Novel
Pirate Tales
The following includes the introduction and the first three chapters of the young reader novel that I wrote, Pirate Tales. What started off as a short story for a class in my undergraduate program, expanded into three short stories and ultimately a novel and became my thesis for the MFA program. The story reads as a pirate story and the events are told from the perspective of two pirate captains, various crew members and a mermaid. What you will not see, and is not revealed until the last chapter, is the pirates telling these tales are children, playing out their adventures in the backyard with whatever is around them that they can include in their imaginative ways. The idea of the children is revealed because an adult enters the story, therefore reminding us that we should all continue to use our imaginations and continue to play.
Pirate Tales
By
David Keune
National University
June 2021
Introduction
We have all been regaled with stories of the famous pirates, Captain Morgan, Captain Sparrow, Captain Hook, and of course Captain Blackbeard. But who is it that these pirates tell stories about? Who is it that strikes fear in their hearts just with the name alone, or gives them chills with the idea of facing them on the high seas? The stories that you are about to read are about those exact pirates and are told by the pirates and crew themselves. The pirates that you may have not heard about, but the pirates you have heard about know about; and fear. But is it all legend? Is there truth to these ghost of the worlds’ oceans? Let’s hear from the two Captains, Captain Kip, and Captain Yellow Jacket, and their crews as they regale you with stories of their own adventures.
Let’s start off with Captain Yellow Jacket telling you the story of a day away from the ship with his best friend and first mate Blinky. . . .
Chapter 1
Captain Yellow Jacket
We have been at sea a great many days so today we are heading to the coast for an excursion that I am going to take Blinky on. It should be fun, but also a great way to show him some other cultures and their beliefs. If all goes well, we might even come back with a little memento for our efforts.
“Captain”
“Yes, Blinky”
“Land ahead!”
“Yes, I recognize that beach. It is just how I remember it from so long ago”.
“I hate to question you sir, but how is it that you recognize this beach versus all of the other beaches that we have sailed by in the past?”
“Why don’t you and I be the landing party and head to shore.” I suggest knowing that he will gladly come with me. “There is a lot about this place I would like to share with you. Why don’t we go and see if the treasure is there?”
First mate Blinky and I, or two best friends, take a rowboat and head to the shore. Though we are best friends, Blinky always stays in character in the presence of me and the crew. Blinky knows to do the rowing while I point the direction, and navigate between the breaks so as we’re not to be tipped or thrown into the rocks. Blinky is very content in his role of rowing, but more importantly with the opportunity to spend time with me away from the ship and crew. I understand that Blinky is extremely nervous of what could be in store for us, but I also know that he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Well Blinky, can you see the Indian face in the rocks right over there?” I say as I point a little way ahead, toward a point in the mountain that reaches forward trying to touch the ocean before the rest of the mountain. Over the course of many years in the shadow of the rocks, the ocean has formed what looks to be the face of an Indian. I watch as Blinky squints, as if that will help give the natural carving more clarity. Upon seeing him do this, I proceed to explain to Blinky exactly what he is supposed to be looking at.
“Okay Blinky focus on the plant on the very top of the mountain. That, for our argument, should be considered his hair. As we go down that smooth stretch of the rock is the forehead, we continue on and see a shadow where the eye socket is, and the boulder that protrudes from the hill forms the nose. We finish at the bottom where the chin and neck area is continually being carved out by the ocean. Now can you see the Indian of the cliff?”
“Yes, I can see it now Captain.” Blinky tells me, even though I know he really can’t picture what I am talking about. That’s okay since Blinky is my closest and most trusted friend, so I know he just plays along to not make me feel that I am not good at explaining things, or that I am just seeing things.
“Captain,” continues Blinky, “What is so important about this Indian in the mountain?”
“Well, there is a great story about a brave Indian warrior, that later became Chief to protect his tribe from invaders. This brave warrior ‘Hawkeye’ as he was known, also taught the villagers to fish using a carved rock on a strong stick to be a spear. Not only did he help teach them to fish, but he was a phenomenal scout that went ahead and found them the best spots to settle eventually ending them up here not too far away from this cliff. The natives, the Acjacheinen tribe, believed that it was their god carving his face into the mountain, so after he was gone, he would always be watching over the tribe. The reason we are here today is not just to see his face carved into this cliff. If we are lucky the treasure that he watches over should be in a cave just about where his mouth and neck are. I remember seeing the cave when I was younger, and if we are really lucky it should still be there.”
