The Plague

The water was cut in two as the boat sliced through it. The wood creaked under her steps as she glided across the deck to the railing. Her hand touched the wood and she jerked away in pain. Some blood started coming out of the small wound as the splinter was pulled away. Her eyes darted over to the men and what they were doing. One was in the little cup at the top of the pole. Her eyes turned at the sound of a voice calling out orders. There was a man at the wheel, quickly turning it around and around. She soon drowned out the voice and looked over at the rest of the ship. There were a few cannons on board in case they ran into a pirate ship, then there was an upper deck under the wheel, it was the captain's quarters. The actions of the men soon bored her and she looked out at the water. Her body moved with the boat as it rocked back and forth. Crystal blue liquid seemed to stretch on forever.

"Still bored?"

A smile crossed her rosy lips as she looked up at her friend. "Can you blame me? All I hear is this talk of how great it will all be, how I will settle down and finally find a suitable husband, but all I see is this blue glass."

Raven leaned on the rail with Ebony; "At least you'll be able to find a husband."

"But I don't want a husband; all they do is tie you down. I want to be free; I want to live life for once. I know Jacob and Abe want me to settle down but I want to explore a little first." Ebony looked over at Raven and caught the girl's mysterious smile; it was a look of knowledge. "How come you were able to come on this boat alone? I thought unmarried women were only allowed if they were coming with their family members." She was watching Raven, waiting for an answer, when someone rushed up to them and started speaking in a hurried voice.

"Jacob. Abe. They've caught it. You must come quick." Without a moments hesitation she followed the man through the hole to the lower deck. There, lying on an old straw bed were her brothers, both have broken out in fevers.

She rushed to their side and began giving orders to the man who led her down, "I need cold water and some cloth."

"I'm sorry Mam, but the only water we have left is for drinking purposes the captain ordered us not to use it for any other purpose."

Her gaze snapped towards him, "What do you mean? They are going to die if I don't have that to take care of them"

"They would die anyways. It's the plague; there is no stopping it once you catch it. I'm sorry."

A startled look was on her face as he walked away. Tears filled her eyes but she didn't let them fall as she looked to her brothers with a smile on her face.