To Boldly Go
A Microfiction
Captain Colbert scowled as he surveyed the horizon. Salt crusted the rim of his spyglass, and his sun-scorched skin screamed against the contact.
Upon the deck below, his crew faithfully went about their duties. Had he water for tears, the captain would have cried with pride. Braver men had mutinied for less. These ones deserved the glory coming to them.
Undaunted sat at the mouth of the long hunted passageway, so close and yet still so far from victory. Their charge was simple, “carve the virgin oceans on the other side of the world in the name of the crown.”
The fickle winds that had so far carried them truly now showed their beguiling character. He would have thrown himself overboard to please Poseidon if he knew it also would not appease that trickster Hermes.
Decisions…
They still carried enough rations for the return trip. Arriving back hungry with empty holds would be better than never returning. Other journeys would follow this one
He bit his cracked lip and gazed over the horizon, as the unrelenting sun framed itself within the narrow passage.
But beyond that passage, in between the tantalizing promises of gold and silver, lay their paramount treasure…immortality.
It came then, the faintest whisper of a breeze as if the voice of god called across the glass-smooth sea.
Captain Colbert surveyed his crew, nodding.
He cracked a smile.
“As Pliny said, Fortes fortuna iuvat. Come about and haul canvas!”
As if howling their assent, the trade winds roared.
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A/N:
In preparation for the next Writing Battle, I'm trying to do a weekly 250-word microfiction from me. Enjoy! Within this piece, there is a specific ironic element. Whoever can point it out in the comments first and correctly, I'll tip a dollar to.
If you've enjoyed this, please leave a like and an insight below. If you really enjoyed this, tips to fuel my coffee addiction are always appreciated. All formatting is designed for desktops. All my works can be found below:
About the Creator
Matthew J. Fromm
Full-time nerd, history enthusiast, and proprietor of arcane knowledge.
Here there be dragons, knights, castles, and quests (plus the occasional dose of absurdity).
I can be reached at [email protected]
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