LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC
THE ORDEAL - (SECTION 6)
Mokak cringed at this point anticipating what was to come. Would he dare explore further? He’d better; if he was to find out how she came to be in her present predicament. So, bracing himself, he continued with his probing.
Shortly after mid-morning, on Captains orders (his command), the storm warning to the passengers had been issued and they were bid to at once take shelter below deck.
“He can’t be
serious?” Many of the merchants aired their disgruntled voices since there was
not a trace of cloud in the sky; quite skeptical, few even poised to ignore
this dictum. They instead watched with amusement the worried expressions on the
sailors and the flurry of activity as they lowered the main sails and strapped
down all loose articles above and below decks to brace the ship for the
impending storm. It wasn’t long however,
when the sudden driving winds converged over their heads a bank of dark,
ominous clouds, instantly turning day into night as they blotted out the rays
of the rising sun. Out of nowhere a
strong gale whipped the remaining sails and thrashed the augmented waves with
fury. The fearful merchants interned below decks, in accordance with the captain’s
subsequent, explicit directives, had bound themselves with strong ropes to the
beams and to other stationary objects to prevent being tossed about during the
anticipated storm.
Under the
canopy of the dark mounting clouds and the barrage of pounding water, the angry
roar of the winds and the churning sea sent all men’s souls into seizures of
fright. Huge hungry waves leaped to
great heights and arched over the mast in crescents like gaping mouths ready to
devour the whole ship in one gulp, while the smaller ones vied for the
remaining crumbs.
This
fair-sized vessel was picked up and tossed about as if it was but a paper toy
by the enormous powers of nature.
Drenched to the skin, the exhausted sailors appeared to be nothing more
than specks against the mountains of water arrayed against the vessel.
Overpowered by a mightier master many were ripped away from their moorings as
their binding ropes snapped in two. Some
were simply picked up and carried away, riding on the back of the wind, till
they were dropped somewhere in the vast dark waters of the sea, never to be
seen again. Countless others perished
under broken secondary masts, collapsed sails, and loose cargo catapulted at
them by the waves and wind. Their cries
of anguish were drowned by the roaring mayhem created by the fierce storm. The luckier ones, still alive, groaned with
pain from the bruises, cuts, broken bones or crushed limbs they had suffered,
and this was only the beginning stage of the deadly storm- the full (body) fury
of it had not yet come. The hull of the
ship laboring under the exerting force (pressure) was strained to the point
that it threatened to break in half. If
it were not for the good seamanship of the captain and the ability of his
experienced crew, all would have perished at the start. With their heroic efforts the ship was kept
pointed into the wind to ride the waves, but it continued to be tossed about
wildly for endless hours without let up, surmounting the danger to their endurance
and ultimate survival.
The ship
constantly rose and fell, pitching forward and back in the yaw of these giant
waves, causing all above and below decks to become ill, with many passing out
in their collective pools of vomit. In
the cabins the stench of this bodily discharge assailed all the senses. Those luckier ones below secured tightly to
the timbers sustained minimal injuries from the flying objects, but they still
emerged from this adversity (hardship) with pale faces, reddened eyes, and hair
standing on end, their clothes in complete disarray. In this condition they already resembled
ghosts. The ones with stronger
constitution wildly cursed their ill fate, while others mumbled prayers to the
Sea God to show mercy, to spare their life, promising in return anything under
the sun they could imagine.
The storm
raged without letup for two days and two nights. Then, with the same spontaneity as it’d
started, all became perfectly still. Not
a whimper of the previously roaring wind remained.
In the hazy
mist rising over the calm waters an eerie quiet now prevailed.
Many below
deck were well past caring. The few
sturdy ones, rejoicing that the storm had ended, began untying their
bonds. Chenko Haken released himself
from his ties, checked Teuquob’s vital signs, and then tried to revive her.
“All of you
better keep still,” an elderly merchant warned, “till we are told the storm has
passed.”
“Bah! What need is there to be afraid of.” One
scoffed, “Can’t you tell, old man, that the storm has passed already?”
The other
shook his head in dismay and asked, “Has it?”
But his
caution went unheeded. Only a few,
trusting the old man, remained as they were.
Seeing something in the old man’s words, Chenko Haken took the
precaution of again securing Teuquob.
