The Renewal

by Joseph Ferguson

  Chapter 11

  After searching every room and compartment on the German boat they found no one, dead or alive. Shaun breathed a sigh of relief, thinking how odd it was that they only left one soldier to guard the boat. Most of the berths were plain and furnished with very little, one had been transformed into an armory containing a few rifles and ammo. The galley looked to have been recently stocked, even the cold storage locker had fresh meat making Shaun smile, but it was the kegs of German beer that made him happy. They also found in what they assumed was the captains quarters an old German sword mounted on the wall, Shaun decided he wanted to carry one too, so he strapped it on.

  The engine room smelled of diesel as a small puddle lay under one of the fuel lines which they hurriedly cleaned up. Shaun flipped the fuel switch and the ventilation switch to the "auf" position telling Treyson that it means "on". The fuel didn't leak out so they must have fixed it after refueling. Shaun made sure the batteries were connected and switched on, and then he hit the start button causing the engine to jerk suddenly then turn over. "Yes" Treyson shouted!

  "This thing runs good, we should take it," Shaun said, also sounding excited. Treyson agreed.

  “Not a coincidence,” Treyson said with a wink and an “I told you so” smile.

  Shaun loosed the ship from the buoy and brought up the anchor. Treyson struggled with maneuvering it at the helm, but managed after a while at getting it out of the marina and into the channel. It was overcast with a cool breeze blowing at him giving him goose bumps so he closed the side windows. He was all smiles after getting it into the North Sea until he hit the first big wave head-on drenching the deck. Shaun yelled at him to cut the big ones at forty fives or you will send us to Davy Jones locker. It made Treyson laugh as he made the adjustments in his heading. Shaun had warned him earlier to go north around Scotland and then around Ireland saying it would be easier than going south through the English Channel. The GPS was down, but the sonar and compass are working fine allowing Treyson to plot course to the New York harbor. They figured it would take approximately eight days with a stop to refuel on the island of Flores.

  They spent the next few hours taking turns at the helm though neither of them left the bridge. Treyson told him of his encounter with Elaina and his fight with Big John. Shaun said he had met him once when buying kegs of ale up north; he seemed docile for the cowboy image he portrayed. They both laughed at that comment, but Treyson remembered Big John's anger when he tried to kill him, shortening his laughter. He changed the subject to his wife, showing Shaun, her pictures on his phone which was about dead. They talked for a little while longer before Shaun went to the galley leaving Treyson to his thoughts. He felt the boats up and down movements in the swells yet didn't feel sick at all making him think he should of taken up boating a long time ago. He closed his eyes and fantasized about finding his wife and son alive and the three of them getting their own boat and sailing away to somewhere warm.

  Shaun returned from the galley bringing food and ale for Treyson, "figured you was getting a little hungry. Trade me places," he said.

  Treyson took the tray and sat on the bench beside the helm, "this smells good and yes I'm starved," he answered just before digging in. He didn't stop till every drop of food was gone, "you missed your calling as a chef. You should have been cooking for some big restaurant in a big city," he said when finished. He sat there allowing the meal to settle when he noticed the radio and turned it on. Flipping through the channels and asking if anyone was out there, allowing a few minutes for response before going to the next one and repeating. He thought he heard a female’s voice, though not sure with all the static, but he left it on that channel just in case.

  "How about you play captain awhile why I go take a nap," Treyson inquired after yawning?

  Shaun shrugged his shoulders then looked back at Treyson, "Go ahead, not much going on here anyway. I'll wake you when we get to America," he said with a laugh.

