The water lapped gently; it was a calm day. Trouble, though Bernard O'Holan, ships Captain of the S.S. Bermingham, a Royal Delivery Ship.
The day had been easy, the weather light, and all the crew was in good spirits. Not a good sign. Bernard new that when things went well for such a steady time on this ocean, things where going to go wrong soon. He was nervous as he did up his jacket, and barked some orders at a passing sailor. The boy jumped and hurried to do what he was told.
They sailed on, uninterrupted by the steady waves and the blue sky. Bernards stomach jolted.
He hated good days. It was better when things where as bad as they could be because at least then he had something to fix. Right now everything was perfect, but he knew it couldn't last. Something always happed on days like this.
He jumped as two men came up from bellow, laughing and joking. He'd have to loosen up. He couldn't stand the anticipation, it was nearly making his ears wiggle.
Lap, Lap, Lap,
The crews voices: the creaking of the rails: his own feet standing on his own ship: everything disappeared in a moment. Mist swirled around the ship, circling it, ensnaring it: nothing to see here, it seemed to whisper innocently.
If he had been in his own mind he might have thought, here it is, I knew it. But he was already under the spell.
The sweetest melody, so sweet and sad it was heartbreaking, drifted from over the bow.
The sailors had stopped what they where doing; all stood frozen, listening to the song. They crept to the edge and looked down.
Do you hear us,
Please hear us,
We are here for you,
For you and only you,
Listen, Listen.....
And they listened, and they where lost. Even Bernard left his post and drifted to the edge to hear the melody better.
The woman where lovely as they lifted their arms to the men, entreating them, Please, Please..
Their faces where pale, all of them, for they never saw the sun, and their cherry red mouths and black eyes were ravishing.
Come for me,
Me,
The Siren of the Sea...
And the men pined for them- their beautiful killers -they reached over the sides of the ship, longing to feel their terrible claws, their thick, black locks.... they slid over the sides of the ship..down... down..... into the black depths and the waiting arms of the Sirens.
YOU ARE READING
Fishtail
FantasyThe Sea: the unfathomable Sea, where mysterious shadows lurk, and the ever crushing current churns overhead. Many thing live in the Sea, Creatures of unimaginable proportions, unknown dwellers of the dark. What all lives in the Sea? The Sailors can...
