West Coast of Africa - 1720
On their next adventure, Brooklyn and Sil were both dropped into a jungle at first, Brooklyn falling into a swamp while Sil had grabbed onto a tree branch in time. Brooklyn got him out of the tree after getting out of the swamp water. Brooklyn was soaked at first and he had muck in his hair. Sil was glad it hadn't happened to him. Then they went about exploring the jungle.
They both discovered a boy after colliding with him and he told them that his people were in danger of being shipped somewhere by ship. They followed and found where they were taking off from.
The Africans of a number of two hundred or so men, women, and kids were going to be shipped to Mexico. They were branded and being treated more like animals than humans. They were to be slaves. That thought angered Brooklyn.
But when sunrise got in the way for the gargoyle and Skeksis to start helping free them, Sil was to just watch and listen. The Gate had taken care of any language barrier. He could understand what all these men were saying.
The boy, Jai, had called his new friends jungle spirits and he was sure they would save him and them. Some didn't believe him. Others hoped that there were saviors out there. They could only wait.
Sil wandered around the camp taking mental notes of where he was and how to get back to Brooklyn. It wouldn't do to be spotted. Brook was in a tree for his own safety during the day. Sil managed to grab some meat and bread to feed himself. He also grabbed some bread for Brooklyn when he woke up after putting it in his travel pack.
It wouldn't be till later in the day that the slaves were loaded up for taking on to the ship. Sil had his food eaten but he knew he couldn't sleep as much as he liked. He was following Brooklyn's orders to keep an eye on things. Sil also changed out of his nice Roman robes and into a basic travel gown. His belt was still on his waist with his dagger, strapped over his gown. Sil kept hidden from human eyes.
In the evening, the Africans were loaded in lines of shackles onto the ship. Sil saw the sun was setting and he had to get back to Brooklyn. He hurried. He got back to him just as the sun set.
Brooklyn roared awake and stretched. Then he jumped down to talk Sil. "How were things today?"
"Humans taken onto ship. Lots of them. Not see what happened on ship. Had to get back to you as sun going down." Sil explained breathlessly. "Ship is almost ready to leave."
"Then let's go! There's no time to lose!" Brook ordered. Sil would follow his orders to a tee now. He considered the gargoyle as his adoptive father, and he had wanted a dad, so he was going to follow his orders. They both ran as fast as they could to the coast.
When they got there, the ship had set sail. "Great! We're too late!" Sil exclaimed.
"No, we're not. We can still make it. Here, get on my back. Once we investigate on the ship how much we have to take down of the captors holding those people, then we'll free and help them free themselves." Brook explained to Sil what they needed to do.
They went looking for a tree and Sil got onto Brook's back, and he climbed it. Then he jumped off. They soared over the water to the ship where they had to be quiet. Brooklyn sunk his talons into the side of the ship while Sil held on tight.
Salt water splashed at them as they were going, getting them all wet. At least it wasn't the swamp water. Sil was hating getting all wet like this. It wasn't much better for Brooklyn either. He eventually climbed up onto the deck and let Sil get off first. Sil shook the water out of his hair, and he helped Brook up too.
Luckily, there was no one around right off. They kept low and explored the ship, trying to find Jai and his people. The ship was called the Freedom. They heard some people talking and such. The sailors thought of the Africans as nothing more like livestock cattle. Eventually, they both got into the bowels of the ship.
"Stay sharp, Sil." Brooklyn said. Sil nodded.
They were lucky that they didn't run into anyone down there. Eventually, they found the cargo hold. Brooklyn had Sil climb down the ladder first, keeping a lookout. The imprisoned Africans that were down there were surprised to see two creatures climbing down into their part of the ship.
"See, I told you the jungle spirits were real." Jai exclaimed to the others.
There were pleas for help from the people. Brooklyn looked at the shackles on their wrists and he took out his sword and he began slashing at some chains. Sil did likewise. They only slashed the chains in between the people. They would have them use a key or Brooklyn would take them off later. But now, Brooklyn and Sil also began wanting to try to help the Africans mobilize a defense against their captors and take over the ship. But the Africans were more than happy to at least be loose from their chains binding them together.
Brooklyn wanted to go find and secure the captain. They began to climb out of the cargo hold. He had several strong men and women with him. They were going to subdue the sailor crew. "Sil, stay here with Jai and the others. If any of the men come down here, you're their first line of defense." Brooklyn declared.
"Understood." Sil replied.
