"A smooth sea has never made a skilled pirate" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- I raise the flag above the ship, and watch as it flows in the wind. It's the flag flown by Jack Sparrow-the one I am searching for, in order to escape my life of poverty. I look around at my small ship, and dread fills me. I have never once been on a boat before, except for a few hours ago when I stole this one from the harbor. All the ropes, I havn't the slightest idea what all of them are connected to. I know enough to realize this ship is a sailboat, and it currently has no sails. I wonder if their hiding, if I pull a rope they will pop out and raise from under me. I pull a random rope, and nothing happens. Another, nothing. Finally, I pull a rope, and it tugs along with me. I continue to pull, praying it's the right rope, and a sail starts to rise. I grin, joyfully, and think to myself, maybe I can be a decent sailor? I sit down, thinking I deserve a break. It took me forever to figure out how to raise the flag. I look out around me, the ocean on all sides. I take a look at my compass, my only sense of direction, attached to my pants with a chain. I wonder what everyone back home would think, a lady in trousers. I had to steal them from my brother, because I knew I could not function in a dress. I wonder when I will hit land, how fast this boat can go, if I should go to the helm and steer. I take out the crumbled map from my pocket and set it on a table. I have no way to figure out where I am, so I attempt to pinpoint the bay where I set off and where I want to go. Tortuga-where I suspect I should find Jack Sparrow or at least someone who knows him-is Northeast of my home. I check my compass once more, and realize were heading too far east. Not taking my eyes off and nearly tripping on the stairs, I make my way to the helm. I turn it, wait, and soon my compass adjusts to Northeast. I sigh, and sit back. Soon the sun sets, and sleep overtakes me. I can't help it-Ignoring the horrible thoughts that haunt my mind on this journey exhausts me. I wake up to a sudden jerk, and everything is dark. I can barely see the moon reflecting off the water-wait, water? I blink, trying to remember where I am, how I got here, and soon it all comes back to me. Another sudden jerk, and I reach for a lantern, turning it on. Soon the deck is bathed in dim light. The boat continued to crash and turn, and panic slowly rises inside me. I check my compass-Were going east, almost Southeast. We're on the wrong track, I realize, and I have no idea how long we have been going that direction. The ship's crashing picks up, and it starts to rain. Hard. Lightning flashes int he distance, followed my thunder. I wait until the next flash, and count. One, two-BOOM! The lightning crashes. If I can remember properly...that means the lightning is only two miles away. More lightning flashes, and this time I can't even count to one by the time thunder crashes. I panic, the rough seas and loud thunder overwhelming me. I grip the helm, mite-knuckled, and try to think-What would a real sailor do in this sietuation? I glance at my compass, and attempt to turn the ship. The waves resist, but soon enough were heading Northeast once more. I decide to turn a little more North, considering we were heading Southeast for so long and I don't want to miss my destination. I try to calm myself, taking deep breaths, and steer the ship best I can. I don't know what I should do, if I should lower the sails or not, so I leave them be. I just focus on the helm and not dying. So I stand at the helm and steer, not daring to fall asleep this time. Soon enough, the storm passes, and I am on my way.
