[NSW-Fic] The Adventures and Voyages of the 1700s

[Daft Adidas]

The Adventures and Voyages of the 1700s

 

There’s not to much know about me. My name is Cory Thomas. I have a good family. Two older siblings. A brother who is a young pirate. A sister who works for a shilling. My dad is a Captain on the Wavedancer and picked all in his crew. My mother stays at home. At looks after me and you.

 

If only you knew! What tomorrow may be! I hope you like my poem! It might be the last you see! I’m going to be eleven in a week! Captain Stint has picked me! I shall be leaving my home. To go to the open sea!

 

Cory Books brings you the longest and biggest adventure yet. Going through his life as a young lad to a noble captain of the sea. Though look inside this book. You’ll see his destiny.

Chapter 1

The Unusual happenings

 

I woke up this morning. This time by myself. Yawned and looked over at my clock. I was up an hour early. Before Mum gets up. Then I looked on the other side of my rough and uncomfortable bed. There it was my calendar. I ticked off another day. This time in a week I shall be eleven. Dad’s coming home. I’ll get to see him. He’ll tell me about his wonderful adventures and if he had any duels or dangers. Then the next day I bet he’ll ask me to go with him. Mum does not want me to go. That makes me think again. I probably won’t go.

 

I often here Dad and Mum having chats. Well not chats, arguments. I might be down to get some water and I hear them. If Dad’s home from his brilliant adventures. The last one when I was nine, quite a while ago I heard.

 

“Jack, he’s too young, it can get dangerous out there.”

“He wants too and so do I” my father told my mother anxiously.

“I’d be left alone” mother said frowning with disappointment.

“You come then!” Father said his face brightening up. Mother went into deep thought for several moments, soon speaking up.

 

“No. I don’t want to get harmed. They treat ladies like dirt.” Father then sighed.

“He has to come some time. He’s growing up.” The face upon mother told she agreed but didn’t want to say.

“When he’s 12” she said quickly and stubbornly.

“11” my father said pushing it.

“Alright, but look after him. Come back lots too. Maybe one day I’ll come. But not yet. I’m not bored of life. I’m sure I will be in a few years.”

 

Though I bet they have had more conversations the last times he’s been here mum has probably pushed it fifteen. Possibly more!

 

Throughout the day I did my normal routine.

I got up, scrubbed my tooth pegs. Washed my face and hands with a bucket of water from the beach. Picked up my clothes from the drying line and put them on. As always they were a little soggy. Though as I was walking around in them got rid of it. To be honest I’m used it. I’m used to everything. Mum got up. Then I walked the three mile walk to school. You see. Today was different.

 

Half way through history. I’m lost through bags of scrolls searching for information on Baggy the Great or someone similar to the name. The class door burst open and our rowdy headteahcer Miss Kane shouted into the class.

 

“Cory Thomas! Go home, quick as you can!” I grabbed my bag stuffed a few scrolls inside to see if I could still find about the Great Baggy or other and ran like the wind towards my home.

 

It was a good opportunity. This is the first time I’ve skipped school ever. I’ll remember this day. February the 3rd 1741. Only spent an hour at school! Though when I got home it was no delight.

 

Mum was on the sofa bending over tears running down her face like a waterfall. She held a soggy letter in her hand. Covered in drips making the ink almost impossible to read. I bit more violently than I should have I snatched he paper out of my hand and tried to read it.

 

Dear Mrs Thomas.

 

I have been given terrible news that your husband Jack Thomas has died. He was thrown over board by one of his least trusted shipmates. He has escaped and is camping out on an island somewhere in the Pacific.

 

Regards…

 

Coiler (a friend of Jack)

 

I was too traumatised to speak. I looked at my mother who was now sitting up straight sniffling a little. Staring into the wall.

 

“S, sorry Cory” she stuttered. “But I guess you can’t go on the adventure with your dad.”

Then the tears flooded out of my eyes so hard I couldn’t see and I fell into my mothers arms.

 

That night I hardly slept and woke up even earlier than the morning before. That following morning was the weekend. Saturday. No school. But still some work. I had to still find out about Baggy the Great. I did…. eventually.

 

Baggy the Great was one of the first pirates amongst us. He was a Captain and brought in the worst crew you could find. Though he trained them for several years. Turned them into Fit Pirates and sailed to America then right to the far away land Australia. Visiting several islands in Australazia.

