietly as he remembered the event.

  “Where are they now” Michael enquired politely.

  “They’re both gone. In February 1972 a drunk driver slammed into the car we were driving and killed both of them. I survived the accident, but my legs were crushed and they had to be amputated” he sighed.

  “I’m sorry for your loss” Michael offered politely.

  “Yea, thanks. Anyway, what I’m trying to tell you, I haven’t worked on her since the accident” he said completing his tale.

  The boat was on the hard-stand; roughly propped up with planks of hardwood. The paint on the hull was peeling and the boat’s name was unrecognizable.

  “There’s a ladder underneath” he mentioned.

  “Is it safe?” he asked, referring to the ladder and the props.

  “Of course it is. She won’t move” he stressed, hoping Michael wouldn’t back out.

  Michael grabbed the ladder and struggled to maneuver it in place, before he climbed up.

  “It’s not locked” he yelled out.

  Michael ignored the peeling paint, the mud hornet’s nests, the bird droppings and the dirt and he tried to figure out the yacht’s positive features. The Aluminum mast and boom looked serviceable, while the coach house and cockpit appeared roomy, so he went below deck. The companionway was wide and he began to think this yacht was great until he opened the hatch and peered below. Power tools, electrical cables, ropes, timber, cobwebs and other rubbish was strewn everywhere and the fitting out was only half completed.

  “There’s a diesel motor in there” he called out.

  Sure enough there a rusty looking diesel motor behind the access panels. Michael had seen enough, so he crawled out from the access panel and back up the companionway. He climbed back down the ladder and circled the yacht. The rudder was in place, as was the propeller shaft and prop.

  “Does the motor run?” he asked, because he knew Arthur was following him.

  “It was new when it was fitted” he mentioned, before admitting sadly, “No it’s never been started.”

  Michael stood back and looked over the smooth, harmonious shape of the yacht.

  “It needs a lot of work!” he stated.

  “I’m willing to listen to any offer” he mentioned.

  “I’ll have to think about it over the weekend” Michael said, shaking his head slightly

  “I’ll be honest with you, Michael. I’ve been offered a large amount of money for this block of land here; one that I can’t refuse. The new owners want the Duncanson gone within a month, so they can start developing the site. You can keep all the tools on board and I’ll get the diesel and the cooling system overhauled and working. The sails are stored inside the chandlery and I can arrange for someone to help you change the rigging” he added, trying to sweeten the deal.

  “I’ll be honest with you as well; I’m very interested in buying the yacht, but I’ll let you know on Monday afternoon. If you can hold it for me, I’ll give you my answer then” Michael said firmly.

  “I’ll do that for you” he said happily. “Can you remove the ladder and lay it down again where you found it?”

  “No trouble” he said and followed Arthur’s instructions.

  Michael walked back to the chandlery with Arthur and said “I’ll be around Monday afternoon.”

  “Ok, lad, I’ll be here waiting for your answer.” he said, before adding. “I really would like her to go to someone who would appreciate a classic sloop.”

  “I’ll think about it; see you then” Michael said, before he walked over to his car and drove away.

  Michael wasn’t a stranger to sailing; in fact he had sailed, many times, on his best friend’s yacht for the past six years. His friend had a shoal-draft 20’ Hood trailer-sailor and they had spent many weekends sailing, exploring and diving on the reef. Michael really needed his advice on this, because he looked upon him as an honest friend and an expert with all things about sailing. His friend, Geoff, was fourteen years older than he was and Geoff was married to Michael’s cousin, but he was still his best friend.

  On Sunday morning Michael talked to Geoff about the Duncanson and he advised him to separate th
e good and the bad points, the cost of buying the yacht and the short time he had to make it sea-worthy. Geoff offered to inspect the yacht with him on Monday afternoon, before Michael handed over his hard-earned cash. Geoff lived at Balgal Beach while Michael lived a few miles away on acreage property, but they both worked in town. Geoff agreed to meet him at the marina at four-thirty Monday afternoon and, because Michael normally finished work around three-thirty, he would have an extra thirty minutes to pick up the cash from the bank.

