Читать книгу The Journey: How an obscure Byzantine Saint became our Santa Claus - David Price Williams - Страница 33

tiles, of no particular value. The sight of them had made the man so angry he began acting like a maniac. He hurled the tiles into the sea and stormed off to the stern of the ship where the captain was manning the steering oars during the difficult passage in what were really contrary and strong winds around the rocky promontory.

He shouted at the captain, telling him he had to turn the ship around there and then and sail back to Patara. A ferocious argument ensued followed by a certain amount of pushing and shoving. Suddenly, the seaman said, the man hurled the captain down onto the deck. He seized the steering oars and yanked them furiously in the opposite direction. As the ship lurched violently in response to this untoward movement, a particularly powerful down-draught struck the vessel beam on and forced it backwards against the Cape. The captain recovered his feet, but it was too late. With a terrifying splintering the stern planking was ripped out by the jagged rocks and the ship sank almost immediately. As the foaming waters surged into the vessel no one would have stood a chance, he estimated. As far as he knew, the ship and the others on board were lost. He had banged his head, sending him semi-conscious and it was hours later that he came to, washed up on the shore. He was so badly injured by the tragedy though that he didn’t survive more than a day or two, the villagers said. They buried him on the outskirts of their little settlement.

DAVID PRICE WILLIAMS