More Pirate Story!

Well, here's another part of my pirate story! We're all glad Sarah won the card game, aren't we?!? Alas, poor Sarah, as if her life wasn't hard enough... Well, as usual, tell me what you think! Here's the last chapter I posted, in case you forget what's going on (Chapter 8 The Bet)



Chapter 9: Broken Mast

Sarah stood on the deck watching the sky. It was turning from blue, to gray, to black. Then the wind started to pick up, blowing her golden locks around her face.

"Oh no." commented Skinner "I knew this was coming! Rotten luck! That this is, rotten luck!" And he stormed into the galley, leaving Sarah to look at the building storm.

The waves grew and began to slap the ship, tossing it back and forth.

"Get below deck, lass!" yelled Skinner out of the galley window "Tis' the best place for you in a time like this!"

Sarah ran below to the hold. She huddled by the tall packing crates. Slowly the storm picked up, growing even stronger.

Sarah began to think horrible thoughts.

What if they sprang a leak and the ship started to sink? What then? Would they all die? Or maybe all the pirates would get into the row boats and and sail away to safety, leaving her behind to drown. After all, she was just a slave and nothing more.

The wind howled around the ship, always getting louder and stronger. The waves crashed with an angry force upon the ship, causing it to shudder. They splashed over the sides, soaking The Ransom's decks with salty spray.

Overhead, Sarah could hear Jamison and the Captain yelling orders. They crew hurried to obey, but the storm was strong and loud, and the work went slowly. Sarah realized that she could help, at least just a little.

So gathering all her courage, she darted up the wooden steps to the cold and wet deck.

Wind. Waves. Rain. Salty water. Lighting. Thunder.

Sarah was soon soaked to the skin. They had to bring down the sails. Jamison hurried to secure pulleys and tie knots. Sarah took a quick glance up at the tall masts, they were nearly done.

Then, there was a terrific crash.

"Sarah!" yelled Jamison, pushing her away.

The huge main mast had cracked in half. The top came falling out of the sky, landing right where Sarah had just been standing.

Sarah looked up from where she had fallen on the deck. She would have died...if not for Jamison Dread.

"Darn it! Blast it all!" yelled Jamison "Where in blazes are we going to get a new mast? How in tarnation are we supposed to get to the Bahamas now?"

Running his head through his long black hair, he shook his head and stormed to the other side of the deck. Not taking another look at Sarah.

Captain Frite was even angrier then Jamison about the broken mast. Muttering dark curses in all sorts of languages, he kicked the fallen piece with his dirty boot. Than he shook his fist at the dark clouds.

"Curse you! Darn you! Horrid storm! Blasted wind! Think you can best us, don't you?...." he paused shaking with rage "Well you can't! You haven't bested me or me' crew! You hear?"

And still uttering things that are best left unwritten, he stormed to his cabin.

At last the storm finished. It ended in the dead of night.

At last Sarah was free to sleep. She was so tired.

Her dress, which was already in bad condition, was torn and soaked, and covered in grime. Her golden hair was twisted in knots, and her face was smudged with dirt. She had fallen asleep leaning on a pile of rope on the deck, half sheltered by some packing cases. Dirty and tired as she was, Sarah was still dreadfully beautiful.

"You saved her life, I saw it." remarked Johnny Terror wringing out his wet cap.

"So what if I did?" snarled Jamison taking a deep breath on his pipe.

"Hey, I'm just saying..."

"She's worth several hundred crowns." he paused "That's what I was saving, the money."

"You're lying, Jamison. You like Sarah, admit it!"

"What in tarnation are you talking about, kid? She's a slave and nothing more. I have no feelings for her."

But Jamison Dread, the First Mate of ship The Ransom, was lying.