 

His nickname was Baggy for his Baggy trousers but real name Stephen. He has sailed to other lands too. Kept many journals to last you a lifetime of reading and is known by any pirate.

 

It took me several hours to find this small piece of information. I could have saved time by asking cranky Pirate Stint from up the track. Though it would be nice to show of at school with more information. Though he is cranky and will probably be drinking rum though I’ll ask him anyway. It might cheer me up.

 

I knocked on his door feeling pretty nervous and there he opened the door with an unopened bottle of rum. His gruffly brown hair and decent and posh looking pirate hat made him look like a funny fellow. He was in a black and blue outfit with an also black shirt tucked underneath. His chain around his neck made of skulls was glowing and was only just visible as the white buttons almost blocked it from view.

 

“Cory, my lad! Come on in and share some rum!” He walked, stumbling a little into his kitchen and flung open a wooden cupboard pulling out two glasses clear as crystal and putting them onto the table. He sat down a little hunched and I sat too. He sat there turned his head to the right like an owl and stared at me for ten seconds then speaking up.

 

“One glass or two” he asked croakily.

“One please” I replied politely. He quickly poured it and then poured some in for his own glass.

 

“Don’t worry I ain’t had much yet laddy. Now Cory what you here for?”

 

“Well first I’ve come for my chores I do for a silver penny every week but I want to talk to you about Baggy the Great.”

 

He lay back in his chair and put his feet up on the table. His eyes rose and then lowered. His face in an expression of maybe anger but after all he was cranky. He sniffed heavily and spoke.

 

“Aye’ he muttered.

“Wish I culda’ met him young Cory. He sighed.

“One hellofa pirate son. Went sailing for twenty years with his crew. No one expected him to come back. But he did. To our very port at the beach too. Ya’ know that son?”

 

“No Captain. Thanks for the information. What chores do you want me to do?” I asked getting up ready for the long list of daunting jobs.

 

“Chores?” “I’m no that cruel son” he chuckled. He bent forward so close his breath flew right into my face and it stunk like a pig. Pig drinking rum.

 

“I know what’s been happenin’. Your dad. Unfortunate fellow, I hate the man who killed him. I know him too. Though I can’t tell ya’. Not yet. Though he was one pig.” I had to stop myself from bursting into laughter on that comment. Thankfully I didn’t even smile at the comment.

 

“So no chores right?” Not this week nor the next. You finish up your rum.” I gulped the rest down in one go and sighed like all rum drinkers too.

 

“Please tell me who killed him!” I shouted aloud in anxiety.

“Sssh keep your voice down sonny!” he whispered sharply back. “I will in time.”

“Now let me go for my walk!”

 

“Thank you for everything Captain Stint” I said to him truly thankful.

“It’s my pleasure” he laughed kicking the table in delight. That’s another weird thing he does.

[Daft Adidas]

Chapter 2

Betrayal, I find

 

It is January the 5th. Monday. You know today at school has been pretty good. The teacher was really impressed with my information on Baggy the Great. But not as impressed as Freddingson, this goody-two-shoes boy who gets everything right. He wears a white shirt with a blue cover over it. He has smooth blonde hair but wears glasses. I guess all goody-two-shoes have to wear glasses otherwise they are not goody enough! He always has his inky pen held in his ear. I tried to do that once but the ink dripped off it and I got in trouble.

 

Well here’s something I need to get my head straight on. I have a girl. A girlfriend. She’s very pretty, well to me anyway. No one knows about us. She has long but not short brown brunette hair. Brown as the mud with raindrops splashing onto it.

 

Now I get the feeling she is uncomfortable around me. Will not speak as much. Will not giggle or laugh in that overly loud way she does. Sometimes she wants to tell me something but then she won’t. I don’t like that. Not one bit. We agreed to meet up tonight. In the big town called Korkton. Outside the Englander Pub.

 

On the hour of four we agreed. I wanted to be their first so got there half an hour early. Someone was outside the pub and put down a filthy mug of rum and then went back inside. He was a fat guy and I pitied him. He was also covered in rags and I’m surprise he could afford a drop of rum. I sneakily grabbed the rum and poured it down my throat. Then I ran into the pub and shouted to the man.