Brooklyn and the men went to go subdue the captor crew. There were many men dispatched. They eventually got the captain contained in his quarters. The captain wasn't going to want to help the Africans anytime soon. To him, they were nothing but slaves to make a profit off of.
"They aren't animals, they are humans too!" Brooklyn snarled angrily at him.
The captain even called him a red demon. That was nothing unusual to Brooklyn. But up top on deck, there were sailors being tossed overboard and Brook had to hurry to try to stop what the Africans were doing.
"Hey! We need these people." But there wasn't much he could do now. The Africans were glad to have some freedom since these Mexican types were the ones that had bought them after losing a war.
Later, Brooklyn regrouped with Sil and said it was safe to come topside now. He and some kids got out and began to take care of some tasks. There was only one white boy named Timmy that was still on board. He, Jai, and Sil would stay close to one another at times.
"This is first time being on one of these, a ship." Sil declared.
"I've seen ships, and on tv a lot more." Brooklyn recalled. "Sil, you look after Jai and Timmy while we're here. Someone has to tend to the wheel."
"I will." Timmy said. "I have much experience being on the seas."
"Alright, that's good." The night had gone by fast with organizing and getting on the ship. Sunrise wasn't too far off. "I have to go below to get some sleep. I'll be up after dark. Sil, you help everyone out around here." Brooklyn ordered.
"I will." Sil replied.
"How come you don't go with him?" Jai asked.
"I should. Haven't slept for a while. Wait till after sunrise first." Sil stated.
After the sun rose, Sil stayed awake a while longer until he was sure Brook was stone and he told his new friends to look after the others. He would be back up soon later in the day after he got some sleep too. Sil was exhausted. He followed Brook's scent to a special room, and he went in there too. He had to stay near him. He made himself a bed on some soft materials. Brooklyn was in his usual pose. It didn't take much for Sil to fall asleep.
…..
Later in the day, Sil woke up. He went back out on deck. The ceiling was kind of low in there. He was still short enough that he didn't hit his head on it.
The Africans were pleased to see him. "Hey, what's going on?" Sil asked. He noticed many of the humans didn't look too well and many others were hugging the rails and there were gagging noises. There was rocking of the ship.
"Why is everyone sick?" Sil asked.
A woman named Kali explained things to him. Right now, even Jai and Timmy were resting. "But where is your red friend?" she asked.
"He's still below. He'll be up after dark. He can't be seen in daylight." Sil replied. "But I go below to see captain."
The Skeksis went below to see the captain. There were two guards guarding the captain. None of whom he recognized.
"Well, it's about bloody time!" The captain, Pike exclaimed. He got a good look at who and what was before him. "What and who are you, and a certain red demon I saw last night who took over my ship?!"
That angered Sil. "He's not a demon. You will do well to address about my friend with respect, Human!" Sil decreed.
"And what are you going to do about it, Kid?!" Pike snarled.
Sil instantly went for his dagger. "I could have you maimed or killed, like your crew! But my friend wouldn't want that." Sil warned him. "I may be a kid, but I am more than what you could handle. My friend will be in to see you soon."
The captain was intrigued by the dagger the strange kid was holding and saw him tuck it back in on his waist.
"Where is this ship headed, and what year is it?" Sil demanded.
"I won't tell you anything, little monster!"
"Not a monster. You were the monster with loading all these people on here by force. Had no right to take them anywhere."
"The year is 1720." One of the guards stated.
"Ok. Good. Got the year. And where were we on the land?" Sil asked.
"Africa." The other guard replied.
"Hmmm. Good. Just needed for records." Sil stated. Then he looked at the greedy white man. "My friend be down here soon. But you be wise to help navigate ship."
"I will never help you, you evil brat!" Pike snarled.
Sil then did a karate maneuver that he only used to intimidate the man. It got Pike to sit down on his chair. Sil grinned slyly. He kept his sword at the ready.
It wasn't too long before a roar was heard, and Brooklyn came out of the room he had chosen to sleep in. He made his way to the captain's room. There, he saw Sil holding his dagger in front of him.
"Good evening, Captain." Brooklyn greeted. "Nice digs. Sil, what's going on?"
"He called you a demon. He won't help us." Sil explained.
"That's nothing new to me. But Captain, we have no idea where we are and your cargo," Brook saying the word with disgust, "is now in control of the ship. I want you to take them somewhere safe."
"No such place exists." Pike replied.
"Up above, Brooklyn, the humans are sick." Sil declared.
"What do you mean sick?" Brooklyn asked.
"I mean throwing up at edge of ship." Sil replied.
