But they were far from safe. Below deck the noise was tremendous. The ship was creaking and groaning at new levels of noise. The crew were thrown about the cabins in an erratic frenzy. It was a mad world where speech was almost impossible. To his surprise, Reffurio could find nobody missing. Ombissu was there, yet he had been standing beside him when the wave had nearly washed him overboard and had then seemingly disappeared. All the mast men were there when he had assumed at least a few must have been lost. But although he had many questions it was impossible to receive any answers. They were too tired, it was too noisy and they were being violently knocked around by the actions of the ship. And though he wanted to know the answers, this was a trivial desire compared to the one of wanting to stay alive.
For a whole day and night the ship floundered helplessly in the great seas. Minds grew dull as the constant noise and movement denied them sleep. Reffurio was bruised and weary, almost ready to give in. He tried to think of the problems he would have to face and overcome if they survived. What had happened to the masts? Were they broken off? Even if they were still intact, were the sails torn to shreds? Was the rudder still there? Was the ship leaking beyond repair? They had tried to work the pumps but it was impossible. He presumed the bilge was full of water.
And then, after an eternity of noise and pain and complete terror, the din began to subside, the violence diminish. Cautiously, they lifted a hatch and peered out. Reffurio looked immediately at the masts. They were still there, the cross spars still in place, the furled sails seemingly undamaged. The relief was incredible.
It was still a wild world, though. Tremendous white-capped waves surrounded the ship; the wind - strangely warm - almost blew them overboard. Slowly the crew came on deck. Ombissu ordered the setting of the absolute minimum of sail and instantly Techyspay came to life. Instead of bending to the waves and the wind she met them. The heaving became more rhythmic, the waves that had been crashing over the deck lessened.
Ombissu looked at Reffurio and said, "I think we are through the worst, my friend. Look - the sky is lightening ahead."
And so it was. To the south they could see a thin line of blue just above the horizon, and the wind was lessening all the time. Four hours later, the rain ceased and the wind subsided to a mere fresh breeze. They had survived.
*
The next officer’s meal began in a subdued manner. Even though the sailors were toughened professionals, none had experienced a storm like it. They were in shock as they ate their salt meat in silence. Reffurio had already listened to Ombissu’s version of events and wondered at the vagaries of chance. As the wave came aboard that nearly swept him into the sea, Ombissu had already turned towards the hatch, signalling to the mast-men to come down. He had not seen Reffurio at all. They had rushed into the nearest hatch and dropped below. Ombissu had not even noticed that Reffurio and Mekbill and Fallassan were not with him such had been the panic. Reffurio had already thanked Mekbill and Fallassan for saving his life, and while Fallassan had taken it in her stride, Mekbill had been surprisingly modest. His heroics had maybe come as a big a shock to Mekbill as to him.
It was the voice of Mekbill that broke the quiet.
"Of course, it was the work of the gods. They sent us a trial and we passed the test. We are now stronger and more fulfilled."
Ombissu did not have the heart to comment, but no such compunction stopped Reffurio. "I don’t think we’re stronger," he said. "We’re weaker. The ship is damaged. Parts of the hull are leaking. Some of the water barrels have let in salt water. The bilge pump is going as hard as it can and is barely keeping us afloat. We can repair the hull provided the weather holds. If it rains we can gather the rain water. We will prevail, but I cannot believe that we are stronger. I don’t feel strong - I feel weak."
Ombissu looked quizzically at the priest. "What say you to that, Mekbill?"
"I stand by what I say. We have passed a test and now we will be rewarded. How, I cannot say, but it will happen."
"I wish I had your faith, Mekbill," Ombissu said quietly. "However, you are right in one matter - we have passed a test, and, although I do not believe we are stronger, we do know the strength of the ship. If that is the worst this ocean can throw at us then we will prevail."
There was a low murmur of assent.
Chapter 19
For two more days they sailed across a calm sea under blue skies and in increasing warmth. Then, in the late morning, just as Reffurio and Ombissu were beginning their walk around the deck, there came a cry from the foremast.
"Land ho! South-south-west!"
The two officers stared at each other in excitement.
"I’ll race you!" Ombissu said, grinning.
They were up the mast in seconds, climbing side by side up the rigging. Reffurio arrived slightly ahead and took the telescope from the astonished lookout. He looked to where the sailor was pointing. On the horizon he could see the top of a mountain.
"Five points to starboard!" he shouted down to the deck.
Ombissu took the telescope and looked for himself. It was just a tiny triangle of grey-blue hanging above the horizon, so small but so significant. He handed the telescope back to the sailor and congratulated him. The two officers then dropped down the rigging as fast as they could go in a great rush of exhilaration. They landed on the deck near Fallassan.
Ombissu turned to her and said, "Where’s our priest? Where’s Mekbill? His wish has just been answered."
"He is praying in his cabin, I expect. He has been doing so in all his free moments since we came through the storm."
"Oh. Maybe he will have heard the call. It was loud enough."
