The voyage through the ever turbulent Mediterranean sea had now entered its third day. The unusual grace of the sea still couldn't douse the grave tension and uncertainty lurking in the minds of the fear-stricken passengers. Every dangerous sway of the ferry's rudders was accompanied by thundering wails and deafening roars from the sorely tensed migrants.
Moments later, the ferry sailed rather calmly as its captain, a Libyan local fisherman from Benghazi, geared up for an urgent announcement. Rumours had it he knew the waterways like the back of his palms.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to inform you that we are approaching Italian waterways ..."
The words blurting from his husky voice sent an electrifying effect of hope which greatly rippled across the overpopulated carrier, as the old and young numbering about one hundred, from various African countries, let out songs of joy and victory. There was a clash of dialects. It went on and on, their voices resonating deeply into the evening skies.
Akudo compressed her lips, a gleam of hope flushing her face, as she clung tightly to Chimezie, her little child.
"We're almost there, my darling."
Rocking him gently and with a smile, she whispered to the toddler who seemed to acknowledge her reassuring words with an innocent giggle. In a few hours, they will be united with his father, Emeka, who knows just how to locate them the moment the ferry berths at the closest dock. They had it worked out two weeks before. It was a smart plan which had so far worked out well.
However, minutes after 11 PM, a strong easterly wind rocked the dark sea, building intermittent waves of different magnitudes. The horrid sounds from the raging wind rattled many up from sleep, panic overwhelming the cabin. The waves whacked their violently against the ferry, a few times altering its navigational course. A huge storm was now imminent.
"Everyone, please remain calm. This is only for a while. Remain calm," the captain immediately announced in the ensuing frenzy. His voice faded away into the frenzy, as desperate passengers struggled to hold on to any concrete object onboard, the ferry dangerously rocking from side to side.
A sorely terrified Akudo slowly managed to slither her way through a throng of passengers, who at that point, had turned ruthlessly inhumane towards one another, and like savages, had begun pushing away anyone who inadvertently hindered their chances of survival.
Reaching the iron prop she had noticed earlier on that day, and strapping her son firmly to her chest with a long wrapper, she held one hand tightly to the squeaking rail while supporting her crying baby with the other, interchanging hands as each got weary.
The tears began to build up in her eyes, her sobs exploding to full-blown wails.
Her attention was suddenly drawn to a loud, distress call from a young teenager at the tail end of the vessel. Two occupants of the vessel had slipped off through the right starboard and into the deep sea. They were his brothers, it was too late to save them. A few others struggled to hang on as long as they could to the adjoining rails, everyone forming a chainlike connection with hands just to avoid yet another casualty.
Akudo watched, her eyes flitting about, hoping and praying deep down for an end to it all.
Suddenly, a shrill cry blared from the other end of the ferry. It was the Captain's.
"Everybody! Brace yourselves up for impact!" he yelled, pointing at a wall of tide coming fast ahead. It was massive, big enough to end their lives in one full swoop.
The screams amplified even more, and those who could swim leapt out of the vessel immediately to avoid being hit by the ravaging tide.
Akudo and a host of others, however, remained glued to their compromising positions.
"Steady … steady ..."
The Captain still was in control, urging them to remain in their braced positions while waiting for the huge tide which was less than fifty metres away.
"Brace up for impact!"
His last words were followed by fierce lightning. A deafening thunder followed immediately, and eventually, the fiery impact of the tidal wave which struck with lethal precision. Its tornadic force not only capsized the weak vessel, but also tore it into two halves, dipping all passengers face down into the dark waters.
Beneath the black ocean, a dire struggle for survival ensued. Minutes later, Akudo and a few others who could either swim or wore protective life jackets, resurfaced, all clinging painstakingly to floating parts of the ship's debris, desperately calling and waiting for help.
Still tied firmly to Akudo's chest was her son. She immediately untied and placed him on a floating lid. Eyes shut, the little boy remained still as a statue. His face appeared livid, having drowned within minutes underneath the waters.
Authored by: Uche Ohanks
