Songs Of My Endeavour
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The Song of the Storm-Tossed Ship.
The storm has come, and we are tossed on its waves;
We have lost our way in a strange land far from home.
Our ship is broken to pieces upon this rocky shore,
And all that remains for us now is death or life.
—Song of the Storm-Tossed Ship (sung by the crew)
“I’m going up,” said Kestrel as he dropped down onto his feet beside her. “You stay here.” He took hold of one end of the rope ladder with both hands and began climbing it slowly. She watched him go without speaking until she heard the thump of his boots against the deck above them.
Then she turned back towards the hatchway leading into the aft cabin where they had left their belongings. It was still open, but there were no signs of anyone having been inside since the night before when they’d taken refuge there after being forced off course by the storm.
Kestrel’s bow and quiver lay neatly arranged on top of a chest at the foot of the bed, along with several other items which looked like personal effects belonging to someone who didn’t expect to be staying long aboard the ship.
A small book sat atop the pile, bound in leather and decorated with silver filigree around its edges. Its cover bore an illustration of two ships sailing across a sea dotted with islands. There seemed little doubt about what it must contain.
She picked it up and opened it carefully so as not to damage any of the pages. The first few contained nothing more than lists of names and places, accompanied by sketches showing how each island might look if seen from the air.
But then something caught her eye. At the bottom of page thirty-eight, written in large letters, was the name ‘Cormorant’. And below that, in smaller writing, were the words ‘My father’s journal.’
Her heart leaped within her breast. This was Cormorant’s own account of his voyage! Surely he wouldn’t mind if she read some of it? After all, she knew next to nothing about him except for the fact that he had sailed away alone years ago and never returned. If only she could find out why …
But even as the thought crossed her mind, another voice whispered in reply. What would you do if you found out? Would you tell me everything I wanted to know, just because it made your life easier? Or would you keep things secret so that you can use my ignorance to manipulate me later on?
It was true enough. In spite of herself, she couldn’t help wondering whether Cormorant really did intend to return someday. Perhaps he hadn’t told his daughter anything about himself simply because he didn’t want to worry her.
On the other hand, perhaps he intended to leave again once he had finished reading through his journals. Whatever the reason, it wasn’t fair of her to take advantage of his trust.
Besides, she reminded herself, there was no guarantee that he would ever make it back to Havenport. Even if he managed to reach the coast safely, there was always the chance that he might run aground somewhere along the way.
And if that happened, he’d probably die anyway. Better to let him write whatever he liked and hope that he survived to see the day when he finally reached his destination.
Then she remembered something else. Her mother had often spoken of the importance of keeping secrets, especially those concerning family affairs. No matter how much you love someone, you should never reveal too many details about yourself. That way lies disaster – and betrayal.
So she closed the book gently and put it aside. As soon as she had done so, however, she felt a pang of regret. How foolish of her to feel disappointed that she had failed to discover anything new about Cormorant. All she had learned was that he was a man of great courage and determination and that he had loved his wife very deeply. Nothing more.
Still, she reflected, that was better than nothing. And besides, she had already discovered one thing of interest. Although he had obviously kept his journals hidden from everyone else on board ship, he had apparently shown them to his daughter. So maybe he trusted her to keep such matters private.
After that, she spent most of the morning exploring the rest of the aft cabin. She examined every piece of furniture, checked under the mattress and beneath the chests, and even went so far as to lift the lid of the captain’s desk. But although she searched everywhere, she found no sign of any maps or charts.
Nor was there anything that resembled a map room. Instead, all she came across were a number of books and papers relating to navigation, including a copy of the latest edition of Captain Harwick’s Handbook for Sailors.
By midmorning she was beginning to get hungry again, so she decided to explore the main part of the ship. It took her almost half an hour before she located the hatchway leading down into the hold. Then she followed the narrow stairs until they ended at the base of the mast. Here she paused to examine the rigging, trying to imagine what it must have been like to sail this vessel during the days of the Golden Age.
