To The Island of Lost Memeories
The Captain was relieved to step out of the thunder and rain into his old watering hole The Old Justice Inn. He shook the rain off his torn and dripping duffle coat and walked heavy footedly over to the bar, and ordered a drink in a grumpy manner. After receiving a large whisky he took a quick look around the room and made his way to a table.
His ship was anchored down by the harbour. The Inn was empty, which was a good thing because the captain had some strange business to consider. He took a large swig of whiskey, halted his breath for a second, and then let out a deep sigh of relief. He enjoyed a moment without interruption. He had needed some time to himself away from the ship and its crew. This was his moment and he wasn’t going to let anyone or anything take it from him.
Down by the harbour the crew had noticed that there was something not quite right with the captain today. All morning he had been in his cabin, alone. He had avoided everyone all day without saying a single word. He hadn’t even tended to Mr. Duffield, which was strange. The captain wasn’t a young man and his real name was, Doran Wright. He was a scruffy kind of fellow and had been a sea traveller for too many years . There were stories about him once having a beautiful young bride, but nobody knew if the stories were true, nor did they dare to ask. The captain had turned into an emotionless man, who often drank himself to sleep. In the mornings he wasn’t the best person to be around. But somewhere deep down inside the captain was a good man, even though life at sea wasn’t for the weak.
The captain sat at his table in deep thought. Then he reached for the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a brown envelope. He sat there motionless for a moment just looking at it. He seemed to hesitate, and for split second a look of apprehension flashed over his face and disappeared. The captain wasn’t a fearful man, but his heart seemed frozen in time. He slowly began to open the envelope. His hair was dripping onto the brown paper as he pulled out the letter. He opened the epistle and started to read it with great care. He had already done this several times in the safety of his cabin early that morning. This time he read it with a deeper interrogation. His instincts told him to beware. He always had a suspicion for the unknown and the magical. He slowly started to read the words again, which read:
Dear Captain,
We are writing to you in a plea for help. We have asked everyone who knows the sea and its many mysteries, and Your name was repeatedly mentioned. Firstly, I would like to introduce myself and then my partners. My name is Norsk and my partners names are Tantoo and Kitsch. We have all been overcome a tragedy, which is still a deep mystery to us. It seems our inner spirits of the child have left our bodies. They have gone in search of the inner sanctum, love and safety.
Captain! Without our inner spirits we are doomed! And we believe (as we have been told) that if our inner spirits of the child do not find what they desire… well, then it seems that this would be our bitter end. The magical mountain folk have warned us about this. Captain, could you possibly help us? If you agree we will explain all when we meet. We can make good payment for this.
Yours,
Norsk
P.S. - We will be arriving in the town of Waddis on the fourteenth day of this new moon.
The Captain sat in silence. It was quiet in the inn except for the local drunks, who had always been there as if encapsulated in time . After some thought the captain stood up, fastened his jacket tight, pulled the collar high up around his neck and vacated The Old Justice Inn.
He made his way down the deep slippery path, pushing himself through a mighty storm. He had to watch his step, for many a man had fallen off the edge on a stormy night. After a struggle the Captain finally made his way back to the dark harbour that was situated under a steep wall of rock. The Flagship was there. She had been waiting for him. She had been his safe haven for the past thirty years or more. The Flagship was his home and his castle. She would never betray him. She would always welcome him back onboard.
As soon as he was aboard, the Captain went straight to his cabin.
The next day the crew were up bright and early. Mr Duffield who was always awake before the rest of the crew, was a small Yorkshire Terrier and a very good ratter. Then there was Silver, who always set the sails and helped the captain with navigation. John Hooking was The Flagship’s cook, a greasy balding fellow who didn’t like to leave the ship. He feared he would lose his sea-legs.
The days soon passed, and the Captain said nothing of the letter he’d received, and tomorrow would be the fourteenth day of the new moon.
The Captain was anxious. He decided to call the crew to his cabin. He informed the crew of his letter, regarding the spirits of the lost child and the magical mountain folk from the far east. Then he asked his crew what they would do. He wanted their advice. The crew hadn’t had much adventure of late; as a matter of fact, life had become rather stale. As all were in agreement, they decided to meet Norsk and his partners the next day.
