The Sterling Prophecy Part Three

Jason walked out from the doorway and looked around.  There were men milling about the deck and tightening this rope, loosening this belay.   But no one had seemed to notice the dog and two young men who suddenly appeared in their midst.  At least not yet.

One of the men finally caught sight of Jason and Abraham, who were still trying to recover from their shock, he barked a couple orders, and those nearest to the boys grabbed them before they could lift a finger.  Both tried to resist but the battle was over before it had even begun.  The pirate, who seemed to be in charge, hobbled toward them.

 He looked down his crooked nose at them, “How did you come on to be on board my ship?”

Abraham smirked, “Your ship?  Or did you steal it?  Just like everything else that you’re wearing.”

If Jason could’ve stomped on Abraham’s foot he would’ve.  But he was a just out of his reach, there was a time and a place to be snarky.  This was not one of them. 

“You should be flogged for your insolence!  But, first things first, what are your names?”

Before Abraham could get them into further trouble, Jason answered, “My name is Jason, and my excited friend here is Abraham.  And that ferocious beast is Frodo.”  He nodded to the dog who was laying at his feet and glancing around the ship with a bored expression. 

“Surnames.”

Before Jason could intervene Abraham spat, “Not one for words are we?”

“And someone needs to learn diplomacy.”  He glared at Abraham. 

Jason responded before things got out of hand. “Sterling and Johnson.”

The pirate flinched, but otherwise gave no further sign that he’d heard either name before.  “Put them both in the brig until I decide what to do with them.” 

“Excuse me, sir.  You never told us your name.”  Abraham interjected. 

Jason mentally slapped Abraham in his head.  How could one be so stupid? 

The pirate just looked thoughtful for a second and then replied, “Bradford.  Bruce Bradford.”

He nodded and the two were escorted to the brig below decks.  They were roughly thrown into the prison, after being searched, and Frodo was dragged in.  It took him long enough to realize the danger they were in, but when he realized this he chewed through a shin and broke an arm before they could imprison him.  The pirates glared at the trio, and then stalked away.

“Um,  Abraham, did you notice something?”

“Besides the fact that we are on a pirate ship in the brig…  And that we had been in the middle of the forest and now we are in the middle of the ocean?  Naw, outside that, nothing in particular has peeked my interest.”

“Well, if you didn’t notice this is either a historical ship, or  we are in a different time period.”

Abraham just stared at him. “What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you see their weapons?  Those weren’t exactly M-sixteens.  Those were definitely cutlass’.    And there are lanterns instead of electricity.  And they were dressed as medieval pirates.  Ab, this is totally weird.”

“You’re right.  Why didn’t I notice that?”

“Maybe because you were trying to be smart.”

“I was just pointing out the obvious. “

Jason thumped his head against the back of the cell. “Sometimes it’s best to hold your tongue.  Don’t let the tongue be the rudder to your ship.”

Abraham sighed and frowned at the floor.  The three companions sat in each other’s silence, thinking over their situation.  What could be worst then their present situation?  They were locked in a brig, in an ancient pirate ship, and the pirates on the pirate ship were from their current time period.   They were stuck, and couldn’t get home. 

When the entirety of this hit them, Abraham looked at Jason, “Jason.. What are we going to do?”

He sighed, “I don’t know.  I know that God is with us, no matter where we are.  And people are looking for us, so that should comfort us.”

Instead of giving them courage, it made them even more downcast; just thinking of the people back home. Frodo feeling the mood, whimpered and nestled closer to Jason, who reached down to rub his belly.  The time pasted slowly.  The sun sunk down to the horizon, casting long shadows on the dirty planks of the ship. 

Bruce Bradford paced the length of his cabin, deciding what to do.  He already had heard enough to make his decision, yet the very fact that it occurred on his ship was disturbing.  The old hag had told him soon, but never told him where.  He never assumed that Sterling would appear on his very own ship!  This is an outrage that would quickly be remedied. 

Of course he would execute them, he could not run the risk of being threatened when his father and grandfather  had worked so hard to accomplish what he was now putting the finishing touches to.  But there is always a place and a time to administer judgment, for now he would settle with questioning them and placing a heavy guard around their cell.

But they will surely die.