  * * *

  Michael only had twenty thousand dollars in his bank account, which he had saved to buy a block of land. He with-drew seven thousand dollars on Monday afternoon, but decided to try and bargain about the price when he met with Arthur. If he could buy it for six or even five thousand dollars, he could use the extra cash for the renovations.

  “I would offer him six” advised Geoff as they sat in the cockpit. “It’s probably worth at least eight thousand dollars.”

  “How long do you think it would take to complete the fit out?” Michael asked.

  “See if you can take some holidays and just do the basics. You can leave the sink, the oven and the cooker until later. A bucket will do for a sink and you can cook on a portable gas unit. The important areas to finish are the v-birth, side bunks and the storage lockers. Don’t forget you still have to replace the rigging, service the motor, fix the life-lines, paint the entire yacht and paint anti-fowling on the keel and hull” he said thoughtfully.

  “How much will all that cost?” Michael asked.

  “It could cost a few thousand dollars” he suggested.

  “I’m willing to bargain with you” shouted Arthur from below.

  Arthur must have pushed himself over and been listening to our conversation.

  “We’ll be down in a minute, Arthur” Michael called out.

  The two mates climbed down, before Michael suggested “There’s a lot to be done.”

  “I didn’t say it was going to be easy, young fella” he gaffed. “Do you want it?”

  “Would you take six for it?” Michael asked hopefully.

  “I said I’m willing to bargain with you. Yea I’ll take six for her!” he said.

  Michael counted out the cash and passed the wad of notes to Arthur

  “Can you service the motor for me?” Michael asked.

  “I’ll get someone out in the next few days” he mentioned. “Here’s a key for the gate, but you’ll have to get your own lock for the companionway hatch.”

  Geoff and Michael watched Arthur wheel himself over to his apartment at the side of the chandlery, before the two of them walked over to their cars.

  “Well, you’ve got yourself a boat. Now the fun begins. See you later, Michael.” Geoff said, before jumping in his Ford and diving away.

  I bought myself a yacht. He liked the sound of that!

  Chapter 20

  Michael had to work this week before he was allowed to take two weeks’ holidays, but he managed to spend a few hours every afternoon cleaning out the rubbish and starting the fit out. Saturday was a big day and Michael managed to help Bill Bradshaw re-rig the yacht and replace the life-lines. Michael left the marina and the yacht early that afternoon, intent on having a quick, refreshing swim at the creek near his parent’s house. Michael had just stopped in his car park and turned off the motor, when he heard a voice call out.

  “Hi there stranger, I haven’t seen you for a long time.”

  He turned around and was surprised who the voice belonged to. Sharon had on a short skirt and a singlet top on which showed her breasts very nicely.

  “Hi” he said. “What brings you up here?”

  “I was just passing by and I decided to drop in” she replied, flashing him her sweet smile.

  “I was just about to go down to the creek for a swim. Do you want to come down with me?” Michael asked, removing his towel and climbing out of the car.

  “I’d love to go with you, but just let me get a towel” she said.

  Michael watched Sharon’s shapely form walk over to her car, remove a bag and quickly walk back to where he was standing. Michael’s parents lived on twenty acres of land, which backed onto a secluded part of the Rollingstone creek. They walked together along the track, but he was unsure what Sharon’s real intentions were. The reflection of the mountain and the trees in the water’s surface was fantastic and the fresh water was so clear. The sun was still very high as it was only about 3 in the afternoon, so they found a nice clearing by the water’s edge to leave their clothes. Michael stripped down to his board shorts and he was walking around in the shallows to test the temperature of the water, when he heard a squeal. He turned around quickly and witnessed Sharon running into the water in just her white panties. As she hit the water she continued running and dived in, completely submerging herself. Michael watched as she swam over to where Michael was standing and stood up in the shallows, breathing deeply as the water was colder than she expected. Her nipples were sticking out and Michael could just make out the small darker triangle of hair through her panties, which had gone almost see through.

  “Are you coming in for a swim?” She said with her hands of her hips and her long blond hair cascading over her shoulders.

