2009 Naplan Writing Prompt

It has been exactly 241 days since we have set off from port in search of new trade routes to the islands off the coast of Africa which contain the valuable and luxurious spices. The slow yawing of the large merchant vessel the Ecuadorian the prized ship of the Spanish fleet lulled me into a dreamless slumber. I awoke to the shaking of one of my 20 shipmates and groggily stammered to the small ladder at the other end of the ship, I trekked over the sleeping men lying like logs on a forest floor who where on the night shift guiding the ship through the endless waves and winds. As I climbed the ladder to the upper deck I prepared myself for the work I was about to endure ranging from swabbing to standing on the lookout for dangers which are rare and easily spotted like a blemish on a perfectly blue sheet of silk. As I reached the top I was greeted by the blindingly bright sun I shielded my eyes from the onslaught of brightness of the light reflecting of the ocean before I could adjust to the the glare of the ocean I was ordered to stand watch for pirates and hazards till nightfall.

I stood grateful for receiving the easiest of jobs a deckhand could receive on the ship looking out towards the ocean's constant movements and the constant restlessness of the clouds ever moving and ever changing to the winds power I thought back to the day we set sail as the captain put it "for a way optimize the efficiency of collecting the coveted spices from the African islands" I couldn't care less if we were in search of the ark of the covenant as long as when we return we would get paid and that I could rest. When we left  I had no-one to say goodbye to no family, no friends that could care that I was gone and no ties to my homeland so there was nothing restraining me to stay and I could not care less that I might not be able to see my homeland ever again. I was interrupted by a firm pat on the shoulder telling me that my shift was over and go get some dinner. Dinner was composed of some fish we had caught and a small amount of salted meat, there was never enough water but always enough alcohol even after all this time we have never worried about never having enough food or drink. After the short dinner and drink I staggered half drunk and tired to the belly of the ship where I have spent the last 240 nights, some nights I was lucky and could sleep in a bunk other nights I would have to sleep on the splinter filled floor for a restless, dreamless night.

Day 242 I awoke to the sound of shouts and screams I jumped to my feet with a slight headache from last night and ran for the ladder, I saw no-body sleeping as I made my way to the ladder my fears of a pirate attack may have come true and now we would all be killed by the ruthless thieves of the sea I climbed up the ladder and I was fearful of what I might have seen but to my relief everyone was crowded over to one side of the ship pointing and shouting "land, there it is", "we've finally made it" I strained my eyes to see a set of small islands in the distant looking insignificant to the vast ocean surrounding it. Now we will travel home and tell the tales of our success and now I can finally rest.