UNITY

When Unity returns to port early with a bountiful harvest of whale oil, Captain Septimus Brooks and his men think they’ve earned an extended time off of the raging waves.

But Pittman Whaling and Shipping sees an opportunity for a double harvest. Before the men can even take to the sea again, though, Brooks becomes injured and is forced to put his son, Seth Brooks, in charge of the ship. He imparts the wisdom earned from decades on the water, then waves his son and crew off from shore.

All seems well until Unity is hailed by the Rachel, its captain calling for help. The younger Captain Brooks heeds the call and, upon boarding the Rachel, soon realizes he’s been duped.

Now he has a whaling ship full of Africans intended for slavery in the United States, five of his own men held hostage on the Rachel, a heavily patrolled shoreline and, on its other side, a nation heading into Civil War.

It will take all he has to Captain through this storm.

©2023 John Henry Winner (P)2025 John Henry Winner