  "Wake me up when we get into the Atlantic then we'll switch and you could get some rest." He got up and started to go through the door then turned around and said with a smile, I don't want to wake up and find us parked in front of an Irish pub either." They both laughed as he headed to one of the berths. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

  Treyson saw a giant bumblebee flying towards him, he tried running but his feet seemed stuck and its buzzing was getting close. (Wake up he heard from somewhere.) He felt it land on his back, making him panic, then he felt it's stinger, the sharp pain waking him up with sweat beading on his forehead. He lay there with his eyes open but the buzzing continued, bringing him completely out of his daze and into a sitting position. Shaun, he thought as he jumped up and ran back up to the helm. There was no one at the wheel, Shaun was not here, but glancing through the tinted windshield he saw him on the sundeck. He was kneeling before a large well-armed man with his hand out. Shaun was lifting up what looked like the sword they had found in the captains berth, giving it to the man. He realized where the buzzing was coming from, making him gasp, it was the engines of a huge ship with a USS stamp standing to their port with two large gun barrels pointed directly at them. He had to step closer to the window to look up at its deck seeing hundreds of men aiming some type of weapons towards them. All this for a sword, he thought as his hand felt the hilt. Maybe I should just give it up, his thoughts continued, I have no heir and if they kill me there will be no more McAlister’s, no one to wield the sword.

  The sword spoke to him, "Summon her".

  Summon who, his thought directed back to the sword.

  "You know," the sword whispered to him.

  For a moment he questioned the sword, but somewhere deep inside him he knew it was right. He could summon her, it was his right, but an overwhelming fear accompanied that right. He knew in order to bring her to him the situation must be dire, one that was life threatening, no..., life ending. He pulled the blade from its sheath, the dragon’s image shimmered. He knew her name somewhere within his mind it was a fixed memory. He said her name softly at first, "Nidhondra", and then he spoke louder as her name rolled off his tongue, "Nidhondra I need you."

  He waited for a moment, but there was nothing. He knew there wouldn't be, not yet, so he walked out the door, blade in hand. He heard a loud clank as every gun moved with unison aiming towards him. The large man standing over Shaun turned and displayed a yellow stained toothy grin. He tossed the sword Shaun gave him in the water; it went in with a splash that was barely audible. "You bringing me that sword or do I have to take it," he asked him I what sounded like a southern drawl? Treyson turned his wrist making the sword cut the air as it twirled.

  "You will have to take it I guess," Treyson answered. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the tiny golden speck appear in the sky.

  "Well what do you know a MacAlistair with some balls," He snarled as he unsheathed his large two handed sword strapped across his back. "I would have my men shoot you, but instead I want to have a little fun," he said as he brought his sword in a circle aimed at Treyson's head. (Duck) He ducked the attack as the sword barely missed him. (Counter) Treyson brought his sword around in an arcing motion cutting the cheek of the large man. (Sidestep and parry) Treyson stepped right and brought his sword up just as his foe's sword came down driving him backwards. Swift blows came in succession, but so did his swords voice causing him to block each attack, but still driving him back to the rail. (Step left and jab) Following the swords whispers he moved left and stuck the blade in the large man's side drawing blood. He looked at Treyson with an angry sneer as he swung his muscular arm catching him on the jaw knocking him backwards and onto his seat, dazing him. (Parry!), he heard the sword scream as he brought it up in a blocking motion not sure where the strike was coming from. Both swords collided with force creating sparks and a loud clang, the vibration knocking the sword from Treyson's hand. He started to reach for it but the two handed sword's point was place on his chest. "What do you have to sa
y now for yourself MacAlistair," he said with his ugly grin.

  "How about you apologize to my friend and get off my boat and I will let you and your men live." He watched as the golden wingspan of the dragon became more evident as it started to dive swiftly towards them. Its unworldly roar was the only forewarning the men on the ship had. "Too late," is all that Treyson got out before the dragon strafed the ship with its fiery breath. The man with the sword in Treyson's chest turned to watch as the first few of his soldiers disintegrated being in the direct blast and a few more that was gripped in her sharp talons and tossed like rag dolls into the sea. Guns re-aimed and bullets started hitting her, but bounced off her scales that were protecting her like armor. She wasn't finished, Treyson knew it as he watched her return descending swiftly bringing both breath and talons to bear on the soldiers. Within moments she returned to the sky leaving none alive on the ship’s deck, but flames and melted steal. Both of the ships gun barrels fixed upon her and fired, sending blazing projectiles towards her one which she just barely avoided, the other grazing her wing. She reared back and let out a roar while sending a white hot flaming ball towards the cannons melting them on impact and exploding a gaping hole in the side of the ship. Another large explosion rocked the ship internally sending a plume of smoke skyward. The large ship lurched to one side as it started taking on water causing some of the smoldering bodies to fall into the ocean hissing as they entered the cold water.

