The day started just like any other day. It was a warm, blissful, and sunny day. That was January 15th, 1912.

Two months earlier, there were plans to have a British-made ship penetrate the “Indian Trade.” You see, that’s the enterprise that turned people into billionaires back in the day. So, the Mercantile Company chose the SS Agemo to make its first historic voyage.

Without dilly-dallying, a team of corporates chose its crew. It didn’t matter whether you were a rich or poor fellow. All that management cared for was your will and strength to explore uncharted waters.

With a team in place, the next step would be to find the right supplies for the round trip. Hence, on that colorful Monday morning, the Johnson III voyagers loaded spices, treasure chests, ivory, silk, and more onto the vessel. It was quite the marvel.

A few hours into the day, Captain Cook, a middle-aged, well-built man with a long white goatee, boarded the vessel. He yelled, “Today we are embarking on the journey of our dreams,” and then stepped into his cabin. A few moments later, the good skipper walked out with a cigar and lighter at hand.

Cook was the easy and laid back kind everyone would love. Anyways, this wasn’t a regular trip. No one from the Mediterranean had taken business across the Persian Gulf, through the Red Sea, and to Port Sudan successfully.

Therefore, at exactly 3 pm, the ship set sail. Everyone on the vessel was excited, but the most ecstatic of all was Eetoo. You see, Eetoo, unlike his mates, had grown up in a very humbling background.

Brought up by his granny, he could not afford luxuries like travel, good food, and clothing. Sometimes, they all slept hungry. Church mice avoided Eetoo’s home like the plague!

However, that didn’t deter the young British citizen from pursuing his dreams. And when Mercantile advertised that the SS Agemo was looking for sailors, he was the first to apply. Mother luck finally smiled at him, and Eetoo would travel by sea for the very first time.

When the ship docked out from the harbour, Eetoo used his charm and adventurous side to entertain his mates. He was the best thing that happened to them at the time, the life of the party. As days went by, SS Agemo made significant strides on the open seas without any major incident.

Captain Cook was confident they would make it to port on time. But little did he know that less than a click away, a storm was brewing. It was the biggest anyone had ever seen, and it was right in the heart of the Red Sea.

That was on the twenty-fifth day of the voyage. Without sign or warning, disaster hit. Rocked by gusty winds, SS Agemo started taking water on deck.

Surprisingly, the crew members responded swiftly, thus clearing the treacherous waters in record time. Everybody on board the SS Agemo was saved. Shaken mariners, including Eetoo, then started thinking – “what if the next storm will be my last?”  None of them wanted to die.