IAIN KELLY

LIFEBOAT

She had been drifting for three days and three nights now.

The old wooden boat creaked and strained. She looked anxiously at the sea water appearingΒ gentlyΒ through the hull. The pool of water grewΒ slowly. She had a couple of hours until they would disappear beneath the surface.

The wind began to pick up. Waves lapped over the low edges of the deck.

She glancedΒ up to see the gathering storm clouds. As she looked away she saw a fleck of movement. It came closer.

A seabird. No. A cormorant. A coastal bird. Land must be close. But how close?


boatpilxr_-antiqued
β’Έ Georgia Koch

Written as part of theΒ Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details here). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

For more stories, visit theΒ INLINKZ GROUP

62 responses to “LIFEBOAT”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    I think this is what they refer to as a “cracking good tale”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  2. Sandra Avatar

    You left me wanting more. Good job.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I like a good cliffhanger…! Thanks for reading and your kind comment.

      Like

  3. rogermoorepoet Avatar

    “I only teach this song to those who sail with me” — Conde Arnaldos. I love the solitary voice pursuing its inquiry into its own oncoming fate. Well done.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Lovely quote, thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. rogermoorepoet Avatar

        It seemed very suitable somehow: I imagine your boat singing to herself … nice way to start my day.

        Like

  4. FabricatingFiction Avatar

    Great descriptive piece I really felt I was on the boat as well.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks!

      Like

  5. BjΓΆrn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    I hold my thumbs it’s not an albatross.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Haha, I was tempted, but I thought I’d give her a chance!

      Like

  6. Al Avatar

    Think she has less than three hours now. Hopefully the land is very close.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    This was good. I hope she can hold on!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks! Me too!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Snow's Fissures and Fractures Avatar

    Ah, hope at last…I truly believe there is always hope. Nicely done.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s nice to end with a bit of hope – and a good cliffhanger!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. creatingahome Avatar

    Oh I hope she finds land soon.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Graham Lawrence Avatar
    Graham Lawrence

    I need more. Ok?

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Clare Hempstead Avatar

    I am waiting with bated breath – does she make it? A great tale.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. LionAroundWriting Avatar

    Sorry I havent been around sooner, the last few times I checked the blog was down.

    Nice take on the story, theres a great ‘will they wont they survive’ element to it. A cormorant seemed totally fitting as the messenger, if black is symbolic.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Good to have your thoughts. Coincidental that a cormorant is black, I have limited bird knowledge, but does fit in nicely.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. rgayer55 Avatar

    Hope springs eternal.
    I hope she has something to bail with.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. gahlearner Avatar
      gahlearner

      That’s what I wanted to say. πŸ™‚

      Liked by 2 people

  14. shehannemoore Avatar

    How close indeed? Great cliffhanger.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. TraceyDelaplainMD.com Avatar

    I imagine many a refugee has felt this despair. Thanks for leaving a grain of hope.
    Tracey

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Tracey.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. draliman Avatar

    Ooh, you leave us on a cliffhanger! Fingers crossed for her.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Good build of tension in an atmospheric piece. I felt like I was there. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

  18. brainsnorts Avatar

    “She had a couple of hours until they would disappear…” does this mean she will definitely disappear, or does it mean that she will disappear unless conditions change? errggg! well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. jellico84 Avatar
      jellico84

      Hope is in sight, indeed! πŸ™‚ Love this little story.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Many thanks.

        Like

  19. Liz Young Avatar

    Close enough to swim, perhaps?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Who knows….?

      Like

  20. ceayr Avatar

    Nicely crafted and well developed piece, Iain.
    Interesting that your character is female, somehow seems to make her more vulnerable.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks. Really I choose female because I always tend to write male characters, nice to experiment and it felt right for this little tale.

      Like

      1. ceayr Avatar

        It worked for me!

        Like

  21. spicedmullings Avatar

    Love the cadence of the piece.
    In keeping with it, will the land also appear slowly…………?
    I wonder!

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Jan Brown Avatar

    I agree with C.E. Ayr; I like that your character is female. At times, I felt that “she” could even be the craft itself. Well done–we all want the sequel!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Interesting. Not the first to mention the boat as the ‘she’. I didn’t intend it that way but reading it back it does work quite well!

      Like

  23. Lynn Love Avatar

    Great story, Iain. Just when we thought all was lost, she sees a land bird. You leave us with a touch of hope. Nicely done πŸ™‚

    Like

  24. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    You have me bite my nails here. Bail, woman, bail! Great cliffhanger.

    Like

  25. wmqcolby Avatar

    Yes. Visual and hopeful, build-up, everything checks.

    Nice work!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks.

      Like

  26. allangilmour Avatar

    Very well written. The three of us, Mr Midnight, Sir Winston and myself, enjoyed your piece. Mr Midnight said that itΒ΄s a shame one couldnΒ΄t stretch it to 150 words but I told him that would be defeating the issue. HeΒ΄s such a cheeky cat. Thanks for posting. πŸ™‚

    Liked by 2 people

  27. Michael Wynn Avatar

    Great tension and as a birdwatcher I appreciated the ornithological knowledge. It reminds me of a TV programme ending, will she make it? Tune in next week.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael. I like a cliffhanger!

      Like

  28. Amy Reese Avatar

    The birds always seem like a good sign, but maybe not in this case! Left me wanting more. Nicely done.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  29. Dahlia Avatar

    Made me hold my breath for the brave little boat….

    Liked by 1 person

  30. magarisa Avatar

    I wonder if she makes it! You sure know how to pull the reader in.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks Magarisa.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    Great tension building there, Iain. Good writing. πŸ™‚ — Suzanne

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Many thanks Suzanne.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Bridget @Truthfultwenties Avatar

    You did very well at connecting to the image πŸ™‚ thanks for the read x

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks for reading Bridget πŸ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Young Journey Avatar

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    https://youngjourneysite.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 1 person

  34. breadomlette Avatar
    breadomlette

    good thoughts, nice, keep it up……
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    Like

  35. KLIKQQ Avatar
    KLIKQQ

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    Like

  36. KLIKQQ Avatar
    KLIKQQ

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    Liked by 1 person

  37. tedstrutz Avatar

    This is very good, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Ted, an oldie, but a goodie πŸ™‚

      Like

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