Mission Libertad Read Online Free

thinking. Then he took a deep breath.
    â€œOkay, no need to panic,” he said. “Let’s keep rowing. I had hoped the old motor wouldn’t break down, but I’m prepared. I brought the oars, and as soon as there is some wind I will put up the fabric and we can sail.”
    Without another word, father and son began to take turns rowing. They wanted to get as far as possible during the day. Luisito rowed fast. He hadn’t known he could row that fast!
    â€œLet’s not panic,” Miguel said. “Slow down so you won’t burn out. Keep it steady and then rest. Then you can row some more.”
    The sun was hotter than ever, or maybe it just felt like that because Luisito was rowing. It was burning his fair skin. His feet, too, were getting red and a bit swollen. He felt dizzy and nauseated. They fell into a rhythm of rowing and stopping at intervals to rest. Miguel took off his shirt and wet it. He handed it to Luisito.
    â€œHere, put it on your head so you won’t dehydrate,” he said.
    Luisito felt the cool relief of the wet shirt on his hot head. He glanced at his mother. She looked weak.
    â€œHave some water, Mami,” Luisito said, giving her the last of his water.
    â€œNo, that is for you, son,” Elena said.
    â€œNo, Mami. I’m all right, please!” Luisito pleaded.
    Miguel nodded at her. Elena took the water and seemed a little better.
    Night fell upon them again and the chilly breeze hit Luisito. He felt sharp pains in his arms from rowing, but the mere thought of sharks and other dangers pushed him to continue.
    â€œDon’t row so fast,” Miguel repeated.
    Elena opened and closed her eyes as she rested, huddled on the raft. Father and son took a longer rest from rowing and drifted, letting the waves sway the raft along its way. Finally, Luisito’s eyes closed and he fell asleep.
    After what seemed like just a few hours, Luisito awoke to see the sun peeking out from under the clouds. There was a gentle breeze, and Miguel put up the bed sheet to use as a sail. The breeze took them swiftly along.
    Then suddenly Miguel spotted something on the horizon.
    â€œ
¡Mira!
A ship!” Miguel exclaimed. They all waved their arms. Elena sat up from her crouched position and waved. The raft almost tipped over. But the ship did not appear to see them.
    â€œÂ¡Aquí! ¡Aquí!”
Luisito screamed.
    â€œÂ¡Miren! ¡Miren acá!”
Miguel shouted. “Please look this way!
    â€œOver here!” Elena waved frantically.
    â€œCan’t they see us?” Miguel said.
    â€œNo! Wait!” Elena cried as the ship moved farther and farther away.
    Could the crew not see them or were they ignoring them? A mix of emotions was bubbling inside the Ramirez family. Nobody said what they were all thinking:
How
much
longer
can
we
survive
on
the
open
sea
with
no
food
and
no
water? Are we really going to make it?
    The tension that had built up inside Miguel finally came out. He buried his hands in his face and cried. Luisito could only see his father’s shoulders moving up and down as he sobbed. Elena and Luisito hugged him and wept as well.
    â€œMaybe we shouldn’t have attempted this trip,” Miguel said as he wiped tears from his eyes. “What have I put my family through?”
    â€œMiguel, this was our decision,” Elena said, very determined. “You know we couldn’t continue living in Cuba in constant fear, at least for Luisito’s sake.”
    Her face had more color than a few hours ago. Luisito noticed how much his mom reminded him of Abuela— beautiful and fragile but strong when she needed to be. They all sat in the raft silently, drifting without direction.

5 CINCO
    Hours passed, or maybe they were minutes. Luisito had lost all sense of time. It was so hot. He felt dizzy and light-headed. He reached for the water container, forgetting it was empty. His heart was beating rapidly, his muscles ached