by Ryan Brenner

Created on: August 06, 2010

His eyes opened slowly adjusting to the glaring sun.  He had no idea how long he had been asleep.  He was still clinging to a piece of drift wood.  The sun was high in the sky the man supposed that it was near noon.  He peered across the glimmering sea as the swells, remnants of the storm the night before, lifted him up and down.  It was making him dizzy.  He had fallen over the night before when he had been desperately trying to secure the main mast.  He was not certain anyone had seen him plunge into the writhing sea.

He gazed about willing his eyes to stay open against the blinding glare the mirror like sea caused.  Something churned in the water.  A fin, thought the man terrified, but there was no farther movement.  He turned his head again, and it fell out of his soaking shirt.  A locket from around his neck shown brilliantly.  At least it was safe.  The Perry family would keep their secret.

Hours may have gone by he wasn’t sure, and then as the waves tossed him back and forth he saw something.  A ship was quickly moving toward him.  Suddenly, he was gripped with a cold fear.  He recognized the ship.  It was the pirates who had chased them into the hurricane the night before.

Hurriedly, he tucked the locket under his wet shirt.  A small boat was rowing toward him.  Men on it were shouting in his direction.  He had been saved, but at what cost.  Certainly these buccaneers had been after what he carried.  In an instant, he made up his mind.  He would allow himself to be rescued.  He would join these outlaws.  After all, no one knew how to hide a family treasure better than pirates.

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