This is a really short chapter, I know! It seriously didn't look so short before....
The sun beat down on the long, lean man lying on the shore of a small island. He was sprawled out in the sand, soaking wet, with his eyes closed and a tri-cornered hat held firmly against his chest. For a long time, the man did not stir. The sun was already high in the sky when he finally opened his eyes.
The man squinted up at the clouds for a long moment. His fingers dug into the sand around him. Still looking at the sky, he held some sand up and watched it escape through his fingers.
Without warning, he quickly sat up- and groaned. He felt his head gingerly, grimaced, and muttered something incomprehensible. Sighing, he stared glumly out at the sea.
Suddenly, he started, and began to fish around inside his coat. He pulled something out and unrolled it across his knees. It was some sort of round map. It was rather wet, but otherwise unharmed. The man rotated parts of it experimentally, and, satisfied, placed it back in his coat.
He scanned the beach, frowning, until his eyes fell upon the wrecked shape of a dinghy. He pushed himself to his feet and staggered over to it.
The man sank to his knees and began to shift the wreck as though searching for something. He suddenly sucked in his breath sharply and drew his hand out of the wreck to find his pointer finger dripping with warm, red blood. He examined it for a moment with an expression of mild interest, and then turned back to the dinghy, sucking his finger.
Proceeding with more caution now, the man shifted aside a large piece of wood to reveal what had cut him- a pile of broken glass. He carefully picked up the largest piece- the neck of a bottle- and looked at it ruefully before tossing it back onto the wreckage of the dinghy. He stared out at the sea again, his expression bleak, and mumbled, "Why is the rum always gone?"
I am seriously hoping that it's OBVIOUS who the man is! :) ... It may have been short, but hey, I have more coming- and it's quality, not quantity, right?
Even though I'm not sure about the quality- so you tell me! Review, please (if, of course, I am lucky enough to have people read this... ^_^)!
~chickenwinglegolas