FROM DOVER TO PLYMOUTH, AND BACK
Chapter 10
By Kiddo
In Loving Memory Of Jonathan Brandis
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"Don't fix a broken heart. Who really wants to forget?" (Joseph Fiennes)==
"It is just as it is with the flower. If you love a flower that lives on a star, it is sweet to look at the sky at night. All the stars are a-bloom with flowers . . .In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night . . . You--only you--will have stars that can laugh! It will be as if, in place of the stars, I had given you a great number of little bells that knew how to laugh... My star will just be one of the stars, for you. And so you will love to watch all the stars in the heavens . . . they will all be your friends! And when your sorrow is comforted you will be content that you have known me." Antoine De Saint- Exupery - "The Little Prince"
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Disclaimer:
I don't have any rights to "seaQuest DSV" or "seaQuest 2032" and I am not making any money with this story.
A big Thank You goes to my wonderfull beta-reader Jackie and Refur, KatKnits00, Mar, Sam and Kas for their wonderfull Reviews.
Feedback and reviews are still the only thing I get for writing. So please review.
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One week later, Lucas had settled down on the ship quite well. The whole crew of the seaQuest was very nice to him and treated him good. They had all started to teach him how to sail. The crew had been happy to see that Lucas was really skilful and eager to learn.
The boy had the most contact with the captain, Miss Westphalen, Katherine Hitchcock, and the cook, Benjamin Krieg.
Every day Kristen and Lucas practised reading and writing. The red-haired woman had been really surprised to see how fast the teenager was learning. She had expected that he could maybe read some easy texts by the time they were back in Dover. But now, only after a few days of learning, he was able to read the easy text without any problems. The boy was really unbelievable!
Meanwhile, the teenager had gotten his own little cabin and his hands and knee were healed. It was still visible were the scratches had been, but there was now new skin growing over them and it didn't hurt anymore.
The blond-haired boy talked ever day with Darwin. But the talking in his head only worked if he could also see the dolphin. When Lucas was talking with the animal, the crew wouldn't disturb him. They had quickly learned that it was pointless. It was like the boy was in another world, and nothing around him existed. He heard and saw nobody. The teenager didn't do it on purpose, that was just the way it was.
The others didn't know that Lucas was talking with Darwin in his head. And therefore, the crew thought that the boy was simply lost in his thoughts at those times. They believed that the sight of the dolphin helped him and calmed him down.
Two days ago, the SeaQuest had met another ship, and they had exchanged news with each other. The other boat had also told them that a pirate ship was sailing around in this area. The name of the pirate ship was "Delta 4". Bridger knew that boat and remembered that it was a ship with lots of weapons.
Now that Lucas was also able to read, he remembered that the "Delta 4" was that ship where he had met Captain Stark and had been thrown overboard. He told this Bridger.
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Lucas was standing next to Katie at the kolderstock. She explained to him exactly how she piloted with it. She wanted to let him try it for himself in a few days. But before that, he had to learn a few other things and get more of a feel for the ship.
The closer they got to Plymouth, the warmer the weather became. Lucas was only wearing the blue part of his jacket Kristen had made him; it was too warm for the inner part.
Benjamin Krieg stuck his head out of the galley and looked around. Finally he saw who he was searching for. "Hey Lucas, come here if you have time."
The boy looked questioningly at Hitchcock. Katherine nodded in Krieg's direction. "You can go, I can explain the rest to you later or tomorrow."
"Okay." The teenager walked to the galley and looked at Ben. "What's going on?"
Krieg pointed at the crow's nest were Ortiz was sitting. "Do you trust yourself to climb up to Miguel?"
The blond boy thought about it and looked up at the crow's nest. He had never had any problems with heights. He had loved to climb trees when he had been younger. But that had been some years ago. Finally Lucas nodded. "I think so."
"Good." Ben hung a little bag around the teen's neck. "Then you can bring this to Ortiz. It's something for him to eat."
"Okay." The boy went to the mainmast and climbed up the rigging, up towards the crow's nest. He hoped that he would really make it. He had also helped before to set the sails and had climbed up to the squares and had no problems with that. But Lucas had never been as high as the crow's nest.
The teenager was relived when he made it to Ortiz and the crow's nest. It had been easier than he expected. The blond boy sat next to Miguel and gave him the little bag. "Ben asked me to give you this."
"Oh thanks, I'm starving."
Lucas looked in every direction. "Wow, the view is amazing."
The black-haired man nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you are right. For me, this is the best place on board. You have the best view from here and it's perfect if you want to be alone to think about something. Nobody disturbs you. And it's also great at night, being so close to the stars." Miguel gave Lucas his spyglass. "Do you want to take a look through it?"
The teenager nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, thanks!"
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To Be Continued...
Written 2003 / Translated April 2004