“Captain, how do we get there, and should we bring more men to carry the loot?”
“No, I didn’t want to bring any more men in case there is no treasure, I do not want to start a mutiny. If there is a lot of treasure, we can take what we can carry and always save some for future visits.”
“So Captain, why does this Indian protect the treasure, and how did he get the treasure in the first place?”
“Well, it turns out that many people from all over the world would come to this place. Upon arrival they would often times attack the natives. When the natives would defeat them, the foreigners would try to buy their way out of the situation by giving the natives food, clothing, guns, and treasure. None of these things were important to the natives so they stuck them in a cave and offered them to the sea god in hopes that it would please him and he would return the gift with the gift of fruitful catches of fish and harvest of food. We must get in the cave soon, it looks as if this is the lowest point in the tide, and the tide will be returning soon.”
With that, I point out a small reef that is exposed from the low tide. I remember seeing this same reef last time, and know from a previous visit that it is about the farthest back the tide reached. Based on how big the opening of the Indians mouth is, I also know how high the tide will reach.
The two of us starts walking, first across a beautiful sandy beach not any more than fifty feet long. The sand is extremely hot from baking in the scorching sun, so much so that Blinky and I can feel it through our boots; or maybe it is the fact that our boots are so warn from so many adventures that they do not offer much protection from the sand. It didn’t matter how hot the sand is there is not that much to walk on before the sand ends and a small worn trail begins. The trail is very thin and follows the face of the mountain. It is made up of the clay and rocks that the ocean had stripped over the years from the mountain returning the earth to the ocean floor. Twice daily the ocean returns to claim more of the earth, time and people visiting the cave will just keep etching the new trail over the old one. The trail splits on several occasions where large boulders from the face of the mountain have fallen. It is at these points when Blinky takes the high road and most difficult road hoping that the treasure will miraculously appear when he reaches the other side. I often stop and watch the waves trying to time them and get some clue as to how much time the two of us will have before the ocean comes back possibly taking us with some of the mountain this time. I am having a difficult time judging the tide since there is numerous reefs and kelp slowing its progress. Blinky thinks the kelp looks like the hands of a stalking sea monster waiting for the tide to reach him and I so it can wrap around us and pull us out to sea.
“Captain, do you see anything fishy in the water?” Blinky asks.
“Did you really just ask me that? Yes, I do see some fishy things in the water” I reply quite sarcastically.
“I can’t believe it; you see the monster too!”
“What monster?”
“It is being really stealthy and not trying to go past the water line, but you will see it is coming.”
“That is not a monster, it is just sea kelp. Come along Blinky we are almost at the entrance of the cave,” I say trying to encourage him to focus on where we are going and not the supposed sea monster.
A few steps later the two of us reach the entrance of the cave. It doesn’t seem that large especially in comparison to the face of the Indian chief. It looks extremely dark in there but since it is past noon and we are on a west facing beach the sun is shining a direct light toward what seems like the back of the cave.
“Captain,” Blinky snivels, “Did you say that you have been in this cave before?”
“Yes Blinky, it has been a while but this is the same cave.”
“Was there anything here the last time that you were in this cave that we should have to worry about?”
“I told you Blinky it was kelp not a sea monster waiting to get us.”
“I understand that now, but I am worried about the monsters that could lie in wait for us in there.”
“Come along Blinky. Have I ever put you in danger?”
“Well there was that one time when. . .” as Blinky starts to remind me about a different adventure when I and the men were caught up in peril, he stops and suddenly realizes that I am already in the cave a good fifteen feet ahead.
“Wait, wait for me Captain”.
“Come along Blinky we must go a little faster if we are to have any chance of finding some of the treasure” I remind him.
The two of us walk further and further into the cave; I walk steady and determined to find the treasure while Blinky walks cautiously, periodically looking back to see if the sea monster is in fact following us all the while looking for any sign of gold doubloons.
“Are we there yet?” asks Blinky.
“No, don’t bother me.”
“Are we close?”
“Shhhhh!”
