Seafarer Vol.2

His instincts urged him to fly above the canopy of the jungle to quickly ascertain the island from the sky, but he knew that the thick branches and broad leaves would prevent him from seeing a cave if one existed. He chose then to put foot to path and seek some form of shelter while daylight blessed the way. The game trails proved not to lead directly toward the high ground, meandering and curving back on themselves more often than not. Thick roots and leafy vines covered the paths preventing him from finding any animal tracks to determine what created them.

Some of the trees bore fruit and nuts, the ever present vines seemed to be slowly digesting everything in sight. Strange birds with brightly colored feathers screeched and chirped from the treetops, but nothing on the ground seemed to move. The game trails appeared as wide as they were tall so the young seaman pushed on with caution worried that a fast moving pack could easily sweep him from his feet. The thick sea air and the midday sun gifted the jungle with extreme humidity causing the shipwrecked sailor to pause and catch his breath more often than he liked.

By mid afternoon the slowly rising floor of the jungle began to climb faster and stone boulders and rock outcroppings took the place formerly occupied by the thick and unruly vines. Exhausted and sweating profusely the seaman found himself delighted when he happened across a narrow brook that spilled down between two adjacent trees. The sweet clear water proved as refreshing to his belly as it felt upon his skin. After he rinsed the salty brine of sweat from his arms and face he sat back to rest in the shade of the trees.

He only closed his eyes for a moment. He knew better than to nap near fresh water. However, as soon as his eyes were shut the previous nights adventure haunted him once more. He could smell the oil burning in the axial fires caused by the falling mast hitting the lanterns. He saw the men he had sailed with splashed with oil running around begging crewmen to put them out. He remembered one fellow throwing a bucket of water on his fellow and the cries of the burning man as the fire streaked up across his face. He could still hear the ceaseless echoes of the cannons, and the cries of the Gilded Lady as her deck and hull were breaking under the barrage.

In anguish and fear the seafarers eyes shot open. He knew he hoped he had not fallen asleep, but still beneath the canopy he could not see the sun to know for sure. He decided to press on and find a safe place to rest, wondering if he would ever sleep peacefully again. Beyond the brook the island truly began to rise. The small boulders gave way to large mountainous crags and the jungle became replaced by the thick bushes and short grasses that could root among the large stones. The game trail continued in between the high walls of the rocks, winding ever upward toward the plateau in the center of the island.

Out from under the canopy he could see that he had time before the sun set to reach the top of the hill. He wondered what he would find there, and questioned the wisdom in approaching it without being rested. He scanned the craggy walls of the game trail and spotted several small caves higher on the hillside. He decided to play it safe and returned to the jungle and filed his canteen and gathered some fruit. He flew up to one of the small caves. While he was far to large to search it to its end deep within the hill, he knew there would be room for a safe nights rest. After filling his stomach with the strange fruits and water he quickly dozed off to sleep.

Dark and dreamless the weariness in his body took over allowing him to rest peacefully for a short while. Subconsciously he knew the memories would take over filling his head with the terrors of the night. Unaware when they started, and distant at first, the quiet screeches that he knew could only be the cries of the damned began to grow louder. Somehow it sounded different in his mind than it had that night on the ship and this difference alone aroused his conscious mind and woke the seaman from his slumber. As he started to rise he realized the screeches were coming from deep within the cave before he even sat up hundreds of bats swarmed past him headed for the exit.