The hands who had been below were swarming onto the deck. Others were climbing up the shrouds for a better view. But soon , as the ship sailed towards the shore, all could see that the mountain was in fact an island. By mid-afternoon they were approaching the shore with the lead going. Through telescopes they could see that the island was completely covered in dense ferns.
They rounded a small point and a bay with a sandy beach opened out in front of them. Looking through his telescope, Reffurio could see what he was looking for - a small stream. He could see the water cascading over rocks and along a channel through the sand. Reffurio grinned at Fallassan then ordered the ship to heave to in the middle of the bay. The anchor rattled out and the ship became quiet. There was very little wind and silence descended. Those with telescopes scanned the shore but could see nothing moving.
Reffurio turned to Fallassan and said, "Get ready the boats and prepare a shore party - armed with rifles. Row to the beach and see what there is. Wave a white cloth if everything is all right, red if there is danger. We’ll rescue you with the second boat if need be."
Fallassan acknowledged and set about giving orders. Reffurio turned to Ombissu and saw that he was staring intently at the island.
"What do you see?" Reffurio asked.
"Nothing, nothing but ferns. I was expecting more."
"We’re not ashore yet, there may be much that is hiding. I suspect there is. It has a vaguely sinister air, this island."
"A result of the silence, I expect. We have been assaulted by noise for so long that silence is strange. Ah, here is our priest," he said, addressing Mekbill, who had appeared through the hatch. Where have you been, Mekbill? This is your moment of triumph. Your prayers are answered."
"I am not so sure of that, Reffurio. This is only an island. It may not meet all our needs."
"It has running water, it probably has fruit, there may be game. It will suffice."
"And then we move on?"
"Of course," Reffurio said, surprised. "This is not a destination, merely a wayside inn."
"Good. I thought perhaps you would have regarded this as a satisfactory goal. As it is, I ask your permission to go with the landing party."
"Granted. But you will need a rifle. There may be danger."
They watched Mekbill leaving for the armoury. Ombissu said to Reffuri
o, "What do you think of our priest now?"
"Still irritating, I disagree with much that he says, but he is brave, I will grant him that."
"Yes. This is somewhat of a miracle, finding this island," Ombissu mused. "I wonder if his prayers had anything to do with it?"
Reffurio scoffed. "A coincidence, that’s what it is. I expect we will find that this part of the ocean is full of islands, all ready to be discovered."
"Perhaps. No doubt we shall find out one way or the other."
*
Eight sailors with Fallassan as captain and Mekbill as a supernumerary, rowed to the mouth of the stream. They beached the boat and, with rifles at the ready, walked cautiously upstream. There was no sound except for the rippling of water over the rocks. Suddenly a bird exploded from under one of the sailor’s feet. They all went for their rifles then relaxed in laughter. A rocketing bird was something with which they were all familiar.
They peered among the ferns but saw nothing else. There did not seem to be any danger. They waved the white flag and the other boat, with empty water barrels on board, joined them.
For two days they repaired the minor damage the ship had suffered. The barrel makers made good the damaged barrels and they replenished their water. Everyone bathed in the stream. It was time to relax before they set sail again. However, Fallassan had never stopped working so it was with some relief that Reffurio heard her request. He was beginning to think she was driving herself into the ground.
"I’d like a short time away," she asked.
"Good idea. What are you planning to do?" Reffurio asked.
"Climb to the ridge. It will be hot and hard work, but I need the exercise."
"Alone?"
"If I may."
"Take a rifle and a flare and a whistle. This place seems deserted but you may break a leg or something."
Fallassan almost said that she never broke legs, but forbore. This unusually solicitous attitude from her captain was almost certainly the result of worry and could be ignored.
She packed her bag with her water bottle and a few pieces of dried meat. She slung it over her shoulder and set off up the slope. Soon she was in the deep shade of the forest. A few birds were calling in the distance but otherwise it was very quiet. She pressed on up the slope. The heat and the humidity were exhausting her; these were not conditions she was used to, but she refused to give in. She forced one foot after the other, keeping going steadily up the slope. She was thinking that she ought to forgo her pride and rest when she saw a large flat rock, the ideal seat. It was too good an opportunity to walk past. She flopped down between two vertical rocks onto the flat rock between them.
She thought that she would have a superb view of the bay if there had been no ferns in front of her. It was almost as if someone had made the seat for the view that she could not see. Having thought this ridiculous thought she took time between swigs of water to examine her immediate surroundings. The rock she was sitting on was indeed remarkably flat, almost like a seat. The corners were rounded but the front edge was vertical, at right-angles to the top. Having made this discovery she turned to the two tall rocks that flanked her. Their inner surfaces were also flat, unnaturally so. And with that thought her mind took a sudden leap. She stood up, stepped forward a few paces and turned back to look at where she had been sitting. It looked remarkably like an artefact, a doorway perhaps. The vertical rocks were largely covered in vegetation and soil, but they seemed very like door posts. She produced her knife and scraped at the dirt.
