Fill-In-The-Blank Game!

[Sam91]

Meanwhile aboard the ship things were, um let's just say settled.

Breakfast had been and gone, nearly digested in the crew members' tummies. Morning prayers. Worship. The boat went up on the waves. Then it went down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Up and down <~~~ (A different rhythm in the waves. Yay). Up. Down. There was rarely anything new. It was rather like the inside of the Q continuum without the dubious duo.

The other crew members didn't mind. They rather enjoyed the peace.

 

[DavidFirth]

The captain kept waiting for either @Doctor.Sphinx or @Sam91 to put on the yarmulke-of-returning-to-the-ship but was considering sending out a search party when...

 

[Sam91]

He visited his poopdeck. For some strange reason it helped him think

 

[Sam91]

The noble Captain @DavidFirth had a good mind to court marshall the precocious pair for being absent-without-leave. He knew @LaSorcia would be up for some swift justice. He wasn't too sure about the more merciful @joyshirley, @sunshineforJesus and @*LILAC . @Dirk1540 and @CtC had their own projects to deal with. @GreenWizard would be for it, whatever he was up too. He did hope they hadn't left him in Sudan.

He thought about the overly cryptic farewell note in his log. 'Gone to Narnia?.... whatever could that mean. Narnia? What could Narnia mean?'...

 

[Sam91]

@sunshineforJesus heard the captain's strange mutterings. She knocked on the poopdeck's ajar door.

'One moment' replied the noble Captain @DavidFirth before meeting her on deck.

'Captain, I was just thinking that maybe they really are in Narnia. Maybe we should go and look for an old fashioned wardrobe.' Said the innocent-and-willing-to-think-outside-of-the-box Sunshine.

The noble captain wanted so badly to laugh out loud at the absurd and inane suggestion, but this kind of foolhardiness reminded him of his absent friends. Also, he was too kind to do that.

Instead, he replied as soberly as he could muster. 'I don't think that is likely but go scour the ship for antique wardrobes. If you find Narnia in one the I will eat my hat!'...

 

[joyshirley]

"I'm sure I've heard that word, Narnia, before," David mused. "But in what capacity? A place, a name, or was it a condition? Was it in relation to unsightly marks on the scales of fish that I heard the lads talking about the other day? Or..."

At that moment, his ruminations, which were actually leading nowhere constructive, came to an abrupt halt.

"Captain! The storm warning system is on red alert!" Lost jumped up and down in agitated fashion, pointing at the extremely blue sky.

The others glanced at the sky and closed their eyes as the warm sunshine beat down on them.

"Reading it the wrong way, are ya, Lost?" Spikey said.

"No, I am not!" Lost countered. "Come and see for yourself."

"Nah, man, it's cool. Not a cloud in the sky..." as a tiny breeze began to drift over the crew.

joyshirley glanced at David, who was sniffing the air like a very hungry dog. With an imperceptible nod at js, the pair set to work, clearing the decks of all the clutter accumulated on the journey. Books and journals, Bibles and candles, cups and glasses. The others watched them with faint grins on their faces, all except LaSorcia, who rose indolently and crooked her finger at the girls.

"Up off those deck chairs, girls, and down below decks with them now."

"What a fuss," sunshine muttered. The sun always shines where I am! After all, it's my name!" as she dragged her deck chair below with a clatter.

"Better to be safe and the Captain is an old hand on the high seas. If he thinks a storm is really on the way..."

Lilac's voice was drowned out by a shrieking, howling wind which sprang up out of nowhere, almost toppling the Captain.

"Get down below!" he yelled at the crew, who turned and scuttled crab-like against the lashing wind that now enveloped the stalwart little ship.

CTC was at the helm and turned to David with a white face. "The engine has cut out. In fact, nothing at all is working. Everything is as dead as a door nail!"

Dirk whipped out his phone. "No go with my phone, either!"

It seems we are totally at the mercy of the elements!" David informed everyone. "We must pray for the Lord to keep us safe through this storm."

The crew gathered round and David led them in a prayer for safety for all, including their little ship.

By now, they could hear huge waves crashing on deck and slapping against the cabin doors. The little ship was rolling back and forth and they could hear her timbers creaking as she struggled to stay upright.

"Look out here!" Lilac said. She had stepped over to look out the cabin window. A very strange sight met their eyes. They were completely surrounded by dark clouds sending rain and hail directly onto their ship. Lightning zigzagged down and thunder sent great shudders through them.

