Jenny's Story 'Swept from the Sea'
January 22nd 2007 08:47
Hi all
It has been a cracker day in the garden city, guess about 28-30 deg, very warm. This evening I cycled home, had dinner and then went for a ride to Evans Pass, which is through Sumner and on the way to Lyttleton. Took me 50mins and about 20kms although hill was bit of a grind, so with 40kms tonight and 10 each way to work, that's 60kms today. Quite windy in places too and feeling bit tired now too!
Thought I would share 'Swept from the Sea', it's a story I wrote for a girl called Jenny who I chatted to for a while through a chat room, she had a rabbit called Charley and a horse called Falte, so I included these into it, oh and other things she had mentioned in our conversations like earl grey tea etc. We had talked about my writing etc, so I thought I would write something for her.
We never did catch up but have seen her on TVone news over here last year as she moved here from Cyprus. Anyway enough talking and here is part of the story, quite long so will do it over a week or so.
Heath Ling copyright 2007
Swept from the Sea
The ship shuddered as another wave crashed violently against it’s
bows, sending spray high into the air as the sails flapped almost
uselessly in the howling gale that was relentless in it’s fury.
‘My Lord!’ A sailor shouted out to a man that was standing near the
centre mast, turning just as another huge wave crashed into the ship,
causing both men to stagger and struggle to keep their balance as
barrels, wooden buckets and pieces of torn sail floated across the
decking in the wave’s wash.
‘What is it?’ The man asked concerned.
‘We are way off course, this storm is almost unnatural as it seems to
be pushing us further and further into the uncharted seas’ the sailor
replied with terror creeping into his voice.
Lord Deveer knew that he couldn’t show any fear to his men but
everyone who had sailed into these waters had never returned.
No one knew what the causes were, legends told of giant sea monsters
devouring whole ships, storms of incredible fury that just appeared
from nowhere and ships disappearing into thin air.
But at the moment his first concern was to correct their course.
Lightning flashed in the dark night sky as a cold rain fell, driven so
hard by the wind, that upon the skin it felt like dozens of pin pricks.
Men ran every where, trying to lash down sails, secure loose items
that rolled across the deck as the ship pitched and rolled in the
heaving seas.
‘Any sign of our pursuer?’ He called out to one of the sailors who
was just coming across the deck.
‘No my lord, can’t see anything since this storm hit’ the man replied
quickly.
He was just about to say something else when a cry of alarm could be
heard from the bows.
‘Come with me’ he told the man as they both made their way
forward to where cries of terror could be heard.
‘What is it?’ Deveer asked urgently as he neared the bows.
‘Look’ one of the sailors said, pointing with his arm out ahead of
them.
His gaze followed where the man was pointing and his blood turned
to ice when he saw what was in front of them.
‘In the nine gods!’ He exclaimed with horror as another flash of
lightning illuminated the giant whirlpool that lay just ahead of them.
He shouted orders for full rudder but even as the words left his lips,
he felt the strong tug as their vessel was caught in it’s deadly grip.
Without a moments hesitation he ordered ‘Get my horse from below decks now!’ As even though he thought their chances of surviving were very slim, he didn’t want his beloved horse to be trapped below.
Men were screaming as they picked up speed, drawing closer and
closer to whirlpool’s gaping maw.
‘Grab hold of anything you can’ Deveer cried out urgently to his men
as the ship started to list dangerously to one side, timbers groaning
and creaking under the strain.
Suddenly there was a loud crack and splintering of timber as the
main mast failed, the wreckage falling over to one side, which caused
them to list even more. Everything seemed to happen so fast, the ship
started to break apart, the remaining masts crashed to the deck in a
mass of snapping rigging and broken timber. Sailors struggled to control his frightened horse before a huge wave washed them all over board into the swirling water and the last thing Deveer thought as he saw his death approaching was that he would soon be with his family once more, before they were all lost to the blackness of the swirling maelstrom.
‘C’mon Sarah’ Becky called out to her friend who was a little way
behind her on the beach.
‘Let’s go Falte’ Sarah said to her horse as they galloped to catch up.
Becky turned once more as she heard the sounds of hooves
thundering on the sand close behind, smiling as Sarah rode next to
her.
‘I have never known anyone who loves to go as fast as you do’ She
said laughing.
‘ Well you know how strong willed Falte is and if I don’t give him a
fast run, then he is quite likely to give me one instead’ Sarah replied
with a knowing grin.
As the pair rode side by side at a canter along the deserted beach,
Becky asked ‘Did you ever think you would end up living in
Tasmania?’
Sarah thought for a moment, it had been two years since she had got
divorced and at the time, taking the veterinary position in a small
township just outside Hobart had seemed a good idea, just to get
away from Robert, but most of the men here seemed to be threatened
by an intelligent woman, so her relationships seemed to never last.
A sudden cry from Becky, snapped Sarah from her thoughts.
‘What is it?’ She asked her friend with some concern.
‘Look!’ Becky replied pointing out to sea ahead of them.
Sarah’s gaze followed where her friend was pointing and she reined
Falte quickly to a halt at what she saw, for just ahead was a huge
water spout that had just appeared from nowhere and even from
where they were, the roar of water could be heard quite easily.
‘Have you ever seen anything like that before?’ Becky asked in awe.
‘Only when I went on that storm chasing holiday in Kansas a while
back but nothing this close though’ Sarah replied fascinated.
Their horse’s were starting to get a little edgy but as quickly as the
water spout had appeared, it vanished leaving behind just frothing
bubbling water as something bobbed from beneath the sea’s surface
To be continued................... in living super Technocolour (little joke)
Anyway hope all my readers enjoyed what you have read so far, if you are a member of site then please feel free to comment and also to pass on my blog details to anyone who might enjoy it.
