“Sea monster…port side!!”
“What did you babble…sea rat?” Commodore Houk yelled back.
“A sea monster port side Commodore Houk, and coming our way!”
Commodore Houk held the wheel with his skeletal hand. He then pulled up a small spyglass that hung about his neck. He aimed it port side and watched. As the far off lightening flashed, it revealed a terrible shadow.
“Horns of the Devil” Commodore Houk swore and then put his good hand back upon the ship’s wheel. He gazed at the witch nearby.
“What dark curse is this?” He asked her.
“One that you will survive…should you prove more cunning.”
“Prepare port side cannons…we are about to have a hungry visitor, let’s fill its belly with lead!” Commodore Houk command.
Commodore Houk noticed the crew was gazing at the great shadow moving toward them. “I said now you wingless seagulls, move your hide before I make you!”
A few of the men untied themselves and ran to the decks below to move and load the cannons.
Paeter. Hold not help but let fear take hold. One often does not comes face to face with a sea serpent, let alone a hell-storm at sea. Through the maelstrom, the shadow the sea serpent could was visible. The beast was heading toward the ship , but the storm impeded it’s movement as well.
“The beast will be upon us soon!” Paeter alerted the deck below .
“Mister Smeethe how fare my cannons?” Commodore Houk bellowed.
Mister Smeethe the ship’s first mate had tied himself to the port side rail. He gazed over the rail and noted the cannons loaded.
“We are showing our teeth!” Mister Smeethe shouted.
“Hold iron till i say!” Commodore Houk commanded.
Commodore Houk raised his spyglass and gazed out into the storm. Lightening flashed in the billowing clouds and he saw his enemy rise. The great sea serpent was drawing nearer. Commodore Houk could not help but let fear grip his heart and he spat it away. He watched the terrible beast ride the w aves toward his sip and he held his breath. Then when the monster fell into range he gave the order.
“Fire into the beast!”
The cannons exploded in unison. Moments later the sea dragon screeched in response. Commodore Houk was unsure how many cannon had hit the beast or had caused any real damage. He called for the cannon as the dragon now seemed more intent upon catching the ship.
“Raise the main sails!” Commodore Houk commanded.
The crew was dumbstruck by the order, which seemed a call for madness.
“Captain…are you sure? That could very well sink us.” Smeethe exclaimed in the howling wind.
“That beast will rip us to shreds all the same. Yet with that sail and the hell-storm, we may might slip from it fangs and claws…move you bilge rats!”
The men needed nor more command, they set to rigging the mail sail. Paeter in the crow’s nest began lowering a rope, that feed through a large rig. Within moments the crew had pulled the sail upward as the wind sought to tear it away. After short battle the sail, a howling wind took to it and the ship lurched forward.
Commodore Houk held on to the ship’s wheel like a man possessed. He fought to keep it from capsizing in the billowing waves, that churned . He could see the eye of storm drawing nearer like a great black heart. He gazed at the witch holding on for her life upon the railing.
“The moment is yours, Commodore…Your destiny is ahead of you.” The witch bellowed.
Raised up by her words, Commodore Houk gritted his teeth and focused his view to his destination.
Much like all on the ship Paeter was afraid. From his vantage point he could see the great serpent riding the waves behind them. Paeter hoped that the mast and sail held it was their only savior at the moment. In all his days to come, Paeter would recall this moment as one where death was all about. It had waited to grab them all, for a great and terrible watery end. He looked down at Commodore Houk as he spun the wheel back and forth. The Commodore Houk fought the waves as they slammed against the sides of the ship. Paeter thought here was a man who was mad, brave and dangerous. He smiled in shock, thinking to himself, that the storm had found itself a worth adversary.
The great beast growled in frustration as the ship stayed out of its reach. Yet it hoped that a moment would occur and it would gain advantage.
The advantage appeared as one side if the sail tore away from its bindings. Paeter looked in horror as the top left part of the sail flapped free. It began to threaten the rest of the sails with demise.
Houk looked up and screamed. “Boy tie back that sail or we are all daed!”
Paeter looked at the Commodore Houk, even with great distance between them. Paeter could picture the man’s angry scowl. Paeter untied his tether and collected the rope. He then began a harrowing climb up and out to the fluttering sail. After gathering it and almost falling. Paeter looped the broken rope about his waist and passed the end of the rope through the rigging. He then slid down causing the sail to rise up. Paeter then tied himself to the mast and held the rope. The sail opened like a great wing and pulled the rigging taught.
“Hold tight boy!” Commodore Houk warned from below.
Paeter squinted through the rain. The great dragon was very close, the sail’s failure had given it an opportunity. Yet Paeter’s action had once more given the ship a chance for survival.
Though only minutes…the last part of the journey into the storm’s eye, felt like hours to Paeter. He fought against the sail, which seemed to seek its own destruction.
It was then the Dragon halted it pace and rose. It bellowed a mighty roar. At first Paeter did not understand the dragon’s action. Until he heard the call.
“Wrecks about…all about!”
Commodore Houk gazed in shock, at the collection of ships that lay broken ahead of them. This could mean only one thing…reefs.
Houk drew up his spyglass and saw his opportunity…he acted without any thought. The ship leaned as he spun the wheel. It lurched port
side and the entire crew held its breath. Paeter had closed his eyes waiting for the impact…it never came.
Darkness swallowed the ship and the wind died away along with the rain. Strange ethereal light surged through the inky sky. All seemed deathly clam. A wind took the sails once more and the ship moved forward at calmer pace.
Without warning the darkness evaporated and the ship sailed into a sunny bay. A great island shrouded in mist lay ahead. A surge of power filled the very air and a calm fell upon the Lorelai.
“Land Ho!” was Paeter’s joyful cry.