  "I should have had my men shoot you, but I will take pleasure in killing you myself," the large man said as he pulled his sword back for enough leverage to run him through. He had not noticed that the dragon had landed on the sinking boat and was now behind him. With one quick strike the dragons mouth engulfed him to his knees flung her head back and swallowed him whole. Treyson stood up and looked up at the huge dragon, "thank you Nidhondra for saving me."

  "Yes young MacAlistair, I saved you, but I had no choice as I am indebted to your family," the dragon spoke while glaring at Treyson, her deep feminine voice seeming odd to him.

  "I know, that's why I called,” he said while picking up and sheathing his sword.

  "Then you also know, that you are only promised one summons. If you try to call me again I will kill you, also at no cost to my honor," her eyes turning red for fierceness. “And I could care less if magic ever returns to this planet, this is not my home. I owe your son one summons until then I prefer to stay in my land." With that she spread her wings and flew effortlessly skyward, Treyson watched till her golden image was out of sight. He saw Shaun's head peeking out from behind a large crate; his face was pale and drained of color.

  "You can come out now, she is gone," Treyson said looking in his direction.

  Shaun stood up shakily as he pointed skyward, "can you believe that, a real dragon here on Earth," he stated with a sense of awe. "What did he mean he was indebted to your family?"

  "She, the dragon was a she. I'm really not sure what my family did to gain her or her ancestors favor, I just knew I could call her."

  The boat suddenly tilted throwing them off balance and onto their knees as they grasped the rail to keep from sliding. "Man the lifeboats," Shaun screamed! Treyson looked at him peculiarly. "I've always wanted to say that," he replied with a laugh.

  "The last thing I want right now is to be in the middle of the ocean, on a life raft. I mean who would rescue us with most of the population gone there aren't any more Coast Guard," Treyson said noticeably perturbed. The boat pitched forward tilting even further.

  "I think we are taking on water fast, we better hurry with the life raft," Shaun said hastily while looking left then right, "you wouldn't happen to know where they kept it would you?"

  "Yes, you were hiding behind it, Treyson said pointing to where he had been cowering.

  They moved slowly towards the crate, which was now tilted down, using the hand rails, sliding down a few feet in front of it. They unlatched and removed the crates lid exposing the raft. They lifted it out and tossed it over the rail which was now just a few feet from the water. The tether pulled tight causing the raft to inflate with a loud hissing, expanding to a large raft with a canopy, not what Treyson was expecting.

  "Wow," he said, "at least we will be shielded from the rain and cold."

  Noticing Treyson surprise Shaun added, "Yea, raft technology has come a long way since the 1930's." His smile made Treyson laugh.

  The boat creaked and tilted again causing Shaun’s to eyes to go wide, "we better hurry and get our things and put them on the raft before this boat sinks. I will get some food from the galley, too."

  Treyson’s berth was already flooded; he didn't want to get wet so he decided to leave everything behind including the charger for his phone. He didn't have a way to charge it anyway though he knew he would want to look at the pictures of his wife. He wished he had real ones in his wallet but he was under the impression he would always have his phone. He went and helped Shaun in the galley gathering non-perishables putting them in bags and tying them. Treyson carried them up while Shaun got his things from his berth. He waited until Shaun got there allowing him to jump in the raft first. Treyson handed him the bags of provisions and his sword after unbuckling it from his belt then jumped in himself.

  They watched as both ships sunk beneath the ocean surface dragging each other to the bottom. Rain started to come down so Treyson zipped up the canopy door giving themselves over to the whims of the ocean currents.