Dwellers of the New World Chapter Twelve ( Pt 11 ) On the Horizon

Events took their course, though gales continued to gust. The downcast atmosphere below was replaced by feelings of eagerness to reach land, a new energy gave some members of the crew hope, though Bracus remained sceptical that it was safe to go up on deck, the rain could still be heard pounding on the hull roof, it came in bursts stopping and starting.

Varden slept soundly throughout the storm, even unaware of the racket coming from the chickens who were caged in the hold at the back of the ship, they were agitated and scared and needed to escape the bars that held them.

“Someone cover those damn chickens...the noise is unbearable,” roared Bracus. “The continuous din is driving me crazy.” He held his hands to his ears, the lines on his forehead standing out like ripples.

“Right away Sir!” Replied Brigs...making his way to the hold, but muttering under his breath. “That man's loosing his mind.” After covering the cages with sacking, Brigs made his way over to Varg and sat down beside him.

Varg was as white as a sheet and looked as if he'd seen a ghost. Although he'd stopped shaking...he just stared into thin air as if he were somewhere else.

Brigs was concerned for the man. “Are you okay Varg?” he uttered in a whisper.

But Varg said nothing, not even blinking.

“I think Bracus has been on land too long and had too much of the ale, it be playing with his mind don't you think?”

Still Varg did not reply.

“His leg ain't getting any better either.” Brigs was determined to get something out of Varg. He lifted the man's chin towards him. “What do you think Varg?”

But Varg just gazed as if right through Brigs, his hand clenched in a fist, rested in the other hand on his lap.

“Look I know yer brother's gone, but you know...if he were going to die, he'd want the Ocean to take him...don't you think?”

At this point Varg spoke. “I feel like I've lost me arm or a leg, I can't function without Jason...even though he were younger than me, he were still the tough one, I thought he were indestructible.” Varg wiped his eyes as they filled with tears. “He always made the decisions, I were the weak one...no one understands.”

At that last remark, Brigs decided he would take Varg into his protection, he realised that if he was going to have his own ship one day, he would need as many men on his side as he could get. “You stay with me Varg me lad, I'll be strong for both of us...don't you be worrying.”

A short while later It was all hands on deck, apart from Brigs, who was still sitting with Varg down in the hull. Land was now in sight and could be seen on the horizon. Although the rain had stopped the wind continued, but as luck would have it the weather blew in their favour, pushing them on towards their destination.

Moving in closer, the mountain rocks towered high like giant masters of their domain. At the highest peaks, snow lay drifting down crevices, yet never quite reaching the bottom; before they froze. The crew shivered, the rags that they wore gave them no protection from the elements, now Winter was on its way and Summer was a distant memory.

“There's a big fish just waiting to get us...the biggest whopper you ever seen...don't believe it won't bite, cause it's crazy...hungry.” Varden was having a nightmare, when Brigs came over and shook him awake, leaving Varg to his own thoughts.

“Varden! Me boy...it's just a dream.” The big man stared him in the face. “There ain't no big fish coming to get us, we're near Wild Whistling Isle...you'll be safe now.”

“How long have I been asleep?” Uttered Varden, a strained look on his face as droplets of sweat ran down his his cheeks.

“Quite a while me boy...you've had quite a shock and sleep were the best thing for you. How do you feel now?”

Varden thought about it, wiping his eyes and scratching his head. “I could really do with something to eat and drink, I'm parched.”

“Then I'll get some bread and left over meat and an apple...how will that do you?”

Varden licked his lips in anticipation. “That would be good...Oh and some water too...I'm so thirsty.” After eating and drinking, the boy was feeling a lot better, though he went to stand but felt a bit wobbly after being asleep for so long, so he sat and watching the children stretch their legs,

As all the crew and Bracus were up on deck now, so Cinnamon felt it was safe enough to go over and speak with Varden. Approaching him she smiled and sat down beside the boy. “We're almost there,” she whispered, taking his hand and squeezing it “We need to have a plan if we intend on escaping.”

The boy now felt wide awake and alert, he grabbed his hand away from her, annoyed that she was even talking to him. “You shouldn't do that...if Bracus finds out we know each other, that'll be the end of our plan.”

Cinnamon pulled away, but said nothing feeling sad that he should react in such a way, she needed comforting herself and felt quite alone in her thoughts of Dawson and whether or not he was still alive.

Realising he'd upset the girl, he continued answering her question. “There are many jetties along the channel, until I know which one we'll land at, I cannot be sure which way we'll go.” 

He paused thinking of his family and wondering if they were still alive it had been so long since he'd seen them. “You must keep close so that when I give you the wink, you must be ready to escape and run like the wind; follow me until we're out of sight.”

“There's only one problem!” announced Cinnamon.

Varden looked at her, his eyes now showing concern. “What's that...what could possibly be a problem?”

Cinnamon looked over at the boy who sat watching her. “Well...its like this, that boy over there,” she pointed over at her young charge. “He's become attached to me, his name's Will and I said I'd look after him; I can't possibly escape without him, not after I made a promise.”

Varden stared over at the child and then turned to Cinnamon. “He's young, I'm sure he can run fast, but he's the only one you bring you understand? the others won't be able to come I'm afraid.”

Cinnamon shook on it and said she agreed. “Has anyone mentioned to you about Varg's brother Jason being taken by the sea?” She asked knowing that the boy had slept through the storm.

“No...they haven't, there seems to be a lot I don't know about...but now I'm wide awake and eager to get going.”

Cinnamon was eager to gossip and continued to whisper to Varden about what was going on. “Well it seems that it's hit Varg really badly and Brigs is comforting him...I can see a friendship building there.” She smiled at the thought of the two of them becoming companions.

Varden had no interest in their relationship, he just sat and wondered where the ship would land, his stomach full of butterflies anticipating their escape. Cinnamon decided she'd leave Varden to his thoughts and went back to young Will; placing her arm around the boy's shoulders, while she kept an eye on Varden.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Thirteen ( Pt 1 ) Nearly There! | ABCtales