“Deep in the ocean, dead and cast away
Where innocence is burned in flames
A million miles from home, I’m walking ahead
I’m frozen to the bones, I am…”
- Iron.
“Day I”
“It has been nine hours since I boarded the ship ‘Galathea’. The crew doesn’t suspect a thing. Kinsella, my sister, you know all too well how much we’re in need of money. So, when a dear friend of mine offered me this job, and to go to this expedition in his place, I knew I couldn’t pass up on this chance. His wife had just given birth and he no longer had a need for this job.
It is true that one person’s trash is another’s treasure.
I am currently impersonating my friend and they haven’t noticed. All they knew him by was his name after all. Now that I have spent some time on this ship, I have come to realize that, this expedition of going beyond the misty waters was put together very hastily. Most of the crew are strangers meeting each other for the first time. Except the cook and the captain, they seem to have some kind of history.
My job on the ship is to be a bellboy, so far I have done some odd jobs such as wiping the floor and getting to know the faces of our esteemed passengers, but the journey is still in its infancy. The cook, Liseran, tells me that this is the second ship being sent out for expedition, the other vessel in question is called the ‘Novara’. However it will venture into a completely opposite direction to ours.
The captain briefed all of the crew as soon as we took off from the port, about the reason for this journey. As I thought, it is related to the recent famine that has hit the island. It seems things are only going to get worse. Some higher officials are convinced that we’re not the only ones in this world, that there might be more islands scattered around the world, unknown to us. And that food can be procured from them.
For that, we must venture beyond the mist”.
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“Day II”
“There are a total of nine people present on the vessel.
The Captain.
The Cook, Liseran.
The Quartermaster, Zadele.
The Doctor, Perzier.
The Cartographer, Kainseth.
The Archaeologist, Denizen.
Then there are two Sail masters, responsible for the navigation and direction of the ship, Cruz and Colt. Apparently, they are brothers.
And finally there is I, Ulysses, the stow-away helper.
I have decided to put my experience on the Galathea into words, using this journal. But my job is time consuming, and leaves me with little to no time for myself. Even now they call for me, I must take my leave from my quarters”.
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“Day VII”
“So far, I have had the pleasure of getting to know a few crew members.
The doctor, Perzier is a jolly good fellow, from what I have gathered, he apparently volunteered to be placed on the vessel. When I asked why, he replied something along the lines of how he was getting too old, and this seemed like a chance for a good adventure he always dreamed of. I had some trouble understanding him, but perhaps old age does that to a person.
Another person I briefly had a conversation with is the cartographer, Kainseth. He was likely annoyed with the higher ups as he explained, that why an expedition of this importance was given a small measly crew.
‘The government doesn’t actually suspect us to succeed. However, there is still a chance that we might. And that is the reason for this journey’, those were his words.
The quartermaster is a man of few words. I cannot seem to get that man to open up, but I have plenty of time.
The two brothers are usually busy, but they’re kind folks. So far, they’re the only ones who have treated me as one of them. This isn’t their first time on a ship, unlike me. They’ve been at it since they were kids.
The archeologist seems to be the head of the expedition, he just locks himself in his quarters for research, for hours. I occasionally see him in the dining area below deck.
The cook, liseran, is the most troublesome to deal with, he is constantly telling me what I’m not doing right, and he never passes up an opportunity to remind me that I am a green horn at sea travel. But deep down, I think that is just his way of teaching.
The captain, is a man of dignity. He treats his fellow crew members equally, regardless of their position. He tells that all of us are tiny cogs, useful for running the ship”.
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“Day IX”
“We have finally entered the waters beyond the mists, the folk call these the Dark waters. And their claims ring true, for wherever I see, there is a blanket of fog covering us; and beneath us is ominous dark water.
This has all of the crew members on edge. But the captain says he’s seen worse.
He tells us that we’ll manage.
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“Day X”
“It was a few hours ago when the tune first reached our ears. I swear on my life, Kinsella. It was the most beautiful melody I have ever heard. I wish to hear that sound again, even if I had to cut off my ears. I would gladly give up hearing for the rest of my life, just to hear it once again.
The captain tells us to ignore the sound, although struggling himself.
The sound invades your mind, Kinsella. It whispers sweet words of warmth and comfort, enough to drive a man insane.
However, it stopped about an hour ago. And everything has returned to normal on the ship once again, except the wind continues getting colder”.
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This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Day XI”
“Colt, the sail master has gone missing. A large commotion was caused by his disappearance. Every nook and cranny except the archaeologist’s quarters was searched. And there was no sign of colt.
His brother, Cruz, accused the archaeologist of harming colt. Citing that he refuses to show his room.
However, the captain assured him there was nothing in there except state secrets.
Bad blood continues to brew between them.
The cartographer in particular is terrified of something. Since a few hours ago, he has locked himself in his quarters.
‘This simply isn’t possible on any scale’, he had said after studying his maps thoroughly, and then he bolted for his room, where he still remains.
A few minutes ago the cook asked me to take his supper to his quarters, since he hadn’t come to the dining hall. When I knocked, he told me in a frightened voice to leave it at the door.
Either he is afraid of us, because of trust issues, or perhaps something else lurks in his mind.
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“Day XII”
“The wind has reached to the degree of freezing now, Kinsella. Most of us stay below deck, only the captain and the quarter master are above deck. They take turns steering the wheel.
But I can see, they can only keep this up for so long.
My suspicions were confirmed true when the melody returned!