Eventually Norsk and his gloomy friends who trailed slightly behind, found their way into the town of Waddis, and even from a distance could see The Flagship at anchorage in the harbour. A sight of joy, they hoped.
As they approached the ship, Mr. Duffield alerted the crew with his barking. The three men had arrived. Silver introduced himself and welcomed them aboard. The Captain was in his cabin, and aware of their arrival, and was having second thoughts. He eventually came out on deck and after a brief handshake and introduction took them down to his berth.
He surveyed his new acquaintances across the table. Norsk was of athletic build, sandy haired, and appeared friendly. Tantoo was tall with brown shabby hair, and he had a kind look in his eyes. Kitsch, was swift looking and sharp eyed; he was dark-haired, and was the largest of the three. After drinking to each other’s health, they got down to business. They explained to the Captain that they needed to get to the Island of Lost Memories and find their inner spirits. They offered the Captain good money for their passage, which he accepted on certain conditions.
“I will take you as far as the island,” he said, “after that you’re on your own.”
A contract was agreed upon, and Captain, crew and passengers celebrated with dance, drink and music. Later the men were shown to their bunks, and there they slept peacefully.
They were still asleep when The Flagship set sail early next morning; out of the harbour and into the vast ocean beyond.
The Ship was the size of a very large yacht. It was made of oak, and the Captain estimated it to be more than a hundred years old. It was a good strong ship, although in need of repair.
Awaking from sleep, the men went up on deck and offered the Captain their help, on which he set them to work effecting repairs.
Although in the first few days there wasn’t much said between men, captain and crew, it was Mr. Duffield who first got closer to the newcomers. He was a good dog and always got rid of any rats stowing away on board. The dog’s particular favourite though, was Tantoo, with whom he had formed a special friendship, and usually slept at the bottom of his bunk. If the Captain hadn’t been drinking so heavily, he still would have slept by his side, but, it was unusual for the Captain not to drink.
The Captain had a strong wish to give up the devilish liquor. But he just wasn’t ready to give life a try without it. Alcohol had been his daily comfort. It made him forget. It numbed his feelings and drowned out any memories of the past. Sometimes he would cry out in his dreams after seeing the image of his wife, whom he had loved, and then lost. At times the pain was clearly visible in his eyes, and at other times there was nothing, just a distant stare…
The sea was calm today and the winds were mild. Norsk was sitting up on deck writing his diary. He was thinking about how sad he had been without the spirit of his inner child. He wondered what he had done for his spirit to leave. Had he been so disconnected from life that he’d forgotten how to have fun or to feel alive? His job, in the town of Gorba, had taken up much of his time, and he was rarely at home. Norsk had the same routine every day.
As Norsk sat on deck a warm breeze gently caressed his saddened face. He watched the clouds dance in the sky, and thought he could hear a distant melody in the warm wind. Tantoo came on deck and stood next to him.
‘Do you think we will ever find our lost spirits, Norsk?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know, Tantoo. That depends on our luck and if we arrive safely on the Island of Lost Memories’, he replied.
Kitsch was below deck and in the kitchen with John. They were playing cards for money and Kitsch loved to gamble - his only vice.
John treasured gambling too, but no one would ever play cards with him, not for money anyway. They were deep into the card game when the Captain rang the bell for the food to be prepared. They agreed to delay the game until evening and get on with the cooking.
Kitsch was a good cook too, and his help was appreciated. As the winds were calm that night, the men, the crew, and the Captain, could all eat at the same table.
Morale was high, except for the Captain, who sat at the end of the table looking miserable. He was sober, and he was ready for his next drink. The crew didn’t dare speak to him. Not yet. Not until he had the drink of the devil inside him. “The Evil Devil Juice“, that’s what Silver always called it.
Mr. Duffield sat quietly at Tantoo’s feet, and kept one eye on the Captain and the other on the door, as the rest of the ship’s company talked eagerly about the adventure ahead. The men discussed their fears and their hopes of finding their lost spirits.