"You fools! Those animals are seasick!" Pike exclaimed. "Or hadn't you ever heard of that?!"
"You hush up. But if you know how to help us navigate this ship, then you're going to help us!" Brooklyn snarled at the man. He grabbed the captain by his shirt and dragged him up to the deck. Sil followed.
Up top, Brooklyn saw what Sil meant. "When did the sickness begin?" Brook asked. "Where are Timmy and Jai?"
"Resting." Kali greeted him. "They were hard workers. The sickness started after having yams and chickens for food. The wind blew and the water got really rough."
Brooklyn needed to think. "Crackers. Did you look for anything like bread or crackers?"
"Only bread. It didn't look good to eat though." Kali explained.
"That'll work. Boil water. Give the sick ones bread and hot water. That should help settle their stomachs." Brook explained. He knew that sea sickness was temporary but from the poor treatment the Africans had received and their imprisonment. It wouldn't take much to make them ill.
"Brooklyn, wait. I found some bread for you too." Sil stated as he took a loaf out of his pack on his back.
"Uh, thanks." Brooklyn said. He was grateful to his 'son.'
"Good, Monster. You've got a lot of ocean to cross. Keep feeding the cargo and you'll run out before we even reach land." Pike sneered.
"You stay out of this!" Sil then threatened the man with his sharp talons.
"I'd listen to him if I were you." Brook said.
"No kid should be in command, and a monster one at that!" Pike exclaimed.
Sil then made his point. He slashed a cut on the man's leg, making him cry out. "You were warned. Take him back below." Brooklyn ordered. The guards did as told.
….
Things weren't much better the following night either.
The rocking about even made Sil and Brooklyn start feeling the effects of the sea too. Brooklyn swallowed hard to keep the bile down. Sil on the other hand couldn't take it anymore. He ran to the rails and threw up too. He had just never been on a ship before and this long either.
When he finished puking, Sil said, "I never want to get on another ship ever again."
"It's understandable." Brooklyn stated.
…
There were many days and nights ahead where there was some no wind even driving the ship. It was so still it felt like they weren't moving and there were some casualties over the days too. It was sad but they were thrown overboard with nothing else they could do for them.
The sails were lost in a hurricane. There wasn't much left. Brooklyn had slept through it but Sil had felt its effects, making him feel sick and scared.
Sil hoped he wouldn't die from this. He knew he didn't want to eat again too soon on the ship. There were getting to be food shortages too.
Brooklyn was extremely concerned for his crew and there wasn't much he could do about it. He knew that he and Sil were getting some hard stares from the Africans, like they failed them. But hopefully, they would find some land soon and get some real food and rest.
There were many days and nights ahead again and there just wasn't much progress. Brook and Sil tried once again to confide in the captain for help to navigate the ship, even for a map and compass, but the captain was having none of it.
Food was getting extremely low right now and most of the Africans had been dying off. Their numbers were shrinking. The sails were a mess sailing through another storm, and soon after that, there was no wind at all.
At one point, Brooklyn was staring at the Gate in his hand. "You've really done it, you hunk of junk! We never asked to be brought here or disrupted these people's lives. Weren't they in enough trouble before we showed up?"
It wasn't long before Timmy pointed out, "Ship ahoy!" from the crow's nest.
Brooklyn was glad to hear that. Finally, they could get some help. "Come on, Sil, we have to go see that the ship finds them."
"Alright. I'm more than ready to get off this ship." Sil declared.
Brooklyn took a lamp with them. Sil got on his back. "We can't be on here when the ship arrives, at least at first."
"What are we going to do then? We can't stay off ship for long?" Sil asked.
"We'll get back on after arrival is complete, silently, then we'll introduce ourselves to the new people." Brooklyn explained.
"Alright." Sil agreed. He got on Brook's back, and they soared over the water after getting an updraft. He signaled with his lamp that it would find the Freedom. It was a lot bigger and seemed like it would be able to help their people.
But it turned out in the end that it was a pirate ship! That was trouble! But there was nothing they could do as the Gate decided it was time to depart once again. At least they were still together.
"I can't believe I directed pirates right to them! Who knows what's going to happen to them now!" Brooklyn exclaimed.
"Hopefully come out alive." Sil said.
"Pirates from what I've seen on tv are nobody good." Brooklyn stated.
"Not much can do now. Just look for next adventure." Sil declared. Brook knew he was right. He wished he had known what the outcome was. Sil had also wrote down the date of this era too. This was also the first time the two of them had been in a dance longer than just three days. There would likely be other dances too when they both stayed longer than just a few days.