LOGBOOK: The Memoirs Of A Pirate | Story by Vivaan, 11, New Delhi

LOGBOOK: The Memoirs Of A Pirate

Day 1

This day might be the most important one yet, as I set sail across an uncharted sea with an old American crew and myself. We set sail on the ‘Atlantic’ at around 1 o’clock, waving goodbye to our families. The ship was old yet sturdy enough to last a few more years. We had a jolly lunch, and Peter went out onto the deck to keep lookout. I took the helm, and the others went below to plan the next journey. It was a pleasant, calm day. We all had supper, went to our cabins, and slept.

Day 2

Well, today I woke up to retching and gagging, feeling exactly the same. One of our old crew members already got seasick. Peter thought it was smallpox, and he didn’t leave his cabin until we dragged him out. Couldn’t have gotten any worse, I’d say. I was at the helm as always, and we settled peacefully. I could feel some adventure striking us; just pray to holy Jesus it won’t involve the Kraken or the Loch Ness. The rest of the day went by quickly. We had supper and nested in our cabins. The poor old man still has smallpox.

Day 3

God has favored us today! Peter saw land up ahead, and the joy in me, I cannot put into words. While the land looked promising, it didn’t have any docks, so we had to get our specially reserved rifles for defense. As we set foot on the land, Geoffrey, with his godly sense of hearing, heard a twig snap. The ensuing events included a shot from our gun, an arrow, shouts, a couple more arrows, more shots, and it finally ended. We roared in victory and stormed into the forest. By late evening, we managed to loot three sacks, two chests, and a claw worn by a tribal man. No tribes were harmed while we just stole their loot.

Day 4

By early morning, we fled to avoid any raid by the dwellers. Geoffrey inspected the hold and deck, while Peter and Samuel took care of the rest. The journey was pleasant. Captain ‘One-Eyed’ William studied the map and compass, guiding the way. Peter took the spyglass and spotted herring, which would be crucial for emergencies. I took a fishing hook and caught seven or eight herring while the Captain manned the helm. Supper proceeded, and we headed to our cabins. I retrieved a herring from my bucket and examined its stomach to find bait.

Day 5

I don’t know exactly what happened because I woke up to shouts and screams from the top. I went up there, and to my horror, I saw three Tribals fully armed with spears and stones. Peter was on the ground in pain, with an arm bleeding, while Captain lay beside the cabin door, weak and tenderly struggling to move. By God’s grace, I managed to escape the stones thrown at me and, in the cabin, got hold of a Maxim gun. The moment the tribals saw it, they threw themselves overboard. Samuel and Geoffrey woke up a few hours later, understanding everything that had occurred. Captain recovered in a while, and Peter bandaged his arm with his headband. We knew that danger was inevitable at this point, and there was no track of how far we’ve been. For once, we were lost. I did not sleep that night. I kept watch on the sea for a Kraken or a Loch Ness, though they only appear in Scandinavia and Scotland.

Day 6

It suddenly got cold. I’m freezing and can’t write well. Even the Captain is confused. I am afraid I won’t be able to write anything today.

Day 7 

I have acclimated to the cold now, overnight. Captain predicts that we must be near Scandinavia, and my nightmares are coming alive. I took the helm, but it had icicles on it. Samuel said that the guns are so cold they have jammed. Geoffrey is not having a good time, and the man with the said smallpox, Jim, surprisingly recovered. Our food had also frozen over, and the only thing left was the fish in the water to fish out. I told Peter to keep watch for tentacles rising, and then we progressed on. The day was anything but peaceful.

Day 8

Peter saw land up ahead! We may have a chance of survival, and once again, by God’s grace, this land had docks. Peter and Samuel took guard of the ship, and Captain took the lead. We ventured into the village and met people. Sadly, they were anything but friendly. We went to a base, and the Captain asked for temporary refuge. The people were Europeans, so I know that we are in Scandinavia. They granted us an inn, and we had some proper food and slept nicely.

Day 9 

I woke up to shouts and rages downstairs. “What happened? Why again?!” The captain and the clerk were having an argument, as the captain said that the price was monstrous. He was fuming and was about to land a slap on the clerk’s face when a group of Europeans entered. The next minute, we were running for dear heavens. The captain spotted ‘er, the ship. We boarded and left. I heard some creaks, but Peter said that was completely normal. Jim smuggled a fish and a brisket, so we all had a nice supper. We went to our cabins, and I slept after some time.

Day 10 

It seems as if wherever we go, good old trouble always lurks amongst ourselves. The moment I woke up, Captain shooed me up to the deck, where my crew was struggling to defend us against Europeans. I knew that the creak was suspicious. They were dressed in full clad armor, helmets, and had axes. We only had some rifles and barely any defense. It looks as if this is my last day. But I didn’t give up. We fought bravely and threw a few overboard. But they still overpowered us. I can’t write anymore. The fight is still going on. I took a break to write all this.

Day ….

I do not know which day it is. The last thing I remember is seeing a big, tentacled beast lift our ship up and throw me away. I did not see myself land. I think I hit myself on the pole. I woke up in an inn, the same as the last one. The clerk said I was found on the shore, alone. I hope the crew is okay, but I do not know. I went outside to the shore after a few hours and found nothing. Nothing. They will survive. I know it. I know it.

But I cannot leave them like this. I will go look for them. I will tell them how the brisket and fish were there and will give them some of it. So, in the next two hours, I prepared my resources and left with a rifle and stones. I will miss Norway, but not more than my ol’ crew. The moment I reached the shore, a fellow elderly citizen threatened me, “Oh, jij! Je denkt dat je Noorwegen gemakkelijk kunt ontvluchten! Je was vijf dagen geleden aan wal!” (Oh you! You think you’re escaping Norway easily! You were on shore five days ago!) So, this must be my 16th or 17th day here. Our ship went for a day from Scandinavia, and I must have come back within a short while because of the currents. I evaded her and rushed to a boat, only to find another person on it. By God’s grace, he did not act in hostility. We both escaped in the boat. His name was David. Even he wanted to escape and see other lands, like America, Britain, which he had only heard of. The supper was good, and although we did not have any bed, I slept well.

Day 17

I woke up to David holding a packed rifle and defending himself. He said that he spotted a ship and was sure that it was headed for us. That elderly lady told them. What a traitor! The ship looked like one from Scandinavia, and it was surely headed for our boat. I took a few stones and aimed at the ship, though they missed. I expected that it would take us back inside, but I was mistaken. The ship wanted to kill us. It shot us with cannonballs, and I, by the grace of all the Gods of all the religions, managed to escape the precise aim of them. Just then, a cannonball hit our boat and shredded it into pieces. For once, I thought that this was all over, until I was tugged into another boat behind me, and this was pure luck. It was my crew. Geoffrey, Samuel, Jimm, and Peter were all there to welcome me, and they took in David as well. I was curious about Captain until I realized that he went down with his ship. Still, the ship wouldn’t leave us alone. It bombarded us. Peter took a lookout, Samuel, Geoffrey, and I rowed the oars, and David and Jimm took the weapons. We held them off for thirty minutes until a sudden storm arose. Lightning struck the water and caused chaos, and then my worst nightmare happened. Tentacles rose from the water and hit the ship. Many people came down overboard; many could not survive, but my crew and I were surviving. Geoffrey rowed hard, and so did I. We escaped bravely, but the Kraken did not spare us. I can’t write anymore. The chaos prohibits me.

Day 18

All of our crew survived, though we were flung with such great force that it sent us somewhere unknown again. But then, Peter saw land and immediately recognized it. Home. We were home! Thank you, Kraken, for helping us. I will always remember this journey.