Le Capitaine Aréna — Tome 2

As the ship pulls away from the anchorage, the crew gathers around a weathered pilot who seems oddly at home at the helm despite the still water. A hushed conversation with the seasoned captain reveals that an elderly prophet, Nunzio, has foretold a sudden wind that will blow only for a brief hour after sunset, a gust that might finally free them from the treacherous strait. The men exchange uneasy glances, aware that their departure hinges on this unpredictable breath of air, while the captain steels himself for a race against time.

The vessel drifts toward the Sicilian coast under oars alone, the silence broken only by the creak of planks and the distant cries of women and children on the shore. Though the sailors move with practiced efficiency, a lingering reluctance hints at the personal ties they leave behind. With the sun dipping low, the captain orders the final push, hoping the promised wind will arrive before darkness seals their fate.