Kitsch and John argued over who was losing the card game.
‘ I have to give up the drink,’ the Captain whispered to himself.
But the men and crew had heard what the Captain said.
There was complete silence in the cabin. Everyone gaped at the Captain.
‘Well? What’re ya all looking at?’ the Captain shouted, ‘Get back to your meals, or back to work!’
Everyone pretended that they hadn’t heard a thing and carried on eating.
Through the night the winds steadily grew stronger, and the crew had to take turns to sleep.
Silver and Norsk stayed out on deck most of the night. Kitsch played cards with John as Tantoo slept. The Captain was at the helm looking out to sea. He hadn’t had a drink all night and was feeling terrible. The decision was final: he was quitting the drink.
The Flagship was heading south west, down to the mystical islands.
[There is lots of magic and other numinous phenomenon in the world that sometimes happens without warning. There are only a chosen few who have knowledge about spirits and magic.
The Magical Mountain Folk are a race of people who have great wisdom about such things…]
When Norsk went to the mountain folk and told them about the tragic events that had happened, they built a large fire and danced, whilst others called upon their gods for help. This went on for three days until eventually the dancing stopped. The men were then informed that they should travel to the island of lost memories and find The Pool of Hope.
The waves started to crash in on the ship as the weather took a turn for the worse. It started to rain and the winds became much stronger. Dark clouds started to gather in the sky above The Flagship and lightning could be seen in the distance. The Captain ordered all hands on deck. He told the crew to prepare for a storm.
The Captain stood at the helm trying to keep the ship steady, whilst Tantoo gave navigational directions. Norsk was helping Silver with the sails, which were being blown about the vessel. Kitsch came out on deck to help his friends. Mr. Duffield was hiding below in the Captain’s bunk. John was in the kitchen trying to keep things secure.
The rain was now lashing down on the ship and the men were having trouble keeping their feet. A gale force storm was now battering the ship. The Captain was having a great difficulty keeping the ship upright.
All of a sudden a mighty wave thundered down onto the deck. Tantoo lost his footing and in an instant was washed over board.
‘Man over board’, Silver screamed.
The Captain was barely able to hold the wheel at the helm. He tried to turn the ship, but in vane. And just as Kitsch was disappearing out of sight Silver threw him a life raft. Norsk had to look on as Kitsch vanished in the darkness of the storm. There was nothing they could do. They had to ride out the mighty beast.
One of the sails was torn from the mast, it was flapping about like a striking Cobra. Tantoo helped to fasten it back to the mast whilst the storm was raging and beating the men with wave after wave.
For two days and two nights the sea bashed its ugly head against the ships hull.
It was not until the third morning that the storm started to give way.
All through the storm nothing was said about losing Kitsch to the sea. The whole crew were exhausted and all they could think about was food and sleep. Their emotions had been tested to the limits fighting the storm and the disappearance of Kitsch had weakened their moral. As the clouds dispersed and the sun began to appear the men began to take turns to eat and rest in their bunks.
The Captain regained the ships course, but decided to head for a small coastal island to repair one of the sails and part of the rudder.
The Flagship was still a good distance out at sea when the captain ordered the anchor to be dropped. It was here that Duran Wright ( The Captain) ordered Norsk, Tantoo, and the rest of the crew to a meeting in his quarters. As the men sat down at the captain’s table the sad atmosphere that was sensed by everyone. The men, the crew and the Captain discussed the loss of Kitsch and how sad they were to lose him. The Captain tried to keep everyone’s minds off what had happened to Kitsch. He told them that the sail and the rudder needed to be repaired before they could carry on with their journey. Silver was to repair the rudder. Norsk and Tantoo set to work on the sail.
That night, as the captain stood on deck, feeling ill without a drink, a large bird landed on the railing next to him. The bird was Goda, and he was a magical bird that the mountain folk had sent to The Flagship. The great bird came with news about The Inner Spirit of the Child. Goda could speak the language of man, and he told the captain that these spirits had been seen on the island of lost memories, and that they were heading for The Pool of Hope. After a brief discussion Goda spread his wings and took to the sky again, and was soon out of sight. The Captain went straight to the men and told them the good news.
