The Song of the Ocean
It will eat you Alive
Captain Cutler danced arm in arm with his first mate Ainsley. They had just stolen the fastest ship from the British Armada and where on their way to put together a crew to help them man it. The captain threw his hat in the air in celebration.
“Can you believe it Ainsley! They only had the four soldiers guarding this ship. Child’s play for pirates like us.”
Ainsley picked up the captain’s hat and handed it back to him.
“Aye captain, and we didn’t even need Clive and Riley for support.”
Cutler looked over the ocean. “Those two cowards will regret not coming with us. Maybe we will let them join our crew.”
Ainsley looked at the captain confused. Cutler smiled.
“They can swab our decks!”
The two gave a bellowing laugh and looked towards the horizon. The sun was setting, creating beautiful oranges and reds in the sky, and darkening the water as time went on.
“What do we come night captain?”
Cutler looked to the sky. “Luck be on our side. Not a cloud in the sky tonight. The stars will guide us, and the moon will light our way.”
I was a beautiful night, clear and bright. The moonlight bounced off the water creating a better view than expected. Captain Cutler was at the helm while Ainsley watched the waves crash against the side of the ship. Something bobbing in the water caught his eye in the moonlight.
He ran to port to grab some rope and returned to the star port. Tied it to the banister and threw it overboard.
“What are you doing Ainsley?!?!” The captain screamed.
“There’s a woman in the water. We have to save her!”
Cutler seemed confused. Why would there be anyone in the water this far out at sea. He looked over the side but didn’t see anyone. “Where did you see her?”
Ainsley pointed out over the same side Cutler was looking. “She was right there!?!?”
Mouth a gap, eyes wide, Ainsley couldn’t believe that the woman had disappeared. “I swear, she was right there, captain.”
Scowl on his face, Cutler turned to Ainsley. “Better she’s not there. Bad luck to let a woman on board. Bring the line back in and check our course. Don’t want to drift too far east, or we may hit the cliffs.”
Still pointing out at sea, Ainsley shook himself and went to grab the rope. “Aye Captain.”
After Ainsley went to check their course, Cutler went down to check on his first mate. Being out at sea for a long time can cause delusions, but they had only been out for two days. He found Ainsley checking their heading in the captains quarters.
“We headed in the right direction?”
Ainsley nodded. “Aye captain, and we’re not even close to the cliffs.”
He seemed relaxed. Too relaxed for the running round he had just done. Cutler reached over the table and grabbed the map from him. “Let me see where we are then. Need to know how long until we reach the pirate island.”
Ainsley didn’t flinch. Hands still hovering over where the map had just laid. Eyes fixed on the table with a dead stare. The captain waved his hand in front of his first mates face and then snapped his fingers. Ainsley blinked and turned to Cutler.
“Do you hear that captain?”
Cutler looked taken back. “What am I listening for?”
Ainsley ran past the Captain and out onto the main deck. Breathing heavy and turning every way looking for something in a panic. Cutler followed close behind.
“What are yo-“
“THERE!” Ainsley shouts.
“She’s there!” He runs to the other side of the ship, grabbing a rope along his way. Wrapping it around his arm, he throws it out into the water. Cutler grabs his other arm.
“There’s nothing out here! Stop this madness!”
Still looking out to sea, Ainsley throws the rope down. “She is too far out now. We have to get closer.”
He runs past the captain again, this time towards the sails of the ship. Grabbing another rope, this one adjusting the length of the sail.
Cutler sprints towards him and take hold of the same rope.
“Calm down Ainsley. We can’t be doing this. You will throw us off course!”
The first mate’s eyes lit up. “You’re right. We can get closer to her if we just change our course!”
He let go of the rope, sending captain Cutler off his feet for a second before he took control of the sail and tied it to the mast.
Cutler turns to see Ainsley spinning the wheel with all his might. “Hang on las, we’ll save you!” Ainsley yells.
The captain runs up and grabs the wheel, holding it still. The men are now fighting over which way to steer the ship.
“Ainsley, listen to me. There’s no woman out in the ocean. You have a madness blinding you!”
“No Captain, I can see her clear as day. Look!” He points out to the water again to the right.
“Stop pointing to noth-.”
Cutler froze in amazement. Floating there in the ocean, moving with the waves was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Fair skin, long brown hair, water coming up to her collar bone. She waved at the both of them as if saying come here.
The captain released his grip on the helm and Ainsley continued turning the ship towards the woman.
“It can’t be.” The captain said. “How could something so beautiful be all the way out here?”
Still spinning the wheel vigorously, his first mate stared shouting towards her.
“We’re coming! Just wait a little longer!”
Captain Cutler starter screaming. “Faster! Faster!”
The more they sailed towards the woman, the farther she seemed to be from the ship.
“Drop the sails Ainsley. We need to go faster!”
Cutler takes the helm as Ainsley runs around adjusting all the sails. When finished, he returned to join the captain at the helm.
“Are we getting closer captain?”
They look out at her and see nothing, like she just disappeared. Cutler’s face was turning red with furry.
“The ship is at full speed. Why haven’t we caught her yet?”
A beautiful sound now filled his ears. Calming him and bring his attention to the left of the ship.
“Spotted her!” Ainsley said.
While changing direction, she seemed to go under water.
“Quick captain, she’s drowning!”
Crash…
The ship slams into the side of the cliffs. The bow is crushed inward, snapping the mast at the base. Sending the sails flying forward. Ainsley is thrown onto the deck right before where the wood splintered cutting the ship in half. Cutler was slammed into the helm, losing his breath and smacking his head on the wheel.
The ship starts sinking and the two men are still looking for the woman in the water. A second sail breaks and falls on Ainsley while he is staring out to sea, looking for the woman. He Is crushed by the weight of it and sent down the bottom of the ocean.
The Captain sees this and turns his gaze back to the water, finding the woman. He dives in and begins swimming towards her. Each stroke faster than the last one until he reaches her.
“I made it! I’ve finally made it to you!”
He puts his hands around her back, and she wraps hers around his neck. Moving his hands down, captain Cutler feels something scaly, and is hit by something on his leg. When looks down the woman pushed him under the water and holds him there.
Arms flailing, legs following suite, Cutler fights towards the surface. She let him back up. He takes a giant gasp of fresh air and turns to see giant needle like teeth coming at him. The woman bites him. He screams into the night until there was nothing left for him to scream.
The next morning, two men are floating along the water. “Do you think we should have gone with Captain Cutler and Ainsley?” Riley asking Clive as they laid in their dingy. “Why would you think that’s a good idea Riley?”
“Well, they have a ship.”
“We have a ship!” Clive replied.
“We have a dingy!”
Clive gave Riley a wave and went back to lying down. Pieces of driftwood started floating up to the dingy. One piece bumped into Riley’s hand as it hung over the side. He pulled it in and started reading the letters on the plank.
“Clive, what does “TIN” mean?”
Clive sat up and grabbed the board from Riley. He started inspecting the wood and after his eyes started beaming, began laughing.
“Is it a funny joke?”
“No. Its part of the Salvum Itinerbus.”
“What’s that?”
“That’s the ship that Captain Cutler Stole. Sad but can’t quite get past the irony.”
Riley still looked unsure of what Clive was saying.
“What’s so ironic? That we were supposed to be on it?”
Clive looked up from the board. “That and this is Latin for safe travels.”
Riley chuckled. “You’re right, that is funny. What do you think happened to them? Someone caught them?”
Clive looked out at the water. “No, not the fastest ship in the armada.”
Clive grabbed his knife and held it close. “Stay fast Riley, there may be Siren in these waters.”