 

“This skinny bloke nicked your rum!” Now I am not the usual type to be bad or sneaky like that. Though I urgently needed to do something to cheer me up. Not to mention I was thirsty.

 

“Oh Christ! Wait a sec John, le’ me look for this bloke!” As the fat man came running out his little podgy legs could carry him he rushed into the wrong direction but it didn’t matter. Anyway he went apart from harming me was the wrong direction!

 

I picked up the empty rum mug and carefully placed in an old bin. So no one would find out I was the one drinking the rum. Oh and so you know, children like myself are aloud to drink rum. But not steal it!

 

I sniggered as I saw the plump man run slowly past a corner. Then I smelled something so nice. So sweet. Something I wanted to gobble in one go. It smelt hot. I looked across the street. There was a bin outside the Bakers. I ran across the street and poked my head in the bin. There lay was a whole bacon baguette. I gawped at the chances of finding this.

 

Who would throw away such immensely scrumptious food? Who would by one and throw it away? Who is crazy? I grabbed it and looked at it for several seconds. Then I looked up at the menu and saw it was one of the dearest foods sold.

 

“Someone well of must have bought this n” I said to myself grinning deviously. I took a big bite into it and spat it out with disgust!

 

“Eugh! In the name of Baggy the Great!” I shouted aloud. “No wonder they threw this away!” That was new phrase I picked up. I must say I quite like it. Normally I am good with picking food and drink up off the streets of Korkton. Though my eyes had lied to me. So had my nose!

 

I looked at the angle of sun and could see it was time to go meet my girl. I ran back across the bustling streets. People scattered around everywhere like busy ants. Some where laughing and drunk smelling the stench of rum. There was swearing echoing through the streets and muffled voices between married ladies. Babies crying and their mothers shouting back at them, then stuffing some bottled milk in their face.

 

I ran into the alleyway beside the Englanders Pub, ready and waiting for her. From a turn round that alleyway I heard a familiar voice and an unknown.

 

“That’s enough” said the familiar voice drawing her face away from the other.. “I have to meet him now.”

“You better tell him. This Cory lad or I’ll smack him in” the other replied harshly. Now I knew what this was all about.

 

“I will” she said sighing. “He is nice, and decent.”

“I’m a lot more” the other said boasting.

 

“Let me just get this done with” she sighed. Though I was standing there round the corner of the alleyway with a heartbroken and hurtful face. I turned away slowly eyeing the other boy maliciously.

 

I pulled a shilling out of my pocket and went into the Pub bought a whole bottle of rum. Took a quick swig and then walked back down that dusty alleyway and threw every drop onto that boy. He was drenched as a drowned rat.

 

“I was going to pour some over you aswell, though fortunately I don’t poor stinking rum over girls, nor ladies” I told her firmly.

 

After that I pulled another shilling out of my pocket and gave it to a man with a horse and cart.

 

“Take me to Whitehope please” I asked politely and the horse quickly cantered away. I looked back and saw my girl, Kate, walk away down the street head down in a sad mood.

 

“Pfft, girls, waste of time” I uttered angrily in a whispering voice.

“Pardon lad?” the horse master asked me.

“Oh nothing, jus’ talking to myself” I replied turning back round as we turned out of the town.

 

Half of an hour later we pulled into my lane, Whitehope and I thanked the horse master. Suddenly Captain Stint came bursting out onto the road wildly in a frantic panic.

 

“Cory! Cory! Of your head and onto your toes my friend!” he shouted at me. It was obvious he had too much to drink.

 

He grabbed me by the shoulder. His heavy weight almost pulling me down so hard I’m surprised I didn’t yelp to rumble each cottage to the ground. He dragged me inside and slammed the door shut making me jump out my skins. My heart beating more than usual. I was hoping he wouldn’t have to tell me more terrible news. I was hoping it was just him in an awfully drunk mood.

 

He stared at me for many seconds. He was breathing hard. So hard it looked like steam was coming out his nose. Wait, that’s not possible! It was just my imagination playing tricks on me like it does at night after all it was getting dark. Then he asked me a question. It didn’t seem to live up to what I thought it might be. At least it’s not bad.

 

“I have ave’ very important question, Cory!”

“What Captain Stint, what?”

“Did ye’ have fun!”

“Uh, yeh” I said. My face almost saying, What the hell are you going on about?