Norsk and Tantoo seemed to cheer up after hearing the news that Goda had brought to the ship.
The Flagship stayed anchored for two days…
As The Flagship set sail the Captain couldn’t stop thinking about the Island. He thought about the men and the adventures that lay ahead of them. He thought about his past and his lost love, and how sad he was without her.
The sea was calm and the winds were low…
Below deck, John had been missing Kitsch. He sat alone in the kitchen looking at the cards thinking about the fun he had had arguing with his new friend.
Mr. Duffield was eating the scraps of meat John had left out for him.
Norsk sat on deck writing his log about the tragic loss of his old friend.
Silver never spoke very much, nor did he like to. He was a man who kept most of his feelings to himself. He had been born in the town of Waddis and there he had a wife and two children. He’d worked for the captain for many years.
That night Norsk and Tantoo talked for many hours about their tragic loss. Tantoo couldn’t understand why his Spirit of the Child had left. He discussed the past year with Norsk, and told him all about his travels into far jungles. There he’d had many adventures and had come across many strange tribes and mystical beings. He mentioned the time when he was struck by a poisoned arrow, and how a magical elf-like being had nursed him back to good health. And now Tantoo still hoped of finding peace with his lost spirit
Norsk remembered what the Magical Mountain Folk had told him. They said that sometimes these spirits of the child leave their hosts without warning. In ancient times it was believed that they went off in search of peace and love, or even a new host.
The two men carried on talking through most of the night…
The Flagship wasn’t too far from the Island of Lost Memories now, and the Captain was feeling much better. He hadn’t had much sleep, but last night he slept well as the crew took care of the ship’s course.
The next morning was beautiful and the captain, men ,and crew, all sat together at the table and had a long hearty breakfast.
Mr. Duffield was bounding around the ship in a playful manner.
Everyone was in a very good mood, but The Captain knew he had to break some sad news to the men and crew.
Eventually the captain spoke. He spoke in a strong, but warm manner. He told Norsk and Tantoo that he and the crew wouldn’t be joining the men on The Island. He said that The Flagship would only take them as far as The Island of Lost Memories, and after that, they would have to continue their adventure on their own. But there was some joy as the captain agreed to wait at the island until the men returned…if they returned.
It was Silver who spotted the island first. He had been looking through his telescope when it came into view. The Island of Lost Memories was a huge island. Silver could see the dense forests and treacherous cliffs, and the long white pristine beaches. And as they approached the island, Silver felt anxiety for his shipmates . They had become very good friends of his and he worried about the task that lay ahead of them.
The winds were fresh and the sea was a deep blue colour as the ship neared the island…
On deck the men were packing their belongings and getting themselves ready for the journey ahead.
John was in his kitchen preparing a special leaving dinner for Norsk and Tantoo.
The time had now come for the men to leave, but first they were all going to have a small farewell party. During the party the men thanked the Captain for his bravery and support; without him they would never had gotten this far. They spoke about losing Kitsch and the dreadful storm too. Then the men thanked the crew and gave them each a special crystal, a magical crystal. Tantoo said a special goodbye to Mr. Duffield and attached a mystical stone to his collar.
[These stones would come to be of great importance to The Flagship’s future]
It was a bright and sunny day when The Flagship set anchorage by The Island of Lost Memories. The men were up bright and early and eager to set off on their adventure to find their lost spirits. But before they went they said a last goodbye to their friends and hoped to see them again soon.
Norsk and Tantoo used the Flagship’s small rowing boat to get to the nearby Island. It was Tantoo who first set foot on the mysterious island. After securing the boat they began to survey the surroundings. Their bare feet enjoyed the soft warm feel of the sand.
The men walked up the beach. They looked back, and then gave a final wave to The Flagship and its crew before they disappeared into the thick jungle of the Island of Lost Memories
Back on The Flagship, the Captain and the crew looked on as the men arrived on the island and then vanished into the island’s vast jungle.
The Captain was sad to see the men go. He had grown found of them during their voyage across the ocean. But he also knew that he would never leave his beloved treasure, The Flagship.
