Editing The Sea Churned

The sea churned, as it always did.

It was a wet early morning, having just rained the night before. Captain Johnathan Gabriel, of the good ship "Endless Endurance", walked the streets of the little plateau. In the dim light he heard the sleepy atoll's residences stir from behind their fences, collecting the water from the barrels and buckets they had set out, and saw a few of the more well-off folk from the windows in the upper stories of their homes.

There was a small mint to be made here, with its need for food, and the skill of its craftsmen. The Captain had made such a trade, bringing in a haul of wheat and fruit, in return for metal tools. They would fetch a fair price at their next stop.

Johnathan saw a familiar face waiting for him at the end of the street. It was Smith, his First Mate, a young lad, barely two hundred, but just as capable as any veteran of the moaning seas. "Mornin' Captain", said he. "How fair the men?" inquired the Captain, his seamen had been on leave for the past night while he had closed the final details of the trade, and only a fool doesn't know how a sailor on leave can get.

"Very little rough housing, sir. Except for the Barnaby twins, but you know how they are. The crew stand ready to unload the shipment, if need be."

"Oh, the need certainly be, Smith, a fine deal was cut, I believe a small celebration is in order."

"Excellent, sir."

The two walked onwards to the docks, where the Endurance waited at anchor. She was a fine ship, the Endurance, five hundred years old, the wooden planks and such might rot, break, and be replaced, but the ship itself never let Johnathan down.

His crew loitered near the mooring line, playing at dice and cards. The Barnaby twins had their arms about each others shoulders, both sporting black eyes. "What made them fight this time?" asked the Captain. "A serving girl brought them wine, and George asked her which one was more handsome, things broke down from there." 

One of the crew looked toward the duo approaching. "Oi! Wake up lads!" cried a voice in back "Its the Captain!"

The men scurried about, hiding half empty wine bottles, their dice and cards, a girl darted out of the crowd and out of sight into an alley. The sea howled and cried behind them, but was ignored, as any sailor can tune out the endless yowling.

"Alright men! Lets get to work, we've a full day ahead of us and I'd like to set off to our next destination by noon at the latest!"

"You heard the man, get to unloading!" cried Smith, as the cargo cranes was brought to bear. Wheat by the bale, and crates of fruit! Always a fine product to bring to the table.

As mid-day neared and the streets dried, the mayor arrived with several carts to haul in his half of the trade, crates of tools, but not just any tools.

Metal tools.

Saws, hammers, nails. All needed to build ships. They'll fetch a fine price indeed.

"Twas a pleasure, sir mayor, I'll be sure to come around again on my next run." The Captain and the mayor exchanged pleasantries as the trade was finished.

"Alright lads, pack it up! S'time to go!" yelled Smith to the crew. A full week of sailing awaited them, and no one was looking forward to it, but the sooner started, the sooner finished.

The meat was hung from the back of the ship, as it had been thousands of times before, and the craven dead beneath them clawed, stretched and strained towards it, lurching the ship forward.

"Where to now, sir?" asked Smith, as the crew scurried about.

"Bring her about to the south east, there's a town there with a proper ship yard, our haul should sell well there. Then I think we should go west from there, theres a chain of villages that would be having festivals around that time, a good place to make a little profit, eh?"

"Very good, sir"

The ship and it sailed on, and the sea churned, as it always did.