The masts stood high above her head, their sails fluttering in the breeze. Below them, the deck was crowded with wooden boxes containing cargo. Some of these appeared to be empty while others held sacks of grain, barrels of salted fish, bundles of dried herbs, and stacks of cloth. There seemed to be plenty of food aboard, but where was it being stored?
As she gazed around, her eyes fell upon two figures standing beside a pile of crates. They turned towards her as she approached, revealing themselves to be a young woman and a boy who looked to be about ten years old. Both wore long cloaks over their clothes, which were covered by leather aprons.
Their hair hung loose, tied back behind their heads in the style favored by sailors. The girl carried a large basket filled with vegetables, while the lad had a sack slung over his shoulder.
“Good morning,” said the boy cheerfully. “Have we met?”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t think so.”
He smiled. “That’s okay. My name is Cormorant. You’re the new crew member, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am. Is that your father up there?”
Cormorant nodded. “My mum’s inside. We’ve got some lunch ready if you want to join us.” He pointed towards a small table set against the wall next to the hatchway.
“Thank you,” she replied. “But first I need to find the galley. Do either of you happen to know its location?”
Both children looked puzzled. “What are you talking about, kid?” asked Cormorant.
His companion frowned. “You mean the kitchen? Why would anyone bother looking for that here?”
“Oh, right!” exclaimed the girl. “Of course! This isn’t a real ship. It’s just a model made out of wood and rope. If you go through the door over there, you’ll come to the galley. It’s not really big enough to cook in though, so my dad usually eats his meals outside.”
“Thanks,” she told them gratefully. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind showing me the way…”
They led her through a doorway at the rear of the hold, then climbed a ladder up onto the deck. After passing several other hatches, they reached another hatch at the top of the mast. When she opened it, she found herself staring down into an open-air dining area.
A wooden table had been placed near the center of the space, surrounded by benches. On each side of the table sat three people: a tall, middle-aged woman wearing a white dress; a short, balding man dressed in black trousers and shirt; and a younger girl whose dark brown hair was tied back in a ponytail.
All four were eating bread and cheese, washed down with cups of water. As soon as she entered, they stopped chewing and stared at her.
“Hello,” she began nervously. “Is someone going to tell me why I’m sitting here?”
The older woman gave her a friendly smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss…?”
“Sparrow,” she answered. “And yes, please do explain. What exactly is happening here?”
“Well, you see,” explained the woman, “this is our little world. Or rather, it used to be. Before we left on our voyage, my husband built this place using his magic powers. Now he spends most of his time sailing from port to port, collecting supplies for us to use when we reach our destination.”
“How did you end up marooned in the middle of nowhere?” asked Sparrow.
“We weren’t always stranded,” said the girl, leaning forward eagerly. “In fact, we once lived in a beautiful castle overlooking the sea. That was before my mother married Mr. Crowfoot and moved away.” She glanced at her father, who remained silent.
“Anyway,” continued the girl, “we were all very happy living together in the castle. But one day, a terrible storm swept across the ocean, destroying everything in sight. Our home was destroyed too, along with everyone else’s. Only a few survived, including my parents. Since then, they’ve been searching for a safe harbor to call their own.”
“So how does this help me?” wondered Sparrow.
The girl shrugged. “There’s no point trying to escape now. Even if you could somehow make it past the guards, you’d never survive the journey to the mainland. So what’s the alternative? Stay here until we die of starvation or thirst?”
“No,” agreed Sparrow. “Not unless there’s something worth staying for.”
“There is,” declared the man, rising to his feet. “Our daughter has discovered a treasure chest hidden beneath the floorboards. Once we have it in hand, we can sail off into the sunset and start a brand new life somewhere far more exciting than this island ever was.”
“Why should I believe any of this?” demanded Sparrow. “If your story is true, where is the treasure?”
“Right here,” announced the girl. “Come and take a look.”
She stepped aside and indicated a gap between two planks of wood. The young pirate peered into the darkness below, but couldn’t see anything except a faint glimmer of light.
“Do you suppose that’s the box?” she asked.
“I certainly hope so,” replied the man. “Otherwise, we’re wasting our time.”
