THE LOCKER NOVEMBER 1686
As Flying Dutchman rested, Britannia turned her attention to the whale she had caught earlier.
The first order of business was cutting into the meat and separating the guts from the rest of it.
Britannia never did like to eat her whales' whole like other ships did. She'd gotten more used to the "civilized" way of doing things.
Using a knife, she cut gingerly into the whales flesh. She'd already set up a refinery to take any oil she found and turn it into a useable product.
Dawn was fast approaching by the time Britannia had finished collecting the oil.
In her berth nearby, Flying Dutchman began to stir.
Britannia quickly cleaned up, leaving the cleaned and gutted whale carcass on the dock and joined her apprentice in her berth.
"Sleep well?" She asked as she saw Flying Dutchman's eyes flicker open.
"Like a baby." Flying Dutchman replied with a grin.
Britannia felt her and sighed. "Still a high fever." She said.
"My head's not as clouded though." Flying Dutchman said.
"That's good to hear." Britannia sighed in relief.
She straightened up. "Think you can keep breakfast down?" She asked.
Flying Dutchman nodded. "I am a bit hungry." She said.
Britannia brightened at that and sailed over to the whale carcass. Gripping it in her teeth, she lifted it off the dock and started back towards Flying Dutchman.
As she did so, a wave of nausea passed over her and she stumbled.
"You alright, Britannia?" Flying Dutchman asked, concerned.
Unable to speak due to the whale, Britannia merely nodded and continued on.
Setting the whale down in front of Flying Dutchman, she watched her apprentice sniff it experimentally.
"Not a bad catch." She said. "Is this the same whale you caught yesterday?" She asked.
Britannia nodded. "Yes." She replied.
"You mean to say, you haven't eaten in almost 3 days now?" Flying Dutchman growled.
"I've gone far longer without food." Britannia retorted.
"Doesn't mean it's good for you." Flying Dutchman growled.
Britannia sighed, knowing she couldn't win. "I know, I know..." She groaned, leaning against the dock.
Flying Dutchman nudged the whale towards her.
"I'm not having a single bite until you have your fill." She growled.
Britannia narrowed her eyes. "Dutchman..." She began.
"No, Britannia. This time, you're going to do what I say." Flying Dutchman growled.
Britannia rolled her eyes and came forward, nipping into the whale's flesh experimentally.
Taking a few large bites out of the tale section, she backed off hoping that just eating would appease her apprentice. Flying Dutchman needed the meat more than she did.
Her apprentice wasn't fooled.
"Really Britannia, you're going to stoop that low and try that trick on me?!" Flying Dutchman asked.
YOU ARE READING
The Damned: Part 1~ Innocence
Ficción históricaIn the late 1600s, a new ship is commissioned into the Dutch Navy and is mysteriously lost on her maiden voyage. Only, she wasn't lost, merely taken and re-purposed to ferry the dead. The story of the Flying Dutchman, as told by the ship herself.
