Entry 18
We spent th' whole night rowin' in turns, tryin' to get as far awa' from th' Dutchman as possible till we'd tired oorselves oot to th' point o' exhaustion, forced to take some respose at th' first hours o' th' mornin'. Th' rest o' th' early efternoon passin' in each o' us dozin' aff every noo 'n' then when th' heat got th' better o' us 'n' th' few striken conversations ceased. In all that time efter fleein' th' Dutchman us nae seein' a single glimpse o' land anywhere, Mr. Turner's warnin' o' remainin' at sea longer than necessary occupyin' all o' a oor thoughts at times, even we weren't quite sure what he'd meant wi' it. But I simply regarded it as an urge to get oorselves awa' from th' ocean that was in Jones' control, makin' it easy for 'im to track us doon wance he discovered th' key to be missin'.
Me whole body felt heavy as I levered meself to a sittin position, th' feelin' o' th' rail o' th' longboat pressin' to th' back o' me neck durin' me short rest yet to show signs o' fadin' a few hours later when we were still caught in an halcyon. Sittin' under th' direct sunlight havin' such an prominent effect to all o' us that Edward had seen fit to lighten th' mood wi' a jest aboot cabin fever, me truly nae laughin' at that as at times me brain seemed utterly scrambled, added to th' fact that we had to keep th' momentum goin' by rowin' long distances sedulously. Th' lack o' wind makin' th' hing even harder by offerin' no relief to th' swelter that was th' Caribbean climate, me wounds nae likin' th' sweat that streamed doon me back. Th' possession o' th' key feelin' noo rather insignificant taken that we were stuck at th' open ocean wi' no sense o' direction nor knowledge when we would come upoan a ship or if we were really lucky, sturdy ground to have oor feet upoan. I was gradually stairtin' to have enough o' th' life at sea 'n' missed home, th' only place I'd ever felt safe…although I wondered would it be at all safe to any o' us noo, which would've made it but cruel if th' occasional winds would by time guide us back to Port Royal. Th' last place we wanted to end up. But should that have happened I might've as weel laughed at th' folly o' th' world 'n' it's twisted sense o' humor.
"Are ye really goin' to kill Jones wance we find th' Chest, William?"
William's heid snapped to me direction when me voice pierced thro' his reverie, 'im turnin' his eyes from th' sky to tak' in me questionable mien. Efter but a brief surprise 'im only noddin' seriously, his countenance nae leavin' any doubt in me mind aboot that.
"Aye. I promised my father to save him."
"I understand that, but I'm nae so sure aboot doin' it thro' killin' a man. Even if th' person in question is as vile as Jones", I protested gently, levelin' a coaxin' keek intae William's eyes, but he brushed me concern aff by gazin' awa'.
"If you're afraid of me voluntarily choosing to become a murderer to fulfil my promise, don't. There are some things that we can't steer clear of in life, and Jones' means little to me if I can use it to free my father from his pledge. There's no other way to do it."
"There's always another wey to do things, naw matter th' nature", I argued, momentarily taken aback by th' lack o' empathy William had expressed while ootright admittin' to be plottin' to murder Jones in cold blood, which didn't sound somethin' he would say that readily wi'oot a trace o' indecision. Me measurin' 'im in confusion, as what he was plannin' was in fact amiss, even if Jones would deserve to have his hert pierced for all th' misery he'd imposed to others in his life. But nae by William's haun. "Th' crewman in th' brig warned us aboot th' hert, forbade us to bring damage to it. Don't ye think that might mak' yer plan worth reconsiderin'?"
O' coorse William remembered what th' elderly crewmember had said aboot th' Dead Man's Chest. However decidin' nae to give it much thought as was so focused oan keepin' his promise to his father that any fact aside th' one that regarded th' stabbin' o' Jones hert noo seemed insignificant to 'im, 'im nae takin' intae any account me impugn o' his future intentions, as juist directed his attention back to th' blue sky above us.
"Right after he himself instructed us to use the key to open the chest and stab the heart. He said nothing worth considering that would change my mind."
I sighed at his indifferent response, naturally understandin' his means which he used to convince 'imself o' th' justification o' his actions regardin' their end, which I could noo see 'im to accomplice at all cost. Although I didn't quite agree wi' his willingness to kill to rescue Mr. Turner, me then simply castin' me eyes doon resigned. Kennin' none o' me words to be able to persuade 'im intae doin' what I deemed as right. It wa aboot his father efter all…
"As long as ye remember yer father nae to be th' only one ye need to concern yerself wi'."
I could see William to turn his heid to me direction as I closed me eyes, nae feelin' at all better from last evenin', me wishin' to juist lay doon at th' bottom o' th' dinghy 'n'...
"A ship... I see a ship."
