The ocean was calm. At least, calm for the Grand Line. This particular ocean, running cross-wise through the Red Line and around the world, was never really ‘calm’. But today, in the water, where sea monsters and unnatural currents and seasons ran, it was unusually calm. Which probably was the best luck the three drifters could have. On a badly scorched chuck of timber that was just barely floating out of the water, three people were hanging exhaustedly, a man, a woman, and a boy. The woman was unconscious, drooped over the wood and held in place by the man so she wouldn’t slide into the sea. He himself looked ready to pass out.
Out of the trio, the boy looked the least tired and worn.
“Lee…” the man murmured, “I’m sorry… I don’t think I can hold on… much longer…” The boy’s eyes widened in alarm.
“No! Bryant! Just hang on a little more! A ship has to come soon… it has too! Then we can get help for Captain Clary…” the man, Bryant, smiled weakly.
“This is the Grand Line, Lee… I don’t think a ship… will come…” Lee bit his lip to keep calm.
“Just have some faith. And stay awake!” He added these last words forcefully, making Bryant jump. His head had been slowly sinking downward. Bryant managed to look guilty for a few seconds.
“Sorry… If I do that again, hit me…or something…”
The numbing chill from the Grand Line suddenly became apparent. Alarmed, Lee stared back at Bryant, as he started to droop again. The cold wasn’t helping Bryant or Clary, the unconscious woman. And he didn’t know exactly the extent of their wounds. The fighting seemed far way now… he himself had escaped with no injuries, since the crew had forced him below decks, him being only twelve. It seemed only immediately he was in the storm tossed Grand Line, the ship exploding, and Bryant hauling him to the only flotation they had, with the unconscious Clary. Lee had started shouting for help at first dawn. He had only just stopped calling. That was hours ago, and it was day now, but everything was starting to take its toll. Scanning the horizon, Lee also smacked Bryant. The man started, weakly protesting, but Lee, focused on west, was too dumbstruck to reply. It was a ship. An honest to goodness ship.
“Bryant… Bryant! A ship! There’s a ship! Here!” the hope flared in Lee’s mind instantly with those words. They weren’t going to die.
“Might be seeing things.” Bryant mumbled, but his words fell, again, on deaf ears.
“Here! Over here! Heeeey! Help!” Yelling at the top of his lungs, Lee desperately began to wave his arms frantically back and forth. But the ship didn’t turn. It was too far away.
“Please! Heeeelp!” Still the ship did not turn. The dull ache of helplessness descended again, slowly. Angry tears stung his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He would not let this chance slip through his fingers, not once.
“…My sword…” Bryant’s strained whisper barely crossed to Lee’s ears, but he heard it. “Here…Take this… the sun should bounce off it… might be seen…” Gingerly, his hand disappeared underwater, but resurfaced holding the hilt of a long gleaming cutlass.
“Oh! Right.” Lee seized the blade and held it high in the air. It seemed that instantly the light gathered on it instantly. For a minute that seemed like an hour, the ship didn’t alter its course. Lee’s hope was beginning to fade again, when, finally, the ship slowly began to turn.
“They’re turning… They saw! They saw! Were going to be rescued! Yes!”
As the ship bore down on the deliriously happy Lee, he didn’t pay much attention to the ship’s flag; a Jolly Roger, sporting a yellow straw hat…
To be continued…
to anyone who wants to complain that i don't have paragraphs, i tried! this thing won't let me sweatdrop
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