“Are we getting close?” Blinky continues with more questions.
“Be quiet Blinky.”
“How about now?”
“Enough Blinky, you will know when we get there” I reply.
“How will I know?”
“You will know because I will stop and yell, ‘Hey Blinky we found the treasure’” I say while my arms are flailing sarcastically and my face is red from the blood rushing to it.
Blinky seeing me like this tries to calm me down by quickly answering, “O.k., sorry Captain. I was just trying to kill time.”
“I will kill you if you keep wasting time like this, now come on let’s look for the treasure.”
“Captain, I am a little anxious and think maybe a song would help calm me down. Do you mind if I sing something?” Blinky asks with very hopeful eyes.
“No problem Blinky, you pick a song and if I know it I will join you,” I answers with a halfhearted chuckle. I always enjoy singing and for sure know every song that Blinky would know, but I get a kick out of Blinky selecting songs and starting them off (usually very out of tune).
Fiddle me this, or fiddle me that
My fingers are a twiddle
The life we live as a buccaneer
The sea is such a riddle,
We swab the deck,
On this sure wreck,
we raise and lower the sails
Trust me Jack it’s a fact, there’s no better life to prevail.
“Excellent choice Blinky.”
“Captain I am still not quite at ease; please tell me the story of the time you were captured. I am nervous and excited at the same time in this cave and it will help with the anticipation; please.”
“You mean when Captain Edward “Blackbeard” Teach captured me?” I ask.
“Yes that is the time!” You can tell in his voice that Blinky became anxious to hear one of his favorite stories from my many adventures.
“It starts with one of my earliest voyages as a newly appointed Captain. It was a stormy night, so stormy that the likes of the most experienced ships crews have never seen. I put a limited few on deck and sent the rest of the crew safely below. Everyone on deck was tied to the ship and I was in the middle of my knot when suddenly it came. It was a wave that rivaled the hand of God. That hand grabbed me and threw me overboard into the ocean. Then that same hand pushed me down deep and pulled me to the surface. It allowed me to get enough breath to sustain until the next breath could be had. This must have gone on for some time until I passed out from exhaustion. When I regained consciousness I was floating on some debris of wood and being poked by a stick with people calling back to a Captain if I was dead or not. That captain turned out to be none other than the infamous Captain Blackbeard. Once dragged aboard and interrogated on who I was and whom I trained under; it became Captains Blackbeard’s call on what my fate would be. I knew by reputation he would not set me free on the closest island with some food and water to sustain me until another friendlier crew could take me home.
“What mangy mutt or sea scum have we dragged aboard here?” Captain Blackbeard asked while looking at me with intense eyes and a beard that had two flames burning at the end. “Take it and lock it up!” He said still referring to me. “Do not forget to chain his hands, but be sure to chain his feet and gag his mouth as well. This young Captain trained under the very clever Captain Sawyer and I do not want him convincing any of you folksel swabs to free him. You mangy mutts understand me?” The fierce bark of his command was almost second to the fierce smell of his breathe.
“Aye, aye Captain!” collectively the crew answered.
“That’s fine” was heard as a soft mumble. Captain Blackbeard turned around to see which of the men might have said it and why.
“That’s fine” was muttered again, only this time a little louder.
Captain Blackbeard scornfully turned again, but none of the men were close enough to him that could have said it. It suddenly dawned on him who said it. . .
“What’s that you say Captain? Some final words before you are locked up in the depths of hell and forgotten?”
I truly believed I was going to be locked up in hell based on the fact that I was discussing this with the devil himself.
“I said that’s fine!” I repeated, this time with my usual confidence.
“Well I am glad you agree. I will sleep so much better knowing you are on my side with how I command a ship.” Offers up a very sarcastic Captain Blackbeard.