He knelt down beside the hole and reached inside. His fingers touched something hard, which felt like metal. Then he pulled out a shiny object wrapped in cloth.
“This must be it,” he whispered. “Let’s get it upstairs.”
***
Once they returned to the main cabin, the man took the treasure chest and placed it on the table. He unwrapped the cloth around its lid, revealing a large silver coin embossed with the image of a bird.
“That’s quite a find,” remarked Sparrow. “What will you do with it?”
“Use it to buy passage on a boat bound for someplace better,” answered the man. “Then we’ll set sail and leave this cursed island behind forever.”
“But where are you planning to go?” asked Sparrow. “You don’t seem like the kind of person who knows much about geography.”
“Don’t worry yourself about that,” responded the man. “As long as we keep moving, I’m sure we won’t run into any trouble.”
“Wherever you want to go,” added the girl, “as long as it isn’t here.”
“Exactly!” exclaimed the man. “Now come on – let’s show these pirates what we’re made of.”
With that, he turned to face the door and raised both hands above his head. Instantly, a beam of golden light shot forth from him and struck the wall opposite them. It split apart with a loud crack, leaving a gaping hole in the ship’s hull. A moment later, water gushed through the breach, flooding the room.
“Quickly! Get back downstairs while there’s still time,” cried the girl. “Hurry!”
Her father hurried over to the stairs and started climbing downwards. As soon as he disappeared from view, Sparrow followed suit. With every step she took, the wooden steps creaked loudly under her weight.
When she finally reached the bottom, she found herself standing in a narrow corridor lined with doors leading off either side. Each door had a different number painted on it: 1, 2, 3…
“Which way?” she muttered.
A sudden gust of wind blew open the nearest door, sending Sparrow stumbling back onto the wet deck. On the other side stood a tall, thin figure dressed entirely in black. Its eyes gleamed red in the gloom, and its skin looked pale enough to give anyone nightmares.
“Welcome aboard my vessel,” boomed the creature, stepping closer to Sparrow. “My name is Captain Bloodbeard. Now, tell me, little lady, why did you just try to sneak up on us?”
Sparrow realized that the captain wasn’t alone. Standing behind him was a second pirate wearing a similar outfit, although this one wore an eye patch instead of a bandana. Both men carried swords strapped to their hips, and each bore a wicked-looking cutlass at his belt.
“Whoa,” gasped Sparrow when she saw the weapons in the pirates’ hands. “These aren’t ordinary blades, are they?”
Captain Bloodbeard laughed. “Of course not. These are enchanted swords, forged by the finest smiths in Tortuga. They were specially designed to slice through flesh without harming the wielder. And trust me, you wouldn’t want to test them against someone else’s sword.”
“How very interesting,” said Sparrow, taking a few tentative steps towards the doorway. “And what exactly are you going to do with those swords?”
“Cut you into tiny pieces,” replied the captain. “It would be such a shame if we lost all that lovely meat.”
“Oh no,” moaned Sparrow, backing away even further. “Please don’t kill me. You can have everything else, but please spare my life.”
The captain chuckled again. “Very well then. We shall make a deal. If you promise never to return to Pirate’s Cove, I’ll let you live.”
“Done,” agreed Sparrow. “Just put down your swords first.”
Both pirates lowered their weapons, and Captain Bloodbeard motioned for Sparrow to follow him into the next room. The two pirates stayed outside, guarding the entrance. Once they’d gone, Sparrow stepped forward and peered inside.
She could see a small bed covered in rumpled sheets, along with several chests full of clothes hanging from hooks on the walls. There was also a desk piled high with books and papers, plus a couple of chairs.
But most intriguing of all, she noticed a strange contraption lying on top of the desk. It consisted of a series of tubes connected to various objects, including a glass jar containing what appeared to be eyeballs floating in liquid.
“Is that a guillotine?” whispered Sparrow.
“Yes indeed,” replied Captain Bloodbeard. “I call it ‘the Glimmering Blade’. It’s a device used to chop people’s heads clean off. Very handy when you need to dispose of unwanted guests.”
“Why didn’t you use it earlier? Why wait until now?”
