Patrick's Journey by Humphreys Roy

Author:Humphreys, Roy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-10-19T16:00:00+00:00

*****

Patrick had initially felt somewhat better after having opened up a little to the priest. However, as time went by, the confines of the cell slowly eroded his confidence and the creeping fog of depression returned. It seemed like an eternity since his last visit, yet, in his more rational moments, he knew only a couple of days had passed. Sitting in the far corner of the cell with his eyes closed, Patrick was acutely aware of each roll and toss of Boddington’s bows, as the ship relentlessly drove on through the waves. Once again, he felt he was close to a breaking point, where he would pound on the cell door and beg for release.

The rasp of the key in the door lock jolted Patrick from his gloomy contemplation. His hopes for another visit from the priest soared, only to be stifled when a grinning guard appeared in the doorway, accompanied by the first mate and two redcoats.

“Rourke, get up! The Captain has decided you can now return to more luxurious accommodation, as long as you behave yourself.”

Relief flooded through Patrick like water from a bursting dam. The claustrophobic effect of the cell had, in many ways, been worse than the pain of the lash. He scrambled to his feet and found he needed to support himself against the cell walls as a wave of dizziness swept over him.

“Are you coming out or not, Rourke? We haven’t got all day.”

The first mate was clearly impatient and Patrick was afraid they might simply slam the door shut again, leaving the darkness to devour him.

“No, please, I’m coming. I’m just a bit unsteady on my feet.”

Patrick emerged from the doorway and shielded his eyes at the brightness of the light flooding down the open hatchway. Rough hands grabbed his arms and propelled him up the steps and onto the deck. The sweetness of the fresh salt air on the ocean breeze lifted Patrick’s spirits, even though his eyes had not yet sufficiently adjusted to the light to allow him to take in the majesty of the ocean before him.

They quickly moved along the deck and then down another hatchway into the primary cell area. He was returned to the same cell that he shared with his fellow inmates. The first mate looked Patrick up and down as he locked the cell door.

“Just remember, Rourke, we can just as quickly have you back in solitary if you step out of line again. Next time, you won’t be so lucky to have your stay cut short by that Priest singing your praises in the Captain’s ear.”

Patrick simply nodded and moved back to take in the familiar surroundings. Once the escort party departed, the other occupants of the cell crowded around Patrick, eager to hear details of his ordeal.

“What was it like, lad? We heard the punishment cell was so small you couldn’t lie down.”

“Did they beat you each night?”

“We saw the lashing, what’s your back like now?”

Prior to the punishment, Patrick had been

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