Hello everybody! Before you read this chapter I want to ask you something, specially to those who have read and are willing to read the whole fic. How often do you want me to upload a chapter? I've translated some chapters in advance after this one, so I have all of them "in stock". I could upload one chapter a day if you want me to, maybe even more, but I suppose it may be too much for you. So, I leave the choice up to you. If I don't get any answer, I'll continue uploading a chapter each two or three days. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 13: Adrift

Rock told the whole tribe about his memories and his intentions, but most of them thought the same way. The sword was overseas. He would never find it.

Only two people believed in Rock: Bangoo and the medicine-man.

The latter had an idea.

Rock had talked about a huge wooden structure which was able to float. According to Rock's memories, a "ship".

The medicine-man thought they could build their own ship so that Rock could sail to sea.

It seemed a good idea to Rock so they decided to put it into practice.

The medicine-man was a very intelligent man and he was able to design the ship's structure, and Rock was strong and tough enough to cut down a big amount of trees in a short time.

However, two men and a teenager aren't enough people to build a ship, even if they are very strong or intelligent.

They were trying to convince the rest of the tribe for days, but everybody believed that it was one of the medicine-man's crazy ideas, which scarcely ever worked.

So they decided to build a raft instead of a ship, big and resistant enough to bear Rock's weight.

Bangoo was in charge of looking for fruit and other supplies which Rock would take with him on his trip.

They didn't know how much time the trip could last, so they made a fishing gear so Rock would never lack food.

Undoubtedly, the biggest trouble would be the water, though.

They didn't have any container big enough to store all the water Rock would probably need.

Their only hope was rainwater, since the weather was very rainy in that area.

It rained about once every three days, and the rains were quite heavy, so maybe a strong man like Rock would be able to live on them.

It was very risky, but Rock was determined to find that sword, and that was his only chance.

Bangoo and Rock said goodbye to each other with watery eyes. The medicine-man wished Rock luck and gave him an amulet, consisting of a wooden cross, which Rock put around his neck.

The three of them pushed the raft onto the sea and Rock got on it, holding all his supplies, the fishing gear and the axe he had used to cut down the trees, to use it as a weapon if necessary.

He also took a long and thick branch with him to use it as an oar.

When the raft was far from the beach, and it appeared on the horizon, Rock looked for the last time at the place which had been his home for almost ten years.

He was determined to come back someday, with Soul Edge under his arm and having killed his parents' murderer.

...

However, Rock's trip wouldn't be as long as he had expected.

Two weeks after leaving America, after eight days and seven nights of untiringly rowing, a ship came across his raft.

The ship stopped and a voiced yelled:

- Get him on board!

Rock was confused and, before he became aware of it, he was on the ship's deck.

He saw some men carrying the axe, the fishing gear and the supplies to the held.

Then, two men grabbed his arms and dragged him to the captain.

There was something weird about those men. Their skin was too pale and their hands were colder than the ocean Rock had just escaped from.

The men left, leaving Rock at the captain's feet.

- Who are you? – he asked. His voice was deep and anything but friendly.

- My name is Rock. – answered Rock, without raising his head.

- And where have you come from...Rock?

- Not your business. – an exhausted Rock replied.

- You're right, but now, you're on my ship. You've strong arms. You may join my crew.

- Sorry, but I can't. I have more important things to… - at that very moment, Rock raised his eyes and he saw something which astonished him.

Standing before him, wearing an elegant pirate suit and with his skin rotten, was the captain Cervantes.