CHAPTER V
The wagon slowly disappeared into the darkness, and Hanna cautiously rose to her feet. She was undoubtedly hurt; the pain and the slight but persistent bleeding from her wound were proof enough. Nevertheless, she began walking, determined to put as much distance as possible between herself and the place that had been her prison.
It was no easy task. Everywhere she looked, groups of foul-smelling men lay dozing, while more than a few, stirred by the first hints of dawn, struggled unsuccessfully to stand. At first, she moved slowly, picking her way around the bodies that seemed almost lifeless. Desperately lost, she searched for somewhere to go.
Among the majestic ships anchored along the coast, one caught her attention.
It was neither the largest nor the smallest, but it stood apart from the others. What struck her most was the unusual behavior of its crew. They were loading a multitude of bundles piled along the shore, working with suspicious stealth.
The men hurried to bring aboard their varied cargo. When the operation seemed complete, a piercing screech swept across the beach.
The sound came from the raising of an enormous anchor.
It shattered the stillness of the night, and a few seconds later a thunderous alarm sounded from the stone fortress.
It reminded Hanna of the great trombone Joseph sometimes used in music class. Yet this peculiar blast had an unexpected effect on the entire beach, which seemed to awaken from its stupor.
Gradually, amid chaotic confusion, the men struggled to their feet, searching for helmets, weapons, and other belongings, most of which lay half buried in the sand.
Hanna kept her eyes fixed on the ship.
Its crew had abandoned all pretense of silence and were now working frantically to get the vessel away.
Confusion reigned on the beach, and the terrifying alarm continued to sound.
All around her, men rose in disarray, disoriented and agitated. Nervous herself, Hanna picked up a helmet and a small sword from the sand, hoping to pass unnoticed.
She, too, seemed to have forgotten the need for silence. Despite her limp, she hurried toward the water with astonishing speed.
The ship appeared to have freed itself from the sand and was slowly moving out to sea.
“Utnek! Utnek!” voices began shouting behind her.
Two enormous arrows, each almost as long as three men, hurtled toward the vessel.
Hanna had nearly reached the water’s edge when she heard their massive metal tips whistle through the air. Startled, she stopped abruptly and turned toward the source.
From the stone fortification, monstrous engines of war had emerged. With the assistance of enormous creatures, their operators were already reloading after the first unsuccessful attempt.
More than a dozen mounted soldiers charged forward to prevent the ship’s escape, trampling and striking the bewildered men who happened to be in their path.
Hanna felt as though her heart might burst from her chest.
She turned again toward the fleeing vessel, which had already reached deeper water, and plunged into the sea.
Swimming as fast as she could, she followed in its wake.
The ship seemed to gather speed with every passing moment, while soldiers crowded along the breaking waves, powerless to pursue it. Their heavy armor prevented them from entering the water.
A shower of arrows struck the hull with tremendous force, and the vessel seemed to shudder beneath the assault.
Meanwhile, Hanna swam with all her strength, trying not to think about the deadly metal points plunging into the sea around her.
When she lifted her head above the water, she realized she had almost reached the ship.
Seen from the surface of the sea, the great vessel towered over her, moving majestically through the dawn.
Its sails suddenly filled with wind.
Only a small rope, held beneath the surface by a metal weight, seemed to be slowing the enormous ship’s departure.
Hanna managed to reach it.
Using the spears embedded firmly in the hull for support, she tried to climb toward the deck.
Suddenly, a man carrying a large ax severed the rope, unaware that the exhausted girl was clinging nearby.
Hanna fell.
But before she disappeared beneath the water, she managed to seize a large metal ring attached to the ship.
Her position was precarious. Nevertheless, after drawing a deep breath, she finally managed to climb through an opening left by a powerful impact.
The vessel was now racing forward at incredible speed.
Looking back toward the island, Hanna watched countless projectiles launched from the shore fall harmlessly into the water, hundreds of meters behind them.
The realization that she had very nearly failed brought a sigh of relief, though her breathing remained ragged.
A few seconds later, exhaustion and dizziness overwhelmed her.
Then she looked down at her leg.
Blood was flowing freely from the wound.
The sight was more than she could bear.
She lost consciousness.
When Hanna came to, the sun was shining brilliantly.
Its rays filtered through the enormous opening a great spear had torn in the hull, and she could hear the ship cutting swiftly through the ocean.
She felt dizzy. She had never traveled by sea before.
Her leg looked terrible. Although the bleeding appeared to have stopped, the wound was not healing well.
Slowly and painfully, she sat up and examined her surroundings.
She seemed to be in the ship’s hold.
Trunks, boxes, cages, and all manner of containers were piled haphazardly throughout the enormous space.
