The crew clamored outside the captain’s quarters, wailing and yelling sifted through the cracks in the wood. Captain Grills pushed off the pile of books that had fallen from the shelf. He was thankful the entire thing had not landed on him or he would be more than bruised. It was supposed to be smooth, calm seas, but only a few moments ago there had come a sudden heave and jolt as the ship crashed onto something and came to a stop. Grills moved to the doors and pressed against them cautiously. The sun passed in as Grills stood in the doorway and adjusted to the light. The crewmen scrambled around the deck, looking over the edge and frantically calling out to each other as the howler monkeys they had witnessed some weeks prior. One such howler noticed the captain.

“The Captain’s alright!” This prompted a cheer as the sailors fell in around the captain on the deck.

“Captain, are you hurt?” “So far all crew is accounted for.” “Our stores took a hit but we only lost two barrels of water.”

Grills could not hear them all at once. He called out with gravitas, “where is the first mate?”

“Here, sir!” answered First Mate Sterner.

“Fitz, what’s happening? Do pirates pursue us?”

“No, sir. We’re still trying to learn what happened ourselves, and checking the status of the ship’s hull and our cargo.”

Grills turned to the crowd, “who was at the helm?”

“aye, sir,” said Damon.

“You saw nothing? How can no one know what happened?”

“Ye see, sir, there was a bright flash. As though the sun itself had swooped down to blind us. ‘Twas then when our ship tumbled so violently. When we all came to, we saw the waters were gone.”

“The waters gone? Did someone not say only two barrels were lost?” the captain said.

“Aye, sir. ‘Tis true. But ye best look overboard yerself.”

Grills walked over as the crew cleared a path for him. He looked out and indeed saw no water. Only sand.

“What trickery is this?” the captain exclaimed.

“We know not, sir,” said Sterner, “as far as we can see in all directions, the waters have been dried up.”

Suddenly a voice from above shouted, “Starboard bow! Two vessels off the starboard bow!”

The deck thundered as the crew stampeded behind the captain to see what the lookout announced. Two strange shapes flew in the sky, perhaps two leagues away. Grills trained a spyglass on them as the whole lot of men held their breath.

“Are they headed this way, captain?” asked Damon.

“Prepare the cannons.”