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[travelmonster]

Anyone up for a bit of storytelling - someone writes a line of the story, then the next person adds the next bit of the story and so on and see where it lands up.



So, there she was, on the boat ready to go, she could still see land, but knew there was no turning back. Her thoughts drifted from where she'd been to where she was going............

[ScottWoz]

...and when she felt that first sprinkle of ocean spray wash over her the apprehension faded and her excitement bubbled uncontrollaby. She knew this was the only way, the only chance to finally take control and live her dreams. Her way. She released the grip on her pendant and held it up against the warm glow of the setting sun. For a moment, it took her breath away. Tomorrow would be the...

[radsolv]

... the first day of the rest of her life. Self evident fact and cliche.

Somehow she had managed to slip the surly bonds that had shackled her for too long to the irresistible Svengali that had controlled her -- life, mind, will, body for too long a time.

She was headed into the rising sun, time for hope and renewal. She had not written men and love off for once and all. But she needed a break from them. To be an individual. Pursue her dreams at the great risk of failure, rejection and despair. Or hopefully success and self respect. Now Free!! Did she have the courage to risk again?? ....

[travelmonster]

The sea was calm and nothing could be heard except the creaks from the wooden boat and the waves gently caressing the sides. The journey would take a while, but she didn’t mind, she hadn’t felt so free in a long time and although the air was beginning to cool, there was a warmness that radiated from within her that made her smile.

She looked around at her fellow voyagers, there was the boatman who stood barefoot at the wheel, a young girl who had been avidly reading since they left shore and an old man who sat huddled at the front of the boat……………..

[Jacques]

he was wearing a long black coat and fippers, something she should have have found strange but in her state of complete srurealness nothing seemend out of the ordinary . Not even the mermaid that was slowly following the boat. She had let her hari down and could feel it floatingin the wind, she could feel the world fade away and entered a world of imagination where not only did the

[bloomer]

feeling of hope so long buried within her heart emerge like an unfolding butterfly from a long-forgotten chrysalis under the eaves, she actually felt, there in her dream-world, the motion of her drying wings, testing their ability in the morning breeze.

"Garrumph! Grok! I'm-a gonna find 'im dis time, I tells ya! " She was startled from her early daydream by the strange old man. "Garrr! He's-a not gonna get away from me dis time, I'll sure ya dat!!"

The timid mermaid, retreating into the blue fathoms of the lagoon left not so much as a ripple on the mirror-smooth surface.
"Who?" Slightly annoyed, she turned to face the weathered countenance of the crusty old fellow.
"Who won't get away from you, Emil?"

[travelmonster]

“Yarrgh, Garrumph!” was all Emil said as he pulled his black coat tighter into himself – he pointed out to sea, but his hand was unsteady and there seemed no real direction, just a general wavering before his arm fell back to his side.

She hadn’t seen the young girl before and was curious about her. “You should get some sleep” the boatman said, but sleep wouldn’t come easy as her mind was racing with excitement.

“What time will we land?”

[Jacques]

"Land" the boat man said..."LAND"......he said all the while laughing,.....he suddenly turned and stared at her, stared with a cold, stony look that made a shiver run up her spine, with those eyes and the unmoving boatman keeping his eyes on her she tried to cry but not even a whimper could come out of her trembling lips.

Suddenly the boatman's body totally relaxed and he turned to stare forward ans whispered...soon,.....soon...........

[radsolv]

On the aft port quarter the slate blue sea was about to swallow and douse the flame orange sphere. Soon it would be dark for twilight is brief in the tropics.

Though the boatman had answered "soon... soon" to when they would land, it would not be before dawn. Equatorial constellations were dotting the moonless dome of heaven. Fortunately it was also cloudless for the small wooden coaster was open to the elements. There was only a canvas awning for protection from sun and rain.

The entire two man crew, consisted of a single deck hand and the boatman, helmsman, captain and owner, Siroco. Dangerously overloaded, it could board perhaps as many as thirty passengers on its single deck. However now there were only half a dozen travelers aboard. Out heroine Lorita, the strange old vigilante and the young girl who now had to give up her pursuit of literature for want of light. Everybody on the boat was traveling alone with their own histories, dreams, fears and obsessions.

How had they converged from divergent quarters of the globe onto this questionably sea-worthy vessel plying the tiny islands of central Indonesia?

