Uncharted Island

Chapter 1: May 15-Abandon Ship

                                                                The Story of 

                                                            Uncharted Island

                                                                  Chapter 1

                                                                 Abandon Ship 

                                                                     May 15

    

     These stories which I am about to tell you are all true and told to me by the actual characters in this story.  I hope you will hold these adventures close to your heart as I do to them.  Never forget their struggle, never forget their courage, and most of all never forget their faith.

                                                                                                                          ~Constance

  

     Mary always wanted to be in a story and be able to tell the beginning and end as she had experienced the enchanting tale.  She would tell her story to her children and grandchildren, making them understand the sights and sounds and her feelings and emotions just as they had been.  Taking them back to the time when a great adventure occurred and the adrenaline was high.  When the peace surrounding them seemed as a blissful dream and the danger, a horrifying nightmare.

     A blue mist came in from the water on that cloudy day as her thoughts passed through her mind.  It was fresh and cool, salt water that could sting the most sensitive skin, but it nearly vanished as it hit Mary's fiery hand.  The sea was her life and passion and a rush of energy always surged through her to be near water.  The sky above was dark, which was a clear sign of a brewing storm.  The storm, though, had been holding off for quite some time, which was a godsend.  The trip had been going so well that something as bad as an ocean storm would mean disaster. 

     Mary felt the water drop on her skin and smiled as the gust of wind tossed her dusty, blond hair.  She balanced her weight and held on to the ship's rail as the waves tossed the little cruise boat.  To most the movement would feel relentless and unfeeling but the sweet rhythm stirred something great in her as the rocking motion brought wonderful memories of her father's merchant business.  It had prospered on the high seas for so long until a storm took it down on the coast of the Irish shore along with her father.  He had traveled all over the world with his daughter on board, and the loss was a hard one.

    Mary was the happiest on the cruise ship while her three other friends could not wait for land.  They were not used to the tossing movement of the sea as it rolled and tumbled against the ship.  The only thing that made Mary unhappy was that Heidi was too sick to join her.  Heidi was gravely ill and mostly slept below deck.  She was the only one of the friends that did not mind the sea too much to complain.

     "Why does the stupid ship have to rock so much on this stupid ocean with this stupid wind?" grumbled Peter as he wiped his wet face with his callused hands.  He approached Mary with a warm hug and smile showing his displeasure did not run too deeply into his skin.  They had been on the Florence for two weeks now, and Mary knew Peter couldn't wait for it to be over.