 

“Oh good!” he cried sounding like an American farmer. “Wait” he muttered going into a deep thought then sniffing my head.

“You smell of rum!” he said a wonderfully delighted face appearing in him.

“Ye, I had a mug, why?”

“Your growin’ up!” I thought for several moments and decided against ever drinking rum again. I have to leave it for when I’m old and unhealthy like him. But drinking rum probably made him that way anyway. Well either way I look at it I’m leaving it too my older age.

 

The Captain seemed to notice my down and sad mood.

“Wait a sec” he said sharply sounding a little fierce. “You ain’t happy are you? You didn’t like the rum? You didn’t have fun! Hey I am a poet and I didn’t even know it!”

 

“I had fun” I said plainly. He bashed his fist down on the table with rage throwing some glasses a few feet into the air, then smashing like a window on the table.

 

“Don’t you lie to your Captain!” he shouted fiercely. “Now tell me what’s up!” If I had said nothing was wrong he would have believed me because most people would tell the truth after a fright like that but I told him about my awful outing.

 

“Did you ever like girls Captain?” I asked him before explain.

“Girls” he muttered. “Nah. Not after what my first did to me. In my opinion they’re only good for one damned thing!”

“What’s that Captain?” I asked preparing myself to laugh at a really lame joke.

“Doing the men’s jobs!” he laughed. Though I had to agree. My sister is a chef. Funnily enough I’ll be seeing her at home tonight. Her name is Morganna. She is ok. Works for a shilling everyday, may I add.

 

“So why you asking me this?” he asked a bit stupidly.

“Well for some rea” he cut me out.

“I see” he chuckled lightly.

“Do you” I asked a bit foolishly.

“Aye’. You have a girl don’t ya’. Well what’s the down mood?” I can’t believe he couldn’t see why he did not understand. I don’t know if he’s just plain thick or drunk!

 

“She kissed another boy” I muttered blushing frequently.

“See! Girls only equals waste of time!” It was like he read my mind. Exactly what I had said some while earlier today.

 

“That’s what you thought int it?”

“Yes” I replied simply.

 

“You run along now. I see, I see. Forget girls. They play with your minds and mess up!” he said scowling at the thought. That’s why I drink rum!” he shouted his face brightening up.

 

I walked out his house. I stopped outside his door and raised my eyebrows.

“Right” I uttered cheekily.

 

I walked across the road to my house and walked in through the old wooden creaking door. My mum was making dough and my sister was sitting there reading a book. She titled her head and plonked her bookmark in turning round in our crumply straw sofa. She was nothing special. Farish but long hair. Blue eyes and much else. There ain’t much point in describing her clothes as it seems every time I look at her she’s wearing something different!

 

“How was your day at School then Cory?”

“Same as usual” I laughed sitting myself down beside her.

“Well what’s the same as usual?”

“Maths, geography, history” I told her with an ounce of rudeness in my voice.

“Nothing special?” she asked starting to bug me. Not her fault. I’m just in a bad mood.

 

“No” I told her trying to smile. We left it at that. She could see I was not happy.

 

“Cory, Morganna, it’s Dinner Time!” my mum shouted cheerfully. Trying not to think about our past misfortunes. It has been like that a lot. We got up, her quickly rushing to the food. But myself walking slow and miserably.

 

We was given a slice of brown buttered bread. I only eat half of mine. I can be fussy. Usually when I’m in a bad mood and when I think about my food.

 

“Why are you not eating that?” My mum asked frowning.

“They had extras at school” I lied.

“So there was something special then” Morganna whispered to herself. I heard her. I think she intended me too anyway.

“Oh dear, I forgot” I said in a loud rude voice.

 

I went to bed and sulked up there a little then drifting of to sleep. I would be having a boring week. But on my birthday, I’ll be getting a lot more than I expect.

[JasraLantill]

Refreshing to have a pirate story in the queue. Your tale reminds me of Treasure Island. Again, a few grammatical mistakes (i.e. 'here' for 'hear', and 'their' for 'there', and so on) and a few phrases that probably should have not been on their own, but overall the story is readable and the plot interesting. (But then again, I like pirate stories. )

 

Few things though...