"But there is blue sky over there!" js exclaimed in surprise.

"And over here!" Dirk echoed, looking out the window on the other side of the cabin.

"Looks like we are in the centre of a storm which is affecting us and only us. What can it mean?"

"Can't see the coastline any more," Lost said. "We were hugging it on our way to China, but no - it's gone now."

"What if we drift far out into the ocean and get lost? Nothing is working now!"

js heard the slight panic in sunshine's voice. "It's ok. Some of us can navigate by the stars. And the Lord will watch over us, sunshine."

"I don't believe it!" Spikey said in his best Victor Meldrew voice. "The storm has stopped!"

David opened the cabin door. "Eerghh!!" as sea water from the last wave to wash the poop deck clean spilled onto him. Stepping up on deck, it was if the storm had never happened. Sunshine reigned supreme again in cloudless blue skies.

"Land ho!!!" he yelled as the crew rushed back up onto the deck. David had always wanted to yell that in impressive fashion. Deciding it didn't have quite the right ring, he sang out again. "Land ho!!"

The others looked round, marvelling at the sudden change from storm to sunshine. It was almost as if it had been just a bad dream, if it were not for the sea water still sloshing at their feet from the raging waves moments earlier.

"David!! Look!" Lilac was pointing to the sea on the other side of the ship. A beautiful boat, built almost in Viking fashion, lay alongside the Sea Forth III. Small and ornately decorated and carved, it carried a man dressed like a king. As David greeted him, the stranger rose and prepared to come on board.

"Captain - I do believe that island may be the island we were talking about the other day!" CTC whispered urgently to David.

The chief, if such he was and he certainly looked like one in his gorgeous cloak and magnificent head dress, came aboard and greeted David. He spoke a strange mixture of English, Polynesian and some other unknown language.

"The influence of those very rare visits from the few to happen upon their island," CTC whispered, staring in fascination at the chief.

David turned to the others. "We have been invited to visit their island. If I understood him correctly, it is no accident that we are here. Their gods decide who can approach this island, apparently. We have been chosen. This is our chance to bring the good news to these people!" David said, with a hopeful gleam in his eye.

js looked at the warriors, for such they definitely seemed to be, who sat in the Viking boat, awaiting their chief. The scene was serene, the atmosphere genial, but js felt they would need to be on their guard. As they disembarked into the second Viking type boat which had arrived to convey them to the shore, David whispered to the others that he thought the chief had welcomed them in this, the year 1769. "I must have mis-heard him, though."

 

[joyshirley]

The ride to the shore was a fairly short one, but long enough for the crew to talk things over quietly.

"I just don't understand this," Spikey said quietly. "One minute we're sunbathing, next thing that mad storm hits us and now..." gesturing at the bluest sky they had ever seen with visible rays of sunlight streaming onto the sparkling water.

"And how can it be 1769?" Lost whispered.

"Yeah, my watch has stopped, but it still says 2018 right there," js agreed.

"Hey, maybe we've gone back in time," Lilac said in an undertone. "In Back to the Future, lightning strikes and..."

"Yeah, but that was just to effect the time travel," CTC said.

"Yes, true. Oh well, it was just a thought. It's weird, though, isn't it?"

"Have you seen the swords the guards are carrying?" LaSorcia was clearly enamoured with the beauty of the carvings and decorations on the swords.

"Listen everyone, these people seem friendly, but you must all be ready for anything," David cautioned.

The shore drew near and looked awe-inspiring. Peppered with rocky outcrops, there was only a small area on which to draw the boats up. Great cliffs towered around the tiny bay, with densely forested mountains beyond. Stepping out and helping to drag their boat up the beach, sunshine took a few steps further along the sandy shore and cried out in surprise.

"Look at this!"

The others crowded around, goggling at the tiny diamonds strewn in the sand. Now that they were looking properly, they saw hundreds, if not thousands of them everywhere. Dirk bent down and picked one up. Instantly, it shrivelled in his hand, turning to grains of sand. Some of the others picked one up too and the same thing happened.

The chief alighted and stood watching the crew. His guards surrounded him and he coughed politely.

"Oh - I'm sorry," David said. "Just never seen anything like this before!"

Ignoring David's reference to the diamonds, the chief bowed low and introduced himself.

