Chasing Faith: Philip's Perilous Viking Voyage

Philip barks the commands to his crew, “Veer right. Turn the sail. Loosen the skaut from the bottom right. Watch the beam! ”

He looks back at the distance growing between his boat and Chief Kian’s men. The boats rage on the salty sea water, with Philip’s boat only a small advance from his pursuer. Assuredly the captain of the boat chasing Philip will be held accountable and killed at the escape of Philip once again. Chief Kian had given strict orders for Philip to be captured. The Chief did not want Philip or any of his Christian followers spreading the Gospel of Christ in any of his territories. He will use any reason to kill a Christian Viking trespassing in his territory, especially, one breaking his decree by spreading Christianity.

Attempts to captures Philip had been made many times, but each time Philip managed to escape the blood ridden grasp of the sea warriors. Whether he wanted to be or not Philip was on the run. (quest/adventure)
Philip yells to his men, “Keep rowing. Just around the bend and we will be out of Kian’s territory.” His men give all they have to move the boat past the invisible line that offers safety.
Exasperated Philip takes a deep breath as he watches the Viking hunters fade on the horizon. This escape was Philip’s narrowest from Kian’s men. As He assesses the damage he can’t help, but see the bare spot where supplies had once filled the hull. In order to gain speed during the chase Philip had ordered his men to throw overboard some of the supplies. Not an ideal solution.
His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a ram’s horn, which indicates a boat in peril. Philip looks to the north, the direction of the sound. He sees a boat with a torn sail heading towards sharp rocks. Like the buckling of the earth’s mantle twisting, and distorting during an earthquake, so are the waves breaking, bulging, and shifting the fishing boat to great heights tossing the vessel out of control. (epic simile) Philip knows he has to do something and jumps into action.
Philip’s boat nears the struggling boat and the fisherman begs for help. Philip throws the fisherman a mariner’s rope instructing the rope be tied to the helm of the fishing vessel. Philip’s men turn the Viking boat around, pressing the scullers to row away from the threat. Each man of his crew rows with all of his might, some even praying to God for strength. For a moment all wind stops except for a huge gust that fills the sails and pulls both boats to safety. (supernatural intrudes upon the natural) The fisherman is able to hoist another sail that will allow a safe return to the main boat. The rocks have been successfully avoided.
The fisherman cries out to Philip, “Thank you for your rescue. Our master, the Great Norseman Erik, is indebted to you.” Little did Philip know, but the fisherman was sorely mistaken. (foreshadowing) On the fisherman’s sail Philip notices the Triple Horn of Odin as the marking for Norseman Erik. Philip gestures farewell as clashing waves continue to separate the two crafts.
As the sun is setting Philip takes a deep breath. This moment of peace is the first he has had all day. He is thankful that God saw him through his ordeal. Being a Christian in the Viking world is not easy, but God provided a way of escape, literally. Philip is also thankful that God was able to use him as a tool to help someone in dire need. A scuttled boat would have ended the fisherman. Philip lays his head down and drifts to sleep thanking God for his blessings.
As the sunlight and the salty air hit Philip’s face, he slowly comes out of his slumber remembering the previous day’s events.

He does not want to remind his men of the supplies lost, but their needs are crucial. On the horizon where the fog is beginning to lift Philip sees another boat. One of his crew points out that the markings on the boat are the Triple Horn of Odin. The boat is larger than a typical Viking boat which indicates the boat is the personal boat of the chief captain. Philip asked two of his crew members to take a skiff to the ship and ask the Great Norsemen Erik if he can spare supplies to help sustain them.

Philip said to the men on the skiff, “Go to the ship and ask for the captain of the boat. Tell him you come on the behalf of Philip, the Viking, who has sent you. Greet him and tell him we wish him peace. Tell him, I hear you have supplies. Yesterday we saved one of your fishermen from wrecking his boat. Now let Philip find favor in your eyes, for we come asking for supplies. Please give whatever you can spare.” At Erik’s boat Philip’s men do as instructed.

Erik scoffs at Philip’s men, “Why on earth would I give my supplies to a captain I do not even know. Should I take my supplies from my

men?”
Philip’s men returned to their boat and recount all that occurred. Philip gives the command to bring their boat closer to Erik’s and prepare to raid. (dramatic irony)
Now on Erik’s boat one of the fishermen tells a rower he overheard Philip’s plan to raid them. Sophia (virtuous hero) is walking the deck surveying the workers since she is the captain’s wife. She overhears him and realizes what that would mean for their safety. (virtue tested) She quickly grabs two of her most trusted workmen and explains the situation.
They agree to help carry out her plan. She gathers various portions of food, clothing, fishing gear, and weapons. She is hoping that her offering will incite Philip to show mercy on them. She fills the smaller boats with the supplies, making sure to be stealthy so her husband does not take notice. She and some of her men set out to intersect Philip. As they sail, she spots the fuzzy form of a Viking boat. Once they get closer she raises a white flag. Philip’s men spot her and alert Philip of the approaching boats.
“Captain Philip, I am Sophia,” she starts.
Philip who is now on deck responds, “Yes, I know. You are the wife of Erik.”
“I was unaware of your request for supplies. For if I had been aware I would have made sure you were provided with what you need. Erik turning you away was wrong. So I have brought what you requested and more.” She gestures to the other boats filled with goods, “Please do not raid us for surely we will not survive through the winter and we will perish. Please do not have on your conscience needless plundering, and the cause of our demise. My God is your God.”
He looks at the supplies, “Thank you to God for sending you to me today. I ask Him that you be blessed for what you have done. You have shown great courage in bringing me the supplies your husband denied us, and you have saved me from harming you and all the servants of Erik. Therefore, I will honor your request. We will not step foot on your boat. (hero victorious, virtues vindicated, moral lessons evident)” She lets out a sign of relief and leaves in peace.
Upon returning to her ship Sophia finds that Erik has been swept overboard by a colossal wave and lost at sea.