Me heid jerked upward from me palm, me twirlin' aroond due to Edward's abrupt notice, at first nae spottin' th' said vessel when all I could see at th' horizon was th' glarin' glimmer o' th' blue. But efter but a few seconds I as weel saw th' tiny dark speck that had appeared oot o' nowhere, me delighted utterance causin' William to straighten from his prone position somewhat alarmed. Th' thought o' it to be th' Dutchman nae even occurin' to me as I'd been juist so glad to hear for us to be perhaps awready rescued wi'oot havin' to drift aboot for days wi' naw provisions to live by. Th' farawa' silhouette o' th' ship growin' bigger rapidly as th' wind picked up again, blowin' heidwind to us but pillowin' th' sails o' that ship 'n' granted it a few knots o' extra speed to reach us faster. Edward peerin' against th' sun to see what type o' vessel it was, me notin' 'im to lift his eyebrows in slight relief.
"We're in luck. It's a merchant vessel flying British colors."
Immediately efter hearin that it was William who noo took hold o' th' oars, bringin' us aboot in a record time 'n' stairted to steer oor wee dinghy towards th' ship that was luckily headin' straight oor wey. Efter five minutes o' furious rowin' th' vessel had doubled its size in oor eyes 'n' Edward 'n' I hoisted oor arms up to wake th' crew's attention. William's voice joinin' oors as all o' us soon were wavin' at th' ship fervently, William abandonin' th' oars 'n' followin' oor cue so eagerly that I saw th' sculls to actually fall owerboard intae th' sea. Edward as weel glancin' ower his shoulder in time to see th' oars to get bogged doon th' minute William let go o' 'em, me givin' 'im a brief surprised smile in middle o' me shoutin' as watched 'im to draw his sword which he then used to send signals to th' crewmen as th' sunlight reflected from th' steel o' th' blade. All o' us lettin' oot a relieved breath as efter a moment we could see people to gather to th' gunwale, one o' 'em a spyglass in haun till we saw 'im to turn aroond, pointin' towards oor boat. Th' faint cry that reached even to oor lugs settin' th' crew in motion, 'n' soon th' vessel had changed course juist slightly to glide right neist to us. Me smilin' up at th' heavens thankfully wance oor boat was abeam wi' th' graceful merchantman named Edinburgh Trader (which I then realized to be one o' th' ships that had its port o' registry at Port Royal), 'n' a line was tossed doon to us to secure oor dinghy. Ladders followin' soon efter 'n' all three o' us eagerly clambered up th' ship's hull wi'oot a moment o' hesitation, feel o' security returnin' wance we were standin' oan th' deck o' an actual ship again, 'n' nae havin' to spend a single minute mair in that splint o' a boat that hadn't felt at all safe means o' transport while runnin' awa' from a terrifyin' powerhoose such as th' Flyin' Dutchman.
We were instantly brought to th' Captain efter oor somewhat vague answers to th' crew's questions aboot 'em findin' us in middle o' th' ocean in but a mere dinghy hadn't satisfied 'em. Oor somewhat circumspect explanations aboot a pirate attack only we survived from wakin' th' crew's suspicions even they didn't express it. Me bein' able to tell oor oan th' spot improvised story nae to convince 'em enough, as there was no smoke in any compass point to tell o' an occurred battle, nor had they heard any pirate vessel to be prowlin' in that area o' th' popular tradin' route. As said th' crew however nae voicin' oot their doubts as th' First Mate led us to Captain Bellamy's cabin, followed by th' ship's Quartermaster 'n' Bursar, who along wi' th' Captain proceeded by stairtin' to goup at us contemplatively efter th' necessary introductions had been made 'n' Edward, William 'n' I were sittin' oan a peedy couch placed to th' other side o' th' Captain's quarters. Th' men oan me side decidin' to doon their goblets o' offered refreshments wi' one big gulp where I was satisfied to savor th' water in wee portions, Captain Bellamy's jaw risin' as he noo took us in one by one.
"It's a strange thing to come upon a longboat so far out in open water…I hear your ship was raided by pirates on your way to Cayman Islands?"
"Aye…they caught us by surprise one hundred miles away from Nueva Gerona and resiliently pursued us for two weeks, until they finally attacked our ship about 25 miles from where we are now", Edward answered, gey cogently as locked serious gazes wi' th' listenin' men. "The devils sunk her and slaughtered each and every one of us…only we managed to take one of the boats and fled before the pirates were ready with their looting."
"What were you shipping?" Captain Bellamy inquired, tiltin' his heid in interest efter ponderin' ower Edward's tale which went together wi' what his men had awready told 'im.
"Gold and silks. We had been tasked to deliver the cargo to the Governor of Cayman Islands, when the previous vessel appointed to this task had been assaulted and eventually chased to Nueva Gerona on the brink of capsizing. It were the same miscreants who gained on us upon departure after undoubtedly learning about the cargo to have changed ship", Edward specified, shakin' his heid in frustration as keeked doon. Doin' perfect job in me opinion, as if I didn't ken th' true events that had brought us aboard this merchant vessel I would've believed his every word, delivered wi' such sincerity 'n' withheld anger that it nae only seemed but keeked real when he scowled at th' surroundin' walls.