"My name is Tom and..."

Most of the crew didn't hear the rest of the sentence as they were so surprised that this regal person bore the simple name of Tom. It just didn't fit, as none of this scenario fitted into their ordered conception of things. David introduced the crew and himself and thanked Tom for his kind invitation.

"Come - we will take you to my home and there we will share stories." Tom turned and headed towards the cliff. Stone steps were cut into it and led up and into the forest.

"So glad I did that fitness training with you, LaSorcia," David laughed as the others nodded in agreement.

js glanced back and saw their ship bobbing on the water. It felt like the last link with their lives as they knew them. "I'm getting fanciful. Keep your eyes open and your mind alert," she said to herself.

Entering the forest was an experience worthy of reams being written. It reminded js of Fiordland in New Zealand. Great ancient trees, dripping with moss, intertwined with smaller trees and plants so dense that very little sunlight penetrated. The crew were silent as they gazed around them, taking in the intense beauty of their surroundings. A united gasp rang out when they came to a little clearing and saw spread out below them, a fiord with cliffs almost sheer in their rocky savagery, only a few hardy plants clinging to their sides. Far below, they could hear the roar of a waterfall as it raced to join the deep waters of the lake.

"Wish my phone was working," Dirk said. "What a choice photo this would be!"

Tom turned and said, "This place is called Tom's Folly. Our way lies along the top here."

Leaving the crew to ponder this unexpected name, Tom led them on through the forest.

 

[Sam91]

While the rest of the crew marvelled at their rather interesting turn of events; Dr S had almost finished his lunch.

Sam91 sat rather contentedly next to the log burner and although Dr S had rather wierd tastes in sandwich filler, the fare was none-the-less satisfying.

She was startled by his sudden movement. He stood up, took out the staser (it seemed that he had remodified it to now be pocket sized) and yelled 'Heretic!'

Sam91 was truly terrified. He jumped forward, she winced and he cleared the bench. The blast from the staser was blinding. When she regained her eyesight she saw eight philistines flat out cold.

'You're right Dr S. They are Philistines and not Calormenes! But still, was that use of the staser ethical? Surely combat is more honorable?'

Instead of answering he took a rope out of his manbag and began securing the Philistines before they awoke.

 

[DavidFirth]

'Do you Vikings, by chance, have any ribs?'

 

[DavidFirth]

'Ribs are good for the heart. The more you eat them, the more you... er... nevermind that.'

 

[Sam91]

'Ribs are good for the heart. The more you eat them, the more you... er... nevermind that.'

@LaSorcia gave the noble Captain a long look and said 'I think you'll find that rhyme is about beans'

@sunshineforJesus passed @joyshirley something surrepticiously during the Captain's distraction.

 

[joyshirley]

js looked at the leaf sunshine was holding out to her.

"I pulled this off a branch just now. No reason, really - just as you do, then scrunched it up. Look - it won't scrunch up."

js took the leaf and tried to scrunch it up herself, to no avail. Trying to shred the leaf had no effect, either. There it sat, perfect and whole in her hand.

"Hm - that's pretty unusual, sunshine. Best leave the trees alone, I guess."

Catching up with the others, they heard rumblings from the front in the nature of "Where's me ribs? I thought I asked someone to pack some food. I'm starving!"

Tom heard David and smiled, revealing perfectly formed white teeth.

"What would you say if I told you we are all vegetarians here? Very few animals around and they are never to be touched. And certainly not for food. Plenty of nourishment here in the forest. Berries right there - help yourself!"

David glanced at the purple berries, barely concealing his distaste. "Ok, berries were all right," he thought, "but strictly on ice cream for dessert. After lots of ribs!!"

As usual, good ol' Lost came up with the goods. Passing a backpack to the Captain, he said, "Dig in, mon Capitaine!" If anyone knew about David's penchant for ribs, it was Lost. After all, how many times had he slaved over the bbq cooking ribs on board the Sea Forth III?

"Make 'em last, Captain. Who knows how long we will be here. Could be having to eat the ol' lettuce leaves before long."

David grimaced and chomped on in time with their walk through the forest.

 

[joyshirley]

David and his crew began to lose all sense of time as they wandered on through the glorious forest. It was as if time had stopped. The giants towering over them cast deep shadows, making them feel small and insignificant.

"These trees look so old," CTC said.

"Yes, they are probably about 1000 years old," Tom replied.

