The Katamarine

An easy breeze beset the sea as early morning sunlight began glowing over the horizon.
“Ahoy there, maties!” bellowed Captain Krieg to the crew, beginning his daily routine speech.
“Retrieve the whiskey, rum, and cheese; for tonight’s festivities will surely please any lady who boards the Katamarine.”
The ship was on schedule to pull into port that evening after having been adrift for several seasons.
Fantastic travels through many regions left the swashbucklers feeling depleted, although much gold and silver had been retrieved.
These weren’t evil men, but their deeds could hold a priest in confession for weeks and fill him with enough contempt to condemn them to hell for eternity.
These weren’t holy believers either, so fear of death could never be detected in their presence.
These men held a simple code of never-ending cheating, stealing, and equanimity when sharp steel took the breath of a friend or foe.
Their only rule was that mutiny be unanimous; otherwise, a fool’s head was to be removed for discussing such disrespectful schemes.
Fortunately, no such thought crossed the mind of any deckhand during times of prosperity—or so Krieg believed.
At six o’clock, the ship docked in the only spot open for entering the mainland.
The lot belonged to King Freelaw, but he was thought lost at sea by Queen Esmerelda and the townspeople.
The crew quickly tethered lines to bollards and secured a gangplank.
Afterward, the Captain sent First Mate Jenkins straight to the butcher for steak, bacon, and chicken legs.
“No party is complete without mutton, strong drinks, and women worth smitten,” asserted Krieg.
His invitation quickly spread around the city:
The Katamarine’s plank will be available to the prettiest dames, as we offer plenty of drinks, entertainment, and company for a one-night celebration.
Capetown housed plenty of lowbrow citizens wishing to make an appearance on the magnificent ship, but quarters were tight below the poop deck.
So a few crew members made reservations to stay in the local brothel & saloon to get their beaks wet, harpoon a prostitute, and rest a full night’s moon.
As preparations were made, a heavy storm poured in while everyone except the Captain was scattered about Capetown.
Alone on the bow, Krieg scowled as dark clouds drowned out the promising crowd.
The festivities were undoubtedly ruined by twenty-two-foot swells crashing at sails.
Nails on the peer began snapping as rails collapsed, unraveling lines bound to various ships.
The Katamarine began drifting away from the bay amidst the shifting current and waves.
As outrageous-sized hail pelted the deck, Krieg felt as though Zeus had let loose the Kraken.
The Captain stood confidently at the helm until a giant blue whale’s tail impacted the vessel hard on its port side.
It rocked the boat left and right, causing Krieg to roll overboard, but he managed to grab ahold of a knife before casting his life to the tide.
He struggled to swim towards a rope dragging from the ship, but it drifted away too quickly, forcing him to forfeit before his energy stores were expended.
After the unmanned Katamarine vanished out of sight, Captain Krieg cried to the sky, “I am not ready to enter Davy Jones’ Locker yet, so by God I’m placing one last bet! Let my breath carry the message that I will repent for my sins if You cast me an angelic safety net to save me from death!”