  He couldn’t refuse her invitation, so he jumped into the water, splashing her. They came together for a kiss and she clung onto him shivering. Michael could feel her nipples poking into his chest. He could also feel his manhood coming to life as she gently rubbed her crutch against him.

  “Feeling ok” she said with an odd grin knowing the effect she was having on him. Sharon continued grinding her hips in a circular motion as she felt his erection grow. Michael knew she was enjoying it too as the look on her face was starting to change and she was breathing differently. Suddenly she started to move her hands down his body, grabbed the top of his shorts and pulled them down. She pushed Michael over backwards to expose his shorts, which were down by his ankles. Sharon was pointing and laughing at his erection as she walked back out of the water. Once Michael had righted himself, he pulled up his shorts and left the water to find Sharon sitting on a log still laughing while she pulled on her top.

  “That was so funny” she said to him. “That's not what you were expected, was it?” Michael could not help but laugh along with her.

  “No it wasn't” he replied.

  Michael looked round to see if anyone was around. He then looked over as Sharon slowly pulled up her shirt while looking him in the eye still grinning. Once she had pulled it up then she slowly tugged her wet panties down, pushed them to the ground before stepping out and bending over to pick them up. Then she stepped into her skirt, tugged it up and then buttoned it in place

  “Still feeling horny are you?” she giggled.

  She came over to Michael; her breasts and nipples clearly visible through her top which was now damp because she had put in on while she was wet. It was clinging to her skin in just the right places. She took Michael’s hand, grabbed her bag, turned and started heading back towards his house. When the two of them arrived she grabbed him and gave him a big kiss.

  “Let's go inside and you can get me a drink” she said.

  Michael lived in the shed, which was actually the place his family lived in while the main house was being built. It had one main bedroom now, a lounge and dining area and a bathroom.

  He turned the ceiling fan on and prepared the drinks while Sharon sat on the old couch.

  “This breeze is making my nipples stand out even more." She whispered as she motioned with her head down at her breasts.

  She then started to rub her herself under her skirt while looking at him straight in the eye. Sharon was laughing at the erection that was tenting his shorts, before she started tug his shorts down to his ankles. Suddenly she stood up and kissed him passionately. She lifted her skirt so his throbbing cock could push gently on her clitoris. She closed her eyes and then started grinding her hips gently on it. Michael could feel her heat seeping out of her.
Luckily the curtains were drawn, because he knew his parents were home. Thank god she soon stopped her grinding and opened her eyes. She looked at him and Michael saw that her face was so flushed from being turned by what she was doing. She gently stepped back a small pace ever so slowly letting his cock spring out from between her legs. She squatted down, kissed his penis and removed his shorts from around his ankles. Then she pulled her top off and dropped it down next to his shorts. She stood up and they kissed some more before Sharon pulled his t-shirt up and over his head so he was naked. Michael knelt down and undone her skirt and he could see all her wetness on the inside of her legs. He eased her legs apart a bit more and gently used his tongue to probe at the entrance to her love tunnel. He licked along her lips before switching his attention to clit where he gently nibbled it. Her hips were moving forward and back a little bit as he did so and soon she climaxed. Michael knew she wanted more, because soon enough she pushed him away, encouraged him to stand up and took his hand. They walked into his bedroom together where they made love.

  The two of them were just lying there when he heard her start to giggle gently and he turned his head and looked at her. She was looking back at him giggling, soon they were both laughing. The two of them lay there for about half an hour before Sharon said she had to be going home. She kissed Michael passionately, before she put on her skirt and top while he got dressed. She still had very hard nipples and kept rubbing them to keep them pointing nicely.

  “I really have to go” she whispered. “Walk out with me.”

  Michael walked out to her car with her where they kissed again.

  “See you around, Michael” she said, not wanting to commit to a relationship.

  “Yeah, see you around” he whispered as she hopped in her car and drove away.

  The afternoon of sex had been wonderful, if not unexpected, but it made him wish he had a full-time girlfriend. Michael had already decided to quit his job once the yacht was completed and begin his search for his brown-skinned princess.