"Wow! That would be - how many generations of my family?" CTC tried counting back through his family tree and gave up.

"We go back to the canoe," js told CTC. But I haven't memorised all the names, I'm afraid!"

"Canoe? What does that mean?" sunshine asked curiously.

"Well, some of my ancestors are Polynesians who arrived in New Zealand via canoe from a place called Hawaiki. No one has ever really pinned down where Hawaiki actually was."

Tom stopped for a moment and turned to speak.

"We met some of your ancestors. They arrived here and stayed with us for a while. We learned of their customs and some of their language. Then one day, they decided to take their leave. The last we heard of them was their farewell "E noho ra!" drifting across the waves."

js was astounded and wanted to ask so many questions, but Tom had already turned back and was moving onward.

The others fell silent, thinking about Tom's startling revelation. Their scant knowledge of NZ history told them the canoes made their way to Aotearoa/NZ hundreds of years earlier. So how could Tom be speaking the truth in saying he had met them? Questions crowded into their minds, creating slight trepidation. What is this place? Where are we going? And who exactly is this man, Tom?

LaSorcia looked at Spikey with eyebrow raised.

"What do you make of all this?"

"No idea!" Spikey said nonchalantly. "It's a bit of an adventure, though, isn't it? Right now, I'm with the Captain. Hungry as a hunter!"

Moments later, the intrepid crew stepped from the forest into a huge clearing. Forested mountains ringed them on all sides, but here the ground was level and carpeted with fresh green grass. Gardens were laid out, filled with all manner of vegetables and homes were dotted about.

"Wow! I thought I loved Hobbiton, but this is incredible!" Lilac breathed.

js agreed as she took in the homes built with stone. Not lifeless-looking stone such as one would see in countless villages the world over, but a deep grey which sparkled in the sun, reflecting a myriad of colours as sunlight fell directly on them. They moved forward, several men coming out to greet them, accompanied by wives and childen.

"They look friendly," David whispered. "Remember why we are here."

"But we don't even know how we got here," Dirk muttered, before smiling at the men approaching to shake his hand.

Introductions over, Tom's wife stepped forward to lead them into a lovely little hall. Long tables were set out with huge platters and bowls of food.

"Please join us in a meal," Tom said, indicating the soft chairs.

Grace said, the crew settled in for an evening of food, song and much discussion with their hosts.

 

[DavidFirth]

Pulling Ctc aside, the captain whispered to him, 'If ya blows up me ship again, yer gonna be on KP and pooper scooper duty untils ya retire. Be warned. Now back for the merriment and mirth with ya, already.'

 

[Sam91]

If sam91 was present she would have smirked overhearing that.

However, she is stood in Narnia waiting to hear the good doc's defence about the unethical use of the staser instead of more honourable methods like hand to hand combat, or use of swords.

 

[DavidFirth]

'Wonder if Sam and the Doc are swiping me some ribs wherever they are?'

 

[joyshirley]

It was 9 pm or thereabouts, judging by the position of the moon shining through the windows of the hall. Everyone had eaten a very good meal and as they relaxed, questions rushed back into their minds.

Tom smiled as if he knew what they were thinking, gestured to several couches and armchairs placed invitingly round an open fire, and said, most unexpectedly, "Fire away!"

The crew glanced at each other, then looked to David to speak. Never a man to beat about the bush, David said, "Right! Where are we?"

"This place is called The Great Forest. It has been our home for a long time."

David began to speak then, describing the storm and their subsequent arrival near the island. CTC leaned forward with interest when Tom mentioned that it was a storm that heralded the arrival of the Polynesians too.

js watched the other members of the little community clearing the tables and tidying up. There were twelve men in all, including Tom, each of whom had a wife. Several had children too, though not all. js had counted up seven children, ranging in age from three to about twelve years old. Looking at Tom consideringly, it was hard to gauge his age. js thought he might be in his mid-thirties, and the other menfolk much the same or younger.

CTC spoke up at this point.

"To our knowledge, the Polynesians discovered New Zealand hundreds of years ago. So how...?

Tom shrugged and replied that their Lord was instrumental in that. As he said no more, the crew perforce had to accept that answer for the moment, though it was not a satisfactory answer for most of them.

LaSorcia ahemed a little to bring Tom's gaze round to her.