Darkness dominated the interior. Light entered only through the hole in the hull and a few small hatches.
Hanna was near the stern.
Peering outside through the accidental opening, she could see no trace of land.
The sea was calm—so utterly, suspiciously calm that it contrasted sharply with the commotion aboard the ship.
She had little idea what to do.
After fashioning a makeshift bandage from a piece of cloth protruding from a trunk, she began exploring the crowded hold.
Chaos reigned everywhere.
Clothing, animals, and striking pieces of jewelry that appeared quite valuable filled the space in such disorder that it looked as though a tornado had passed through.
The ship’s timbers creaked incessantly. Their sharp groaning mingled with the cries and complaints of creatures packed by the dozen into tiny, uninhabitable cages.
Hanna decided it might be wise to find out who the crew of this peculiar vessel were—and what sort of people they might be.
Despite the intense pain in her leg and her pronounced limp, she set out to take a look at the deck.
Climbing boldly over a jumble of crates, she reached a ventilation opening through which she could see what was happening above.
Careful not to reveal her presence, she watched in silence.
What she saw did little to inspire confidence in the honesty or decency of the people aboard.
She climbed back down as quietly as she had come.
Her brief glimpse of the rough sailors—or whatever they were—suggested that they had no regard for life whatsoever.
There seemed little reason for hope.
For a moment, Hanna stood motionless, as though the sight of those she had imagined might be her rescuers had confirmed that they were nothing more than vile pirates.
Then, utterly exhausted, she decided to search for food.
The hold was enormous.
Near the stern, crates filled with swords, daggers, helmets, and various articles of military clothing were stacked together.
Farther along stood large chests secured with heavy padlocks.
One was so completely stuffed that its contents were plainly visible: an astonishing collection of lavish jewels, some of which had spilled onto the flooded floor.
Garments of every kind and quality lay heaped in the spaces between the disordered crates.
And at the far end, toward the bow, an improvised, foul-smelling zoo filled the hold with howls and cries of distress.
Hanna shuddered at the sight of the poor, dying animals.
They seemed to be begging for mercy.
Many were struggling desperately to survive in appalling conditions. Others—and there were many of them—had already succumbed.
Darkness was deeper in that part of the hold.
Hanna could make out little more than an occasional paw, head, or tail belonging to God knew what creatures, watching her sorrowfully through small, gleaming eyes.
At last, after wandering for several minutes, she appeared to find what she was looking for.
Opening a clay jar, she discovered a hard, tasteless substance that was undoubtedly somewhat moldy.
It did little to satisfy her appetite, but it quieted her hungry stomach.
Thirst soon followed.
She searched desperately for something to drink and, fortunately, found water in a large barrel.
She drank until her stomach felt completely swollen, then resumed her exploration.
Suddenly, a violent shiver ran through her body.
A sharp pain spread from her injured leg through the rest of her, causing her to collapse.
An enormous crash echoed throughout the hold.
Trying to catch herself before striking the floor, Hanna had knocked over a chest filled with armor.
The noise was so tremendous that the silence afterward seemed almost unbearable.
All Hanna could hear was her own frightened breathing.
Terrified, she knew the accident could hardly have gone unnoticed.
Before she had time to react, hurried footsteps sounded above her.
Moving as best she could despite the pain, she managed to conceal herself among the cages.
The stench there was appalling.
She seized a large blanket and covered herself, pressing the fabric tightly over her face to suppress the nausea churning in her stomach.
A minute later, the heavily secured hatch was thrown open.
A group of men descended the broad staircase into the hold, searching for the source of the dreadful commotion.
Fortunately for Hanna, the first thing to attract their attention was the enormous hole in the ship’s hull.
Some threw their hands to their heads.
Others hurried toward it in astonishment.
From her hiding place, Hanna watched silently, enduring the pain in her leg as fresh blood soaked through her crude bandage.
After several minutes of heated discussion, the men decided to remove the spear that remained firmly embedded in an exceptionally thick beam.
Some time later, the task was complete.
They nailed a few planks into place, though the repairs did not even come close to covering the opening.
Then they left, laughing and splashing through the water that was becoming increasingly noticeable across the floor.
Once everyone had gone, Hanna pulled off the blanket.
Overheated and uncomfortable, she drew a deep breath.
But barely a second later, two of the men returned, apparently in foul moods.
She had just enough time to hide again.
From her concealment, she watched them inspect the cages.
Some animals reacted aggressively to their presence. Others, terrified, huddled in the corners.
After a brief examination, the men called for another crew member, who descended carrying a bunch of keys.
They selected two cages, unlocked them, and removed their occupants.
The creatures were already lifeless.
Without the slightest sign of remorse, the men threw the bodies through the opening in the hull.
