excerpt from Chapter 20 – Warderick Wells
Offerings from boat crews to the sea gods atop Boo Boo Hill on Warderick Wells.
Manny didn’t know it, but he was climbing sacred ground. The legend of BooBoo Hill tells the story of a missionary ship that was dashed to bits on the reef below the sheer rock face in a violent storm. All hands on the fated vessel perished. Their souls have haunted this spot ever since. When the moon shows and wind blows, many visitors have reported missionaries singing mournful hymns.
Explorers, adventurers and cruisers have been leaving gifts to King Neptune, and the lesser sea gods, at the top of BooBoo Hill in hopes of fair sailing and safe voyages. Chunks of driftwood, pieces broken off boats, banners, rocks, shells and a profusion of recovered flotsam and jetsam have been adorned with ships’ names and dates to create their offerings. Quite a pile of debris has accumulated in the name of appeasing ocean deities.
Anything with a boat’s name can be left as an offering to Poseidon.
Excerpt from Chapter 22 – Ghosts
Ross and Ewan inched toward the debris heap. There was a very light tapping sound.
“Something’s in there.”
“Help.”
“It sounds human!”
Ross and Ewan warily pulled pieces from the pile where the light tapping noise came from. The group gathered around.
“Help.”
They started yanking scraps off the stack in earnest. When a hand popped out, everyone scattered backward. The hand was definitely human. It was also trapped.