Sometimes the story can be a bit 'wordy'. For example, like the whole scene with the stolen rum and the bacon sandwich. You start off saying that Cory is off to meet his girlfriend, but then write a couple of paragraphs about the stolen rum and the rotten bacon sandwich in the bin. Just keep things simple. If Cory's meeting his girlfriend, there really isn't any need to detail everything he does along the way. Just my two-cents.

 

And this sort of threw me for a loop...

Throughout the day I did my normal routine.

I got up, scrubbed my tooth pegs.

Erm... what exactly are tooth pegs? :s I'm getting a disturbing picture of an eleven-year old boy with wooden dentures and I'm sure that's not what you were meaning to say.

 

Overall, it's a pretty good read so far. Keep it up!

[Daft Adidas]

Ah thanks. I was hoping someone would comment. Toothpegs is just another phrase for teeth.

[Daft Adidas]

Chapter 3

Birthday Treasure

 

Over the next few days was simple. Seems some of the people around our little hamlet seemed edgy. I don’t blame them. We our getting a lot more people passing by in horses. It’s been snowing less. Not that we can do much about it. But these, these passers are sometimes hooded, weary like they want to strike out violently at something. Just my “silly imagination” playing tricks on me I think. But the neighbours think all the same. Should I agree? People don’t normally agree with my “silly imagination” as I like to name it. What’s the point of dwelling on this pointless matter. I’m wasting brain power. I’m wasting my life away like this.

 

It’s My Birthday. When I got up my mother was staring down at me a bright smile on her face.

“Happy Birthday” she said kissing me on the check. I was not excited. Not one bit. Yes it was nice to get a few presents such as some coal and an ink pen. It would have been exciting and interesting if my dad was coming.

 

There was the old box. The one we used for from my brother to me which we kept the presents in. It was no bigger than a small puppy. I carefully and slowly opened it. There were two pieces of coal as I expected. That was given every time since I was seven. There was an ink bottle. I already had an ink pen. Then to my pleasure and delight a journal for writing in.

 

I jumped for joy. I could write whatever. It would be great! Then I went silent. It would have been better if I used it while going on a ship. I could still write in it. Just not on a ship.

 

That morning I still had to go to school. I showed of to my friends my presents to the “goody-two-shoes-somes displeasure! Does that make sense?

 

Though when I got home I started writing straight away and what’s better to start the date of ON your birthday.

 

January 9th. Cory’s Birthday. First note in journal.

 

I am very happy in receiving you as a gift. It will be a pleasure to write in you! Just tell me if I’m pushing too hard! I was very happy with my other presents. My coal collection is up to ten. Receiving two each year starting from when I was seven. By the time I’m an old man I can light a fire!

 

As this is a bit disrespectful to write this but I am very sad. I was going to see my father, and in a few days soon go on an adventure with him. It would be great to smell the sea. I can smell the sea when I want to. I just go down the road onto the beach and breathe it in. Actually if I open my window, you can smell it! Smell that! Great! But it’s better being out in the ocean with the real thing. I would have loved to take you with me and write as the cabin boy. They all need one. I hate whoever the man is who killed my father. Captain Stint says he will tell me in time.

 

Cory.

 

At that moment I heard the front door burst open violently from downstairs.

“Goodness gracious, what the heavens are you doing?” my mother cried.

“Where’s Cory the young lad! I wanna’ say happy birthday! Then speak to both of ya’!” My mum blushed and lightly called up stairs.

 

“Cory. Captain Stint wants to speak to you!”

“That’s my cue” I laughed to myself in a whisper and closed my book tight running down the stairs as fast as the wind.

 

“Cory! Happy Birthday son! I brought you a present! No actually I did not mate. That’s why I want to talk to you and your mother.”

“Really, it’s unnecessary for you to bring a present to Cory. Forget about it” my mum said politely.

“Wait, what’s that under your arm?” I asked him noticing a golden box but mucky box held tightly under his armpit.

 

“That my friend is what I wanna’ talk about!” “Sit down” he said. I and my mum sat down doing what we were told.

 

“I was on my daily walk through the woods. I was itchin’ for some rum so I took a shortcut. I noticed summin’ out the corner of my eye. It was poking out the ground. It was gold. Or it looked like gold. I heaved it out and found this baby!” He slammed the chest onto out wooden table.

 

“I ain’t opened it yet. So now I will!” He grabbed a silver key pushed it in turned and slung the top open.

