2 A Whole New World

The sky crackled with thunder and the sea roared. Rain fell in thick, heavy drops. Lightning lit up the sky intermitently. The ship swayed, rose and fell with the temper of the sea.

Agatha felt herself hit a cold, damp, wooden floor.

"Raise the sails! Cut the ropes!" a voice barked out orders over the deafening sound of a brewing storm.

Voices hailed back with vigour. Agatha looked around. She found herself sitting on the deck of a ship.

A ship! She thought aloud with alarm.

She looked around with horror as the ship tottered dangerously. The sea raged as if goaded and the dark sky made all look grim. Crewmen in soggy, grimy clothings bustled around to do the bidding of the man who kept shouting orders at them.

"Ahoy!" a voice boomed from behind her. Agatha whipped around fast towards the voice. A man who seemed to be leaning on a stick as he walked, hobbled quickly towards her.

"Get up ye scury dog and lend a hand, lest we all perish in this storm!" barked the man.  His face was dark. The moon was obscured behind the clouds and so, everywhere was dark. The faint light from the lanterns gave very little to see. The man seemed to have an eyepatch strewn on his left eye. He glowered down at her with his one good eye.

"Shiver me timbers!  Are ye still thar while I be natterin' t' ye?!" he shouted threatingly. Shaking with fear and still reeling in shock, Agatha managed to stand herself upright.

"Get along with ye!" he ordered.

Agatha quickly turned and spied some people toiling at the shrouds. She started out at a brisk pace towards them when the ship turned dangerously on its side. Agatha was sharply thrown towards the bent side of the ship. Her back hit a hard wall.

"Ow!" She screamed softly in pain.