Turn Course (Version 1)
Story★★★★★One foggy night, the captain of a large ship saw what appeared to be another ship’s lights approaching in the distance. The two were on a course that would lead to a certain head-on collision at sea. Quickly the captain signaled, “Please change your course ten degrees west.” The reply came blinking back through thickening fog: “You change your course ten degrees east.”
The captain, now insulted, decided to pull rank, as he angrily sent a message back. I am a sea captain with 35 years of experience. Change your course ten degrees west!” Without hesitation, the signal flashed back, “I’m a seaman, fourth class.
You change your course ten degrees east!” The captain became enraged. Realizing that they were rapidly approaching one another and would most certainly collide in a few moments, he sent his final warning. “I am a 50,000-ton freighter.
Change your course ten degrees west now!” A simple message came blinking back that foggy night “I am a lighthouse. You change your course now!”
The point
A captain demands a ship change course in fog; the ship refuses; the captain discovers the 'ship' is actually a lighthouse—reality trumps rank.