“I am so grateful that you are going to put me in the depths of your ship, only to be horribly tortured and barely kept alive.” I replied, hoping to buy some more time and figure out a plan to escape. “It seems so much more comforting as compared to just having me walk the plank and hold on to a small plank of wood, that I might find floating in the ocean, to keep me afloat with no water and no food, battling the elements, only hoping that some stray ship here in the middle of nowhere will happen to pass by and save me. And if by chance a ship was to save me, there would also have to be the chance that it would be heading in the direction of home and not some unforsaken destination with a crew and captain even more ruthless than yours. And that ship,” I continued my rant, “could only save me if I could somehow manage to stay alive long enough without food or water, and battling the suns unmerciful heat all day and extreme cold at night, not to mention that I am floating bait, chum, food for any animals passing by between the birds, fish and sharks. Hopefully I also don’t run into a large group of jellyfish that would sting me, each passing with the sentencing of a whip, lacerating my body.” At this point I had stalled long enough for a glimpse of what hopefully would be my escape. I regrouped from my dramatic telling of what I had foreseen happening to me at sea and calmly said,” So you can see how much of a favor you are doing me, by keeping me aboard the ship and torturing me. At least,” I continued with a superbly upbeat attitude, “I would still be alive!” With that I paused for dramatic effect, lowered by head and body as if defeated and raised my hands to be chained.
But my rant got Captain Blackbeard thinking. What would be worse? Captain Blackbeard starts to reconsider his previous order. He pictures himself lost at sea, barely alive, and tortured by all of the elements above and below the water. He can feel the lashing of each jellyfish as it passes by. Captain Blackbeard knows these waters as well or better than I think I know them, and the likely hood of passing ships is low, as far as he can remember. The only thing I could imagine holding him back from changing his mind is the idea that he can’t watch me suffer. At least on board he could watch and contribute himself. Captain Blackbeard paces back and forth a few feet several times while he contemplates over all of this in his mind. Suddenly he stops in his tracks, rolls his fingers on his sword and looks up towards the sky and speaks. “After careful consideration, I have changed my mind. We are born in water and it seems only fitting that you die the same way. Men,” barked Captain Blackbeard, “do not chain this man instead prepare him to walk the plank immediately!”
True to his word this time, I was dragged to the plank and made to walk it. That glimmer of hope that helped me opt for this end instead of the prison was the sea mist clearing momentarily and with a glimpse of land I figured quickly where we were and the possible island I was looking at. The sea mist had thickened again before any of Captain Blackbeard’s crew or Blackbeard himself noticed the island. So with a splash I surfaced and flailed in the water for a moment. Increasing the odds that the laughing, mocking, crew and its ruthless captain would believe I was really going to panic and drown right then. As soon as their laughing seemed a little in the distance, I was off on a new adventure of survival, trying to reach that island without some pelagic shark mistaking me for a squid. At this point Blinky I would love to tell you that I hitched a ride on a couple of sea turtles or a dolphin, but you have heard the story enough to know that would not be true. I tried instead to pace myself and backstroke quietly to not attract any unwanted attention. I was able to reach the island using the sun as a navigation point during my swim. Lucky for me it was the island that I thought it was, with plenty of food and freshwater to sustain me until I could signal a passing merchant ship. Being on that island for the relatively short period of time that I was there could have been one of the best things to happen to me early on in my captain career. While on the island I would notice various ships passing by, most far enough away that I knew they would not come rescue me with a signal fire. But I took note of the various ships according to size, number of gun openings, and number of sails. I began to differentiate between frigate, merchant, man of war and to which country they claimed declaration. When I felt I had learned the most that I could from my situation, I made my signal fire with dried palm frowns and sure enough within a day of the signal I was rescued by the ship that I thought I would have been, and it was going the direction that I thought it would be going.”
“Every time you tell that story it is not only fascinating to me of what happened, but how you were also able to learn from it as well.” Blinky says with a deep admiration toward me.
“I know that you would do a similar thing if put in a similar position Blinky.” I respond. “Come on, we need to keep moving.”
Chapter 2
Blinky
I am truly thankful that the captain wanted me to come with him on this expedition today. It seems that we have been at sea a very long time and we have not had very much time for just the two of us to hang out. All is going well until the captain tries to show me some face of an Indian carved out in the side of a cliff. I cannot see what he sees, but I don’t want to disappoint him so I will tell him that I can see it.
As we are walking toward the cave that we are going to explore I did not realize that I was taking the most difficult path every time around the boulders that have fallen off the cliff onto the path. I am looking down the whole time trying not to trip and not noticing that the captain is choosing the lower part of the path.
