A Weather Eye on the Horizon

A Weather Eye on the Horizon (26)

Hey. I’m so excited that this story is done, and I know – well, I hope – that you guys want to read the end, so here’s another update. I’ll try to update as much as possible… but please, guys, please please please comment! And don’t forget to vote! Think about it: if you’re taking the time to read it, surely it’s gotta be good enough to vote on??? Or maybe you’re just outrageously bored. But seriously, please vote, and please comment! Tell me what you think! As far as I know, you think this is a pile of poop (I do too, but still). So please comment! THANKS SO MUCH!!!

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Tuesday, December 3rd, 1720

I don’t know where to start. Perhaps at the beginning? You see, so much has happened…

It started with me going to the village to pick up some produce for Mama. I did not mind going: anything to get me away from Joan and Grace’s stares.

And so mid-evening saw me walking towards the village, a scarf wrapped around my head because it was so windy and the sky looked threateningly dark, and a basket tucked under my arm. Today was market day and so I wandered from stall to stall even after I had picked out the apples Mama wanted.

I was standing by a stand of bananas when a voice startled me.

“Excuse me, miss, but could you tell me where I could find a tailor’s shop?”

The accent was strange, not from these parts, and yet had a familiar tone. I spun around, and then my heart stopped.

David.

Or was it?

His head was ducked; a hat perched on his head at a rakish angle, but one that almost hid his face from view. Longish black hair was still underneath a bandana that I could barely see. His face was weary, with shadows under his eyes. But his green eyes were the thing that caught me. They seemed drained of emotion, drifting over me even as he asked me the question. My heart ached. Did he not recognize me? I realized that the last time he had seen me I was in boy’s wear, my hair wild, and my face brown.

David. My mind formed the words, but my lips would not speak them. My heart screamed at me to, but I couldn’t find the strength.

“Right – right down the road,” I stuttered, unable to take my eyes off him. Was it him? He wasn’t recognizing me…

“Thankee,” he said, already turning away. The word made me almost sure, but it was his stride as he walked away from me that made me certain. It was so familiar: the slight saunter even with the slump of his shoulders, the slight lift of his head in undefeatable pride…

I dropped my basket, apples rolling everywhere but I did not even notice until later.

“David.” The word came out as a whisper. At least they had come. I cleared my throat.

“David!”

And then he turned, eyes widening and I was running towards him screaming his name, and then he grabbed me by the arms, swinging me around and saying, “Annie! Annie! It’s you, mate!”

And I was laughing and crying at the same time while he held me… and then I realized that people were beginning to stare and so I stepped backwards, breathless. His hat had fallen off and his hair flapped in the wind, but his eyes were brighter.

“What are you doing here?” I breathed. “I thought the whole ship was… hanged.”

His face darkened visibly. “I said I was kidnapped,” he said quietly. “And the crew supported me… they didn’t want me to be hanged, I guess.”