The Journey

This week we set out on "The Journey" at Writer's Island.  First the image came to me - then as I assembled the items, it took me on a slightly melodramatic, little mystery journey...this is as far as it's taken me on 'the journey:'

A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.

Lao-Tzu

The detective had been speaking to her for several minutes, Sera realized, she had barely taken in a word he'd said, since she'd heard the words, "all had gone missing from the boat - this is all that was left."

Sera stared at the detective in horror, "What do you mean 'this is all that's left'?"

"I'm sorry, miss - what I meant was, that there is no body, no other personal effects. No sign of your fiancee or the crew. No sign of a struggle either. There were provisions still on the boat - food and water in the galley - in fact, from the sandwiches stacked there, it appeared they were about to have lunch...The life rafts and vests were still on board. The fishing rods and tackle all appear to be there. The only things out of place, seem to be these items, which were below deck, lying just as you seem them, on the galley table."

The young woman, Sera, closed her eyes for a moment, fighting to overcome the waves of panic - Drake gone? How could that be? He'd only gone for a week, to go deep sea fishing! How could his boat have drifted so far, in such a short time? What had happened - a storm at sea? Then why was everything in place, but the people?

She clutched her hankerchief tightly, twisting it between her fingers, then stopped, as she realized she was doing what had always made her cringe when she saw actresses doing just that at the picture show. She'd never thought she'd be the kind of woman to wring her hankerchief and let the men solve the problem - she would be the type to do something about the villainous situation.

So she forced herself to open her eyes, trying to make sense of what she was looking at - a compass that appeared to be stuck. An unaddressed picture postcard - the picture showed some tribal-looking foreigners, paddling a canoe. A foreign stamp, she couldn't make out which country. Hotel room key. A small hand-carved, wooden horse, missing part of one leg. Another figure carved from crystal - it appeared to be either an animal - or possibly some Hindu god. Some greenish looking stones, lying arranged in a spiral, and a seashell...

To her eyes she might as well be trying to make sense out of the items at a rummage sale. There were no dots to connect, that she could see...Drake had been sailing in the Atlantic, not the Pacific or the Indian Ocean - what could the map mean...

"But - what do they all mean?"

The policeman looked at her, not unkindly, "We were hoping that you could tell us."

Though she couldn't believe that any of this was really happening - they were supposed to be married in only two months - two months! she felt sure if something had happened to Drake - well, obviously something had, he'd disappeared - she would know it. What she thought was, if he were really - dead (she could hardly bring herself to think about that possibility) - but if he were, she felt certain she would know it. Feel it not only in her heart, but in her bones.

And if he weren't dead - that meant somewhere he was alive - and she needed to find him.

Sera took a deep breath, before answering.

"I don't know - I don't know what any of these things meant to Drake - mean to him...but I will find out. When I do, I'm sure they will lead us to him, and the others. I feel sure they must be alive - just washed ashore somewhere, on some uncharted island. Maybe they were picked up by a passing freighter..."

She hardly heard the detective, as he went on about shipping lines and trade routes. She let his words wash around her, till finally he was quiet.

Then she held out her hand, to the detective. "Thank you. I will let you know what I find out."

The detective took her hand, feeling a little confused - wasn't that supposed to be his line?

"What do you mean, miss?"

"That I'm going to go see if I...I'm going to go find Drake, and the others." Though her voice sounded strong, her pallor showed she was still in a state of shock.

The detective was taken a-back. "Don't you think you should leave that to us professionals?"

"Yes, I know - but if I were missing, Drake would look for me. I can't just sit and wait."

"But the boat was found over a thousand miles from here!"

Sera smiled tightly. "Well, you know what they say, Detective - the journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step."

With that, she rose and walked out of the police station. The journey had begun...

To find other 'journeys,' viisit this week's Writer's Island, 

Comments

[Tumblewords]

What fun - you are so talented! Great post!

[Ninnie]

I always love what you write. Love Hugs and Blessings

[gautami]

You do tell great stories! Thaks!

[Cre8Tiva]

great story...did you ever find him...or get married...about that hotel key...tose are my daughters initials...would you like to sell it after the investigation is closed...blessings, rebecca

[Fenny]

Well I hope there's going to be a sequel ... nice read

[somepinkflowers]

i feel confident drake will be found
as i have that very same shell
on my desk,
the *very same* gastropod!

a clue, perhaps?
maybe he is here in florida?

:-)

plus, the room key # 237
adds up 2+3+7= 12;
1+2=3
3 is the holy trinity
so drake is blessed
and
watched over, obviously...

also, drake is named after
frances drake
who circumnavigated the world...
so...

yes, he will be found!!!
[you might check *Key West*
--does the compass point there?--
as that horse is a logo
on a sign there]

carry on...

[Lisa]

I love your writing and your imagination. You're so inspiring.

[Kimberley]

I like your idea of creating an image to work from, I may try that sometime. Nice mystery you've begun.

[Pacian]

Drake's mistake was setting foot on the mysterious island when, in fact, it was an enormous turtle. He's now safe inside its shell, deep beneath the sea.

I'm sure Sera will find him, eventually...

[gemma]

Mmmm I'm clueless as to where Drake is.
Not ready for the story to end. This is just the beginning isn't it? Love it!!!