[bloomer]

To be sure, Lorita and the bookish waif Sally, had met in a dodgy hostel in Kuala Lumpur. Lorita, having landed only hours before and anxious to put the unpleasant drama of her old life behind, had bonded quickly to the stringy-haired teen, hoping to revive some of the old hope that had so flourished in her pulsing bosom in the years before she was married. Thankfully and coming as a mixed blessing, she and Mike had not had any children. Of course, this was as the fates would have it, and not through lack of trying.
Sally had the young and refreshing attitude of one who has never experienced the careworn existence of a career-oriented coffee achiever such as Lorita considered herself to be for so many long years. In this Lorita found solace, a sudden peace and salve for her long struggle with herself. So, when the suggestion of a small-boat journey to a barely charted island in the Indonesian Archipelago appeared upon the table, Lorita jumped at it. Little did she realize the strange and somehow ominous roster of passengers that now met her eyes. Sally had retreated into her ever-present literature, and so Lorita felt alone. More alone than she had ever felt in her life.
A huge scraping sound once again jarred her from her introverted reflection. The "captain" raised his voice for all to hear, and in his characteristically broken english announced:

[Jacques]

soon...soon.....in his crakling laughter....

[travelmonster]

Yes “soon, soon” Lorita chuckled.

Sally had warned her about the boatman back at the hostel – “he’s harmless” she had said, “quite harmless”. Lorita was questioning whether the boatman might have had one too many shots of rum before embarking on this journey.

“Soon, soon” the boatman said again whilst taking another swig of rum. Lorita and Sally looked at either other and couldn’t help but laugh, “honest, he is harmless” Sally said in amongst giggles and gasps for air. Sally thought it was hilarious, the boatman, the rum and above all Loritas uncertain look which was masking her face.

Once the laughter died down Lorita clutched once more at her pendant, its going to be fine she thought, just fine.

[radsolv]

Ah! Her pendant! Her magic amulet that would make every thing come out just fine .... Provided she remembered the exact stroking and invocation to placate the goddess whose pendant she wore.

But what nonsense. Lorita was from the first world where gods had long been banished. She was not superstitious. And yet ... There was that time... and a few other inexplicable events that had absolutely no rational explanations. And the gypsy fortune teller who had succeeded in terrifying her.

But that huge scraping sound which evoked startled almost panicked cries from most of the six passengers. And a mere "soon ... soon" from the phlegmatic, rumified helmsman -- captain and owner. What to make of that?

[radsolv]

[[ Almost two full days since my last addition. The Story seemed to have gotten off to a promising start and I was feeling the suspense of who would add what next to move the story along. But the interest seems to have died.

During some wakeful hours around 3AM I had in my mind sketched out some of the characters, plot, dialog, setting and prose. But since this is supposed to be a group effort, did not want to add two posts in a row or hog the thread.

So I have been checking. But no additions. So I guess I'll never know what happens to Lorita, Sally, Emil, Siroco and three more characters I have in mind.

Let it go, Art.]]]

[travelmonster]

Hi Art,

Please do add a second post to the story - I haven't had a lot of spare time over the last couple of days to think of the next bit, please add and I will add asap because I want to know what happens too.

[radsolv]

There were a few startled screams and in assorted languages such expressions as "Oh My God!!"; "What the hell was that?" Lorita and another young man looked around. There was not a single life raft or life preserver aboard.

But the captain in his authoritative accented English proclaimed: "It is nothing! Not to worry. Only hidden coral reef. No damage. My ship strong." And perhaps it was. Constructed according to centuries old island craftsmanship of iron hard native woods.

Siroco had inherited the boat and the trade from his father. He was the only one of four sons who possessed the courage and desire to pursue the business his father had developed during World War II when the Japanese by conquest inherited the Dutch East Indian Empire of Indonesia.

Some fifteen years later Siroco was still plying his father's risky enterprise. Part border line 'legitimate' [at least according to the rigid laws of the occupying powers] and some unquestionably falling into the category of smuggling, gun or drug running.

Siroco's lineage was born and bred in the Banda Islands, part of the Maluku Islands group. These were the legendary Spice Islands -- the source of nutmeg, mace, cloves. Going back to the 1500 this trade made huge fortunes for investors and seamen first in Portugal, then Britain and Holland till the Dutch gained a monopoly. [More details later. Contributions welcome.]]

The boat was laden with cargo, its main function. Passengers were only carried incidentally for a negotiable fare. Besides Lorita, Sally and Emil, more properly Emilio, the other three passengers aboard the ship were a Dutchman in his late twenties and a young couple, native to the Banda Islands.

Pieter was an anthropologist doing post doctoral research. He hoped to make his reputation
by discovering a hitherto unknown tribe.

Ah and the young couple. He was obviously very anxious, always searching the horizon, mainly to their rear. She was frightened, almost terrified. And well they should be. Theirs was truly a story of love risking all. Whether it would conquer was decidedly in the web of Fate. Tamina, the beautiful girl, probably still in her late teens, had been promised by her father to the local orang kuya or powerful man in the district as his third wife. As stories such as this require he was old, ugly and cruel. And of course, she passionately loved another and he, her. -- her virile young partner, Mitro.

After plotting for weeks, with the help of a few loyal and sympathetic friends, Tamina was able to slip away the night before her wedding to join her lover and escape aboard Siroco's boat. They were not even sure where they were headed. Just hoped to find some rumored land where they would be promised safety.