The only thing the Captain and the crew could do now, was wait. And wait they did, by the Island of Lost Memories
His ship was anchored down by the harbour. The Inn was empty, which was a good thing because the captain had some strange business to consider. He took a large swig of whiskey, halted his breath for a second, and then let out a deep sigh of relief. He enjoyed a moment without interruption. He had needed some time to himself away from the ship and its crew. This was his moment and he wasn’t going to let anyone or anything take it from him.
Down by the harbour the crew had noticed that there was something not quite right with the captain today. All morning he had been in his cabin, alone. He had avoided everyone all day without saying a single word. He hadn’t even tended to Mr. Duffield, which was strange. The captain wasn’t a young man and his real name was, Doran Wright. He was a scruffy kind of fellow and had been a sea traveller for too many years . There were stories about him once having a beautiful young bride, but nobody knew if the stories were true, nor did they dare to ask. The captain had turned into an emotionless man, who often drank himself to sleep. In the mornings he wasn’t the best person to be around. But somewhere deep down inside the captain was a good man, even though life at sea wasn’t for the weak.
The captain sat at his table in deep thought. Then he reached for the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a brown envelope. He sat there motionless for a moment just looking at it. He seemed to hesitate, and for split second a look of apprehension flashed over his face and disappeared. The captain wasn’t a fearful man, but his heart seemed frozen in time. He slowly began to open the envelope. His hair was dripping onto the brown paper as he pulled out the letter. He opened the epistle and started to read it with great care. He had already done this several times in the safety of his cabin early that morning. This time he read it with a deeper interrogation. His instincts told him to beware. He always had a suspicion for the unknown and the magical. He slowly started to read the words again, which read:
Dear Captain,
We are writing to you in a plea for help. We have asked everyone who knows the sea and its many mysteries, and Your name was repeatedly mentioned. Firstly, I would like to introduce myself and then my partners. My name is Norsk and my partners names are Tantoo and Kitsch. We have all been overcome a tragedy, which is still a deep mystery to us. It seems our inner spirits of the child have left our bodies. They have gone in search of the inner sanctum, love and safety.
Captain! Without our inner spirits we are doomed! And we believe (as we have been told) that if our inner spirits of the child do not find what they desire… well, then it seems that this would be our bitter end. The magical mountain folk have warned us about this. Captain, could you possibly help us? If you agree we will explain all when we meet. We can make good payment for this.
Yours,
Norsk
P.S. - We will be arriving in the town of Waddis on the fourteenth day of this new moon.
The Captain sat in silence. It was quiet in the inn except for the local drunks, who had always been there as if encapsulated in time . After some thought the captain stood up, fastened his jacket tight, pulled the collar high up around his neck and vacated The Old Justice Inn.
He made his way down the deep slippery path, pushing himself through a mighty storm. He had to watch his step, for many a man had fallen off the edge on a stormy night. After a struggle the Captain finally made his way back to the dark harbour that was situated under a steep wall of rock. The Flagship was there. She had been waiting for him. She had been his safe haven for the past thirty years or more. The Flagship was his home and his castle. She would never betray him. She would always welcome him back onboard.
As soon as he was aboard, the Captain went straight to his cabin.
The next day the crew were up bright and early. Mr Duffield who was always awake before the rest of the crew, was a small Yorkshire Terrier and a very good ratter. Then there was Silver, who always set the sails and helped the captain with navigation. John Hooking was The Flagship’s cook, a greasy balding fellow who didn’t like to leave the ship. He feared he would lose his sea-legs.
The days soon passed, and the Captain said nothing of the letter he’d received, and tomorrow would be the fourteenth day of the new moon.
The Captain was anxious. He decided to call the crew to his cabin. He informed the crew of his letter, regarding the spirits of the lost child and the magical mountain folk from the far east. Then he asked his crew what they would do. He wanted their advice. The crew hadn’t had much adventure of late; as a matter of fact, life had become rather stale. As all were in agreement, they decided to meet Norsk and his partners the next day.
