Children cried, men cursed under their breath, and women held their hands to their mouths as if bracing for an impact. “It’ll crush the boats!” someone shouted. “Straight into the pier!” another added, pointing with trembling fingers. But Elias kept his eyes steady on the vessel’s bow. He followed the angle of its drift against the outline of the harbor wall.
His heartbeat slowed as he worked it out in his head. “No,” he muttered. “It’s not going to hit.” And sure enough, the more he studied it, the more certain he became. The ship would pass close, so close it would feel like a near miss, but it would not strike the pier. The realization brought a flicker of relief, but the others didn’t seem convinced.