Voyage of Tiderunner

Chapter 1

'Captain, oh captain' cried Taa, the boisterous first mate

'Well' demanded captain Sinker, the day time captain of the infamous Tiderunner. The bright day was turning dark and the captain was eager to retire to his private chambers. 'Well, what is it? He said to Taa, who now looked nervous at his discomfited captain.

'Over there' Taa sputtered 'a monster from the deepest depths of the sea.'

'Where?' Demanded Sinker impatiently, who by now regretted ever listening to Taa and his screaming alarms. Gazing at the setting Sun and the rise of the moon, Sinker sighed 'the Moon appears, bother Captain Wavewalker with your odd ideas about this so-called sea monster.' Taa whimpered in fear and shuddered but he did not protest as Sinker descended below deck. Silently striding from where Sinker had come, was captain Wavewalker, unlike his partner he wore no plumed hat. His bare head was veiled by long black hair, with signs of failed combing. He wore ebony trousers and a smart black coat, with a silver brooch as a decoration.

'Oh, oh um' Taa started 'captain, I saw a something, something below, over there.'

Wavewalker was silent. He walked towards Taa, his small black shoes were hidden by the darkness of the night. 'What, first mate Taa, did you see exactly?'

'A, a monster' Taa whispered while shuddering. The night Captain was undaunted by the look of terror on Taa's face.

'Taa' Wavewalker said gently 'when did you first see this monster?'

'Why this afternoon, captain' Taa said 'you know that I stay awake for the second half of day and first half of night, while Mr Spy sleeps at that time.'

'Taa' said the night captain 'I must ask you to go down below deck.'

'But captain' Taa sputtered 'it is not yet my time to rest.'

The night captain spoke again 'go down below and rouse Mr Spy from his slumber.' When Taa's red face looked as if he was about to protest, he was told 'inform Mr Spy that I am calling for him.

Without another word, Taa ran down the deck, his fast-heavy footsteps scuttled to a mahogany door. Taking a deep breath, he tiptoed inside the large room. Two nut brown wardrobes stood at the left of the room, with a single glass moor. On top of the bunk bed there was a black clothed man with short black hair and deeply closed eyelids. 'My Spy' Taa cried to his bunkmate 'captain Wavewalker is ask'in for ye.'

If it was not for the night captain, Mr Spy would have been furious as he irritably woke up. As it was, the night captain summoning him, he was content to follow the bumbling first mate out of their room and up to the deck, grumbling all the while at being woken in such a disagreeable manner.

'Mr Spy' Wavewalker greeted the pirate 'I apologise for interrupting your well-earned rest.'

'You should be' Mr Spy nodded 'I work hard for the little rest I receive and naught else.' Still the pirate seemed more curious than angry, so saying 'and why, captain, did you have Taa wake me before my time?'

In answer, Wavewalker pointed to the sea. As the three shadows looked down at the deep depths of the darkness, Taa deigned to say 'the monster, I knew it. It's true, its here.' For a few seconds, he seemed carried away by excited relief that his concerns were right. Then his sanity returned and his face turned white with terror. Whether Taa was more excited or terrified, was unknown even by himself. A colourless tentacle suddenly slapped against the ship.

'What is that' asked Mr Spy to his companions 'a giant octopus?'

As a tall thick whitish head surfaced for a few moments, above the water, Taa shouted 'no, squid.'

Invisible waves rocked the Tiderunner, causing it to dangerously lurch towards the left. 'Worse gentlemen' Wavewalker said to them 'I fear it may be an aeons old Kracken.' The Kracken did not seem pleased when its name was heard; it crashed against the ship, sending splinters flying into the midst of its unnerved crew.