"Tell me, Tom, you appear to have a beautiful settlement here, a peaceful little community. Why the need for all the weapons I see you and your menfolk carrying?"

"Like you, we tend to prepare ourselves. I believe the current phrase is to 'be ready for anything'?" with a grin at David.

"Okay okay," David said, lifting his hands in surrender with a laugh. "That's true. But I am responsible for the safety of my crew."

"As am I," Tom replied.

Lost was trying hard not to interrupt, to be courteous and wait before speaking, but finally it burst out of him.

"Tom, you welcomed us in this, the year 1769. But it's actually 2018 right now. You are mistaken, surely?"

Lilac and sunshine swivelled round from where they had been chatting with some of the women, to listen to Tom's reply.

"It's a long story. One I will tell you all tomorrow. Right now..." glancing at Lilac who was trying to stifle a yawn and failing.

Dirk groaned inwardly at Tom's words. He was tired too, but had hoped to hear Tom and the community's story this evening.

Tom rose and offered to show them the sleeping quarters at their disposal for the duration of their stay. The evening had been fun with lots of songs being shared between the two groups, superb food on offer and they had learned at least one thing - that these people definitely had a God, or Lord, as they called him.

And that there was more to be shared with them.

"One would hope so," Spikey thought sleepily. "Something weird here. Find out tomorrow, hopefully..." as his eyes closed.

"Don't want to be here too long," David thought as he hopped into bed. "Beautiful place, but vegetarian food?!?! Can't stand too much of that! But if the Lord sent us here..."

js looked out the open window before getting into bed. As she turned away, she thought she saw something moving in the shadows.

"Probably a guard, checking things out. Though nothing could happen in this peaceful place, surely?"

Far away in another place, a girl cuddled down in bed.
"I think I know where they are, Mum!"
"Where?"
"Gonna wait and see if I'm right first!"
Christine smiled and kissed her girl good night.

 

[Doctor.Sphinx]

The Doctor gave his faithful companion a shocked look. 'Unethical? Why Sam91, nothing would have given me greater pleasure than smiting these uncircumcised Philistines, unfit even to breathe the same air as civilised folk like you or I. But I thought you would have frowned upon smiting, so I simply disabled them...'

The Doctor's voice trailed off, as Sam91 raised her eyebrows at him, her hands on her hips.

'So what are we going to do with them now?' she asked.

'I don't know. I thought maybe you could convert them or something?' the Doctor reached for Sam91's handbag, before she quickly snatched it away from his prying hands.

'Doctor! It takes more than a little gadget or yarmulke to convert uncivilised barbarians such as we have here, into sophisticated nobility, like you or I.'

The Doctor nodded. 'So what then? I can hardly smite them now. Or I suppose I could. King David measured the Amalekites into lengths of three, and smote every two thirds, didn't he? I must admit, it doesn't seem very sporting.'

'And eight doesn't divide by three, either,' Sam added knowledgably.

'What about Madame La Guillotine?' asked Doctor Sphinx hopefully. 'Perhaps we could just remove their bodies and stick their heads in jars, and that way, I doubt they would cause much more trouble for us.'

'It's a good idea,' explained Sam91, 'except for the fact then we'd have to dispose of the bodies. Not an easy nor a pleasant task, and one we don't have much time for. No Doctor, I think we'll just have to leave them tied up as you've done, and hope that you knew how to tie knots when you tied them. While we scour the area for our good friend the leprechaun. He can't be far off, if this was a Philistine scouting party.'

The Doctor nodded, glad that his armour-bearer seemed to have a better handle on the situation than he did.

'Oh, and Doctor Sphinx?' added Sam91.

'Yes Sam91?' asked the Doctor.

'The next Philistines we come across, I would like you to teach me how to smite with a sword.'

'T'would be a pleasure, Sam91,' commented the Doctor, as they began to scour the area for their friend and leprechaun, the @GreenWizard, whilst chewing on several delicious oven-baked ribs that had been left over from the picnic.

 

[Sam91]

'Hey! You can't just leave us here and who are you calling an uncivilised barbarian?' Called out one of the uncivilised barbarians before the dubious duo disappeared into the distance.

Sam91 looked at the good doc and said 'maybe they know something that could help us find the l'il leprechaun dude?'

She thought it was worth at least asking them, it wasn't as if they didn't have a staser as a deterrent. She also had a change of heart, remembering to love kindness.