"And it was a Royal vessel that you served aboard?" th' Captain questioned, me eyes flickerin' to 'im as noticed 'im noo to direct a rather long goup at me afore his unsure irises examined William 'n' Edward. "Because what confuses me is your lack of proper attire, should you have indeed come from a Navy vessel carrying such a valuable shipment."
"We were forced to hide 'n' discard any outer traits that would've risked us gettin' recognized by th' pirates upoan th' attack…By th' aid o' oor disguises we succeeded in slippin' past th' rovers in th' ongoin' commotion 'n' claimed th' longboat in th' nick o' time", I explained, hurryin' to support Edward's narrative wi' me ain, William hurlin' hardly detectable amused eyebrows upoan hearin' Edward's followin' remark when th' three men in front o' us were noo all eyein' at me in utter bafflement. Lik' all men afore 'em nae understandin' what I'd been doin' aboard a Royal vessel, or aboard a ship altogether.
"Miss. Brighton is the daughter of the late Captain. She joined the voyage under the permission of her father, and was supposed to accompany us to Cuba, where she was meant to meet with her mother, Lady Brighton. Sister of Lord Charlesborough, who owns several plantations throughout the island."
I was sure I should've appeared hertbroken then, but I accommodated by castin' miserable eyes doon to me hauns. Lettin' oot a sniff lik' utterance as pretended to be in mournin', at th' sound o' this alleged revelation me earnin' a reverent bow from th' men. Me soon returnin' it wi' a polite smile as straightened me posture, beckonin' to William 'n' Edward. "Lieutenant Hastings and Admiral Keaton were most courageous while saving me from those bloodthirsty brutes, and I am ever in your debt gentlemen for rescuing us from the sea. Who knows how long we would've been adrift before seeing any spot of land."
"The pleasure was all ours, my lady", Captain Bellamy replied as tipped his hat at me, momentarily puzzled by th' disappearance o' me accent, but didn't hink muckle o' it then. Me seein' from th' corner o' me eye William to actually enjoy this wee charade me 'n' Edward were puttin' oan to avoid any obtrusive questions we'd seen wiser nae to answer to save us from bein' perhaps locked intae th' brig again as deranged. William inclinin' his hied slightly at his apparent alias, as I nudged his leg wi' me boot. Signalin' 'im to play along.
"Just put as many leagues behind us as you can. As fast as you can", William spoke up then, puttin' awa' his goblet as Captain Bellamy's serious countenance noo turned back to wonderin', 'im facin' William wi' a quizzical exchange o' goups.
"And what are we running from? Did you not say the pirates to have pillaged your ship and stolen all the valuables? What would they want from you?"
"Their Captain recognized the name of Brighton, and thus his daughter's as well. It's highly likely they'll wish to catch up to her in hopes of acquiring handsome ransom money by taking her as a hostage", William elaborated, hidin' his smile behind th' cup that he brought back to his lips. Me deterrin' an urge to sigh at both o' 'em…Oor wee white lie was stairtin' to get oot o haun...
Afore Captain Bellamy had a chance to respond William's attention was abruptly directed to somethin' he spotted at th' other side o' th' cabin, 'im straightenin' a bit as I saw 'im to mak' a doubtful frown afore for me surprise he stood 'n' marched across th' room. Abandonin' th' goblet this time ontae th' writin' desk as I followed suite by standin', seein' 'im to be noo claspin' a gey familiar keekin' dress in his hauns that had been draped oan a nearby chair. Edward's eyes shiftin' atween me 'n' William questionably wance we both recognized th' detailed embroidery 'n' th' delicate pleatin' o' th' gown, us exchangin' a shocked glance afore William turned aroond slowly.
"This dress…where did you get it?" he asked, in astonishment, bemusin' th' three men as his eyes rose to roam aboot their coupons in wonder. Me ain attention remainin' fixated at Elizabeth's weddin' gown in dismay as Captain Bellamy replied.
"It was found aboard this ship. The crew thought it was a spirit bringing some omen of ill fate."
"That's foolish", William stated, half to 'imself as he eyed at th' dress wance mair, his mind tardily wrappin' aroond th' fact why Elizabeth's dress could've gotten aboard a ship so far awa' from Port Royal, as he touched th' silky fabric gently. Me turnin' me eyes awa' at th' sight o' th' wee smile that rose oan his lips then when he could smell th' remnants o' 'er perfume (or so I imagined by that blissful face oan his coupon) as I instead fell intae me ain flabbergasted thoughts for a moment. Had Elizabeth escaped th' Fort 'n' boarded this ship as a stowaway? To what end would she…but then naturally it hit me, me turnin' a bit dejected as I realized 'er to have simply done exactly what I did several weeks ago efter escapin' th' dungeons. Come efter William to find 'im.
