Uncharted Paths (Sequel to Downfall)

The ship

Robert's POV

“So, you think you can stand up?” Tom asked me

“Are you sure you don’t want to rest a little more before going up there, Robert?” Belle looked at me

“I’ve been resting for a really good time, Belle. I need to get up” I said, making an effort to stand up

“C’mon, I’ll help” Tom came to help me stand and held me well

“I got it, Tom. I think I do”

He slowly let go of me “Careful, you haven’t stand or walk for a pretty good time”

“It’s ok” I sighed. It hurt me. Pretty much. I started giving some steps and I could handle my own weight, despite the pain.

“You’re a lot thinner, Robert” Belle whispered “Now that you’re standing…”

“It’s ok.” I smiled “It’s not like I’ll refuse my meals from now on, right?”

“The problem is to get good meals” she whispered as we slowly walked out of the room and in the corridor of the ship. I was walking slowly, trying to ignore the pain on my wound at every step.

It has been worse, so this has got to get better.

“They don’t provide enough food?” I asked

“Well, they’ve been providing two meals per person”

“Each day?” I asked

“Yes. We’ve been keeping some since while you were out you didn’t…” Belle whispered

“You did right. We should save as much as we can. No one knows what the future is going to bring us”

“Yes.” Tom replied “But the stock of food is limited I heard. The time until we get to Africa will depend on the weather. They say we cannot run out of food until there… so they might cut some meals”

“Probably” I whispered as I looked all around me. The place was a bit intimidating, I saw some people passing by as we went up. They were looking at me, but didn’t say a word. I was surprised they let everyone walk freely around. They surely had restricted areas, though. After all, I doubted someone could escape, unless the person was willing to swim away. And I also doubted many people were able to drive a ship like this. I didn’t know, for sure.

As we reached the deck of the ship, I saw a good amount of people walking around. There were some guards as well, guarding the place.

I watched as some people were alone, either sitting somewhere or walking around. Others were making conversation, there were some little groups formed, some bigger, but in general, everything seemed calm.

I walked to the bulwarks and watched the sea.

Infinite blue, all around. There wasn’t definitely a way to escape. It didn’t seem to end, it amazed me.

Despite everything, the day was good. Warm, the sunlight reflecting on the sea only making the place warmer. It definitely didn’t look like a warship or a crowd of ‘criminals’.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Belle walked to my side

I looked at her, half smiling “Actually, it is.”

“Tom said that when you saw this, you would tell this was just a trip” she smiled “was he right?”

That thought made me smile “Well, it surely doesn’t look like a warship transporting criminals, right?”