Eventually Norsk and his gloomy friends who trailed slightly behind, found their way into the town of Waddis, and even from a distance could see The Flagship at anchorage in the harbour. A sight of joy, they hoped.
As they approached the ship, Mr. Duffield alerted the crew with his barking. The three men had arrived. Silver introduced himself and welcomed them aboard. The Captain was in his cabin, and aware of their arrival, and was having second thoughts. He eventually came out on deck and after a brief handshake and introduction took them down to his berth.
He surveyed his new acquaintances across the table. Norsk was of athletic build, sandy haired, and appeared friendly. Tantoo was tall with brown shabby hair, and he had a kind look in his eyes. Kitsch, was swift looking and sharp eyed; he was dark-haired, and was the largest of the three. After drinking to each other’s health, they got down to business. They explained to the Captain that they needed to get to the Island of Lost Memories and find their inner spirits. They offered the Captain good money for their passage, which he accepted on certain conditions.
“I will take you as far as the island,” he said, “after that you’re on your own.”
A contract was agreed upon, and Captain, crew and passengers celebrated with dance, drink and music. Later the men were shown to their bunks, and there they slept peacefully.
They were still asleep when The Flagship set sail early next morning; out of the harbour and into the vast ocean beyond.
The Ship was the size of a very large yacht. It was made of oak, and the Captain estimated it to be more than a hundred years old. It was a good strong ship, although in need of repair.
Awaking from sleep, the men went up on deck and offered the Captain their help, on which he set them to work effecting repairs.
Although in the first few days there wasn’t much said between men, captain and crew, it was Mr. Duffield who first got closer to the newcomers. He was a good dog and always got rid of any rats stowing away on board. The dog’s particular favourite though, was Tantoo, with whom he had formed a special friendship, and usually slept at the bottom of his bunk. If the Captain hadn’t been drinking so heavily, he still would have slept by his side, but, it was unusual for the Captain not to drink.
The Captain had a strong wish to give up the devilish liquor. But he just wasn’t ready to give life a try without it. Alcohol had been his daily comfort. It made him forget. It numbed his feelings and drowned out any memories of the past. Sometimes he would cry out in his dreams after seeing the image of his wife, whom he had loved, and then lost. At times the pain was clearly visible in his eyes, and at other times there was nothing, just a distant stare…
The sea was calm today and the winds were mild. Norsk was sitting up on deck writing his diary. He was thinking about how sad he had been without the spirit of his inner child. He wondered what he had done for his spirit to leave. Had he been so disconnected from life that he’d forgotten how to have fun or to feel alive? His job, in the town of Gorba, had taken up much of his time, and he was rarely at home. Norsk had the same routine every day.
As Norsk sat on deck a warm breeze gently caressed his saddened face. He watched the clouds dance in the sky, and thought he could hear a distant melody in the warm wind. Tantoo came on deck and stood next to him.
‘Do you think we will ever find our lost spirits, Norsk?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know, Tantoo. That depends on our luck and if we arrive safely on the Island of Lost Memories’, he replied.
Kitsch was below deck and in the kitchen with John. They were playing cards for money and Kitsch loved to gamble - his only vice.
John treasured gambling too, but no one would ever play cards with him, not for money anyway. They were deep into the card game when the Captain rang the bell for the food to be prepared. They agreed to delay the game until evening and get on with the cooking.
Kitsch was a good cook too, and his help was appreciated. As the winds were calm that night, the men, the crew, and the Captain, could all eat at the same table.
Morale was high, except for the Captain, who sat at the end of the table looking miserable. He was sober, and he was ready for his next drink. The crew didn’t dare speak to him. Not yet. Not until he had the drink of the devil inside him. “The Evil Devil Juice“, that’s what Silver always called it.
Mr. Duffield sat quietly at Tantoo’s feet, and kept one eye on the Captain and the other on the door, as the rest of the ship’s company talked eagerly about the adventure ahead. The men discussed their fears and their hopes of finding their lost spirits.
Kitsch and John argued over who was losing the card game.
‘ I have to give up the drink,’ the Captain whispered to himself.
But the men and crew had heard what the Captain said.