"The dress brought good fortune. The spirit told us to pull in at Tortuga. And we made a nice bit of profit there", th' Purser cut in then efter a short silence, me eyes snappin' up to goup at is back at th' mention o' Tortuga, where William didn't react. Simply smilin' in fleetin' amusement as he soon turned aroond, keekin' at th' men inquisitively where th' Captain' exchanged a remarkable glance wi' his two men upoan realizin' for th' Purser to have possibly talked oot o' turn noo in th' presence o' th' two "men from th' Royal Navy".
"Off the books, of course", he corrected, nae to appear to have indulged in any real illegalities, but o' coorse either William or Edward didn't paid any heed to th' made confession aboot them engagin' in illegal business at a pirate port.
"I imagine some of your crew may have jumped ship there", William stated, bypassin' th' sailors' remarks as faced th' Captain, 'im frownin' in confusion upoan nae followin' why th' young man was so interested aboot some members o' his crew that might've stayed behind at th' pirate island.
"Why do you ask?"
"Captain!"
All o' us turned to keek towards th' stairs that led to th' Captain's quarters when one o' th' deckhauns ran doon th' steps in haste. Haltin' in middle o' th staircase to level an urgent keek at his Captain, who turned aroond. Us watchin' th' sailor to beckon towards th' deck.
"A ship has been spotted, sir."
"Colors?"
"She isn't flying any."
"Blimey", I heard Edward mutter under his breath, his eyes findin' mine as I froze oan me spot in fright, only one ship springin' to me mind that could've been spotted at oor vicinity wi'oot a flag in sight to ease th' identification. William's eyes visitin' us afore he also turned to goup at th' arrived sailor grimly, Captain Bellamy instead facin' us quizzically.
"Pirates?" he breathed, somewhat frightful as if askin' us whether this ship belonged to th' same marauders we'd lied to have supposedly attacked us afore that day. Me releasin' a fretful breath as kenned th' maist likely truth to be much worse than any common pirate vessel wishin' to blow us intae bits wi' its cannons, me haun findin' itself upoan th' key that felt lik' burnin' me skin noo when th' thought o' Jones to have found us had been conjured. Me followin' William to push past th' crewmen 'n' th' Captain to reach th' stairs efter tossin' Elizabeth's dress aside, Edward 'n' me wastin' naw time in wallowin' in oor surprise as were swift to trail efter 'im at th' sound o' his forebodin' words.
"Or worse."
I raced oot o' th' Captain's cabin, stumblin' up th' steps afore popped up to th' deck. Whippin' me heid all aroond me to see where th' detected vessel was, chagrined groan escapin' me lips as I neist spotted th' ship meself at oor stern 'n' realized it to indeed be th' Flyin' Dutchman. Fear stairtin' to creep intae me as I gouped at th' blasted ship that efter all hadn't been all that much behind us, wi' her remarkable size 'n' speed closin' th' distance o' half a day's heidstairt wi' ease. Especially when their Captain was driven by grave fury due to th' discovery o' oor ruse 'n' escape wi' his property, as weel as his desire to obtain th' Chest back. As even if th' claim o' us to be in possession o' his hert had been but a flagrant lie, who kenned how prepared Jones was to risk o' me to have perhaps told th' truth aboot th' Chest. Which I hadn't obviously, 'n' th' thought made me even mair frightened as I halted in middle o' th' deck, simply goupin' at th' fluyt that loomed ominously at th' nae so distant horizon, ready to chase efter us. Me barely noticin' William to climb up to th' main mast as Edward came by me side while wearin' a severe frown.
"Trying to run from a mighty vessel like that was a long shot after all", he remarked, his hint o' sarcasm however nae helpin' me mood that had abandoned all sense o' relief, me shakin' me heid at oor predicament as William's voice neist identified th' incomin' ship to th' rest o' th' people oan board who were also peerin' at th' vessel in wonder. Th' risen commotion endin' intae a shocked silence wance th' majority o' th' crew recognized th' name, but didn't believe William's words as th' truth. Me glancin' up to 'im in distress.
"What are we supposed to do noo?"
Th' answer to me wonder came as a violent 'n' all too familiar tug that then brought th' Edinburgh Trader to a standstill, th' powerful jolt shudderin' th' whole vessel 'n' causin' everyone aboard to lose their footin'. People tumblin' oan one another 'n' against th' ship's gunwale as abruptly welled up waves neist crashed against th' ship's hull. Horror causin' me hert to stop as th' vessel wobbled 'n' groaned under us juist lik' last time I'd found meself from this dreadful situation that stilled me blood for unspeakable terror, me keekin' at Edward in panic. Us both realizin' there to be naw ordinary explanation to what had juist happened but only th' terrible one that sprung intae oor minds. Th' crewmembers runnin' to th' rails to tak' a keek what we'd been stuck to so tightly, in utter dismay due to th' fact that we were in middle o' th' ocean where no reefs were supposed to lurk close to th' surface, yet unaware o' th' much worse truth stalkin' us 'til Captain Bellamy joined his men by th' gunwale. Me 'n' Edward's attention shiftin' to 'em due to th' sound o' th' Captain's voice stairtin' to shout oot orders.