Thought for the day 'Dream more than others think is practical'
Hal
It has been a cracker day in the garden city, guess about 28-30 deg, very warm. This evening I cycled home, had dinner and then went for a ride to Evans Pass, which is through Sumner and on the way to Lyttleton. Took me 50mins and about 20kms although hill was bit of a grind, so with 40kms tonight and 10 each way to work, that's 60kms today. Quite windy in places too and feeling bit tired now too!
Thought I would share 'Swept from the Sea', it's a story I wrote for a girl called Jenny who I chatted to for a while through a chat room, she had a rabbit called Charley and a horse called Falte, so I included these into it, oh and other things she had mentioned in our conversations like earl grey tea etc. We had talked about my writing etc, so I thought I would write something for her.
Heath Ling copyright 2007
Swept from the Sea
The ship shuddered as another wave crashed violently against it’s
bows, sending spray high into the air as the sails flapped almost
uselessly in the howling gale that was relentless in it’s fury.
‘My Lord!’ A sailor shouted out to a man that was standing near the
centre mast, turning just as another huge wave crashed into the ship,
causing both men to stagger and struggle to keep their balance as
barrels, wooden buckets and pieces of torn sail floated across the
decking in the wave’s wash.
‘What is it?’ The man asked concerned.
‘We are way off course, this storm is almost unnatural as it seems to
be pushing us further and further into the uncharted seas’ the sailor
Lord Deveer knew that he couldn’t show any fear to his men but
everyone who had sailed into these waters had never returned.
No one knew what the causes were, legends told of giant sea monsters
devouring whole ships, storms of incredible fury that just appeared
from nowhere and ships disappearing into thin air.
But at the moment his first concern was to correct their course.
Lightning flashed in the dark night sky as a cold rain fell, driven so
hard by the wind, that upon the skin it felt like dozens of pin pricks.
Men ran every where, trying to lash down sails, secure loose items
that rolled across the deck as the ship pitched and rolled in the
heaving seas.
‘Any sign of our pursuer?’ He called out to one of the sailors who
was just coming across the deck.
‘No my lord, can’t see anything since this storm hit’ the man replied
quickly.
He was just about to say something else when a cry of alarm could be
heard from the bows.
‘Come with me’ he told the man as they both made their way
forward to where cries of terror could be heard.
‘What is it?’ Deveer asked urgently as he neared the bows.
‘Look’ one of the sailors said, pointing with his arm out ahead of
them.
His gaze followed where the man was pointing and his blood turned
to ice when he saw what was in front of them.
‘In the nine gods!’ He exclaimed with horror as another flash of
lightning illuminated the giant whirlpool that lay just ahead of them.
He shouted orders for full rudder but even as the words left his lips,
he felt the strong tug as their vessel was caught in it’s deadly grip.
Without a moments hesitation he ordered ‘Get my horse from below decks now!’ As even though he thought their chances of surviving were very slim, he didn’t want his beloved horse to be trapped below.
Men were screaming as they picked up speed, drawing closer and
closer to whirlpool’s gaping maw.
‘Grab hold of anything you can’ Deveer cried out urgently to his men
as the ship started to list dangerously to one side, timbers groaning
and creaking under the strain.
Suddenly there was a loud crack and splintering of timber as the
main mast failed, the wreckage falling over to one side, which caused
them to list even more. Everything seemed to happen so fast, the ship
started to break apart, the remaining masts crashed to the deck in a
mass of snapping rigging and broken timber. Sailors struggled to control his frightened horse before a huge wave washed them all over board into the swirling water and the last thing Deveer thought as he saw his death approaching was that he would soon be with his family once more, before they were all lost to the blackness of the swirling maelstrom.
‘C’mon Sarah’ Becky called out to her friend who was a little way
behind her on the beach.
‘Let’s go Falte’ Sarah said to her horse as they galloped to catch up.
Becky turned once more as she heard the sounds of hooves
thundering on the sand close behind, smiling as Sarah rode next to
her.
‘I have never known anyone who loves to go as fast as you do’ She
said laughing.
‘ Well you know how strong willed Falte is and if I don’t give him a
fast run, then he is quite likely to give me one instead’ Sarah replied
with a knowing grin.
As the pair rode side by side at a canter along the deserted beach,
Becky asked ‘Did you ever think you would end up living in
Tasmania?’
Sarah thought for a moment, it had been two years since she had got
divorced and at the time, taking the veterinary position in a small
township just outside Hobart had seemed a good idea, just to get
away from Robert, but most of the men here seemed to be threatened
by an intelligent woman, so her relationships seemed to never last.
A sudden cry from Becky, snapped Sarah from her thoughts.
‘What is it?’ She asked her friend with some concern.
‘Look!’ Becky replied pointing out to sea ahead of them.
Sarah’s gaze followed where her friend was pointing and she reined
Falte quickly to a halt at what she saw, for just ahead was a huge
water spout that had just appeared from nowhere and even from
where they were, the roar of water could be heard quite easily.
‘Have you ever seen anything like that before?’ Becky asked in awe.
‘Only when I went on that storm chasing holiday in Kansas a while
back but nothing this close though’ Sarah replied fascinated.
Their horse’s were starting to get a little edgy but as quickly as the
water spout had appeared, it vanished leaving behind just frothing
bubbling water as something bobbed from beneath the sea’s surface
To be continued................... in living super Technocolour (little joke)
Anyway hope all my readers enjoyed what you have read so far, if you are a member of site then please feel free to comment and also to pass on my blog details to anyone who might enjoy it.
Thought for the day 'Dream more than others think is practical'
Hal
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