 

There were some folded bits of manky old paper, some drawings. One we didn’t check. An empty bottle of fine value rum. Some doubloons and many mini bags of silver pennies. Also there was a cut of an end of a knife. At the bottom there was in big bold writing.

 

Baggy the Great.

 

“Holy smokes!” he shouted. He picked up the unopened folded paper and spread it out on the table.

There were lines on one half of the sea from our port. Then on the right half was a land. Funny but small shaped. It seemed to spread right across the sea.

 

Captain Stint gawped at this like a foolish rat and then turned seriously to my mother.

“Can I take young Cory to find Baggy the Greats treasure? I want the loot. Cory wanted to go on an adventure dint he?”

 

My mother gulped and thought for several moments. She held in any tears and nodded very slightly.

“You may take him” she gasped. “Go” she said softy, “Before I change my mind.

.” I kissed mother goodbye and Captain Stint took me inside his house.

 

“You know the hooded people passing by?” he asked in a hushed whisper.

“Yes” I nodded.

“They shall be lookin’ for that I tell ya’!”

 

“We have to be silent. Tell no one. Not your mum, not your best friend. You see I have a ship. A mighty good one at the port. No crew. You shall be cabin boy. I know a child your age. He can be cabin boy too. His father treats him bad.”

 

“Who are those hooded people?” I asked anxiously.

“The Red Hunters” he whispered with a scowl. “I ain’t seen them in a while.”

 

“Get on the ship. It’s the biggest there, called Crusader VI. It will look suspicious me walking around with a boy who looks like born to be cabin boy” he commented. “Don’t run either, that will look suspicious.”

 

“Won’t you look suspicious with a pirate hat on?”

“Ah your good at catching on boy, you’ll go far.” He threw his hat onto the table and walked up the road casually. I walked through the back of his mucky house, came out the back garden which was a small as a shed and climbed over his garden fence. There I walked down through the lane to the beach.

 

The ship was beautiful. Painted in Blue on the side was Crusader VI. The ship had a long sword at the front. The deck was nicely polished. It was a bit damp from past rain and snow. The sails were a little ripped. Captain would have some sort of solution for that I bet.

 

The rigging was nicely kept and not one bit broken. It might need to be repainted on the outside a little. Though it was a beauty and these things didn’t matter apart from the sail problem. I waited maybe an hour possibly two.

 

Then I heard trudging through the sand. It was raining. So you could hear the footsteps. Then a boy my age came on. Then there was someone a male looking a lot like him but a lot taller. He was fifteen. Then two grown men beside Captain Stint climbed on.

 

“This is Darren” Captain Stint said pointing at the young boy. “Here is his only older brother Slim n Thin Mike. These two men used to travel with me. He pointed at the fat bald one.

 

“This is Fatty Fred” he chuckled, then pointing at the average size adult. “This is Clever Craig” he said. That’s our crew” he said happily.

 

Fred spoke up.

“It’s a bit of a small crew” he said a little embarrassed.

“We’ll manage Fatty, we’ll manage.”

 

“Everyone this is Cory our other Cabin Boy. A Clever lad too I might add.”

 

“One thing, we must not attract attention. I’ve bought all the food in this sack. We stop at any island we see. Collect as much food as we can. Follow the map lines. Don’t take any shortcuts; we don’t know what’s around anywhere else. We leave tomorrow once I’ve patched up these sails. Oh and bring nay furniture from home. Oh Darren and Mike. You have to stay here at all times. I don’t want to imagine what culd’ happen if your father found out you’re runnin’ off.”

 

“We’re not runnin’ of your taking us” Mike said a little angry.

“Don’t argue lad. Anyway you agreed to come. This is for your own safety. Oh Cory keep Darren Company, you two will be good friends.

 

I pulled my hand out to shake with Darren’s and he accepted.

“Welcome Cabin Boy” I laughed.

“Too you as well” he replied politely.

 

It soon stopped raining. We piled all the food in. Captain Stint gave us a tour.

 

As we walked up a stepped ramp onto the boat there was two cabins. Both facing each other but wide apart. It was all painted brown. When you opened the cabin doors there were some stairs leading down.

 

“You can decorate these how you like” The Captain told Darren and I. From behind the left of the cabin was a lid. Under that lid led more stairs to the under-part of the ship. In there were small alleyways everywhere. They led to cells for prisoners, a few minging toilets. Then there were the cannon holes were men would load the cannons and fire if a ship was ever to oppose us.