"Ye fools, get away from there!" Edward roared, risin' to his feet 'n' vaultin' forward to yank th' oblivious crewmen to safety, but for naw avail. Me momentarily petrified form jumpin' intae action wance we then behold one o' those same tentacles to strike. Swoopin' oot o' th' ocean to take hold o' th' Captain afore draggin' 'im intae th' water in a blink o' an eye, frightened breath leavin' me lips as I yanked me cutlass from me belt, seein' me hauns to shake so much that I wasn't sure would I be able to use me weapon in a moment's time when th' creature would attack th' ship. Me nae believin' this to me happenin' again, albeit when I thought aboot this ootcome later oan I realized it to have been only logical, but we'd been so keen oan reachin' land that we'd forgotten all aboot th' real threat I noo understood Mr. Turner to have referred to while urgin' us to steer clear o' th' sea. Th' sea creature under Jones' command that had noo found us.
"Randa, the grates!" Edward exclaimed then, wakin' me attention 'n' I shifted me eyes from th' poor Captain we all noo saw to emerge from th' ocean for a second 'til he was pulled back to drown by th' Kraken. Th' Captain's horrorstruck screams causin' th' crew's composure to fail wance all those who'd recognized Jones' ship's name noo understood th' real danger we were in, goin' intae a frenzy 'n' stairtin' to run aboot th' vessel in complete panic as th' warnin' tolls o' th' bell drove 'em to leave th' gunwale. Some recoverin' weapons where others were content to goup at th' sea aroond us to see where th' neist attack would come, me however clearin' me heid from th' creepin' dread as saw Edward beckon to oor feet. Adrenaline kickin' in wance I saw th' limited number o' spears 'n' other weapons that had been stored under th' grate we were standin' oan as a precaution should th' merchant vessel be caught by a surprise by pirates for example. Th' beast preparin' to assault us being far worse force to reckon wi', while aware o' that me then instantly tryin'to locate somethin' to break th' lock wi' that we noo noticed to keep th' weapons oot o' wrong hauns when Edward had tried to yank th' grate open. Me frantic eyes finally focusin' oan a man who was runnin' towards us an axe in his haun, me snatchin' it from 'im afore he could run aff towards th' prow o' th vessel 'n' heaved it above me heid. Edward jumpin' backwards in haste nae to be hit by me as wi'oot a thought I brought th' axe doon ontae th' lock, missin' more than wance, me directin' panicked glances ower th' ship's rails as noo noticed mair tentacles to stairt to emerge from th' sea 'n' crawl aboard to lunge at us. Wi' a couple o' mair swings me managin' to smash th' sturdy lock enough for Edward to rip it apart afore pullin' th' grate open, us along wi' several crewmen chargin' forth to fill oor hauns wi' weapons 'til twirled aroond to face th' upcomin' threat wi' widened, terror filled eyes. Edward swingin' th' axe wi' a frustrated grunt as took a stance, grimacin' at th' springy tentacles that he could all too weel remember to have lacerated his ain ship as one o' 'em curled upward in front o' us, waitin'. Us duckin' as in th' neist moment all those several limbs plunged doon upoan th' awaitin' crew, nae even th' spears nor other weapons slowin' th' creature doon as in but a few seconds it was wreakin' similar havor aboard th' merchant vessel. Wrappin' aroond every man it could find afore hauled 'em intae th' sea to die.
I gey quickly found meself doin' th' exact same thing as last time while forced to fend against this beast, slashin' me sword all aroond to try to keep th' tentacles at bay, runnin' haphazardly in search o' cover while dodgin' th' prowlin' monster's arms that sought to chase us all doon mercilessly. This creature showin' no mercy as it wrapped its tentacles all aroond th' masts 'n' th' ship's deck to uncover every single hidin' crewman that didn't face th' terror o' its attack heid oan, me lettin' oot freish shocked cry as one o' th' tentacles noo plunged right in front o' me to capture th' Quartermaster who was runnin' to me direction, chased by it. Me haltin' in fright as then saw another tentacle to be crawlin' to me wey in fast pace, me juist barely managin' to dive 'n' jump thro' it wance it attempted to entrail me. Me shoulder however cashin' against th' spingy meat o' th' Kraken 'n' I tumbled onto th' deck. Rollin' a few meters forward efter makin' a somersault in th' air, stiffenin' when another tentacle whooshed ower me wance I landed oan me back, me ignorin' th' biting pain o' it as a certain voice then caught me attention. Me scramblin' to a half sittin' position while turnin' aroond to see th' Bursar to be joggin' towards th' gunwale, cradlin' Elizabeth's wedding gown in his arms while meandered past th' roamin' tentacles, for me bemusement runnin' straight to his death as screamed at th' beast lik' a madman.