Half conscious, she blearily leaned her head back against the pole she
was fastened (tied) to.
Mokak’s
interest peaked. Despite his terrible fright, he could not stop now; he had to
see it through to the end- if not, to savor just a bit more of these remarkably
terrifying, yet exhilarating episodes of life, (brink of) death and
destruction.
But first,
anticipating more intrigue and decidedly more hazardous development,
enterprise, betide above decks, he braced himself for that scenario.
Indubitably
(to be sure), at the above decks, the atmosphere was far grimmer. The experienced sailors and the captain of
the ship showed intense fatigue, despair and worse- ultimate dread in their
eyes. Some already stationed in
position, clasping their hands together, trembling, with lowered heads prayed
to the merciful God Denizir to spare them from certain peril.
All
available hands had been summoned on deck and subsequently were cast into a
still greater flurry of activity, as if racing against time itself, to prepare
for what was yet to come. The emerging
passengers from below deck were shouted at abusively and told to get back below
at once, that worse peril lay in the wake.
Some defiant souls were forcefully shoved or kicked down below. As they tumbled down the length of the
stairs, tempers flared, abuses were (exchanged furiously) hurled freely without
reserve from both sides.
Chenko Haken
had just finished securing himself to the pole when what they had most feared
happened. First there was a strange hum,
then, before anyone had time to react, the most frightening, deafening roar
that froze the very blood in men’s veins was heard throughout the sky. The subsequent experience was still a more
fantastic one to beheld, for many felt the ship in its entirety being lifted
off the water and sucked into the void of the sky; suspended in mid-air for a
second or two, suddenly, precipitately the ship began to twirl around and
around with the fiercest force as they ascended, ship and all, still higher and
higher, reaching unto the heavens. The
surreal ordeal was harder to bear, and this time around there remained very
little for the ship’s captain or his crew to do to avert the impending
disaster. Perhaps owing to Heaven’s infinite mercy, hurled right across the sky
as if a piece of twig, eventually, for after what had seemed an eternity, the
nearly intact ship had dropped back down, only to hit the surface of the sea
with immeasurable force.
“Wow wee…
that was incredible!” Mokak could hardly
contain his exhilaration. He shook his head in disbelief, mumbling to himself.
“Was it sheer luck, or more likely, a testament to the ship’s sturdiness, that
it had withstood the worst imaginable catastrophe? Ha hah! I knew it was too
good to be believed.” He grinned
satisfactorily, for unfortunately water was now pouring into the cabins below
from the holes, gaps and the cracks that had been created by this buffeting,
threatening to drown them all. Those
that were still conscious presently shook with greater fear.
“We are
finished! We’re all going to be drowned like rats here!” they screamed their
forebodings in alarm. Unfastening their
bonds, cramming over each other, they pushed past anything in their way in
their rush to get outside.
Having
regained consciousness anew, Teuquob’s heartbeat (pounded) wildly with fear as
she now realized that she might not survive her ordeal after all. She grieved that she would not be able to
fulfill her obligation to her mother.
“Are we going to die?” her eyes brimming with tears she asked Chenko
Haken who was untying her bonds.
“Of course,
not… I won’t let that happen.” Chenko Haken looked up with the most
reassuring smile he could master (manage).
“Why are you
so good to me, Chenko Haken?” she asked gratefully. “I’ve done nothing to deserve it. In fact, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t
be in this terrible predicament. I’m so s…”
“Hush!” Gently he placed his hand over her lips to
silence her, and then compassionately
wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“Need any help?” He turned with a start to
see Beko standing right over him.
“We’ll be all right; thanks all the same.”
His curt, dismissive words went unheeded by Beko who simply shook his head,
responding. “You needn’t be so proud, I’m here to land a hand whether you want
it or not.”
Since she
was unsteady on her feet Chenko Haken wrapped his arm around her supple waist
and supported her up the stairs in tow of Beko who continuously and
energetically cleared all the strewn debris barring their way.
