Chasing Blue- The Final Saga (Book 4)

Chapter 9: The Island

There was something sinister on the boat. More sinister than the animosity amongst the crew. More sinister than the secret that Philemon kept inside. It was almost as painful as the hunger that kept me up at night.

Thirst.

There was no rain for well over a week now and the fresh water supply was depleted. I could barely manage my chores around the ship without thinking about the water that bled through my pores. The water was escaping every time I wiped my damp forehead. I looked out at the sea below, salivating at the water below. I anxiously tied the handle of my bucket with a rope. Today I was not going to fish for my own meal. I was going to fish for water. The other sailors were already beginning to do it. Theseus had warned that salt water was deceptive and should only be drunk with caution. I never understood why until I took a sip the day after the fight. I took another sip. And another sip... until I gulped half the contents of cool salty water down my parched throat. An hour later I realized I needed more to quench my insatiable thirst.

As I lowered my bucket to the water...I felt a heavy tug pull me towards the railing. What in the world was going on?!

"There is something in the water!" Cyphus shouted. He was one of Hyros' acquaintances although this was the first time he actually made much of a presence as a fisherman. I felt my grip violently being pulled away with every pull of resistance. My heart pounded against the walls of my chest as I looked up at the long elongated shadows beneath the water; coming towards our wide vessel. This was no ordinary fish. It was larger than any "fish" I recalled and stronger too. I witnessed the sea monster's jaws snag at the metal bucket until it completely ripped it from the knotted rope I held limply in my hands.

"What is that?" I shouted as its shiny head emerged above the waves with the bucket floating alongside it.

"That my friend is a whale," Hyros answered from behind. I turned around dropping the torn rope in my hands. "You have never seen a whale have you?" he questioned.

"Never," I replied.

"They are the sea monsters of the sea. Most are harmless," he assured, sensing my uneasiness. "If I were you I would be thankful that it was a whale and not a shark." I scrunched my brows at the saying.

"What is the difference between them?"

"Sharks usually have the top fin on their backs as they skim the water. Sometimes you only see the triangular fin cutting through the water. I suppose you never seen a shark before either?"

"Probably not."

"You really have not gotten out much have you," Hyros joked.

"Well, I was on an expedition to Crete before this for a month," I said proudly.

"That is nice. Have you been to any other places?"

I gave my head a shake.

"You mean to tell me in your sixteen or seventeen years, or however old you are, that you have never travelled outside that small island you lived in?"

I pursed my lips together.

"You would not understand," I sighed.

"When I was your age, I had already traveled much of the Grecian islands. I will tell you why you don't seem to know much of the world around you. That is because you buried that head of yours in the scrolls. I see you writing sometimes. You look to be the studious type. My brother was like that. He even dreamed of moving from our home in Crete to Athens to study at one of the universities there. But that was never for me. The books can only teach you so much. There is so much out there that you do not even know yet," he said, pointing at the endless sea.