Tamina's absonding had been discovered within hours. And the traditional vindictive society quickly organized and set out in pursuit of the defiant couple. Their craft were larger and faster than Siroco's boat which mainly depended on the wind with only a small underpowered outboard engine for occasional assistance. If they were overtaken, it was certain but not necessarily quick death for Mitro. The best Tamina could hope for was a servile life as a concubine.

[And Emilio, what is his story. Brieflly I see him as from Ecudor or Bolivia. As a young man he and a partner had staked a small gold claim in the Andes. Over a few years and much hardship, hard work and struggles, they had accumulated a modest fortune. Then naturally greed rises up. The two fight nearly to the death. The partner takes off with the gold leaving Emilio seemingly wounded to death. But he survives with a useless left arm. And ever since he has been in pursuit of his antagonist, not after the money which had doubtlessly been long spent, but Ahab like seeking revenge.]

[Sally, about 19, from Northern England dropped out of university. An English literature major she became so absorbed in the adventures of the likes of Byron, Shelley, Conrad, Maughum that she had to try to live them not just read about them. Lorita, just past 30, recently divorced is trying to forget and dream brave dreams about her future.

Pieter, somewhat vain, neither too old for Sally nor too young for Lorita flatters himself that he can have either one, or both. ]

[So there are the basic conflicts and tensions outlined. Feel free to interrupt my story at any point and take it off in your own direction.]

[Jacques]

A scrape.. and another, that noise..... that is what roused her...she was half asleep still groggy and yet she already feared drowning with the swaying of the boat. The boat surelly must be sinking as they had hit something again. That scrapping had been so loud, loud enough to wake her up. Suddenly she sat up, straight as a board, realizing that she had fallen asleep sitting there against the side of the boat.....how could she? Rubbing her eyes in a terrified state she could hear.....not a scrapping but a bump. Their tiny ship had bumped into something. Something that blotted ot the sky, everything seemed black, dead black.
She got up and walked to where the boatman should be, she could barely make out his shape. As she walked towards his expected position she realize that not only was it so dark but that all noise had also dissapeared, not even the breathing of her shipmates, maybe they were in bed...but why leave her leaning against the bulkhead.

She was afraid now, she fingered her talisman, unware that she was doing it and little did she know that this small nonchalant gesture is what was had saved her and was still protecting her.

Ahead she could see the boatman and hear some mumbling. What was that........it sounded like, like...."soon , soon", but it was so garbled she couldn't be sure. She tried to hurry as much as she could in this darkness and when she reached him she grabbed him by the shoulder to spin him around and demand an explanation but the overcoat fell to the ground...empty! Where was he, who had said those words,....suddenly she realized that she was alone, no one else was there .........she groppped her way around, she could feel her skin tingling expecting some monster from her childhood nightmares to come leaping out of the darkness to get her, devour her (hopefully)in one bite.....her fear was threatening to overwhlem her with every step that she took.
She stumbled, screamed but she did not fall as she expected but she hit something solid, a wall, or something that was nudged against the ship, if she looked up she could not see where it ended nor where it went in front or behind her. She slid her hand against it, still fingering her amulet, she could feel something tingling against her fingers as if it was alive, pulsing somehow.

She knew that all these sensations were impossible as she kept walking forward her hand against this wall-like structure , half walking, half running until her hand no longer touched anything except empty space! An entrance of some kind...maybe...she looked behind her and all she could see was blackness and silence. She turned and where there should have been a railing for her to climb over to get into this opening she realized that the ship no longer seemed to have a railing.

What was going on, where was eaverybody, ....she had no choice but to keep moving, doing something, anything or else it could happen again.

No please not again.

[travelmonster]

“Sally” she breathed tentatively, “Sally, can you here me?”, there was no reply. “Sally” this time much more resolutely, “Sally, are you here?”. Lorita was disorientated, her hand came up to her face and she could feel a lump on her forehead, she took a sharp intake of breath as a pain shot through her head like a bullet from a gun – where is everyone, surely they wouldn’t leave me here to die she thought, maybe the fortune teller was right, I should have listened to her. Everything was a blur, Lorita frowned in concentration, trying to make any sense of what was happening to her.

“I can see her” Pieter yelled, “she hasn’t taken the rope and now that godforsaken piece of crap is floating away from the side”

A decision needed to be made and quickly …………

[Jacques]

...Oh what to do.......she jumped!

[jacquesl]

She expected to hit the cold water unprepared so she readied her selfd for it and "thud" she hit something hard, the ship behind her and a darkness in front. She felt something warm touch her skin and Pieter said, "here you are" and he passeed her the rope. "Hold it he said abnd don't do like Sally and let it go" The he ran straight into the darkness to do.....