I am also noticing a dark shadow that is swimming in the water. The shadow seems to be following or rather stalking us. Every time I look at the shadow it retreats a little with the wave going out; but the second I turn to see where I am walking it sneaks right back toward us. I try to warn the captain about it, but he just tells me that it is seaweed moving with the tide. I will be a good first mate and friend and keep an eye on it for both of us.
To take my mind off of the possible sea monster attacking us I ask the captain to tell me the story about him and Captain Blackbeard. I know how the story goes, but the way he tells it is so exciting. He is a good friend and agrees to tell the story knowing that it will help me in this situation. Thanks to the captain telling the story about him being captured, my mind is temporarily taken away from the fear of the sea monster until I hear a splash near me in a fairly large puddle of water. My anxiety level rises a bit while I contemplate saying something to the Captain about the sea monster being back or just ignoring it; a difficult decision, especially after hearing the story again of bravery that Captain Yellow Jacket just told. Frozen I look down toward the area where the water splashed. I do not see anything at first, and then it seems as if two eyes are looking back. Now fear really seizes control of my body and my mind. Almost as if the monster is hypnotizing me with its eyes. I do not notice the legs coming out of the water and slithering up my legs. One of the monster’s legs has my left ankle and another is just about completely around my right ankle. Another two are making their way up each of my legs when my sense returns to me enough to scream the loudest “CAPTAIN” ever yelled by a person in history.
Captain Yellow Jacket is a little way ahead again, since he did not stop and really has no fear of any sea monsters following us into the cave to trap us and eat us, but when he hears the scream from me, he knows his first mate is truly in trouble. The Captain rushes to me to find my knees are shaking uncontrollably, my eyes squinting as if I am being eaten alive and don’t want to watch, and my arms trying to pull off the invaders arms, but with each pull of the invaders arm another latches on to my leg.
I hear the Captain chuckle at first sight, but then the Captain does not want to make me feel bad or get me cross at him, so he puts on a serious look and bends down to add two more hands to the fight. While he is pulling away some of the invading arms he is telling me to try and take a step back. What the Captain is trying to do is scare the ‘sea monster’, which the Captain can clearly see is an octopus, into retreating allowing a quick escape for me.
I am almost to the point of tears repeatedly telling the Captain, “It is eating me alive!”
The Captain responds calmly, “It is not eating you alive. It is an octopus and you are simply feeling the suckers sticking to your legs as we are both pulling off the tentacles.” The Captain never wants to willfully hurt an animal did something very much out of character for him and gently pinches the legs he is holding in each hand. After about pinching three legs, the octopus understands that he cannot eat such a large prey as myself and that the Captain is too much of an extra fight for him; therefore, retreats; but not without shooting some ink in the puddle of water the octopus was just in to insure a safe and speedy escape.
“You saved me Captain, and I told you there was a sea monster!” I rattle out with my heart beating 100 miles per hour, adrenalin racing through my body just between teeth chattering.
“From the sea? Yes; but hardly a monster Blinky. Are you going to be okay Blinky?” the Captain asked concerned about the wellbeing of his first mate.
“I think so Captain,” with a reply that comes out shaky.
“Let’s continue on our adventure then, we are almost there.”
Chapter 3
Captain Yellow Jacket
We are here, just feet away from the end of our journey. It was tedious, adventurous, and all together a bonding moment for the two of us. Casually I approach the area where the treasure is located. I watch as Blinky takes a moment to catch his breath and to take all that has happened in. Scattered around are several pieces of eight, not the largest treasure on record but I know more than Blinky has seen in person. At that moment Blinky glances over at me to see me pick up a sliver dabloom, and throwing down several sea shells. Blinky recognizes the shells from the elaborate collection that I own and display on the shelves of my Captain’s Quarters. They are located on the shelf just under the first edition and autographed collection of my books. Since they are in this section I am sure that Blinky understands that they mean a lot to me.
“Captain, what are you doing?” Blinky asks, “Are you feeling okay?”
“Huh!” the I respond, a bit bewildered by the questioning suddenly coming from my first mate.
“Yes why do you ask?”
“I cannot help but notice that you are scattering around some of your sea shells from your collection. I know how much they mean to you, so I find it strange that you are doing this.”