"Here it is, take it!"
I cringed back to lean against th' mast momentarily as saw Edward (whom I'd swiftly lost in th' ensued mayhem) to jump at th' man juist in time afore he was captured by th' Kraken, savin' 'im. Me watchin' th' golden dress to float aboot th' air 'til it eventually ended up in th' water efter it was stuck to one unfortunate sailor's heid wance he met wi' th' misfortune o' gettin' caught. Even I felt th' same paralysin' fear as th' last time when th' horrified shrieks 'n' pistol fire filled th' air, me noo gatherin' all me courage to neist exert forward to stab me sword intae th' passin' tentacle that changed direction when me sword ram thro' it. Breath o' shock eruptin' me geggy as in a split o' a second it made a spin in th' air 'n' darted towards me along th' deck. Me however then spottin' Edward again who appeared behind th' mast 'n' landed his axe straight oan top o' th' tentacle. Me collapsin' oanto th' deck to in turn avoid th' broad blade, pursin' me lips slightly for disgust as I could feel somethin' slimy (which I assumed to be th' creature's blood) smear oan me coupon wance Edward sliced thro' th' tip o' th' tentacle. It however naw detachin nor stoppin', but retreatin' enough for me to tak' Edward's extended haun afore we raced across th' deck, only to halt when a portentous snappin' sound comin' form above us claimed oor attention. Me liftin' me eyes to see William who was still standin' at th' mast, but whom noo was balancin' oan top o' th' sail beam that was currently crashin' doon along wi' th' whole mast efter one o' th' ragin' tentacles had wrapped aroond it. Th' Kraken severin' it in two lik' aboard th' Cornucopia, brief sense o' terror aboot his safety passin' when Edward's arm jerked me backwards as we had to escape th' fallin' mast, 'n' two tentacles that along wi' th' one that had taken doon th' mast were makin' their wey towards us. Me only seein' William's fallin' form then slide across th' sail o' th' main mast as turned aroond.
"Back! Go back!" Edward shouted, me instantly doin' as told as felt 'im shove me back towards th' stern, however me advancement comin' to a swift halt as in middle o' me run I collided wi' one o' th' merchant vessel's crewmen. Givin' th' Kraken a chance to upperhaun me, me lettin' oot a scream as I was instantly hoisted in th' air 'n' tipped upside doon for a moment. Th' tentacle wrapped aroond me legs nae relentin' as I furiously tried to wiggle meself free, failin' to cut th' slimy limb that held me captive. Efter a few seconds o' twirlin' aboot in th' air me losin' all knowledge where th' sky 'n' th' deck were as me disoriented eyes couldn't focus oan anythin'. Addin' only to me terror as I finally managed to imbed me cutlass intae th' tentacle wance it slithered higher, noo drapin' aroond me torso. When me previous attempt to skewer th' creature's arm had no effect me slashin' at th' tentacle frantically. In me rush o' emotions borderin' from pure fear to anger me even bypassin' th' fact that should I fall freely oanto th' deck noo it would kill me, in me panic me nae thinkin' straight but focused only in fightin' back afore that thing would drag me intae th' sea wi' th' rest o' th' poor souls awready defeated. Me refusin' to face such a terrifyin' death, but regardless o' me fright fueled determination me nae succeedin' in forcin' th' Kraken to release me. Only managin'to have th' creature let me go high above th' main mast, 'til efter a few seconds o' free fall, I was caught by another one. Th' abrupt spin thro' th' air robbin' me o' me weapon that got torn from me haun while it was still jabbed intae th' Kraken, noo weaponless 'n' helpless me resultin' in just cryin' for help as was heaved thro' th' air wance mair. Me nails diggin' intae th' soft flesh o' th' beast as I could feel a series o' bullets to whiz past me in an attempt to wound th' Kraken, th' scream that erupted form me geggy however comin' to an abrupt end when I felt somethin' to wrap aroond me right arm. Me eyes flashin' to th' side in dismay to see William who apparently had climbed up to stand oan th' main mast 'n' stayed there (luckily for me), me realizin' to be held back by but his arm, as another one neist lunged forth to grab me. It belongin' to Edward who wi' a heave o' air arrived upoan th' sail beam juist in time, their strength however provin' too weak against th' Kraken as I saw 'em grimace in pain as their arms protested against th' brute force o' th' beast. Me screamin' at 'em to let go, 'til Edward's other haun let go o' me quickly to draw th' axe from his belt, wi' frantic hauns me catchin' it as he tossed it ower to me. Me instantly skelpin' th' tentacle wi' it as William's sword thrust intae th' limb as weel, me frownin' as th' third poorly aimed hit made wi' me wrong haun caused th' axe to slip juist enough to cut thro' me shirt. Me nevertheless ignorin' th' bleedin' ulcer as released a relieved cry when by some miracle th' creature let me go me 'n' William's arm immediately hauled me up ontae th' sailbeam, bringin' me against 'im as wi' ragged breath I watched th' tentacle to retreat. Only to wrap aroond th' mast we sought shelter from, oor eyes fallin' to tak' in th' chaos o' th' main deck, th' survivors pokin' 'n' shootin' th' lurkin' tentacles wi' numerous spears 'n' swords that suddenly for some reason paused above 'em. Nae attackin'.
