Fiction

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IN THE LAST EPISODE OF THE MYSTERIOUS CITIES OF GOLD REVISITED...

The group arrived in Mexico and had lunch at Papa Gonzalez's restaurant, where Matthew became smitten with Rosita, Papa Gonzalez's daughter who waited tables at the restaurant. He learns to his disappointment that she is already engaged to Miguel, the host.

AND NOW HERE IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE STORY...

Lionel and Alexis led Ben, Matthew, and Stephanie back to the beach after they left the restaurant. They were excited about getting back into their ship and continuing on their journey to find the seven Cities of Gold. When they got to the dock, however, they found out to their horror that the ship was not there!

"Where is our ship?" Alexis cried frantically. "Lionel, I thought you said you tied it up!"

"I did," Lionel responded. "I tied it up really well. I didn't think anyone would be able to get it."

"Let's ask someone if they've seen it," Ben suggested. He went up to an elderly man and his grandson and said, "Excuse me, sir, but we tied up our ship right at this dock and, well, now it's disappeared and we don't know what happened to it and wondered if you might have seen it."

The man sighed sadly and said, "I'm sorry, but there was a strong wave that hit your ship and caused it to become untied. It drifted out to see quite some time ago."

"Oh, no!" Alexis groaned. She clutched Lionel's arm tightly. "Lionel, do you see it out in the water anywhere?"

Lionel shook his head. "No, honey. I wish I brought my binoculars, but they were still on the ship when we went to lunch."

"Oh, great," said Alexis. "Now what are we going to do?"

"I have some binoculars," the man told them. He pulled them out of his beach bag and handed them to Lionel. "Here, you can look through these."

"Thanks," Lionel said. "That's very much appreciated." He looked all around the water through the binoculars. "No, I don't see it," he said with a sigh.

Stephanie threw her arms around Ben's neck and started to cry. "This is just awful!" she sobbed. "I had all my clothes and my cell phone on the ship. How stupid of me to leave my cell phone on the ship! I didn't think I'd need it during lunchtime, but now I don't have it anymore! I can't call my folks to let them know how I am, I have nothing to wear, all of my shampoo is gone, and all our food is on the ship. We are totally doomed!"

Ben held her close and kissed the top of her head. "It's all right, Steph. It's all right, baby. Somehow we'll get everything we need. God will provide for us."

"I still have lots of money in my wallet, probably enough that would buy us enough plane tickets to fly all over the world and find all the cities of gold, and I took my wallet with me for sure," Lionel said, pulling out his wallet.

"I have my wallet, too, kids," Alexis said, her face brightening. "We can buy food and clothes that will be sufficient for our trip."

Everyone thanked Jesus for His provision. "And I have my cell phone, too, sweetie," Alexis told Stephanie. "We'll keep in touch with your parents and let them know how you're doing."

Stephanie smiled. "Thank you, Alexis," she said. She leaned her head on Ben's shoulder. "Thank you for making me feel better, Ben," she said.

Ben squeezed her shoulder and kissed her forehead. "Anytime," he said. "That's what boyfriends are for."

"And I have the best boyfriend," Stephanie said. The two kissed.

"I'll go and ask Rosita if she knows of the nearest airport," Ben said. He ran back to the restaurant and asked Rosita where the nearest airport was, and she told him. Ben thanked her, gave her a little hug, and said goodbye, then hurried back to the group. He told them what Rosita said, and the group went off and found the airport.

When they got to the airport, they asked a pilot who was coming into work if he knew which plane would take them to the Andes, where they suspected one of the cities of gold was located.

"We don't have a plane that goes to the Andes, but we do have a private plane that you might consider using to get you there. It used to belong to one of our pilots, but he has been trying to give it away, because he doesn't really use it anymore. He has everything you need--first aid, parachutes, seats that float, you name it. He isn't back yet from his flight--he flew to Argentina, but if you wait I will let him know you're here and inquiring about his plane," the pilot said.

"Thank you so much," Lionel said.

"There are shops around here for you to buy clothing and shampoo and anything else you need. The way you came here, I suspected you had no luggage," the pilot told them.

"No," Alexis said. "We used to have a small ship with all of that stuff in it, but a giant wave pulled it out to sea while we were eating lunch."

"I'm sorry to hear that," the pilot said. "Well, once you leave this airport, you'll have everything you need." He waved to them and went into the airport.

The group stood in a circle, and Lionel led a prayer: "Father God, we thank You for Your provision and that none of us was in the boat when the big wave hit it. Please help us to have safe travels during the rest of our trip and to continue to learn and trust in You. It is in Your name and in the name of Your Son we pray. Amen."

"Amen," everyone else said.

TO FOLLOW...

The pilot of the private plane shows the group his plane, which Ben decides to fly so as to follow in his father's footsteps as a pilot. The private plane's owner, however, recommends they rest up before they fly so as to avoid crashes, so they spend the night. Make sure you read the next episode of THE MYSTERIOUS CITIES OF GOLD REVISITED.

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