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[Last time...]
Abdul whirled around to face his skipper as Asif cursed as he stood up higher on the deck to see the horizon, “What is a warship doing way out here! And why now!”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[On-board the Silverton...]
The big ship heaved to port and quickly cut the distance to Aldabra to a half mile. Suddenly, Seaman Able Seaman Tuna called out again…
“Keptin! She’s gone!”
The Captain raised his scope and scanned the north-west side of the island, then lowered it quickly.
“She's nae gone! Ahh knows whaur she is!" he yelled back as he turned to Commander Galligan, “Come aroond tight mate! Brin' 'er aroond tae 'att inlit oan th' north side, but min' 'att coral reef o’ th' eastern edge, it's dangerous!"
“Aye Sairrr!” Galligan replied as he swung the big wheel hard to the left.
[Back on the Arabian Dhow…]
Asif pulled hard on the rudder as they swiftly passed through the inlet and into the wider lagoon beyond…
“Swing the boom! Pull that sail tight! We’ve got to get around south of the northern shore and out of sight of the ocean!” He yelled.
“Do you think they’ve spotted us sir?!” Abdul yelled as he pulled hard on the sail line.
“I don’t know…” Asif said with worry on his face, “If they have, they cannot sail a ship of that size through such a shallow inlet. If they haven’t, they’ll run right past the island.”
Abdul glanced back at the inlet and beyond it to the open ocean with an anxious eye.
“But Sir, are we not trapped in this lagoon?!” He asked in a tense voice.
“Trapped here or trapped out there, what’s the difference?!” Asif replied with agitation, “This Dhow cannot out-run a warship!”
The answer was logical, but it did not calm Abdul’s mind…
[On board the Silverton…]
“Steady! Steady mucker!" The Captain called out to Galligan as he walked to the starboard rail and gazed at the inlet of the lagoon, “Fisky! Drop aw’ th’ main sail clootie!”
“Aye Sairrr!” Cockpit Mate- Midshipman’s Mate Fisky said as he barked out the commands.
“Ickied! Gives me tois jibs up oan th' foremest an' watch those eastern shallows!"
“Aye, aye Keptin!”
Commander Galligan watched as the sail cloth came down and only the two main jibs tugged at the great ship. He pulled the wheel hard to starboard and the big frigate began its entry into the isthmus…
Seaman- Landsman Ehey had a worried look on his face as he turned to face Senior Petty Officer- Caulker ErticalOne…
“Is he gonnae try an' run th' inlit?!" Ehey asked as he watched the jagged coral ledge just outside the portside hull.
“It wooldnae be th' first time mucker! Hauld yer knickers up!" ErticalOne said with a smile.
Seaman Landsman –Inoy came over to the port rail to take a look for himself…
“Damn those ledges look dangeroos!"
Ickied chuckled to himself as he teased the men, “Nae tae fret men! We'll be swimmin' oan th' inside ay th' lagoon!"
The remark was lost on the two anxious Landsmen however, as the ominous coral ledge crept ever closer to the portside hull…
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"Confused? Ascared? Seasick? Need a private chat with the Captain?" - joshua.slane@aol.com
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