The moment
they’d emerged outside they were swept away in the milling crowd. Two
consecutive explosions from below deck just then- since some of the cargo
stored in barrels was of combustible nature (substance) - had started a
panic-stricken milieu, some rushing away, while others going towards it in
their effort to contain or extinguish the raging flames before they became all
too consuming. But luck was against them
as there were more explosions, this time trapping those that had rushed down
and were desperately trying to douse, snuff or truncate (curtail) the flying
missiles of the raging fire. Billows of smoke mushrooming upwards constricted
Chenko Haken and Teuquob’s already taxed lungs while heart-rending cries and
screams of those trapped in the searing flames below made those above deck
frantic with fear. As Chenko Haken tried
to console her, a warning shout was suddenly heard from behind, “Look out!”
Seeing that
the broken mast was about to fall on them, Chenko Haken quickly pushed Teuquob
away from harms length; the mast crashed down, missing her and Chenko Haken
only by a hair. Others that were nearby
weren’t so lucky, some dozen or so men, including Ytuke, were mercilessly
pinned down beneath the enormous weight of the main mast; they lay there dying,
crying in sheer agony from the pain of their pulverized flesh and bones. Spotting Ytuke some ways off, Chenko Haken
and Beko hastened at once to his side. Then with desperate frenzy they tried to
pull him and some others out from under it to safety. “Push…Push!” Beko shouted
his directive to Chenko Haken. But despite all their concerted exerted effort,
the massive structure, the thickest part of the pole, had stubbornly refused to
give (would not budge an inch).
“Leave me
be, I’m done for!” Ytuke whimpered with trembling lips as blood oozed from the
corner of his mouth.
“I won’t let
you die like this, hang on! Someone,
help me!” Looking up, Beko shouted to
elicit more assistance from the other able-bodied men, but only a handful of
stout sailors came to land a hand, and even those, shaking their heads soon
after gave up, seeing the hopelessness of the situation. Clearly, Ytuke and few
adjacent men pinned underneath were done for. They were beyond anyone’s help.
“Better try
saving your own hides, for it is not over by a long shot, another passerby
ominously advised the persistent duo Beko and Chenko Haken; meanwhile, Sunse
had been repeatedly pushed aside and told by both Beko and Chenko Haken in turn
not to get underfoot and to stay clear of the danger. With her limited strength
and capacity, she was being more of a hindrance than help. She watched
helplessly from the sidelines, her heart seared in dismay, the tremendous
exertion of Beko and Chenko Haken, as they attempted to shift or maneuver the
heavy object, both drenched in sweat, the droplets of perspiration on their
faces mingling with the sprays of the rapacious sea.
Despite her
bruised ego and hurt feelings, she could not just stand by and do nothing;
hence, once more she called out to others to elicit much needed help from them,
but everyone was too consumed by their own troubles to even care. Just then the partial deck beside Chenko
Haken gave way; barely missing him, as the hungry, searing flames underneath
instantly devoured Ytuke and few others pinned underneath that they’d been so
desperately trying to save. This cruel fate would have been Beko’s as well had
it not been for Chenko Haken’s agile move. His strong body and hand (grasp)
springing into action at that crucial moment had reached out and gripped
Beko’s, as latter alongside the pockmarked merchant was about to be claimed by
the fiery chasm.
“I owe you
one.” Beko responded by padding Chenko Haken on the shoulder, soon as he was
hauled up and on safe footing. “Who would have guessed? You have quite a might
(strength, power) and potency in those scrawny, thin arms of yours.” He
chuckled trying to make light of his near-death experience; then rushed off to
help rescue another known associate that was in dire difficulty (strain).
Wearied
(fatigued) to begin with, all these near misses had enfeebled (drained)
Teuquob’s already spent nerves. In her sudden fright of losing Chenko Haken,
suffering from the shock, she’d started to tremble then all at once she let out
a loud scream. Fearing disclosure, Chenko Haken rushed to her side and in haste
held her in a tight embrace as the same time smothered her face by pressing her
face to his chest in effort to drawn out her feminine voice until she’d
regained her senses. “It’s all right, everything’s all right.” He then
affectionately caressed her face and wiped away the tears cascading down her
cheeks.
“You’re a
girl! I had suspected as much!” A solid
piece of board struck Chenko Haken hard on the back of the head, rendering him
unconscious, same time a burly hand reaching out grabbed hold of her and
started forcefully pulling, dragging her towards the edge. As she struggled to free herself from his
clutches, the dastardly merchant’s lurid eyes flashed fire and he tightened his
grip on her wrist. “Wretched girl, you’ve brought this calamitous curse on us
all! You are going to pay and pay dearly for this disaster at sea!” Grabbing
also her waist, he now tried to throw her overboard, into the foaming, churning
sea.