There was complete silence in the cabin. Everyone gaped at the Captain.
‘Well? What’re ya all looking at?’ the Captain shouted, ‘Get back to your meals, or back to work!’
Everyone pretended that they hadn’t heard a thing and carried on eating.
Through the night the winds steadily grew stronger, and the crew had to take turns to sleep.
Silver and Norsk stayed out on deck most of the night. Kitsch played cards with John as Tantoo slept. The Captain was at the helm looking out to sea. He hadn’t had a drink all night and was feeling terrible. The decision was final: he was quitting the drink.
The Flagship was heading south west, down to the mystical islands.
[There is lots of magic and other numinous phenomenon in the world that sometimes happens without warning. There are only a chosen few who have knowledge about spirits and magic.
The Magical Mountain Folk are a race of people who have great wisdom about such things…]
When Norsk went to the mountain folk and told them about the tragic events that had happened, they built a large fire and danced, whilst others called upon their gods for help. This went on for three days until eventually the dancing stopped. The men were then informed that they should travel to the island of lost memories and find The Pool of Hope.
The waves started to crash in on the ship as the weather took a turn for the worse. It started to rain and the winds became much stronger. Dark clouds started to gather in the sky above The Flagship and lightning could be seen in the distance. The Captain ordered all hands on deck. He told the crew to prepare for a storm.
The Captain stood at the helm trying to keep the ship steady, whilst Tantoo gave navigational directions. Norsk was helping Silver with the sails, which were being blown about the vessel. Kitsch came out on deck to help his friends. Mr. Duffield was hiding below in the Captain’s bunk. John was in the kitchen trying to keep things secure.
The rain was now lashing down on the ship and the men were having trouble keeping their feet. A gale force storm was now battering the ship. The Captain was having a great difficulty keeping the ship upright.
All of a sudden a mighty wave thundered down onto the deck. Tantoo lost his footing and in an instant was washed over board.
‘Man over board’, Silver screamed.
The Captain was barely able to hold the wheel at the helm. He tried to turn the ship, but in vane. And just as Kitsch was disappearing out of sight Silver threw him a life raft. Norsk had to look on as Kitsch vanished in the darkness of the storm. There was nothing they could do. They had to ride out the mighty beast.
One of the sails was torn from the mast, it was flapping about like a striking Cobra. Tantoo helped to fasten it back to the mast whilst the storm was raging and beating the men with wave after wave.
For two days and two nights the sea bashed its ugly head against the ships hull.
It was not until the third morning that the storm started to give way.
All through the storm nothing was said about losing Kitsch to the sea. The whole crew were exhausted and all they could think about was food and sleep. Their emotions had been tested to the limits fighting the storm and the disappearance of Kitsch had weakened their moral. As the clouds dispersed and the sun began to appear the men began to take turns to eat and rest in their bunks.
The Captain regained the ships course, but decided to head for a small coastal island to repair one of the sails and part of the rudder.
The Flagship was still a good distance out at sea when the captain ordered the anchor to be dropped. It was here that Duran Wright ( The Captain) ordered Norsk, Tantoo, and the rest of the crew to a meeting in his quarters. As the men sat down at the captain’s table the sad atmosphere that was sensed by everyone. The men, the crew and the Captain discussed the loss of Kitsch and how sad they were to lose him. The Captain tried to keep everyone’s minds off what had happened to Kitsch. He told them that the sail and the rudder needed to be repaired before they could carry on with their journey. Silver was to repair the rudder. Norsk and Tantoo set to work on the sail.
That night, as the captain stood on deck, feeling ill without a drink, a large bird landed on the railing next to him. The bird was Goda, and he was a magical bird that the mountain folk had sent to The Flagship. The great bird came with news about The Inner Spirit of the Child. Goda could speak the language of man, and he told the captain that these spirits had been seen on the island of lost memories, and that they were heading for The Pool of Hope. After a brief discussion Goda spread his wings and took to the sky again, and was soon out of sight. The Captain went straight to the men and told them the good news.
Norsk and Tantoo seemed to cheer up after hearing the news that Goda had brought to the ship.
