I’m Right

“How can you possibly say this is my fault? That would mean I’m wrong, and you know I’m never wrong, especially about this stuff.”

“I have never met anyone so self-absorbed in all my life. Why is it so difficult for you to look at where we are and say, I must have misread the map, sorry about that.”

“If I did that, I’d be a liar, and you’d be calling me a fake, or a fraud, or who knows what else. Besides, I know I’m right; it’s the damn map maker that’s wrong.”

“Oh, sure, the guy who has spent his entire life studying information obtained by mariners from around the known world and transforming that data into maps so that people can roam the world and not get lost is wrong.”

“It happens. After all, he’s only as accurate as the information people give him. Remember, it wasn’t that long ago people said if you sail to the horizon, you’ll fall off the edge of the Earth. That’s how all the map makers drew the planet, and they were wrong. Today, most people know the Earth is round, except for some of those die-hard Flat Earthers. You’re not one of them, are you?”

“Of course not! You don’t think I’d be on this ship if I were, do you? I see what you’re doing. You’re just trying to change the subject, so you don’t have to admit you made a mistake. I’ve seen you do that before, and I’m not going to be one of those suckers. Reality is, this is not India, and those are not Indians.”

“How do you know? Have you ever been to India, and just what do you think Indians look like?”

“Yes, I have sailed to India several times, and so have some of the crew members on the other two ships. They all thought you had lost your mind when you announced that this was India. Also, if they were real Indians, they would be wearing turbans on their heads, not feathers and clothing called a kurtas, instead of running around mostly naked.”

“Alright, alright, just for the sake of argument, let’s say I’m wrong. Don’t get the wrong idea now, I’m never wrong, but let’s say I was. Do you have any idea where we might be and what those people are called?”

“Well Captain Christopher, I think we’ve landed on the same continent that Leif Ericson did about 400 years ago, just a little further south, is all. As for what to call the natives, you’re going to have to ask them what they call themselves. That might be a little tricky, though, because they don’t look all that friendly.”

“You have a point there, First Mate. Maybe I’ll send the priest to introduce us to them. He’s been telling everyone that God will always protect him. I think we should put that theory to the test. Besides, if they kill him, no great loss; he doesn’t do any work on board anyway. So, we’re good then. I knew I was right, like always.