She asked the philistine 'Our beloved friend was taken captive a few days ago, do you know of his fate?'....

'And you called us barbaric... yes we met your malodorous fiend. He bit the captain and went running off towards the palace. He'll be lucky if he isn't immortalised as a stone statue by now.'

Sam91 looked at the good doc who visibly blanched.

The good doc nodded his head at Sam91 as if to confirm the speaker's veracity. She wondered if he could eavesdrop into Philistinian brains too.

He untied the most cowardly looking vagabond with a stern warning not to loose his friends until he and the lady were out of sight, unless he wanted to be smote by one as courageous as David the Goliath slayer.

Up the hill, the dubious duo trundled ...

 

[joyshirley]

js woke early and stayed in bed for a while, letting thoughts run through her mind. "700 years or more since Polynesians arrived in NZ. Tom can't possibly be over 700 years old. Perhaps he really meant his ancestors when he said 'we met them' and stories of their encounter have been passed down through the years? I must find out more today, if possible."

"Where on earth can Dr S and Sam be?" as js' thoughts veered off in another direction. Logic would assume they'd slipped off in one of the lifeboats and were even now sipping coffee before exploring a pyramid or something. "And where is GreenWizard? Well, all we can do is pray for them." With that thought, js did just that, then washed and dressed. Pulling out her comb, she spotted the leaf she had slipped into her backpack the day before. No change at all. Still perfect. "How odd. I thought it would have begun to wither by now."

Half an hour later, the crew started gathering in the hall for breakfast. Pancakes, bowls of purple berries, jugs of cream, rounds of toast, homemade jams, cereals, fruit juice. A breakfast fit for a King indeed. David and crew did full justice to it.

So it was shocking to the crew, when they gathered on the couches again, to hear Tom's first words.

"I know you think I am a King, or at least a Lord. My ceremonial cloak and headdress aids that supposition, doesn't it? However, I am simply a Captain," with a nod at David, "in my country's army. At least, I was a Captain. We lived in the city and I and the other men here served in the Army."

"So I guess you retired early?" LaSorcia queried.

"Yes and no," Tom replied.

"Well, that's as clear as mud," Spikey thought, but refrained from saying so aloud.

"So at some point, you decided to quit and take up a self-sufficient lifestyle? You know, that's become big back where we come from. More and more people are setting out to care better for the land. Eliminate waste as much as possible, use solar energy." Dirk said.

"Excellent," Tom said. "But we left our homes and came here for a very different reason."

He looked down and seemed to gather courage from a talisman he held in his hand.

"My father served in the Army and was trusted by the King himself. His diplomatic skills were legendary and thus peace was maintained throughout my childhood. It was understood that I would enter the ranks of the Army and at age eighteen I began my career. I rose swiftly to the rank of Captain - I think because of my father's reputation in part - and I never saw war. To me, it was all a bit of a game. Nothing the slightest bit worrying ever clouded my time in the Army."

Tom's son came in and sat down beside his father. He was a tall lad, aged about twelve years, and the image of Tom.

"I married, then later on our son was born. Life was good. I know, in retrospect, that I took nothing re my role in the Army seriously. Sure, I did my job, but nothing more. I wasn't committed to it. My allegiance to the King was just a word I trotted out. I spent a great deal of money on jewels, beautiful ornaments, intricately carved and decorated swords and - oh, all sorts of stuff. I bought beautiful tapestries for the walls and rugs for the floor of our home. My wife and son were dressed in the best clothes money could buy and I wore my cloak and headdress and paraded about town as if I were the King himself. I grew terribly conceited and full of myself. I felt completely self-sufficient and in control of my life."

The crew were silent, thinking how at odds this picture of Tom was to the man they had met only yesterday and already loved.

sunshine spoke hesitantly. "I'm sure you couldn't have been as bad as all that, Tom."

"Worse," Tom replied tersely. "My own wife grew weary of my posturing and greed. Yes, greed. It was becoming an obsession to have the most jewels with which to bedeck my wife and myself. She, good soul that she is, said "No! You're not dressing me up like a Christmas tree!"

This broke the slight tension and everyone laughed.

"Look, Tom," David began. "We've all done some dumb things in our time. Followed paths that can get us into trouble. Don't beat yourself up too much, man. There is forgiveness in the Lord."

"Yes, you are right. And thanks be that it is so. But I haven't told you the worst of it yet."