Cart Sailor

By Tyler Johnston

"Where are we going Grandma?" questioned Todd. The wind picks up and fills the sail, the small cart accelerates violently and Kate nearly falls out.

"Where ever we need to, darling. Your mama is sick and we need to find someone who can help her." Grandma replies happily. The answer seemed to satisfy Todd as he went quiet after that. All that could be heard was the dull rumble of the wind powered cart and the gentle crash of waves. Kate and Papa were both looking out across the water and Grandma was busy knitting something. Stormy clouds roll and tumble overhead and no sun brightens the murky water around them. A low fog seems to consume all that's around them, yet it recedes as soon as they get near to it. Todd adjusts his sailor cap, loosens the sail and then ties it off to let the wind take them across the water. He can feel the cart rumble beneath him, but it's almost relaxing. The cart isn't quiet big enough for him to lay down but he can dangle his feet off the side and lean against one of the rear posts. He lets his eyes close as he listens to the cart rumble down the track. Kate, getting bored starts digging through her small rucksack, searching for something entertaining to do. She pulls out two of her dolls, the two dolls quickly pick up conversation with each other; much to Papa and Kate's entertainment. Grandma calmly chuckles at the sound of the dolls' conversation, not stopping her knitting, of course.

A large fish jumps out of the water, "Look Kate! A huge fish jumped out of the water!" Papa exclaims excitedly, standing up on the cart. Papa jumped out of his seat so quick that the cart tipped a little and the jostling woke Todd from his accidental nap. A large ripple in the water follow the cart as it continuously rolls down the track. Everyone's attention is off in the water where the fish jumped when a huge splash is heard from the other side of the track. Again, everyone's head turned to look at the sound's origin. Without warning a loud shrieking sound pierces the air. Papa's face cringes at the painful sound and both Todd and Grandma cover their ears. Kate, so startled, drops her dolls and they each fall off the cart and tumble into the water. The water near the track surges as a large creature powers towards the two little dolls.

The wind stops just as a gigantic scaled creature launches out of the water, dolls in its mouth. Water sprays the four travelers and little Kate screams! Papa gasps at the sight of the scaled creature and falls in front of the cart. Todd quickly unties the sail to let it flap loosely on its mast. Grandma shoves her knitting into a small bag and climbs onto the middle of the tiny cart. Kate grabs Grandma and clings to her tightly as Papa stumbles back to his feet. A second scaled figure leaps from the water but instead jumps across the track and nearly bites Papa along the way. These odd scaled creatures are like alligator and a human mixed together. With a round head and long snout, they have plenty of teeth to chomp up all of the travelers. Both Grandma and Kate are screaming in terror as Papa and Todd try to push the cart away from the creatures. The creatures are scrambling up onto the rocks with their stubby arms and snapping at the heels of Papa and Todd but they just keep pushing the cart. The creatures shriek behind them but for some odd reason, they don't pursue. The wind starts to pick up again and Todd ties off the sail to catch it. When the wind starts moving the cart faster than Papa can push it, he climbs aboard and collapses across the front. Both Todd and Papa are exhausted from pushing the heavy, yet small, cart.

"What were those Papa?!" Kate cries, still terrified.

"I have no idea kiddo." Papa replies, breathily.

"Is Mama going to be okay? Will we be able to find someone to help us? Can we go home a different way so we don't see those things again?" Kate babbles non-stop.

"I don't know! I don't know..." Papa interrupts. In truth, Papa didn't think Mama was still alive. But the kids couldn't know that, they thought they were being helpful and could save Mama. Papa was only following the questions he asked himself late at night. He'd heard of a great city when he was younger, where people didn't get sick, there was always food, and children played together peacefully. And, that there was a monarch that could answer any question he had. So Papa knew; if there was an answer, he'd find it there. Where ever it was...