I haven’t been happier in my life, my dear sister. The voice soothes my mind, unlike anything else. The voice warms me up against this terrible cold.
Everyone is clutching their ears to stop the voices.
The captain gave us solid pieces of wax to stuff into our ears so the voices could stop.
And to my dismay, the voices stopped.
I was again tasked to being the wax pieces to the cartographer by the cook. Even in this situation, he continues to work me to the bone.
Once I arrived, the door to his quarters were open. I informed the others, and we searched and searched but to no avail.
The cartographer had disappeared.
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“Day XIII”
“Two disappearances back to back have outright put everyone in a paranoid state of mind.
The doctor, especially, is always tipsy now.
Turns out, the man is a common coward. Runs away at the first sign of trouble. No wonder the man never had the gall to adventure his whole life.
However, there was no running from here.
Not now, and not ever, I reckon.
My writing grows short, I’m afraid. My fingers are close to being frozen and the act of simply holding a pen is painful.
The song is continuous, but our ears are protected”.
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“Day XIV”
“Something unexpected has happened. The doctor has disappeared, but not like the others.
He has willingly left, taken a life boat and most of our food rations. Actually, the greedy bastard took as much as he could fit on the lifeboat.
All we are left with are a few barrels of rum and some food he couldn’t fit on the boat.
The song, as always, continues today as well”.
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“Day XV”
“The song has found its way into our ears, regardless of the wax. Perhaps it has gotten stronger or louder.
Either ways, the sickly sweet voice continuously numbs my mind and pollutes my thoughts.
And so, we’re left at the mercy of this voice.
The captain had ordered us yesterday that from now on we will all stick together, except the archaeologist, who is still allowed be in his room.
We are huddled in a room, wrapping ourselves in blankets and sheets.
The captain, the quartermaster and the sail master take turns going to the deck, they always move in pairs. That is a change, nothing else of interest to add.
We are all frightened and cold.
And before not long I believe, Hungry too.
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“Day XVI”
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Nothing happened”.
“Nothing interest happened”.
“Of interest happened”.
“Nothing of”.
“Nothing of interest”.
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Nothing interest”.
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Interest happened”.
“Nothing of happened”.
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Nothing of interest happened”.
“Happened”.
“Happened”.
“Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens, Happens”.
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“Day???”
“Finally, some source of amusement in god knows how long. Cruz finally snapped today. I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t trying to stop my lips from grinning when I saw him reach for his knife, when he asked to go to the bathroom.
My dear sister, sister? Did I have a sister? Perhaps my wife. You had just given birth hadn’t you? Silly me. Forgive me, for I am quite forgetful these days.
Anyways, we heard screams coming from the archaeologist’s room after a while. That lucky sonovabitch finally did it. He slaughtered that pretentious asshole. I was a tad bit jealous that I didn’t get to do the deed.
But Cruz did get executed afterwards by the quartermaster for insubordination, so maybe I was lucky.
That gave me a good chuckle though, as if something as irrelevant as insubordination mattered anymore.
The song is prevalent in my mind now, as prevalent as the sound of breathing. I am not used to it by any means. It still tortures me with its promises of comfort, it just feels like as if it has been with me since my birth.
Afterwards, we all looked into the archeologist’s room. Finally, time to see the elephant in the room.
However, what we found there was disappointing.
Gunpowder, heaps and heaps of barrels.
The captain swore he didn’t have any knowledge about them. It seems they were loaded at the port without him being aware. Or he simply was a good actor. I would say I suspect the former.
The quartermaster deduced that if we had failed in our journey at some point, and the higher-ups were ninety nine percent sure we would, then this archeologist would have blown up the ship, reducing us to smithereens.
A ploy to calm the nation, I suppose. If our ship returns with nothing to show for it, all the empty hopes they have given the populace would be shattered. It was downright disgusting how they planned to blow up the ship, snuffing out any chance we had of returning home.
Killing us would consequently maintain the illusion of our journey. And the false hope would forever remain”.
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“Day Unknown”
“The quartermaster and the captain have both disappeared. It was only a matter of time, I suppose. Their death shall not be mourned.
I received a most unusual request from the cook. He handed me a gun and asked me to kill him.
Said he couldn’t do it himself, he had a little girl at home waiting for her. Every time he tries to off himself, her face appears in his mind.
After that, he went on a rant about how this job would have allowed him to give his daughter a better living and taking her out to visit the capital. I have a vague notion I was at some point in a same situation due to my wife. Or was it my mother? Perhaps sister.
I cared not for his rant.
His request was selfish, if he wished to cut his life short, he could do it himself.
I didn’t want to bear the burden of killing him, just because of his stupid daughter.
When I told him so, he looked at me with hollow eyes, mumbling how I have changed.
I found his hanging body in the morning”.
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“Beware the Dark Waters, Gentlemen”
“So here it is, I am all alone.
Nothing else to do, I visited the cartographer’s quarters, curious about it.
Curiosity was all I had left, after all.
What I found there, reduced me to tears.
Tears of laughter.
According to what this good chap had scribbled on his map: We hadn’t moved a single inch since we started venturing beyond the mist. But the ship was constantly moving, that was contradictory. In his own words, it was as if the ship was frozen in time.
I am now standing at the deck, looking below at the dark waters. I can see something moving about, something humanoid. The song is as loud as it has ever been, the mist is still here and I am freezing to my bones.
It calls for me, its voice promises me warmth, joy and happiness.
I am not frustrated, Kinsella. Nor do I want to kill myself.
I am just very, very tired”.