Prompt #8

The Prompt: Siren’s Song

The sailor stood at the railing, his feet braced against the swaying of the ship and hands spread far apart as he listened to the wind.

It almost seemed to be calling him. He had abandoned his post on the crow’s nest to get closer to the sea, for some reason he felt drawn to it. The briny saltwater sprayed his face and the droplets cooled him, settling on the heated leathery skin of his face.

But it still wasn’t enough. The surface of the ocean lay many feet below. No matter how far he strained, he was always too far away to feel the full effect of the ocean’s power. Entranced, the sailor leaned over the rail, eyes closed, letting his other senses take control for the time being.

The salty smell wafted through his nose and the song grew louder in his mind. It wasn’t real music, but rather a call. A summoning.

His fingers reached for the water, feeling the spray of the wave dampen his fingers. A sudden thought struck him. It would take nothing more than simply pulling himself over the railing and he could immerse himself in the waves.

He could become one with the ocean.

The sailor had half a mind to do that when a sharp call interrupted him. “Oi! You there! What’re you doin’ away from yer post?”

In an instant, his senses came back and he pulled away from the railing. The song in his mind muted until he could focus fully on the other man’s words. “I er- heard somethin’ on deck.”

“You don’ leave yer post for nothing, hear me boy?” The older man asked roughly. “’Specially at night in these parts. You’d do best to climb back up to yer nest and stay there.”

“Yessir,” the sailor said. Then he paused. Something about the words sounded strange. “These parts?”

“There’re tales of men doin’ strange things ‘round here.” The man scowled at the boy then continued back into his cabin. “Watch your step, boy.”

As the man disappeared back into the depths of the ship, the sailor was left once again alone with the ocean and his own thoughts. Heeding the man’s warning, he walked away from the edge and began the long climb up to the crow’s nest.

The song, silenced by the confrontation with another human, remained quiet in his mind. Though he was once again on his own, the only sounds he heard were the gentle slapping of the waves against the hull of the ship.

The yearning to be a part of the ocean was gone. He was alone in his mind.