A Few Minutes Before The End Of The World | COMPLETED

'Part 3'

The masts did flail, it flailed and flailed as a lizard's shedded tail. The merchant ship, it plunge and mount, in tune to the ocean's bale. The crew did cry, they bawled and blubbed, for the storm to stop. But the prayers they fell on weary ears for its furor did not drop.

The first six months of the trip were hellacious and riven with foul weather. The winds busted the foremast and tore through the sails. The crew worked overnight with jars, kettles, and barrels to drain the water from the hull. Making them over-worked, fatigued, and malnourished.

The sun shined for a fortnight without disruption. The cessation of the previously overcast sky had given hope to the sailors but their beatitude didn't last.

The sun droop above the sky, a ball of bright red flame. The sailors stood around the priest on the ship's bow.

14, 15, 16 they were, in numbers the Captain took. 1, 2, 3 less they were than the numbers on his book.

"Let us pray to the All-Mighty" John Abberton, the young priest, opened his Bible. "Heavenly Father, I pray that You will be the ultimate guide for sailors at sea. I declare stillness over the atmosphere and I pray against hazardous weather, so that they can be brought safely to harbor. I praise You, Lord, for Your great love and for the magnificent things You have done and will continue to do for them! Thank You in advance for their safe journey in Jesus' Name. Psalms 107:30-31. Amen."

"Amen!" the sailors let out in unison but Abberton doubted whether even the pope could make that out to be an 'Amen'. Sounded more like the prosody of pain from a parrot. Water was scarce. The storms had broken the water barrels. They were currently on strict rations. Thus their throats were parched and their lips were black.

Captain Ilkman was standing a few feet away from the congregation. Disdain burned in his eyes.

"I told you, sir, I told you it was bad luck" the captain said. "Look around you, most of me lads are missing teeth and coughing blood in the morning. The ship is in dire need of repairs, we've lost most of our water and our food barrels are infested with rats. It escapes me as to how rats could come aboard me ship. Diseases are breaking out minister! And now look around you sir, the sky is clear, the sun is roasting us alive but no wind. It's like the sea has come to an impasse. No winds! I told you the very moment I met you that this was not a good idea. You and your 'parcel'. I know it, we're cursed! What else could this be? WE ARE CURSED"

"I- I-" Abberton chocked but then said resolutely "No! Don't bring your stupid sailor superstitions into this, I have nothing to do with this. Everything, from the moment we set off- it's all your fault. You lousy nut-job of a Captain"

Humbard raced towards the foul-mouthed priest. His fingers wrapped around his neck and hoisted him up with one hand.

"Now, listen here, you bastard, the sea doesn't belong to the King, nor your gods, the sea belongs to the sea. And there are some things you shouldn't do, no matter what. You broke one of those taboos and got us cursed, and now look at this bunch" Ilkman pointed to the weary sailors. Ragged clothes and streaks of blood on their lips, probably remains of what they hurled moments ago. "I'll give you one-day f***er, if the northern winds aren't embracing my arse in the morrow, you'll swim to England, both you and your 'parcel' "

Abberton's face was turning blue. His vision was waning. He could barely make out the Captain's visage in front of him. He used his tongue to cough up the blood that was hanging on his throat to his mouth. And then shot it out.

"You f**k'in BASTARD! You're gonna regret doing that" Ilkman threw Abberton into the mast post, his thin body hit against the wood with a thump! A string of blood dotted saliva was hanging down Ilkman's eyes.

"Men tie him up to the mast, let him cool off in the night. Remember Abberton, one f**k'in day. One! You got that?"

Captain Ilkman returned to his chambers as the sailors tied up the priest's arms behind the mast post.