Escape From Africa

[Lorelei O'Flaherty]

Tempest gave an awful lurch before a load groan emitted from the hull. Lorelei staggered on her feet, grasping the nearest rope her hands could find. Seawater rolled across the deck before retreating back into the stormy seas. She spit the salty water from her mouth and glanced around.

"We've been beached!" Fergus called from the helm. He made an attempt to steer clear of the beach, but the weather was determined otherwise.

"Aye, Fergus, I figured that out for meself." Lorelei released the rope and hurried to the bow of the ship. Tempest has been pushed into the wet sands at a diagonal and her prow was buried. The ocean churned under the ship and scraped it against the rocks. The sickening creaks and pops from the hull worried Lorelei. "We better hope the storm abates soon or we will 'ave a gaping hole in the bottom of this bloody ship."

[Jean Claude]

Jean Claude tipped his head to one side and made his way back over to Lorelei. "This can't be good, can it madame?" He climbed up on to her shoulder and peered out on to the beach, holding to her shirt tightly, not wanting to be blown away.