“Because it takes hours to prepare the blade properly,” explained Captain Bloodbeard. “Plus, I wanted to get rid of our unwelcome visitors before using it on you.” He pointed to the guillotine. “So, how does it feel having your head chopped off?”
Sparrow shuddered. “Not good.”
“No, it certainly doesn’t,” agreed the captain. “But fear not, because I’ve got something better than a guillotine. Something so much more satisfying.”
He walked over to another chest and pulled out a large book bound in leather. Then he opened it up, revealing hundreds upon thousands of pages filled with words written across the page like some kind of code.
“What’s that?” asked Sparrow.
“That,” replied Captain Bloodbeard, “is a dictionary. A magical book that contains the meaning of any word or phrase ever spoken. So, if you’re wondering what the captain means by ‘dispose of’, here’s the answer…”
***
“Disposal,” read the captain, pointing to a single word on the page. “Means to remove from sight, place somewhere safe, or destroy. Disposable items include things such as food, drink, clothing, furniture, equipment, vehicles, buildings, etc.
In addition, disposables may refer to people who are expendable, disposable soldiers, or useless employees. Such individuals are often considered to be dispensable, especially if they prove themselves to be incompetent, unreliable, or otherwise unproductive.”
“Wow!” exclaimed Sparrow. “You really know your stuff! That must take ages to memorize.”
“Well, yes,” admitted the captain. “Although there’s always the chance of making a mistake. For example, if you say ‘disposable army man’ instead of ‘unwanted guest’, you might end up with a bunch of dead bodies rather than just one.”
“Ooh, scary,” muttered Sparrow. “Are you sure about this? I mean, you haven’t actually killed anyone yet, have you?”
“Don’t worry,” assured Captain Bloodbeard. “This is a perfectly legal way to dispose of unwanted guests. All the laws regarding murder apply equally to disposals too.”
“Really?” asked Sparrow. “Then why did you ask me to leave?”
“Ah, that’s simple,” replied Captain Bloodbeard. “If I hadn’t told you to go, you’d still be sitting right where you are now. Instead, I sent you away so that I could dispose of you later.”
“Clever,” said Sparrow. “Didn’t think of that myself.”
“Of course not,” replied Captain Bloodbeard. “After all, you aren’t a pirate.”
Sparrow frowned at his comment. “Am I not?”
“Certainly not,” confirmed Captain Bloodbeard. “Pirates sail the seas looking for treasure. They steal other people’s possessions, and they plunder their ships. Pirates are thieves, scoundrels, and villains. And you definitely do not fit into that category.”
“How can you tell?” wondered Sparrow. “I’m wearing a dress, after all.”
Captain Bloodbeard smiled. “It’s easy. Just look at your face. Your expression says it all: you’re innocent, naive, and trusting. You wouldn’t last five minutes as a real pirate – you’d probably die of boredom within an hour.”
“Oh dear,” sighed Sparrow. “Now I don’t want to kill you anymore.”
“Good,” replied Captain Bloodbeard. “Because we don’t need to waste time killing each other. We both know that you won’t make it back to the island alive. If you try, I’ll simply send my crewmen to hunt you down and bring you back here. Once you arrive, I’ll dispose of you without delay.”
“And then what will happen to you?” asked Sparrow.
“We’ll continue sailing around the world, searching for new islands to conquer,” replied Captain Bloodbeard. “As long as no one finds us first, we should be able to keep doing exactly that forever.”
“Forever?” repeated Sparrow. “That sounds very boring.”
“Boring or not, it beats being killed,” replied the captain. “Besides, I’ve already been through this process once today. Now it’s your turn.”
Sparrow thought for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, but only if you promise to let me return home when I get bored. Otherwise, I might decide to stay here permanently.”
The captain nodded. “Deal.”
With that, he pushed open the door and led Sparrow outside onto the deck. The two pirates stood side-by-side, staring out towards the horizon. Below them was nothing but an endless ocean stretching off into the distance. It looked peaceful enough, although Sparrow couldn’t help noticing how many tiny dots were bobbing along in the water.
The End