Read Online The Awakened: Book One by Jason Tesar - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jason Tesar
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asked, sensing danger.
“Head for the reef . They won’t follow us in there.” We’re small enough to maneuver around obstacles and this boat doesn’t run deep. If they try to follow us, they won’t make it out alive.
One of the men pushed on the rudder and the small boat carved a sharp turn to the port side and headed for the reef . The others jumped into action, trimming the mainsail to keep the westerly wind. The larger boats moved from their intended flanking positions to a direct chase and they were closing in fast, but Adair already saw what he had come to find. These people were doing something out here that they wished to keep a secret. Judging by what they did to Bahari, they were willing to kill for it. But now Adair knew of their presence. He couldn’t hide the smile on his face and soon, the other men were grinning as well, with admiration for their superior.
As soon as I get back to Bastul , I’ll bring the fleet back and find out what they’re hiding.
As their small vessel entered the shallow water of the reef area, they slowed just enough to maneuver through the sharp coral, while still maintaining their lead. The pursuing boats, which dwarfed Adair’s boat, came to a stop as they neared the reef . Adair exhaled a deep breath, relieved to be a safe distance away and protected by the coral. Turning his attention back to the difficult task of navigation, he heard a sharp cracking noise from behind.
All the men turned to look back at the large black boats that had positioned themselves with their starboard sides facing the reef . Their silhouettes were barely visible against the sky in the east. Halfway between them and their pursuers, something landed on the surface of the water. Adair squinted just as it skimmed past the prow, leaving a wake on the mottled ocean surface that quickly faded from view.
An unsettled feeling began to grow in his stomach and his heart began to race as he realized his pursuers had projectile capability. The sunset was almost gone now and within a few minutes, there would not be enough light to navigate the dangerous reef . Just as the thought came to him, he noticed the water in front of the boat getting lighter.
“Hard starboard!” he yelled to the men as he pushed on the rudder.
The boat pitched and swerved to the right. Adair almost lost his footing, grabbing the railing for balance.
Another sharp crack sounded as the crew struggled to adjust the sails, hoping to maintain their momentum. Adair turned to see a splash on the rippled surface of the water as another projectile came skipping toward them. Judging by the angle, it was aimed more accurately than the first.
“Brace yourselves!” As the words left his mouth, the middle of their tiny boat erupted in a shower of saltwater and splinters. The jolt knocked Adair off his feet and he rolled across the deck as the boat pitched to the port side and began to fill with water. He clawed at the wood decking to get a handhold, when his eyes settled on the body of one of his crew only a few yards away. The man’s midsection was almost completely missing. It looked as though the projectile went straight through him as well as their boat.
Adair pulled himself to his feet and scanned the boat, trying to get a sense of the damage. Water poured across the deck and the weight was rolling the ship back to its starboard side. The remaining soldiers jumped overboard, abandoning the ship which was nearly ripped in half and sinking fast.
Adair ran to the nearest port railing and dove over the side. The other men were already a short distance away and splashing so loud that Adair could follow them by sound alone. He began to swim east with a steady pace that he could maintain for a long time. At this point, the most important thing is to keep moving. It took only minutes to catch up to the others. They had slowed considerably after using up their energy with
“Head for the reef . They won’t follow us in there.” We’re small enough to maneuver around obstacles and this boat doesn’t run deep. If they try to follow us, they won’t make it out alive.
One of the men pushed on the rudder and the small boat carved a sharp turn to the port side and headed for the reef . The others jumped into action, trimming the mainsail to keep the westerly wind. The larger boats moved from their intended flanking positions to a direct chase and they were closing in fast, but Adair already saw what he had come to find. These people were doing something out here that they wished to keep a secret. Judging by what they did to Bahari, they were willing to kill for it. But now Adair knew of their presence. He couldn’t hide the smile on his face and soon, the other men were grinning as well, with admiration for their superior.
As soon as I get back to Bastul , I’ll bring the fleet back and find out what they’re hiding.
As their small vessel entered the shallow water of the reef area, they slowed just enough to maneuver through the sharp coral, while still maintaining their lead. The pursuing boats, which dwarfed Adair’s boat, came to a stop as they neared the reef . Adair exhaled a deep breath, relieved to be a safe distance away and protected by the coral. Turning his attention back to the difficult task of navigation, he heard a sharp cracking noise from behind.
All the men turned to look back at the large black boats that had positioned themselves with their starboard sides facing the reef . Their silhouettes were barely visible against the sky in the east. Halfway between them and their pursuers, something landed on the surface of the water. Adair squinted just as it skimmed past the prow, leaving a wake on the mottled ocean surface that quickly faded from view.
An unsettled feeling began to grow in his stomach and his heart began to race as he realized his pursuers had projectile capability. The sunset was almost gone now and within a few minutes, there would not be enough light to navigate the dangerous reef . Just as the thought came to him, he noticed the water in front of the boat getting lighter.
“Hard starboard!” he yelled to the men as he pushed on the rudder.
The boat pitched and swerved to the right. Adair almost lost his footing, grabbing the railing for balance.
Another sharp crack sounded as the crew struggled to adjust the sails, hoping to maintain their momentum. Adair turned to see a splash on the rippled surface of the water as another projectile came skipping toward them. Judging by the angle, it was aimed more accurately than the first.
“Brace yourselves!” As the words left his mouth, the middle of their tiny boat erupted in a shower of saltwater and splinters. The jolt knocked Adair off his feet and he rolled across the deck as the boat pitched to the port side and began to fill with water. He clawed at the wood decking to get a handhold, when his eyes settled on the body of one of his crew only a few yards away. The man’s midsection was almost completely missing. It looked as though the projectile went straight through him as well as their boat.
Adair pulled himself to his feet and scanned the boat, trying to get a sense of the damage. Water poured across the deck and the weight was rolling the ship back to its starboard side. The remaining soldiers jumped overboard, abandoning the ship which was nearly ripped in half and sinking fast.
Adair ran to the nearest port railing and dove over the side. The other men were already a short distance away and splashing so loud that Adair could follow them by sound alone. He began to swim east with a steady pace that he could maintain for a long time. At this point, the most important thing is to keep moving. It took only minutes to catch up to the others. They had slowed considerably after using up their energy with
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