PART 1: Lying
: Chapter 1: The Storm's Cries :
After several days of torrid heat, where
there hadn't been any opportunity for the Nomad to dock at any town, Sinbad
began to fear that the drinking water on board would run short soon. But one
evening, the dry air of the last hours finally turned into wetness and the wind
they had all been waiting for began to blow. Finally some dark clouds covered
the sky which had been so clear during these last days. Sinbad was standing at
the tiller of his ship, watching this change of atmosphere – glad about the
rain that was to come at last.
"There's a storm coming" –
the words came from Bryn who had followed the glance of his blue eyes.
"Don't worry, Bryn. We'll
arrive at the next port before the storm will reach us. Aren't you glad about a
little freshness?", Sinbad said with a cheering smile.
"Sure.", Bryn answered, not
totally convinced. She could sense there was something approaching - something
unexpected.
A few hours later, it turned
out that for once, the Captain had been too optimistic and the Nomad found
itself rocking on high waves. The little fall of rain had indeed turned into a
dangerous storm and Sinbad tried hard to hold the course of the ship. All
crewmembers were working at their limits, including of course Doubar, Firouz,
Rongar and Bryn. Sinbad got Doubar to help him with the tiller, when suddenly a
sound coming from the sea caught his ears.
"Did you hear that?", Sinbad
screamed at his big brother in order to drown the crashing of the waves.
"Hear what?"
"I just thought someone was
crying for help."
"I didn't hear anything",
Doubar answered. "Maybe it was a siren who wanted to enchant you with her
voice, little brother – I know you couldn't resist a beautiful creature like
that", he laughed. But when his eyes met Bryn's worried ones he knew it was not
the right time for joking.
"What's up, Bryn?", Doubar
asked as the Nomad was hit by a huge wave. The two brothers turned their
attention to the steering of the ship again until the storm and the noisiness
finally had softened a little and they were actually able to talk to each other
without having to scream. But the danger wasn't over yet – the wind still blew
hard and the ship was tossed from one side to another. It was then when they
all heard it: a distant female voice
calling from somewhere in the sea. Sinbad had been right. They all tried to
locate the cries, and it was finally Firouz who noticed a woman through his
binocular, swimming about two hundred meters away.
"I found her!" he shouted to
the others.
The waves were now harmless
and there was only a soft breeze blowing as the last raindrops were falling
from the sky.
Now they were all able to see
the person. Sinbad ordered his crew to get the ship near her in order to help
her to reach the safety of the Nomad. The Captain looked if everybody was doing
his job when his eyes rested on Bryn who was standing near the ship's rail. He
watched her for a few seconds, watched her thoughtful face and her dark hair
that was running down her back. Never noticed how good she looks when she's
wet he thought with a grin. But soon he turned his attention to Dermott.
Just a few minutes ago the bird had been sitting calmly next to Bryn, but now
he shrieked loudly. Bryn tried to calm him down, but it didn't help. It seemed
that the closer they got to the woman in the water the more excited the bird
became, until finally he was crying hysterically.
The Nomad had now reached the
stranger and Sinbad gave orders to fetch her with the longboat. Amin, a young
seaman who had joined the crew just a few weeks ago, and who was glad to
finally be able to show his abilities, decided to take over this job at once.
While he hurried to rescue the woman, the whole crew watched excitedly – except
for Bryn. She was secretly watching her captain. After this kiss, he kept
running through her mind – she still wasn't sure what that kiss meant to her
and most of all, what it meant to him. Since then, he had treated her as if
nothing had happened, yet she knew there was something more. Something he
didn't want to admit to himself. She didn't dare to think that he felt more
than friendship for her, but if it had not been Sinbad, but an other man, she
would have been sure that there was something in his eyes when he looked at her
– something that surely meant more than just sympathy. Bryn sighed. If she was
honest to herself, she knew exactly what she was feeling for S-…
She couldn't bring the
thought to an end, for the strange woman had just entered the ship and ran
straight into Sinbad's arms.
"Maeve!" the young man cried.
Bryn could feel her blood
freezing…