“Ahhh. . . Now I see what this is all about.” I continue, “Yes Blinky, these are very valuable to me, but I am willing to part with them for a good reason. You see this treasure cave is about giving as much as receiving. The shells I am leaving are an exchange to the sea as well as the native Acjacheinen people. The value of pieces of eight to the Natives is worthless, but they trade in shells as currency and in some cases use the shells as tools. So, I leave some treasure and that allows me to take some of the treasure that I want; the pieces of eight. We should get back soon, the sun is almost down and I didn’t bring a lantern. I did not think that we would be in here this long. I am not complaining except for you getting attacked by a sea monster, this time has been really fun with you.”
We have a bit of a laugh at the sea monster comment. In retrospect I am sure that Blinky does think it’s funny. Just then something catches Blinky’s eye. In a hole in the cave something is suddenly very shiny and new. Blinky is immediately drawn to it. After about three steps the object disappears. Blinky takes a step to the right and the object reappears. Blinky takes a few steps closer and again the beautiful object disappears. Blinky takes a few steps to the left to think of a new plan on what this apparent treasure is and why it keeps disappearing. As soon as Blinky stands in one place a moment, the glowing gold color appears again. Blinky walks towards the hole in the cave that it is coming from. I catch Blinky’s sudden motion out of my peripheral vision. “Blinky wait, stop!” I say as soon as I realize what Blinky is doing. But no sooner do the words come out that it is too late, and my first mate is shoulder deep into a small hole in the back of the cave.
“Captain it is just out of reach to grab, but close enough to feel and it feels like a treasure trove of gold doubloons and a solid gold statue with miscellaneous gemstones. All of these things are very smooth.” Blinky tells me about what he can feel in the hole.
“Are they all smooth from decades of water wear and fastened to the cave wall with the bondage of time?” I say since I am sure I know what he thinks that he is about to reach. “Blinky, that is the forsaken treasure. No one is supposed to touch that. In fact, it’s a trap and you will never be able to get it,” I say very concerned for my friend.
“I am so close; I can feel the smooth edges,” answers a grunting Blinky reaching as far as he can and trying to force more of his body in the hole.
“I am usually an optimist, but trust me when I say; you will never be able to get it; they call it forsaken for a reason. They say the treasure is cursed and that the original pirates who put it there are cursed and walk the Earth for eternity until they can repay their debt and undo the curse. That will never happen ironically since they are all dead and are no longer physically able to do so. It is also said that Davey Jones owns their souls. It is Davey Jones treasure now and as the story goes every time the tide fills this cave on the night of a full moon, Davey Jones himself checks on the treasure. And when he does he uses the strength of the waves to bury it a little more by eroding some of the cave and having the hole your arm is in get a little smaller. You are able to see the treasure since the sun is going down and happened to be in just the right spot to reflect the secrets inside. Now for the really tragic news in this whole circumstance.”
Blinky is now very attentive to what I have to say. He knows that I have a vast knowledge of the ocean, sailing, and so many things, that I must know a way to get some of the treasure. The only problem is that is not what was about to come out of my mouth.
“The real problem with the predicament that you just put yourself into is this. The other part of the curse is to any other pirates that try to reach in there and retrieve the treasure, they are doomed to get stuck and serve out eternity as part of Davey Jones crew. You really didn’t think that the treasure in there wasn’t placed there by someone; did you? I also will not fail to point out that the tide is coming in, the sun is almost set and it is the evening of a full moon.”
Immediately Blinky panics and tries to pull his arm out of the hole, but try as he did with every ounce of muscle he has it was to no avail. He is cursed just as I said he would be. Harder and harder, faster and faster, he tries to move and to retrieve his arm. The sweat is really starting to pour from his head. It looks as if a wave has crashed over him and just as salty. Blinky’s heart is racing as fast as it can and he cannot think clearly and his face is pale with fear and stress.
“It is getting tighter and tighter around my arm Captain. The cave is alive and holding me hostage so Davey Jones can have my soul,” a frantic first mate says swaying from his knees starting to collapse.
“Not if I can help it. If anyone owns your soul it should be me,” I try to crack a joke to calm Blinky down and refocus his attention. I am truly concerned, knowing the curse and seeing that Blinky’s arm is truly stuck in the hole. I see how my joke did not seem to work, so I do what I know Blinky will respond to; orders. Blinky is the best first mate any Captain can ask for, and not only for his loyalty and kindness, also for how well he responds to orders.
