Empty Handed
By gcharlesworth
- 206 reads
Thunder rumbled in the distance as the sea churned itself into a violent turmoil. Samuel realised now was the time to turn back. There was enough in the nets to call this trip a success, however they would be lucky to get back before the storm engulfed them. This was the best time of year to catch. The fish were always easy to find, but they were always near a storm. It was as if they knew that the fishing boats wouldn't venture to them in this weather.
The bowels of Samuels boat were almost full. There was enough for him to sell to feed the family for two months. Not bad for three days work. He could have stayed out longer and filled the stores, but that would be foolish. He was cutting it fine as it was.
There was a chugging sound and all but the tempestuous sea was silent. The engines.
Samuel rushed down below deck to the engine room. It wasn't so much a room than a cupboard. He lifted the latch and saw oil pouring from the engine. Luckily he had plenty of oil on board. Unluckily though, it would take time to fix the leak. There was a hole in a pipe too big to patch. He began to take the pipe out. There was another that would fit in its place.
Nearly an hour later and the vessel began to sway violently. For the first time in his life Samuel began to feel sea sick. He struggled to attach the new pipe but finally managed to do it. He ran back to his bridge and tried to restart the engines. Several attempts later they started.
The waves were now dwarfing the vessel. Numerous times Samuel thought they would capsize, only for them to sway in the opposite direction. He struggled to keep his balance. The storm was upon them now and all he could do was to steer the boat towards home.
They rode the waves for what seemed like an eternity until they got the better of them. The glass in front of him shattered and he lost control. The controls now out of his hands. The waves pummelled the boat until it became impossible to stay upright. The largest wave came without warning and crushed the roof of the vessel around Samuel. He was thrown overboard.
Falling toward the sea for hours Samuel braced himself for impact. He hit and sank. He was a strong swimmer, and this wasn't his first time overboard. He righted himself and found the surface, looking up to see the boat fall towards him. He dived through the wave and surfaced again on the other side.
He awoke with the sunlight. The seas now calm, surrounding him in its embrace. Driftwood was under him now carrying him. He was awoken by the sound of a dock bell in the distance. He looked up to see the dock he left just three days before. They were home.
- Log in to post comments