Bing Gananda 22

14 Sing to the Wind

On board the ship, Martin had just lain down when the seaman on watch rapped on his door.
"Cap'n, sir, come have a look at this."
Martin wearily came out on deck. The man pointed to the shore. They could see the bonfire on the beach, and beyond that the jungle.
"There, Cap'n, did you see it?"
Martin looked at the island. All he saw was the fire on the beach, and the glow from the volcano at the top of the mountain. He was about to curse the sailor, when he saw a faint glow out in the jungle. It must be what Roper had seen the previous night.
Then, they noticed a commotion around the fire on the beach.
"What's happening on shore?" he asked the sailor.
"I can't tell, Cap'n... It looks like a fight."
Then, there was a sudden flash as the bonfire exploded into the air. The sound echoed across the cove. Then, all was quiet.
The beach was dark now, except for tiny bits of flame here and there. They began to fade into glowing embers as they watched from the ship.
"Bloody hell!" said the sailor involuntarily.
By now some of the other men had come out, having heard the explosion.
"What the hell?.." asked the old cook, and then he too, fell silent. He had his own opinion of this island.


On the beach Hull was gathering the scattered bits of fire together. Isaac first went to the dead seaman, then to Roper. He was still alive, barely, and suffering horribly. He had been cut almost in two by the blast.
Isaac drew his own cutlass and ended it.
"Damn that fool!" Hull said. "We need to get this fire going again before that lion comes back."
"You saw it?"
"Aye, I saw it."
The two men worked to get the fire burning again. Isaac cursing as he burned his fingers.
This hadn't turned out as he had hoped. At one time, piracy would never have tempted him. He was a fisherman. But after his young wife had died, back in England, he had gone to sea. He had thrown in his lot with the mutineers. The adventure appealed to him, and what did he have to lose?
Now they were stranded on this accursed island. The brig was not seaworthy. And the crew were being killed off, one at a time. Seven were dead already. Who would be next? He eyed the jungle warily.


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