Magal

Mr. Tinker

Creative Writing

14 February 2019

Theta

Aren, 17000 BCE

I'm Captain Cocles, I'm traversing the little known and ancient planet Aren (planet 4, Sector A,

Andromeda). My assistant Caderousse is helping me map the areas and land that I find along the

way to my ultimate destination; the long lost land of Theta. My vessel is called the HMS Boggle,

the largest in all the King’s fleet. It’s a dull day and the two suns are low and covered by large,

grey clouds. I call to my assistant Caderousse.

“Caderousse! Come hither!” I shout across the deck. Caderousse climbs down the rickety

ladder and wobbles over to me from the poop deck.

“Yes Captain?” He responds with a tired subordinance. He folds his hands behind him

out of habit and bows his head down slightly toward his portly chest.

“I’d like to see that map of yours looking superb come ‘morrow at dawn.” I said

nonchalantly with an eyebrow raised.

“Of course sir.” He responded with even more aloofness than even I.

“That’s Captain-Sir to you Caderousse, and ask the navigator how long we’ve been due

south, I’d like to change course slightly… I have a hunch.” I peered off into the distance with…

distance.
 “Yes Captain… Si- Captain Sir.” He stumbled a little and hobbled off towards a few

sailors clumped in the corner of the main deck.

“And get those boys back to cleanin’!” I yelled over to him.

“Yes Captain!” He yelled back. I muttered something along the lines of “Watch that

tone” under my breath and strolled briskly back to my quarters.

***

Just before dawn the next morning I crawled out of my cot and plodded out of my

quarters, bare feet slapping the wooden deck. I called to Caderousse.

“Caderousse, the cartography!” I yelled generally towards the grates above the sailors

quarters. He climbed out of the trapdoor and stumbled over to me.

“Yes Capt-” He started yelling but was cut off by a large thunder crack. I turned towards

him with impulsive anger.

“I TOLD YOU TO SPEAK WITH OUR WATCHMAN! Did you not ​see​ the

thunderclouds in the distance yesterday? We’re ​doomed​ Caderousse! Get the main sailors above

deck. Fly the wopsill! Jigger the futtocks! Get the mainsail eastward and get every other seaman

below deck!” I don’t believe Caderousse had seen me this angry before.

“You never asked me to check with the watchmen si-” I cut him off.

“That’s CAPTAIN Sir!” I screamed and shoved him towards the sailor cabin and began

to follow as he quickly stumbled over to the door. He swung the door open and bellowed in a

manner I had not heard in quite some time.

“MAIN SAILORS ON DECK! ALL OTHERS STAY BELOW!” Heavy droplets began

to pelt our backs as we began to finally head down into the cabin. I bumped into seven or so
sailors rushing out to the deck, I appointed my best sailor, the native Ostian ( Galen to command

the rest in avoiding the worst of the storm and crawled out of the belly of the ship and into the

trapdoor in my quarters. I had lost Caderousse somewhere on the way.

***

I woke up with a loud thud and realized I had fell off my cot, immediately there was a

knock at the door.

“Captain Cocles Sir! The storm has passed!” Screamed a sailor I was not familiar with,

most likely sent by Caderousse to bring information. I struggled to stand and limped over to the

door. Before I had even placed my gauntlet on the door the sailor swung it open, startling me

back.

“ONLY I TOUCH THIS… door…” I had run out of breath, the wind had overwhelmed

me.

“It’s a bit chilly and high winds out here sir.” Said the small, scrawny sailor, as he shook

in the wind. There was no reason to be out on a day like this; the clouds were still yet to clear up

and the wind was too strong to validate standing on the deck.

“Order Caderousse to get my best sailors on duty until the sunlight dies.” I said to the

boy, he scrambled for below deck as I slammed my door, turned sharply, and sat peacefully on

my bed. ​Will we ever find Theta?​ I thought quietly to myself.

***

I climbed out of my quarters at dusk and pushed my way through the belly of the ship

until I found Caderousse. He was laying in deep sleep on top of a long crate. I tiptoed over to
him and grabbed him suddenly. I shook him vigorously and covered his mouth as to not wake up

the other sailors.

“MMmmnnngghhh…” he grunted through my hand as he struggled to scream. He

quickly realized it was just me and sighed, leaning back. I pulled him up.

“Up. Now.” I murmured into his ear.

“Y-yess sirr… Captain Sir…” he whispered sluggishly. “Where are we going Captain?”

he added.

“Sh.” I replied swiftly and elbowed him in the shoulder. He gasped and covered his

mouth before following in my footsteps. My agrillian leather shoes were silent on the

floorboards, created by the finest crafters on the planet Eres, they were silent and stealthy, but

pointed and sharp. Caderousse’s clumsy feet however were making some of the sailors stir. I

hurried him onto the poop deck and we paced to the bow. The stars were still slightly visible and

in the distance you could see what we had been looking for all along; the long lost Theta.

“You see that there?” I asked him coyly.

“Yessir Captaint sir.” He responded quickly, with dull, bored eyes.

“Why you don’t seem to be excited Caderousse what’s the matter?” I said inquiringly.

“Noth-” I cut him off.

“Nevermind it Caderousse, guide the main sail, I’ll head to the helm and grab the wheel.

We can share this moment together Caderousse.” I said and briskly walked away. Caderousse

slowly shuffled to the ropes of the mainsail and braced it against the wind. I grabbed the ship’s

wheel and together we steadily guided it towards the pale grey stone city. Holding the wonders

of every generation before me. A particularly strong wind shoved the whole vessel slightly west,
Caderousse guided the main sail to direct us back on course. It was smooth sailing from here on

out. Nothing could come between my dreams and reality now, as they collided into on-

My thought was interrupted by a large, echoing, ​BOOM!​ Followed by a piercing ​SNAP!

The mainsail had snapped in two and tumbled onto the poop deck. Sailors began pouring out of

the belly of the ship and started swarming the wreckage. They all just stood there, dumbfounded.

“WHY ARE YOU ALL JUST STANDING THERE? STOP STARIN’ AND START

GETTIN IT OFF? WE’RE ALMOST UPON IT!” I screamed at the sailors from the helm.

It was too late, by the time the sailors had thrown the shaft off the poop deck and into the

churning waters below the ship was already careening towards the city. A towering statue of a

slender, thin faced marble goddess greeted us as our propellers faltered and our bow smashed it

to pieces. My dream was shattering in my head slowly as shock took over. The ship was

splintering and snapping, rings were flying off of ropes, sails were tearing. Sailor after sailor

tumbled off into the empty stone city and all I could do was stand there in horror, clinging to the

wheel at the stern as my feet slipped with every blow the ship took. As the ship hit what would

appear to be the city center I was knocked off balance before being thrown off by another, final

blow. I fell slowly, as if time were slowing. I had come here to live my dream, explore the

ancient ruins my people had been dreaming of for millenia, and I had failed. I slammed the

ground and felt an intense pain as my spine shattered, and with a last shudder I saw Caderousse

peering over the side of the ship with a grin… It was him.

***
 “Cocles! Come here!” I yelled from the porch. He was only the fourth elder I had been a

personal caregiver for but was by far my favorite. The sweet old man had been playing with his

toy boat on the rocks in the garden.