All three o' us then flinched as a pair o' largest tentacles yet suddenly pushed oot o' th' sea, reachin' as high as th' mast we were standin' oan, gallons o' water drippin' doon ontae th' terrified crewmen whose resistance disappeared 'n' turned intae dread when they were petrified to goup at th' thick appendages that were slowly crashin' doon towards 'em. Me eyes widenin' wance I saw several others to take hold o' Edinburgh Trader's hull, us bein' able to juist watch as th' tentacles finally squashed th' awaitin' men below who didn't make it oot o th' wey by slammin' oanto th' deck efter tearin' doon th' remains o' th' survived sails 'n' whatnot, coilin' aroond th' ship to make their finishin' move. Edward 'n' I hurryin' to follow William's cue by grabbin' th' cordage as th' Kraken bent th' vessel forcefully 'til in th' followin' second it gave in. Th' last o' th' alive crewmembers flyin' in th' air wi' th' cargo, afore soon slidin' to their eventual death as th' creature bit thro' th' ships remains while tightenin' its hold aroond th' vessel. Us bein' careful nae to tip ower 'n' fall straight intae th' jaws that lik' afore appeared from th' swirl o' water. Th' Kraken stairtin' to drag th' ship under th' waves when th' last alive men had been swallowed by either th' ocean or th' beast below us, th' only mast still standin' noo creakin' unpleasantly. Th' worn wood groanin' under oor feet 'n' for th' followin' fright o' us all it then stairted to break, William's arm wrappin' aroond me waist juist as th' mast was aboot to plunge intae th' sea. Me stretchin' oot a swift haun for Edward, but upoan takin' it his feet slipped oan th' wet sail beam 'n' he commenced to fall, takin' me wi' 'im. William bein' unable to prevent us from plummetin' heidlong even I could feel his haun scrabblin' mine, it honestly happenin' so fast that I didn't even register it till I found meself crashin' intae th' water. Huge surge pushin' against me instantly as th' sinkin' ship created subsurface tidal wave that sent me intae a fierce twirl in th' shifty current, me spinnin' aboot disoriented for some time, prayin' nae to be crushed by th' heavy hull o' th' ship or any o' th' other refuse swirlin' aroond me.
While swervin' uncontrollably wi'oot any sense o' direction me hauns fumbled blindly to find somethin' to hold ontae, to stop th' spinnin' 'n' get back to th' surface afore I'd be drawn too deep, juist as th' familiar panic o' bein' underwater was aboot to tak' ower finally me fingers landin' oan somethin' solid. Me instantly latchin' ontae th' object that I then found to be movin' rapidly, doonward or upward I didn't have th' faintest idea, only wishin' it nae to be th' Kraken jaws that I was goin'. Nae helpin' but havin' some water in me lungs as couldn't hold back th' inhale when they ran oot o' oxygen. Luckily me discoverin' to soon rise to th' surface, me breathin' in some mair water as I was momentarily submerged again when th' apparent part o' th' mast I was floatin' oan popped up 'n' doon for awhile. Me scramblin' to bring meself higher ontae th' broken mast afore I would drown, coughin' me lungs sore, th' seawater causin' me back to burst intae flames. Me leanin' me heid momentarily oanto th' study wood as allowed meself to rest for a bit, me eyes then risin' to tak' in th' Edinburgh Trader's stern that was swiftly vanishin' below along wi' Kraken's tentacles. Mair refuse 'n' barrels wellin' up along wi' th' remains o' th' vessel, me frownin' at th' numerous bodies I saw floatin' aboot aroond me as wi' a fretful lurch o' me hert I levered meself higher, gazin' aroond me.
"Edward! William!"
Anywhere I keeked I couldn't find 'em, me fear stairtin' to turn intae desperation when all I could see were th' corpses o' th' deceased crewmen, naw William's nor Edward's voice respondin' to me when I kept callin' oot to 'em. Me eventually slouchin' against th' mast, in defeat, worried. They couldn't have drowned, so where were they? Why didn't I see 'em anywhere, even they'd been juist wi' me afore th' collapse o' th' mast that had sent us all fallin' intae th' sea?
