Free 90 Miles to Freedom by K. C. Hilton Page B

the Coast Guards might show a little compassion and turn a blind eye to what he was doing. While there was a slight possibility of that, Collin knew he would never get any kind of kindness from traffickers. If he were ever caught by human traffickers, he would be killed.
    In addition to the occasional day trips with his friends, Collin also took friends scuba diving a few times a week. Everything was a brilliant cover. Not even Collin’s closest friends knew what he was up to. They just thought he was treating them to a fun day on the sea.
    Often it was just Collin and Joey in the boat. He and Joey were as close as any brothers could be, and Collin was a typical overprotective big brother.
    Even though Joey wasn’t keen on the boat he loved the water as much as Collin did. Collin thought it was important that Joey know everything there was to know about the fishing boat and sonar equipment. He encouraged Joey to learn as much as possible about the ocean and boating. At times Collin wondered if Joey knew more about some things than he did, but Joey never let on.
    The other person Collin spent most of his time with was Adelio. They had become friends, sometimes meeting just to fish or enjoy a conversation out on the water.
    He learned that Adelio had grown up in poverty and when he had managed to find work he saved every bit of money he could. As he’d grown he’d worked two jobs and long hours. One job paid him small wages and the other job provided him food in exchange for his work. Adelio eventually saved up enough money to purchase a fishing boat. With it he started his own business of helping Cubans, like himself, find a better way of life. Now he was married and his wife was expecting their first baby.
    In a way, Adelio reminded Collin of Harriet Tubman. She was the escaped slave from Maryland who had eventually become recognized as the “Moses of her people”. Over ten years she put her own life at tremendous risk so that she could guide hundreds of slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad. When Collin told Adelio that, his friend looked shy but pleased.
    Over time Collin and Adelio became the best of friends. Unfortunately, their friendship was limited to whatever they could do on each other’s boats. Collin thought it would be great to bring Adelio home to meet his family and friends. He knew Adelio would enjoy himself and that he would love George’s fine grilling. He thought how awesome it would be if he could take him to a ballgame with some of his other friends.
    But Adelio never mentioned coming to America. Collin often wondered why he simply didn’t get on Collin’s boat and go to America with him. But he never asked. And Collin figured if his friend hadn’t mentioned it, there was probably a good reason. He assumed it was because Adelio didn’t want to leave his wife and unborn baby. Then he would be just like his father before him, when he had left his mother and Adelio. It was also probably difficult for the Cuban authorities not to notice a pregnant woman getting onto a fishing boat. And after the baby was born? Well, the sight of a woman with a baby, boarding a boat was even more obvious.
    Adelio loved his country. He told Collin all the time about how beautiful it was. He raved about the architecture, the endless countryside and pristine white beaches. No. Adelio would never leave his country or his family.
    But that did not keep Adelio from being curious about America. He asked Collin endless questions then sat attentively, listening in amazement to the answers. Once in awhile he’d contribute little bits of trivia that always spiked Collin’s interest.
    “ Did you know,” Adelio asked one time, “that many sailors used to wear gold earrings so that they could afford a proper burial when they died?”
    Collin laughed, lifting one eyebrow with surprise. “No, I didn’t know that one. That’s fascinating. You sound like my mother, knowing little bits and pieces of information