“Please let
me go!” she shrieked and struggled hard to break free from his murderous
grasp. “Someone, help me! Help me!”
But her cries for help did not rise above the wailing and screams of
those others also in peril for their lives.
“Stop fighting me wench! Or I’ll tear you
from limb from limb and throw the pieces into the sea!” Angrily the merchant slapped her with the
other hand right across her face, knocking her near senseless to the
ground. Still (seizing) clenching her
wrist, with a murderous rage he was about to strike her again and again when
his hand was halted by a forceful grip of another’s coming from behind. Beko’s
powerful consecutive strikes of the fist onto the culprit’s face and torso then
the limber kick, hurled the culprit clear across the deck.
“Beko watch
out!” Her warning had come too late, for the friend of the assailant descending
swiftly upon him just then, delivered a formidable blow to Beko’s back and
head. He had in his hand an elongated solid piece of metal pipe which he’d used
like a staff. Before he could deal with the next more deadly onslaught to
finish Beko off, suddenly the deck underfoot had violently shifted then
altogether gave way, swallowing both the culprit and Beko into the fiery (pit)
grave below. As they fell the culprit let
out a hair-raising shrilling cry that hunted Teuquob’s soul, for the remainder
of her existence. Presently she’d fallen on her knees and cupping her face,
started to sob uncontrollably.
“You must
get to safety.” Chenko Haken regaining consciousness by then had at once rushed
to her side; ignoring the excruciating pain from the swelling and the deep
wound (laceration) where which blood oozed at the back of his head, he helped
her to her feet and steadied her. Anticipating the worse, he strove to spare
her precious life. “We must find a strong, safe object to secure you with,
before the worst comes” He mumbled as he led her away from the crumbling,
perilous section of the deck. Despite her protestations, an appropriate measure
was soon taken to ensure her survival. No sooner this was done, when just then
a frightful noise set a new fear in everyone’s heart.
The ship’s
hull, despite the sturdy construction had already weakened to the point of no
return; suddenly it buckled, snapping like a thin piece of dry wafer and
dividing the ship instantly in two. By fate’s hand, another explosion that same
instant some ways off had thrown the sturdy wooden object she’d been tied to,
clear across the danger. As she’d lost consciousness, she did not see what
happened to many unfortunates that’d found themselves caught in the middle, and
were instantly lost to the dark, foamy waters.
The mighty roar of the sky and the sea drowned the desperate cries of
those dying or hurt still clinging to the serrated edges of snapped
planking. The whirlpool that was created
by the two sinking halves mercilessly sucked the remaining passengers and crew
to their watery grave.
When she
came to, she’d suddenly found herself in the middle of a vast ocean in pitch
darkness riding the huge waves, fastened (secured) onto a sturdy wooden piece
(empty chest, or door). On the brink of
death, slipping in and out of conscious state, exposed to harsh elements of
sea, sun, cold, hunger and thirst, she drifted hence, aimlessly for many a day.
Oh, I
can’t take much more of this. Mokak hastily withdrawing his hand fell back, his heart
racing, palpitating wildly. His fright had been immeasurable. His body curled
to a fetal position on the ground now, he laid there for a time, rocking his
body back and forth, hugging his knees and shivering and trembling
uncontrollably. His temples throbbed; his chest cavity rose and fell with the
quick intake and expulsion of air; meanwhile his eyes remained closed tight as
a drum as if to dispel all the horrific imagery he’d just experienced firsthand.
Try as he might he could not erase the frightful episodes parading before his
mind’s eye that now taunted, haunted him.
The vast,
infinite ocean and being trapped in the boundless volume of water; he could not
phantom a more terrifying, terrorizing outcome than that!
Oh, but
then, despite his terrible fright, he’d gotten such a rich experience from all
that…More than he’d bargained for! After a time, when his terror had abated, he
gradually began to see the upside of his lush, productive experience that
presently fed his fertile imagination. Meanwhile, he could not help marveling
at the complexities of human nature and, furthermore, felt envious, certain
yearning even, for the vast array of opportunities, good and bad, denied to
him, that were so readily available to her. More than ever now, he was
determined to remedy this.
~
(END OF
SECITION 6)
