Chapter Text
CHAPTER V:
Havoc and Chaos
Their surroundings darkened gradually as second mate Peter took charge ordering all hands to stations and breaking up the huddling groups that splintered off and fled to the damp and unseen corners of the ship. The rare conversations were quite monotone: “Who?” “Why?” and the very occasional “How?” although that was met with unkeen eyes that quieted the already solemn conversations.
Joseph crept back to his station without a noise, a remarkable feat on such a creaky and decrepit ship. He stared backwards out to sea and there were no thoughts that weren’t questions, they kept escalating and interrupting each other. A horrible trance took hold as he stared out, only the thoughts circulating. No vision could grasp his mind. The minutes passed as mind began its slow descent to normality, his thoughts began to escape the cycle and he looked forward now for the first time with notice. A fog had crept in, his previous friends that occupied hours, were gone forever. There was a grey and dark blue landscape surrounding the ship with the only respite for a change being the occasional brightness casting odd shapes and figures down onto the ship but they were becoming scarce. As the fog thickened a call was made from the abyss beyond his own view to light the lanterns. The vow of silence was now common law, the muzzle in place was respected by both man and rat alike. The only noise present was the failed striking of flint onto steel with the eventual success only apparent when a bright flare of light appearing out of the now dense fog crossed the floor of the stern holding perfectly along its axis until being raised and gifting its light to a lantern only noticeable now. The candle travelled immediately back down the stairs onto the main deck before vanishing. The keeper of the flame was unknown. And the reason for lighting only the port side lantern was also unknown although Joseph figured it was a cost saving measure.
Lightning struck ahead providing an outline of the masts before the distant crackle followed.
“Keep steadfast,” replied Peter. His rather stern voice combating the lightning’s attempt to drive fear into the minds of the crew.
“It is far ahead. We will pass untouched.” Peters' assuredness greatly contrasted with the speed he climbed the stairs up towards the stern.
A clash of thunder and lighting announced itself without wait.
Peter increasingly panicked to Joseph's view, wrestled the wheel and kicked the makeshift wheel holding contraption down to the ground.
“Hold fast men! Hold fast!” A bark of orders grew competition from the thunder.
Peter pulled on the wheel, greatly drifting the vessel with a great moan following. As men clutched the sides, others fell to their knees and skied across the boards as if on ice.
Joseph noticed in the gaps between the yells of men and lightning, there were multiple loud noises of the splashing of water and the sources of the yelling came from both in front and behind. Joseph pushed back against the horrid thoughts, refusing to acknowledge the reality. He crouched and tied his arms to the beams of the railings, praying for relief. The vessel straightened its course but the waves came crashing into the side. The ship wrestled for rightness and the sound of yelling from behind the ship grew in volume before disappearing.
The sounds of the ship's stairs creaked as Credish’s voice boomed “Joseph my boy, you still alive?”.
“Aye sir” replied Joseph
Credish appeared from the fog walking as naturally as on the land.
“Then leave the praying for those lost souls and follow me”
Joseph pulled himself up and gradually made his way across the stern with the appearance and stagger of a drunk. Joseph followed with great desire crossing from side to side before collapsing down the stairs and threw up what little he had in his stomach onto the floor. Joseph remained in the puddle of his own sick before being yanked upwards with great strength,
“Get up ye chicken shit”
Joseph straddled forward with one hand holding his stomach and the other attempting to grasp at the rope railing that led downwards. He watched as Credish made no enemies with the rocking of the ship and gracefully walked down below deck. Joseph followed with a worse attempt. Briefly stumbling before regaining himself.
The below deck was pitch black, the mysterious keeper of the flames never made it down here. The only exception was at the far back, the outline of a door penetrating with light, highlighting the rectangular shape. Joseph intrinsically slouched towards the door, staring deep ahead. Credish led ahead before stopping just before.
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. A very unrecognisable sight that brought Joseph back to reality.
Credish gently opened the door.
The room was finely decorated, a vast contrast to the quarters of the men. Its walls were painted with a light blue and a white skirting board provided the room with the look of the gentry. There were two paintings, one of rolling green hills at a beautiful sunset with a small rustic cottage in the foreground that had the same bright orange of the sunset sitting warmly in the windows.
The other painting was off the captain with a large slash right through the piece revealing the brown rotting wood base.
The captain lay on his bed in his nightgown with a cloth wrapped around his neck emulating a neckerchief stained in red. His eyes closed and his hands placed across his breast. Redness drawn downwards from his garments neckline was a ghastly sight for Joseph as this sobered his thoughts and quieted his stomach. In the centre of the room was a makeshift stretcher, it was no doubt the crew's dining table with its legs removed.
“Help Alister will you lad?” A saddened Credish sat himself at the chair next to the bed staring gently at the deceased.
The thunder crackled louder than ever.
Alister placed his hands beneath the captain's shoulders and Joseph grabbed the underside of the captains calves.
“1..2..3” Alister began to pre-emptively huff as both men lifted the captain and placed him on the board.
“He deserves a coffin.” Credish said with a casualness while he stared blankly forward.
“1..2..3” Alister continued his groans and aches as the board arose from the floor with Joseph leading and Alister following.
They carried the stretcher with the greatest diligence they could afford given the boats constant swaying.
The steepness of the stairs provided a great exercise in physical endurance and dexterity for Alister bearing the bluntness of the weight and the job of keeping the captain from sliding backwards. However with great effort they made it to the ship's main deck. The waves now mixed with the battering of rain had washed Joseph’s puddle of sick away; however with great relief Joseph found that the fog was dissipating. Credish with his head placed in his hands arrived on the deck.
The thunder grew in volume as Credish with great might throttled the bell on the mast releasing it from its hold.
“All men to me!” with a great bark Credish’s command was followed with utmost haste.
Credish released the bell into the depths with an emotion of indifference.
“Peter! Here!” Credish with anger stared at the man behind the wheel.
“But Credish the storm.”
“Peter. Get the fuck down here” Credish had great anger in this command , the rain and the waves battered him with great endurance but to none of its success, He didn’t flinch when his eyes stung and his vision blurred.
“I must refuse. Credish. The storm” Peter pleaded
Credish threw himself up the stairs and grabbed Peter by the collar and whacked his hands free of the wheel and tossed him down towards the rest of the crew.
Peter began bleeding profusely from the head as he picked himself off the floor before vomiting where Joseph had minutes ago.
“Disgraceful” Whispered Credish to himself.
“After all he has done for you, this is how you pay him back” Credish spat onto the back of the head of the concussed Peter. Credish with a great gesture of anger followed by kicking him back down onto his own pile of sickness.
“Get yourself up prick!”
Peter with a look of many emotions presented himself back up.
The wheel clicked with an intensity as it spun back and forth causing great worry in the gathered crew.
“Sir… the wh-”
Credish snapped back to the crew.
“If I see one crew speak when not spoken to they will be keelhauled without further notice. Got it?”
“Alister, Joseph. Proceed.”
They both changed position to be alongside the captain.
They stepped toward the railing, presenting the captain to the ocean. A final resting place.
Joseph saw as Alister began to tilt the board forward and followed. The captain's body was consumed by the now almost black ocean. The moment consumed he had disappeared and became another monument in the largest cemetery. Joseph and Alister placed the board on the deck before turning to face Credish whose face was scanning the crew for dissent.
“A minute's silence if you plea..”
A whiteness, all great and consuming, took hold.