It was then when I spotted a longboat, a true longboat at th' other side o' th' wrecked ship, hope liftin' its heid in me as I reckoned Edward 'n' William to have swum ower to it to safety. Me risin' up to wave me arm at 'em, screamin' at 'em to return wance I realized th' men to be rowin' awa' from th' sinkin' ship. Even I could hear 'em shout at one another, 'em however bein' too far to detect me raspy voice from such a distance, freish flicker o' hopelessness causin' me to plop back doon in exhaustion. Me neist however shudderin' as I witnessed one o' Kraken's tentacles to rise from th' water although I'd reckoned th' beast to have retreated noo that it had successfully scuttled th' vessel. Th' men standin' nae chance in fleein' when th' tentacle landed oan their tiny dinghy, nae allowin' 'em to escape, which caused me to haul meself to sit oan top o' th' mast to get oot o' th' water that noo suddenly felt even mair appallin' than usually. Me intentions however havin' no time to be fulfilled as I then was startled wance th' Flyin' Dutchman abruptly burst oot o' th' sea nae far from me, no doubt comin' to oversee th' work o' Jones' creature. Immediately efter beholdin' th' ship to arrive I in th' end slipped back intae th' water. Watchin' th' fluyt to glide to th' scene o' th' shipwreck, me lettin' oot a nervous breath as spotted Jones at th' gunwale, gazin' at th' devastation to undoubtedly locate th' bodies o' th' thieves he'd originally meant to intercept by siccin' his beast at th' merchant vessel. Efter noticin' his men to claim th' miraculously survived crewmen from th' ocean 'n' takin' 'em aboard, me takin' in deep breath 'n' laid sideways oan top o' th' mast, swallowin' me dread as pushed me heid underwater to avoid o' bein' discovered alive 'n' taken to Jones (th' key still in me possession, me thankin' god it hadn't detached from me neck in th' ruckus). Me assumin' an immobile position as let th' water dandle me, pretendin' to be dead for as long as th' Dutchman would've passed me 'n' it was safe to move again.
But efter but a brief moment o' stairtin' to count to hundred to calm meself, I was scared to death when I was grabbed 'n' pulled completely back intae th' ocean. Me havin' naw time to cry oot in shock as was instantly turned aroond 'n' had a haun pressed ontae me lips, me frownin' at th' sight o' Edward in dismay who was goupin' back at me grimly. Bringin' me doon so that oor heids remained hidden behind th' mast, 'im noddin' doon at th' water.
"Follow me."
"I can't swim!" I huffed in declaim, takin' hold o' his shoulder wi' a startled jerk, as he instead directed a swift keek at th' approachin' ship 'til met me dead serious eyes. Sighin' as for th' first time ever I saw 'im roll his eyes at me, however nae tryin' to sound rude as he answered 'n' took me haun securely.
"Of course ye don't. Ye seem to lack in all the basic skills of a seafearer considerably, so why should I be surprised…"
I gently leered at 'im briefly 'til agreed to dive under th' mast wi' 'im upoan realizin' us to be caught wi' th' rest o' th' survivors if we didn't hide. Us remainin' concealed under th' mast for a while afore we continued swimmin' towards th' Dutchman, although occupied by a crew we least wanted to sail wi' ever again, th' fluyt provin' as oor only option to save oorselves from endin' up stranded in middle o' nothing again, wi'oot as much as a dinghy this time. Me however feelin' but reluctant to board th' ship when I still had no idea where William was or what had become o' 'im, me however refusin' to believe 'im to have been taken doon wi' th' ship. William was nae dead, I kenned it, he couldn't be. He was too much o' a hero at hert to let 'imself be killed in a danger such as this efter survivin' a skirmish wi' a cursed pirate crew 'n' a brush in wi' a cannibalistic tribe among other things. 'N' besides, I was sure to have been able to sense should somethin' have been amiss wi' 'im…Which is why regardless o' what me reason might've insisted, I kenned in me hert that he was sure to be awright, therefore acceptin' Edward's haun as it stretched doon to lift me oot o' th' water efter he'd been th' first to climb aboard.
Scottish vocabulary:
Pronouns etc:
o'= of, th'= the, 'em= them, oor= our, 'n'= and, intae= into, 'er= her, 'im= him, me = my, nae = not
Recurrent & other words:
hurl = lift, gey/pure = very, afore= before, hert= heart, aye= yes, , wee= small/little, awready= already, ken= know, efter= after, doon= down, as weel= as well, goup= stare, wance again/mair= once again/more, 'til= until, keek= look, ower= over, aboot= about, haun= hand, ain= own, oot= out, neist= next, lik'= like, stairt= start, awa' = away, wey = way, wi'oot = without, o' coorse= of course, heid= head, freish= new, wi'= with, juist= just, thro'= through, ne'er= never, naw= no, tak' = take, coupon= face, face= expression, 'ere= here, aff =off, goup =stare, ourselves = ourselves, hing = task, peedy = small, muckle = much, deckhauns = deckhands, heistairt = headstart, skelp = hit, awright = alright, atween = between