‘The ship, Sir, she’s listing badly!’
‘Thank you, Lieutenant!’ As if he needed to be told, as he tried to maintain his balance.
Damn that reef, and that fool of a helmsman.
‘She’s still taking on water, Sir, they can’t stem the flow. Should we abandon ship, Sir?’
They both knew what it meant for him – disgrace, his Naval career over, his reputation in tatters.
On the other hand, he would be alive.
‘Lieutenant, ensure the rum supplies are transported to the rowboats.’
‘Will there be enough room for all the men, Sir?’
‘Priorities, Lieutenant.’
One thing was for sure, he would need a drink..
Written for Friday Fictioneers 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).
I’ll be honest, I have no idea what this is a picture of, but I saw a gushing water and a bottle in a bucket – and I’ve recently been reading the excellent ‘Hornblower’ books by C.S. Forester, so adventure on the high seas was what came to mind!
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
For the month of April I am taking part in the A-Z blogging challenge, and am posting about my State Trilogy novels each day, including plots, themes, characters and the writing and publishing process. So if you’ve read the books, or haven’t but might be interested in them, I hope it will be of interest to some of you. All the posts published so far can be found HERE.
75 responses to “WRECKED”
What a self serving captain, I like where you took this prompt Iain
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Thanks Michael – I would guess many captains were self-serving, when it came to their drink certainly!
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Shades of the Costa Concordia here, Iain, with a captain more concerned about his life (and a wee dram) than his responsibilities.
Good stuff, Midshipman!
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I love a flawed protagonist
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Thanks Neil, much more interesting than an infallible hero.
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Ha, ha, love this! Priorities, indeed – and spoken with absolute authority. What fun it would be to revisit Horatio Hornblower, a happy recollection, read some of them many years ago. 🌷
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When in doubt, act like you know exactly what you’re doing! Enjoying the Hornblower books for the first time, each one is a gem.
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Enjoy!
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That drink better be strong! So much for going down with the ship.
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The trouble with going down with the ship is that you end up dead!
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Very true!
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This made me think of Captain Jack Sparrow! lol Great piece!
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I hadn’t thought of him specifically, but now you mention it – yes!
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Interesting angle you’ve taken.
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Thanks Sadje
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You’re welcome 😉
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I caught a bit of the Forrester vibe here. If you want the full Royal Navy experience, I suggest the works of Patrick O’Brian. He is to Forrester wat LeCarre is to Tom Clancy.
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I read the first O’Brian many years ago and can’t remember why I didn’t read anymore after that! Perhaps after Hornblower’s adventures come to an end, I’ll revisit.
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You won’t be sorry. It’s one of the greatest works of literature in the English language, especially the first ten books.
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Dear Iain,
A captain’s got to have his priorities straight. Although I’m not sure the Royal Navy will agree. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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He will be concocting a plausible explanation for his masters over a few tots of rum, no doubt! Thanks Rochelle.
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Haha! Well done, Captain. Gotta get those priorities straight. Great story, Iain!
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Thanks Mason – I’m glad you understand his reasoning! 🙂
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I did, Really good story.
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Why is the rum gone?! Great story 😀
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Perhaps the crew have already drank it! 😉
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Shades of that rascal Captain Jack Sparrow! You have to appreciate his planning and forethought.
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He knows what he values!
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Hm, a captain who knows his priorities!
So much unsaid, but loudly there, in the formal dialogue between the two men.
It’s a great wee story.
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Thank you! Was struggling a bit with the image, just glad I came up with something 🙂
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Aaaaaarrrrr! Sounds like a bit of plank-walking is in order!
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I can hear your pirate voice! 😉
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I can see Forrester’s influence! I loved the Hornblower stories when I was a teenager. They had an air of authenticity that I couldn’t resist.
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Yeah, his career needs to be over. No going down with the ship for this captain. But, as you said at least he’ll have his life and a drink to calm his nerves. Such a big story in so few words.
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Thanks Brenda 🙂
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Going down with the ship is so cliché. Can I get some of this rum? Yeah, that’ll be to go. He’s definitely going to need a drink.
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Right, and who wants to be a cliche?
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Good spin on the pic, a sinking ship, especially with all of the water on the floor. Cheers Capn!
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A-Harr, me hearty! 😉
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🙂
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I recently re-watched the Hornblower TV series and also re-read many of Alexander Kent’s “Bolitho” books, so this sounded very true to life back in those days!
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Will need to look up Alexander Kent. Thanks!
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I had a very rough ride on a sailing ship once – goodness knows how much of the complimentary rum punch I got through, but it helped me survive!
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Rum is often the best answer! 🙂
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What a fun story, although all these men left behind for the rum wouldn’t think so. 🙂
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I’m sure the Captain would say something about ‘they chose this life’ or words to that effect! 🙂
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Well…you gotta give him credit for being honest…
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Honesty is a virtue, so I’m told! 😉
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It’s what they say 🙂
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Oh man, that is possibly the worst captain ever. Understandably human but still. He wasn’t at all involved with a certain Suez Canal incident was he? Hilarious story.
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Haha, perhaps too much rum was the problem at the Suez canal too! Thanks Anne 🙂
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That’s quite an accomplishment–a shipwreck and a glimpse into the captain’s character, all in 100 words! Well done 🙂
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Thanks Linda
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Gotta love a challenge with a limit imposed. Great short story. Lisitng? Lieutenant?
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I’d like to be a fly on the wall at his court case.
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I suspect he may not have a leg to stand on!
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Oh my, I almost went this way with my story, Iain. Recently, December, 2019/January, 2020, I was on the Costa Luminosa cruise line.There was a lot of conversation about tthe Costa Concordia one evening at dinner. LOL
Now, there was a self-serving captain. We wondered about our captain the entire cruise.
Shades of realitiy in every word of your story.
Be Safe … 😷 🙏🏻 😊 Isadora 😎
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Thankfully, I think most captains of ships take their responsibility seriously, unlike my Captain!
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LOL
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Now, that’s one Cap’n I won’t be sailin’ with! A Captain’s priorities are to his ship and his crew. Damn the rum!
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He may not be the best Captain, I don’t think he read the rule book!
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i guess every man has its own priorities even in a life or death situation. 🙂
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He is being true to himself!
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Haha haha oh dear… priorities !
This gave me a sad laugh. But what happens when the rum inevitably runs out?
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Then there is only desolation…! 😉
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Love the way you told story. A mix of anxiousness and assertive action. A time to do and not to think, yet thoughts thoughts playing such an important role at the moment. Extremely well written. Loved it.
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Thank you
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A good stiff drink does help when the ship goes down….
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Helps ease the pain 🙂
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Nothing like knowing the important things in life.
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It’s nice to have clear priorities.
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Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
The captain is a rascally survivor but a survivor nonetheless.
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It’s a skill, definitely.
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All about priorities right? I like where you went with this. I guess Hornblower was on your mind. Good story Iain.
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Thank you
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