Within a few minutes she revealed carvings. With quickening excitement she pulled away the strands of vegetation, the ferns growing out of the shallow soil. The carvings covered the face of the right-hand door-post. After an hour of intense work she had uncovered them all. She stood back to look at what she had found. From the ground to higher than her own height, the post, wider than two hand widths, was covered in intricate abstract patterns carved into the stone. There was no doubt that they had been made by a master. She was overcome by awe. To allow herself time to think, she returned to sitting on the stone. What she had found was incredible. Here was the first sign of another civilisation. They were not alone in the world. Somewhere or at some time there had been a people who could carve stones as well - or better - than themselves. The others need to be told as quickly as possible. She scrambled down the hillside as fast as she could, swerving through the trees, dodging the creepers, jumping over the boulders. She burst into the camp shouting wildly, to the astonishment of everybody.
All the officers rushed over to her. Reffurio shook her shoulders and said, "Calm down, take a few breaths and tell us slowly."
Fallassan grinned at him through her dirt-stained face and said to herself, "Right. Calm down. Deep breathing exercise." Still grinning at him, she said, "I hope you are ready for this."
"Go on."
"I’ve found rock carvings the like of which you’ve never seen. Amazing stuff. We’ve discovered a civilisation."
Ombissu considered the obviously uninhabited island. "Are you sure?" he asked.
Fallassan was offended. "Of course I’m sure. I’m no archaeologist, but I know carvings when I see them. These are high quality and like nothing I’ve ever seen. And I’m willing to bet that you’ve never seen anything like them either."
"All right. How far away are they?"
"An hour’s walk up the hill - an easy, straightforward climb."
Ombissu looked dubiously at the steep slope. It looked neither easy nor straightforward. "Very well. You, I, and Mekbill will make the climb. We’ll leave Reffurio in charge. This had better be worth it."
They set off up the hill. All were curious as to what Fallassan had found, all were sceptical. But when they reached the rocks they stopped in amazement. Mekbill was the first to run to the rocks and touch them. He frantically ran his fingers over the carvings then stood back, shaken.
"I don’t know what these are," he said uncertainly. "They are like nothing I’ve ever seen."
"I told you," Fallassan said triumphantly.
Ombissu examined the carvings carefully.
"I know a little of old buildings," Ombissu said, "but not much. These look old to me. See how the edges of the carvings are worn, and how much moss Fallassan had to remove. These are many years old, and now disused, of course."
"I have many questions and no answers," Mekbill cried. "Who were they? What do the carvings mean? What is the purpose of these stones? Where are these people? Why are they not here?" He raised his arms in anguish.
"I don’t know, Mekbill," Ombissu said quietly. "We will be spending a few more days here. Perhaps we will find more artifacts. Perhaps they will give some answers."
But he was wrong. They found mysterious mounds covered in ferns which were probably the remains of long-gone buildings. They found a single tall flat-sided stone which was covered in more elaborate carvings, but they failed to answer any of Mekbill’s questions. After two more days they sailed on.
Chapter 20
Reffurio and Ombissu were walking side by side on the foredeck. At the end of their allotted space they turned outwards and retraced their steps without a pause in the conversation. They were following a daily routine that had come with this spell of fine weather.
The sky was clear blue with just a few high clouds, the wind was a moderate north-westerly, the temperature was pleasantly warm; in other words it was a beautiful day for sailing. The hands who were not on watch were on the afterdeck chatting or mending their clothes or making the intricate wooden carvings that sailors were famous for. Washing was flapping merrily from the rigging.
They were three days from the island. They had been sailing at speed all that time and were expecting to make landfall at any moment. They could not believe the island was alone. Of course, they could be sailing in the wrong direction, but they refused to countenance the possibility. Islands are never alone. They are in groups and close to a country. But three days of good sailing was a considerable di
stance and they were beginning to worry. Then their admiration for yet another flying fish, which had jumped out of the sea just beside them, was interrupted by a hail from the foremast.
"Land ho!" Fifteen points to port!"
Reffurio and Ombissu repeated their race up the rigging. In the far distance they could see the silhouette of a long line of hills. As the ship approached the line grew longer and longer until it stretched across the whole width of the horizon. This was no isolated island, this was a great country. This was what they had been seeking. Here, they felt, was adventure, excitement and riches.
Everyone was now above deck. The rigging was thick with sailors trying to get a better view. With a few sharp words from Fallassan order was restored. In a low murmur of excitement Techyspay closed in on the coast.
They could now see a rocky shore backed by dusty hills dotted with ferns. Through the telescopes they thought they could see movement, possibly herds of animals, but they could not be sure. They sailed south parallel to the shore, moving out when they approached a rocky point to avoid the undersea ridge that undoubtedly stretched beyond the shore. It was a remarkably regular coast: rocky points and bays, low hills with ferns and yet more of the same. They sailed for the rest of the day then anchored for the night; sailing after dark when so close to an unknown shoreline seemed unwise.
The following day began with more of the same. Ombissu was just considering landing when they rounded a more prominent point than usual and entered a large bay. They sailed into it, the lead going. Reffurio was casually scanning the coast, as usual. At the bottom of the bay, on the shore between two hills, he saw something odd. He indicated the feature to Ombissu.
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