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This Terrible Voyage
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Scott
Aug 28, 2009, 5:17:29 AM8/28/09
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The ship broke through the foaming whitetops then plunged headlong
into the separating troughs, the sea spewing foam and spray about in a
frenzy against the lashing wind.
“Hold the mainsail there! We must keep it fast!”
Lars looked around and grabbed hold of the rigging as the ship
retchingly lurched to the side again. As sailors latched on to the
ropes he was holding he looked up at the bridge and saw the bearded
face of the Captain holding steadfastly on to the wheel, the pounding
surf washing over the decking unable to dislodge him.
“This is madness! Madness!”
The muttering of the sailors rang in his ears as he looked about at
his precious cargo lashed in barrels about the deck. Suddenly,
another barrel popped loose, and before sailors could rush to secure
it was flung from one side of the deck to the other, taking another
poor soul over the side with it as it crashed through the railing.
“We must turn back, or we're all doomed!”
Frederik the Boatswain's Mate was in the midst of a group of sailors
and turned wildly to confront them.
“We must turn back now or it's too late!”
He pointed directly at the Captain and all eyes on deck followed his
accusatory gesture.
“Must we give our lives for that accursed cargo we carry now in the
hold? Will we sacrifice our lives for that?”
The group was muttering agreement and shouts of consent rang out.
“Throw it overboard!”
“Be rid of the damn thing!”
“Are our lives worthless? Will we sacrifice ourselves for the Great
Ape?”
Wilhelm the First Mate strode into the ring and faced down the angry
throng.
“You'll all hold fast, or we'll lose the ship! You'll take the deck
out from under us if you're not steady!”
“You!”
Frederik faced the man who was now his main adversary.
“You've sided with that madman all along!”
Without warning he reached for the stowage rack behind him and
suddenly came up brandishing a harpoon over his shoulder. The foam
washed over the lurching deck as Wilhelm struggled with the weapon,
but before anyone else could act Frederik loosed it murderously
straight towards the Captain and the bridge.
They all watched as it lunged through the air, and maybe it was the
swaying of the ship or the struggle between the two seamen, but the
harpoon missed its deadly appointment and instead pierced the leg of
the Captain, pinning it immovably to the deck.
The Captain didn't flinch and instead seemed to grip the wheel
tighter.
Lars looked up to see the grim gaze of the bearded man locked
resolutely forwards, immobile, as a sudden squall whipped up spray and
foam with such ferocity it stung the uncovered skin and reduced
visibility to a grey, rainy wall, the sound of ropes beating
mercilessly against the spars just out of view.
into the separating troughs, the sea spewing foam and spray about in a
frenzy against the lashing wind.
“Hold the mainsail there! We must keep it fast!”
Lars looked around and grabbed hold of the rigging as the ship
retchingly lurched to the side again. As sailors latched on to the
ropes he was holding he looked up at the bridge and saw the bearded
face of the Captain holding steadfastly on to the wheel, the pounding
surf washing over the decking unable to dislodge him.
“This is madness! Madness!”
The muttering of the sailors rang in his ears as he looked about at
his precious cargo lashed in barrels about the deck. Suddenly,
another barrel popped loose, and before sailors could rush to secure
it was flung from one side of the deck to the other, taking another
poor soul over the side with it as it crashed through the railing.
“We must turn back, or we're all doomed!”
Frederik the Boatswain's Mate was in the midst of a group of sailors
and turned wildly to confront them.
“We must turn back now or it's too late!”
He pointed directly at the Captain and all eyes on deck followed his
accusatory gesture.
“Must we give our lives for that accursed cargo we carry now in the
hold? Will we sacrifice our lives for that?”
The group was muttering agreement and shouts of consent rang out.
“Throw it overboard!”
“Be rid of the damn thing!”
“Are our lives worthless? Will we sacrifice ourselves for the Great
Ape?”
Wilhelm the First Mate strode into the ring and faced down the angry
throng.
“You'll all hold fast, or we'll lose the ship! You'll take the deck
out from under us if you're not steady!”
“You!”
Frederik faced the man who was now his main adversary.
“You've sided with that madman all along!”
Without warning he reached for the stowage rack behind him and
suddenly came up brandishing a harpoon over his shoulder. The foam
washed over the lurching deck as Wilhelm struggled with the weapon,
but before anyone else could act Frederik loosed it murderously
straight towards the Captain and the bridge.
They all watched as it lunged through the air, and maybe it was the
swaying of the ship or the struggle between the two seamen, but the
harpoon missed its deadly appointment and instead pierced the leg of
the Captain, pinning it immovably to the deck.
The Captain didn't flinch and instead seemed to grip the wheel
tighter.
Lars looked up to see the grim gaze of the bearded man locked
resolutely forwards, immobile, as a sudden squall whipped up spray and
foam with such ferocity it stung the uncovered skin and reduced
visibility to a grey, rainy wall, the sound of ropes beating
mercilessly against the spars just out of view.
More at:
http://www.users.on.net/~scott.frazer
Scott.
enlightenedpsych2, sojournseeker, erica hidvegi, enlightenment-advisor
Oct 11, 2009, 12:32:41 AM10/11/09
to
Are all sailors named Lars, or just ours? The main character,
the protagonaist in a play I am collaborating on is named
Lars and he is a naval ship guru of the 17th century !
Cool story . . . anymore ?
sharing the light,
miss erica hidvegi
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