Captain’s Log, March 16, 1825
We have entered our third week since we left the Yucatan. There is still nothing but the ocean in sight. The Cabo Verde islands, which we had hoped to encounter today, were gone as with everything else so far. The men have started to become restless. Murmurs of turning back home are still few, but I know it may not be long before they increase and become stronger. I would not blame them, for without a doubt we are treading unknown waters now.
Some still cling to the hope we will find Africa or Europe still standing. Others hope for any sort of land, even if it were to be completely unknown to us. I would sooner join them than to think the only land waiting for us if we press on is our own, having circumvented the world without finding anything else.
A lone ship, in the middle of the vast expanse of the ocean. It departed from port on a mission. A mission to see what’s out there. And what possibly wasn’t.
It moved eastward at a steady pace, aided by its sails. The winds were currently favorable for the eastward march. The crew worked diligently at their posts, but inside the captain’s cabin a meeting was happening.
The captain was seated before a desk, of which several charts laid out which were being looked at by him. Around the desk were standing a few men.
“Gentlemen,” the captain started, moving his gaze from the charts to the men.
“We have come this far, and our fears had only been proven truer today. Not even across the ocean they were spared. We do not have the provisions to cross the entire planet if we continue to find nothing but ocean. The crew has started talking of turning back. I may not be in charge of this expedition,” here he nodded to one of the men. “But as captain of the ship I have to look for the safety of her and that of my crew. We only have roughly a week left before being forced to turn back, but I would rather turn back now if I see we gain nothing going further east.”
“Captain,” one of the men spoke up. “As understandable your position on the matter lies, I propose we dedicate that week to survey the nearby areas. Surely we couldn’t have been the only ones left. The world is vast after all.”
“I agree with Mister Lemaur,” another followed. “Adding on that the search can also entail finding new land. Before now it could have only looked like a possibility, but now we should start to come to terms this may not be Earth anymore.”
“Surely Mister Álvarez, you are not one of those who think it was us, and not the rest of the world, that were the ones that vanished?” Lemaur asked.
“Honestly, I would rather think that as well,” a third spoke up. Despite speaking the same language, his accent gave away the fact it wasn’t his native tongue.
“If we were the ones who disappeared,” the man continued, “at least we know the rest of the world is fine. If the rest of the world was the one who disappeared, well…” he stopped explaining further, but from the faces of the men it was clear it was not needed.
The silence didn’t lasted long.
“Let us not dwell on what Mister Austin said, not for the moment at least,” the expedition leader spoke. “What matters more right now is our next course of action.”
He stepped up near a window.
“As previously mentioned, we have at best a week before needing to go back. Regardless of finding known or unknown land, I agree that we have to keep searching until the very end. We should retain our eastern course, see what became of Africa, and then northeast to Europe. Time may only permit to look no farther than Spain and Portugal, but it is better than nothing. Captain?” He turned to face the man.
“I have no objections Mister Guerrero,” he simply stated. “One week, and no more.”
“Very well, if no one has more to add, I consider this…” but Guerrero couldn’t say more as for in that very moment frenzied knocking was heard at the door.
“Come in,” the captain called out.
The door quickly was swung open and a sailor rushed in.
“Captain! Land sighted!”
Activity on the deck had not been greater since the journey began. Most of the crew were now standing on it looking over at the still distant, but clearly visible dark line between the blues. Reactions varied among them. Some reacted positive, being either cheerful or relieved. Others, however, felt doubt and fear, of what they would find once they arrived to shore.
But two men stood stoically, one looking over with a spotting scope.
“What do you think?” Guerrero asked to the Captain.
“It’s still too early to tell,” he answered as he put the spotting scope down. “It’s not wide enough, it could be an island.”
“Well, that is still better than nothing,” Guerrero noted.
“Perhaps, but it could also be a mountain,” the Captain replied. “In any case, once we get closer, we will find out.”
Hours later, the captain’s second guess was proven right. They were approaching what looked to be a mountain close enough to be visible from their distance, which now wasn’t that far from shore.
“What do you think, can it possibly be Africa?” Guerrero asked the Captain, once again looking through the spotting scope.
“Once I’ve been to Saint Louise,” the Captain started. “And taking into account our route, we would not be that far from it.”
He shook his head.
“But it cannot possibly be. There are no mountains this close to shore in the area. Whatever this is, it’s not Africa.”
“Nevertheless, we should be grateful we found anything at all,” Guerrero said. “And plan for our next step.”
“These are unknown waters and lands we’re treading now, Mr. Guerrero,” the Captain warned. “We must be careful.”
Up in the skies above ground, not far from shore, resting on a cloud, lied a pegasus. He had a bored looking expression that gazed to the sky above, fore hooves between his head and the cloud.
How long must I keep waiting…? he thought. Why did I had to stay behind… why would anypony had to for that matter.
With a yawn, he flipped over to now lie face down on the cloud, his face and fore hooves slightly over the edge.
This is a remote area, it’s not like there is an actual need to keep an eye on it…
But his thought process would be interrupted, for something had caught his attention.
“Hm…?”
He rose to his hooves while leaning forward. Over in the ocean, he could see it, a small shape. Most pegasi would’ve missed it, but not him.
A ship?
He focused his eyes on the object. It was indeed a ship, but even for him it was still hard to make out its crew. But one thing was certain. Whoever they were…
They were getting closer.
To the shore below him.
Well this is unexpected, he thought spreading his wings and taking off from the cloud. I must report this!
With a swift motion, he turned around, and promptly flew off in the direction inland as fast as he could. He was soon over the mountain and out of sight.