Keeper of the Grail (25 page)

Time slowed. The bow of the ship came back down, and Maryam rose up out of the water. I grabbed for her but she was still too far away. I would never have believed what happened next had I not seen it with my own eyes. The Grail saved her.

The strap of the satchel flew off my shoulder, moving down my arm until I could grip it in my hand. As I held the strap firmly, the satchel, as if under its own power, slid outward until it was near enough for Maryam to clutch it to her. She released the rope, taking hold of the satchel with both hands while I pulled with all my might. The next thing I knew she was on the deck beside me, sputtering and spitting up water.

The strap to the satchel was twisted firmly around my wrist. I had no time to think about what I had just seen. The humming sound had stopped, but the storm had picked up intensity.

“Get back here! Hurry! You need to tie yourselves off!” Robard shouted from where he remained tied to the deck railing.

Maryam and I staggered to our feet but were knocked aside again as the ship dropped violently in the trough of a wave. We hit the deck, sliding along the slippery wet surface, and would have gone over again, but Robard reached out an arm to catch us as we slithered by.

He had enough of a length of rope left to bind Maryam about the waist. There was nothing for me to tie myself with. The wind howled and the water crashed over the ship as we bobbed up and down in the waves. Robard and Maryam were secure, and I held fast to the last broken piece of railing as we huddled together, praying for the storm to end. I feared the captain and crew had been lost. Or they were cowering in the hold, hoping to ride out the storm. Either way they were of no use to us.

For a few minutes, as the ship thrashed about, I thought we might survive, until a particularly large wave washed over the side and I lost my grip. Tumbling across the deck I slammed into the mast. The ship teetered in the opposite direction, and I tried to grab on to the mast but missed, sliding across the deck away from Maryam and Robard.

“Tristan!” I heard them shout in unison. I didn’t hear anything else, for the ship dove into another wave and I flew over the side, hitting the water with a jolt. It was cold, and I struggled to ride the waves and keep my head above water. The ship cantered away from me, but I heard another loud crack and watched the mast itself give way. There was a loud groaning sound as it tilted over, heading right for me. I kicked, lunging to get out of the way, but as it fell, the deck of the ship rose up and the mast hit it on the edge, snapping in two. The impact shattered the mast, and pieces of it went flying like arrows shot from a thousand bows.

The last thing I remember was a large piece of wood from the mast catapulting through the air, headed directly for me. I tried to dive below the water, but I felt it slam against my head and shoulders. After that I remember almost nothing. Nothing except a faint humming sound coming from somewhere I could not determine. I only knew it was familiar and comforting.

As the water closed over me, I remember thinking to myself that I had tried. Please forgive me, Sir Thomas. Please forgive me, but I did try.

Then the sea welcomed me into its dark embrace.

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O BE CONTINUED
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