The Flagship stayed anchored for two days…
As The Flagship set sail the Captain couldn’t stop thinking about the Island. He thought about the men and the adventures that lay ahead of them. He thought about his past and his lost love, and how sad he was without her.
The sea was calm and the winds were low…
Below deck, John had been missing Kitsch. He sat alone in the kitchen looking at the cards thinking about the fun he had had arguing with his new friend.
Mr. Duffield was eating the scraps of meat John had left out for him.
Norsk sat on deck writing his log about the tragic loss of his old friend.
Silver never spoke very much, nor did he like to. He was a man who kept most of his feelings to himself. He had been born in the town of Waddis and there he had a wife and two children. He’d worked for the captain for many years.
That night Norsk and Tantoo talked for many hours about their tragic loss. Tantoo couldn’t understand why his Spirit of the Child had left. He discussed the past year with Norsk, and told him all about his travels into far jungles. There he’d had many adventures and had come across many strange tribes and mystical beings. He mentioned the time when he was struck by a poisoned arrow, and how a magical elf-like being had nursed him back to good health. And now Tantoo still hoped of finding peace with his lost spirit
Norsk remembered what the Magical Mountain Folk had told him. They said that sometimes these spirits of the child leave their hosts without warning. In ancient times it was believed that they went off in search of peace and love, or even a new host.
The two men carried on talking through most of the night…
The Flagship wasn’t too far from the Island of Lost Memories now, and the Captain was feeling much better. He hadn’t had much sleep, but last night he slept well as the crew took care of the ship’s course.
The next morning was beautiful and the captain, men ,and crew, all sat together at the table and had a long hearty breakfast.
Mr. Duffield was bounding around the ship in a playful manner.
Everyone was in a very good mood, but The Captain knew he had to break some sad news to the men and crew.
Eventually the captain spoke. He spoke in a strong, but warm manner. He told Norsk and Tantoo that he and the crew wouldn’t be joining the men on The Island. He said that The Flagship would only take them as far as The Island of Lost Memories, and after that, they would have to continue their adventure on their own. But there was some joy as the captain agreed to wait at the island until the men returned…if they returned.
It was Silver who spotted the island first. He had been looking through his telescope when it came into view. The Island of Lost Memories was a huge island. Silver could see the dense forests and treacherous cliffs, and the long white pristine beaches. And as they approached the island, Silver felt anxiety for his shipmates . They had become very good friends of his and he worried about the task that lay ahead of them.
The winds were fresh and the sea was a deep blue colour as the ship neared the island…
On deck the men were packing their belongings and getting themselves ready for the journey ahead.
John was in his kitchen preparing a special leaving dinner for Norsk and Tantoo.
The time had now come for the men to leave, but first they were all going to have a small farewell party. During the party the men thanked the Captain for his bravery and support; without him they would never had gotten this far. They spoke about losing Kitsch and the dreadful storm too. Then the men thanked the crew and gave them each a special crystal, a magical crystal. Tantoo said a special goodbye to Mr. Duffield and attached a mystical stone to his collar.
[These stones would come to be of great importance to The Flagship’s future]
It was a bright and sunny day when The Flagship set anchorage by The Island of Lost Memories. The men were up bright and early and eager to set off on their adventure to find their lost spirits. But before they went they said a last goodbye to their friends and hoped to see them again soon.
Norsk and Tantoo used the Flagship’s small rowing boat to get to the nearby Island. It was Tantoo who first set foot on the mysterious island. After securing the boat they began to survey the surroundings. Their bare feet enjoyed the soft warm feel of the sand.
The men walked up the beach. They looked back, and then gave a final wave to The Flagship and its crew before they disappeared into the thick jungle of the Island of Lost Memories
Back on The Flagship, the Captain and the crew looked on as the men arrived on the island and then vanished into the island’s vast jungle.
The Captain was sad to see the men go. He had grown found of them during their voyage across the ocean. But he also knew that he would never leave his beloved treasure, The Flagship.
The only thing the Captain and the crew could do now, was wait. And wait they did, by the Island of Lost Memories
posted by Punk@it at 4:57 PM
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