“Hardabout,preparetojibe!”TheCaptainroared,withnotimefordelay. Theseasonedcrewwentintoactioninunisonwiththeverbalcommand.September’sweatherragedextrarank,asthegalewagedwaragainstthebodyoftheship.Thestressoftheboomvibratedwithcracklessoundinglikegun fire,astheyhopedtoridethemountainouswavesanddroptheirsails.Notimewasgiventhemtoconsidertheriggingasbladewastakentorope,cascadingwavesofcanvasfelltotheship'sfloor. Even though the crew' was scurrying about the depths of the Sea plagued their thoughts, while fear moved them forward.
Nopint-sizedtempestwouldoutbellowtheir Captainhisverystancewaspowerandhisvoiceboomedoverthewindandthunder. This ship was so named ‘The Gale’ for this was the season of rest for most vessels. However there was no rest this day. Whitehotshotsoflightningblazedfromtheceilingofthestorm,splinteringtheforemastinpieces.ItwouldtakeamonthofSunday’s todrythehullofthatshipbutsomehowthebowwasaflame.
Menscuttledaboutlikeantsinawindtunnel.Theirfeetfloateduponthesurfaceofthedeck,burningpiecesofmastweretossedoverboard.Thejettingtidesrockedthevesselwithre-energizedvigor, and a vengeance. Alasamanwaslosttothedeep.Thecaptainhadfeetofironandseemedaffixedtotheshipasheseizedthehelmandwaitedforthecalm.Even so,thecalmwasnotinthis place, only fierce windandviolentrockingrodewiththem. All hands signed aboard just to say they knew this Master of the Waves, for a master seaman was he. They were a most salty lot, but they all longed to match his iron.
Sea-legswerenotenoughforthecrewtoholdtheirground;theygrappledforahandfulloftetheredropeattachedtoeachsectionoftheship.Themenwerearrangedliketoyfigurinesina child's play toy.Theeyesofthecaptainweresetfastahead,andtheywereasdarkasthe deep,andlikethe deephiseyesshowednofear.Nordidhewavieronhisdecision,hewouldweatherthisnor’eastertoclearskiesortheocean’sfloor. Faith in his maker andawillfulconstitutionbroughtasmiletohisrain-soaked face and the storm raged on.
A very good tale. I felt the fear and I felt the storm. I liked the realistic feel of the story. You made the reader feel the struggle to defeat and survive the storm. I wanted more. Thank you Cherrie for sharing the amazing story.
Coyote
Posted 7 Years Ago
7 Years Ago
Thank you, I love the sea and the power of its beauty
Cherrie, Thank you for entering this story into our contest. Submissions will be accepted until October 15th. If you have other WC friends who you feel may be interested in entering, please pass along the information.
Others beat me to the punch. Detail...atmosphere (x3). Great short piece. Yeah, it had the feel of being condensed; like drinking chocolate milk without the milk... ;) But that's ok, because of the brevity it gave you your money's worth.
Oh, give me more...reminded me of the classic "Old Man and the Sea"... You sure you weren't a tar in another life...come on, be honest...
This was such a vividly descriptive piece,it sounded like you lived the experience or at least watched "Captain Courageous" a few dozen times...
A really great, fun read, Cherrie
allen
I am a published poet and love poetry. After a lifetime of country living, I'm making a move back to town. I find my surroundings a great inspiration to me. I also have two books on Amazon Kindle: .. more..