Free The Royal Handmaid by Gilbert Morris

quoted liberally from books Travis had never heard of. Often he went into lengthy explanations about the meaning of certain Hebrew words, and he even read aloud a passage in Hebrew, which of course, meant nothing to Travis. He glanced around the room and saw thatothers were watching with respect, but he himself was disappointed. I guess I’m just too dumb to know what he’s saying, he thought.
    When the professor had finished, he said, “Let us now pray for our mission.” His prayer was very much like his lesson—too intellectual for Travis’s tastes. He couldn’t help thinking irreverently, I hope God understands him, because I sure don’t! He felt guilty for his attitude, however, and cringed a bit when Rena rose after the service and exclaimed to the professor, “That was very fine!” She glanced overhead and then added, “We’ll have the first service for the crew this afternoon. I think the weather is nice enough to have it on the deck, and all of the crew will be required to attend.”
    “Some of them may not want to come,” Jimmy said.
    “Some of them aren’t exactly devout Christians,” another added.
    “That’s why it’s required,” Rena said curtly.
    Pete Alford stood up, and he had to bend slightly to keep from hitting his head on the low ceiling. “I don’t know about that, Rena. I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
    “What are you talking about, Pete? We all had required attendance at services at Bible school.”
    Peter was usually silent in meetings like this. He felt he had not been a good scholar and was rather slow in books, making him feel inadequate. “We were there for such things as chapel and Bible study,” he said. “These fellows are just working at their job.”
    “Don’t be foolish, Pete!” Rena said shortly. “It’ll be good for them.”
    Rena turned and looked at Travis as if she expected him to challenge her. When he didn’t speak, she said, “I want them all to come. We’ll pray that they’ll all be converted.”
    ****
    Travis spent as much time with the crew as possible. He had learned a great deal in the short time about the sails,the lines, the rigging, and all of the ship’s gear. Now as the Mary Anne was cleaving her way through the emerald green water, the crew had gathered on the portside for a smoke. Cerny Novak was speaking of the good time they would have in Hawaii; then he winked at Charlie. “Watch out for the preacher here. We don’t wanna offend him with stories of what goes on in some of those places. You remember Mama Winnau’s place?”
    Charlie Day laughed and drew deeply on his cigarette. “I sure do remember it. Especially that one girl named Juanita.” He turned and said, “Do you like women, preacher?”
    Travis was accustomed to their rough teasing and merely smiled back. “Some of them,” he replied.
    “You’d like Juanita. I’ll introduce you to her. Maybe she could teach you a few things.” Laughter went up from the others, but it was good-natured, for they had discovered it was impossible to get Travis’s goat.
    Lars Olsen looked up at the sky. He had the gift of telling time almost as accurately as a watch. “Almost time for the service.”
    “I ain’t goin’ to no service!” Novak growled, his good mood vanishing.
    “Me neither,” Day said, shaking his head emphatically.
    Shep Riggs looked up from his seat on an empty case and shook his head. “You fellows won’t have much choice. None of us will.”
    Novak cursed, but Olsen said, “We’ll all have to go, Cerny.”
    “I’ll go if I gotta, but I ain’t listenin’.”
    “I tried to talk her out of this,” Oscar Blevins said. “I don’t think this meeting’s a good idea. What do you think, Travis?” The balding cook was a roly-poly man who had served for years in the marines. He was a crack shot but was retained on the Mary Anne for his culinary skills more than for any military training.
    “I’d rather it were voluntary,” Travis agreed,