 

After leaving what the captain called the “Underworld” we travelled to the far left which was the back of the ship. There some on the neat and tidy rigging was held. There was also the lookout part. Where one man with a singular binocular would stand high in the round area up near the sails and look out for land or anything really. I was now getting more and more excited and anxious to leave and go on our long, long journey which could take months to years. Though really at the back were some more cabins but did not go underground. Then I noticed from what look like a wall going along the edge of the boat were actually cabins. So we could fit a few hundred on board! Why call the ship Crusader IV when you call it Cabin Land?

 

As we moved to the right of the ship past “my cabin” there was a large hall sort of room. Inside was a beautifully decorated room. There was a dining table and fancy seats. It was like I had a million doubloons! Outside the dining hall was some stairs leading up onto the roof of the hall was a large room but not as big. This was the Captains Office. He did not let us in.

 

“You only come in by knocking” he warned us. “Don’t dare go in when I’m not looking. If we ever get more people first job will be keep an eye to check no one is peeking in my office.”

 

Then we came to the deck. There was another look out post there. The deck was amazing. The railings were a little higher. Captain didn’t want anyone falling off. Especially himself or the guard!

 

“Now you’ve seen everything boys. Like it?” We all nodded in agreement.

“Now I’m giving out the jobs” he muttered.

 

“Fatty Fred, you’re the caller as I like to call it” he laughed at his awful joke. “You tell everyone when it’s dinner. Doesn’t matter if it’s a meeting or you wish to talk to someone. Shout out loud for any orders even if it’s for one person, we wan’t everyone to know.”

 

Fatty Fred seemed happy with his job and gave thumbs up looking like a bit of a sea muppet while doing this.

“You Craig are front lookout. From the deck I have to add.”

“Yess” Craig muttered like a delighted child in school.

 

“Thin n’ Slim Mike. You’re high lookout, up near the sails ok?”

“Sure Cap’n” he replied already sounding like a proud sailor.

“You two are Cabin boys. You give us anything we ask from the cabins. You sleep down there and you wake up the people in the morning at nine o’ clock sharp.”

 

I noticed he had left something out.

“Captain, who’s the chef then? I mean normally we have more than one so what’s the deal?” He clapped loudly and shouted.

“Oh yes! You catch on so quickly! What would I do without you! I know, I’d be a pointless old man! Well on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Thin n’ Slim Mike can do it. He likes cookin’ and is good too. Though on Friday, Saturday n’ Sunday Clever Craig n Fatty Fred can do it together. Are we done now?”

 

“Yes” we all said plainly. Then he went on how things are going to work for the next couple of days.

 

“I’m going to bring all my rum in. Tomorrow we lift all furniture from our homes, apart from Darren, Cory and Mike. Then we put in any other furniture. I’ll get you threes furniture’s. No questions asked. Just leave it to me.

 

The three of us nodded to him happily.

“Thanks Captain” I added.

“No problem my young friend. Though listen up people! Last thing to mention!”

 

“The Red Hunters will find it a little weird that this old ship out of action for ten years is suddenly being refurnished by a well known Captain like me. So we get it done quickly tomorrow. No running. Be casual. All sleep here on the ship. We all have beds but no sheets or duvets. So don’t expect to have a nice sleep.”

 

“Where do you sleep?” Mike asked. I thought this was a good question.

“My office has a small bedroom through a backdoor. Don’t you go sneakin’ up on me at me at night though Mike. You’ll regret it!”

 

Mike gulped sarcastically and we all laughed loud as a drum.

 

What the Captain said was true. It was freezing as cracking ice with water running through. The night seemed to never end, endless as a millipede… or a centipede! Though he explained he had thousands of sheets in his house. He does though. I work at his house every Saturday. Just as he was about to run after his rum I told him one and thing and asked another thing.

 

“I know you love your rum but you don’t want to look suspicious and do I have to do jobs every Saturday still?”

 

“Ah’ clever again young laddy.” Maybe you and Craig should swap nicknames? Hah! Oh well every month you all get a golden doubloon because work needs to be done everyday my young friend. You can’t drop out unless you are about to die or something like that.”

 

“Even if I’m ill?” I asked astonished.

“Yes” he replied plain as a sheep.