“Blinky, I need you to focus on what I am saying and do exactly what I tell you,” I bark an order to Blinky, gesturing with my hand from my eyes towards Blinky’s and back. “Now take some deep breaths and calm down. When you are calm we are going to relax the muscle in your arm. I am going to take my shirt off since it is relatively dry and dry the area around your arm and the hole. By calming down and relaxing your muscle will not be so swollen and tight in the opening. By drying off your arm and the area around it, you will not be so sticky from the salt water. Does that sound okay to you; can you do that?”
Blinky calms down and really focused on the orders that I am giving him. He is almost at the point of hyperventilating, but thanks to my quick thinking Blinky has come full circle and found his Zen, and his new focus on the situation.
“Okay I can see you are with me now gently, and slowly, try to use your body to pull out of the hole. Whatever you do, do not tighten your arm up and try to pull it out.”
By just slowly shifting his body weight Blinky is able to feel some loosening of the hole around his arm. It wasn’t coming out, but he didn’t feel the cave was alive and attacking him anymore. I explain to Blinky that his arm in the holoe stops the air from passing through, therefore it is why he is stuck. Your arm is creating a vacuum in the hole that is sucking on your arm to keep it in. We just need to let some air in and your arm should start to come loose.”
“That’s great Blinky, now I am going to push on your skin with the shirt and try to shift it around, working it out of the hole.
As I do that Blinky can feel the cave giving a little more and his arm actually making progress in getting out of the hole. Blinky feeling the cave give way and his arm starting to come out, tries to quickly pull his arm out. Unfortunately, that tightens the muscle again and he is once again stuck just a little less than the first position he was stuck in. I am upset and nervous for Blinky. By Blinky not listening to me, he is not only stuck again, but I have been monitoring the tide and it is coming in slowly but surely.
“Let’s start over again Blinky,” I say disappointed that we have not been successful so far. “We are going to try the same thing, but please this time, do not try to rush the process.”
It is a slow arduous task, but myself and my first mate make a great team. Eventually success in retrieving Blinky’s arm back from doom, but not without some damage; numerous lacerations and cuts adorn his arm where the cave held on like fingertips trying to keep their prize. Blood is forming on the surface and dripping toward his fingers and into the water.
“Are you okay Blinky?” I asks while releasing a big breath I must have been holding in almost the whole time I was helping. I gently try to clean some of the abrasions off of the arm. I am trying not to push too hard and hurt Blinky more, but I have a feeling that Blinky is not thinking about the pain in his arm. His adrenaline is pumping so hard right now that his arm will not hurt for a little while longer. I can feel his pulse racing in my hand as I hold his arm and clean it with my other hand. “Hold your arm up a little and keep this shirt tight around it. That should help to stop any bleeding and keep you from putting blood in the water and attracting any sharks with the incoming tide.”
I can tell by his facial expressions that Blinky is starting to picture being trapped in a cave and attacked by sharks all because he greedily wanted the treasure that he saw.
“Don’t worry Blinky, we’re going to be okay.” I chuckle a bit knowing exactly what Blinky is thinking about. “And your arm looks worse than it actually is. Besides, you are not bleeding enough to really attract any sharks, and we will not be in here long enough for the tide to get high enough to allow any sharks in here; well at least anything that could really hurt us. Your arm should heal nicely in a couple of weeks. Besides, any scars will make for great stories to tell the crew and future crews.
The two of us row back toward the ship; having gone through the day together and the experiences I can tell that like myself Blinky is reflecting on everything. Blinky, I know appreciates all I did for him, from telling the story to calm him down, helping to save him from the sea monster, and retrieving him from the clutches of the cave. The best part of the day, the part he is really reflecting and I appreciate more than anything is, that he was willing to join me.
“Captain,”
“Aye Blinky.”
“I appreciate today, and would really look forward to the opportunity to return here one day again soon with you.”
“Thank you Blinky for being such a great mate, and absolutely we will return, in the not too distant future.” I say this and place my hands on the side of Blinky’s arms, as if to give him a hug and not disrupt his rowing. Also it would not be proper for a Captain to give a first mate a hug; not very pirate like. . .