The next morning Jesse awakened slowly. He got up without lighting the alcohol stove, left the boat and walked the short distance to the showers that were a welcome amenity at the resort marina. Back on Serenity he traded his robe for the trademark shorts and pull-over shirt - three buttons and a collar - that would serve socially for yachting or tennis, or in this case, breakfast. His slip-on boat shoes gripped well as he quickly hopped around the top deck, tossing his mooring lines onto the wooden dock. He hand-pumped the bulb on the gas line to prime the Mercury outboard, fired the ignition once, and slowly slipped out away from the marina. He would circumnavigate Captiva counterclockwise to meet Cochran for breakfast on Sanibel. The wind was easterly so the sail would do quite nicely. He hoisted the mainsail smoothly and let her fill with air, billowing with a graceful taught curve. Jesse killed the engine. Twenty minutes later he was tacking into the wind as he rounded the northern tip of Captiva Island and navigated Redfish Pass. He waved back to a familiar figure on the beach and looked away toward North Captiva, then scanned for other craft. The coast was clear, so to speak.
Out on the gulf Serenity picked up speed as the wind billowed the mainsail aggressively. Jesse raised the jib and you would have thought the silver trophy was a siren's call, urging the captain toward insanity. Serenity listed all she dared. The waves lapped the gunwales as an incautious skipper alternately skimmed and plied the waves. "Holy Mother of God," said Jesse to no one there.
Today was beautiful with clear blue skies, a warm breeze from off the gulf, and gorgeous tropical landscaping in all directions. How could she even think to doubt her decisions to stay on Sanibel Island and make that decision work for her? She had friends; she had safety; she had food and water. If this was survival, she had chosen wisely. Still, the masses were having it hard and this was not noble. "OK, Old Kinderhook," she said aloud to no-one within hearing range. "If I have chosen a comfortable survival over nobility, so be it."