The impact dislodged the planks they had just installed, sending them into the sea as well.
After a short argument, all three climbed back to the deck and closed the hatch behind them.
Hanna was deeply shaken.
She could not help thinking that if they discovered her, she might suffer exactly the same fate.
Ignoring the pain to which she had almost grown accustomed, Hanna slowly made her way toward the bow of the hold.
Still hoping that Kron might be aboard, she examined the cages one by one.
The creatures inside looked extraordinarily sinister, all the more so because of their miserable condition.
There was no sign of her friend.
By the time she reached the last cage, she had almost given up hope.
But something caught her attention.
This cage was different.
It was longer and slightly lower than the others.
Although she stood very close, she could not see its occupant. The darkness at the back was absolute.
Her curiosity grew when she heard a deep sigh—or perhaps something closer to a snore—coming from within.
She picked up a metal bar and tapped cautiously against the bars.
There was no response.
But just as she gave up trying to attract the creature’s attention, a pair of hands suddenly shot out from the cage.
“Natma me uk!” a desperate voice cried.
Hanna was only inches from the bars.
The hands nearly caught her.
Startled by their sudden appearance, she stumbled backward into the cage behind her.
A huge wolf-like animal inside flew into a rage.
It lunged at her savagely, thrusting part of its claws through the bars in an attempt to seize her.
Fortunately, it managed only to tear a little of her clothing.
Hanna let out a piercing scream.
Then she hurried into hiding, afraid someone might have heard her.
For several minutes, she could think of nothing but the mysterious occupant of the unusual cage.
Once she was certain nobody was coming down into the hold, she crawled back toward it, torn between curiosity and fear.
The arms were still stretched through the bars.
A chilling sob came from the prisoner inside.
“Hello?” Hanna said fearfully, before she could see the desperate captive’s face.
“Natma ne, on muk Gunuruk. On itk Snork!” the creature repeated in a broken voice.
Hanna hardly dared to look.
But after taking a deep breath, she positioned herself in front of the cage.
What she saw astonished her.
It was the strange little creature from the beach!
Now she could examine him more closely.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
His eyes were small and perfectly round, but what struck Hanna most was their tender expression—and the inexplicable sense of familiarity she felt when she looked into them.
Still incredulous, she studied him thoughtfully.
The little creature regarded her with equal curiosity.
After a few moments, he began trying to attract her attention.
Holding out his shackled hands, he murmured softly while staring intently at her.
He seemed to understand that she did not know his language.
Now he moved restlessly, gesturing without pause.
Hanna did not think twice.
She hurried to retrieve the bunch of keys that, fortunately, the sailors had left at the top of the stairs.
What she was about to do was rather reckless.
She had no way of knowing how the prisoner might react once freed.
But she was certain that the little creature did not deserve to be there.
Of course, none of the animals in that hold deserved such treatment. Yet the humanity that seemed to radiate from the little creature was unlike anything else in the hold.
Back at the cage, Hanna began trying the keys.
Several attempts failed.
Then, at last, the lock opened.
The sorrowful creature’s eyes filled with boundless happiness.
With an enormous leap, he threw himself at Hanna.
Startled, she thought for an instant that he was attacking her.
But when she managed to sit up and realized that the plump little fellow only wanted to thank her for freeing him, she was overcome with happiness too.
In fact, since arriving in this strange place, nothing had brought her greater joy.
A broad smile spread across her face.
After removing his shackles, the two of them made their way to the jar of food without exchanging a single word.
Hanna invited the little creature to eat.
His voracious appetite left her speechless.
Once he had also satisfied his thirst, they searched for a hiding place where they might be safe from an unexpected visit.
Hanna seemed almost to have forgotten her injury, though her limp was still unmistakable.
The little creature was badly bruised as well.
He walked with such an odd, unsteady waddle that Hanna could not help smiling.
When he saw her smile, he smiled back.
Together, they found shelter among a large heap of fabrics and clothing.
The creature had noticed Hanna’s injured leg.
Approaching her bandage slowly, he seemed to ask permission to touch it.
She nodded.
Her new companion began unwinding the blood-soaked strip of cloth.
His hands were remarkably plump, with disproportionately large nails. Yet the precision with which he untied the knot and removed the fabric astonished her.
The wound was worse than she had imagined.
In truth, Hanna had barely examined it. Events had unfolded so quickly that, despite the pain, she had paid it very little attention.
Now the unpleasant sight of the blood, together with the pain that seemed to grow sharper by the moment, made her feel faint.
The creature, whose name appeared to be Gunuruk, hurried away.
He returned with pieces of a beautiful sheet or curtain he had found among another pile of fabrics.
Using his sharp, prominent teeth, he tore the material apart and then soaked it in the barrel of water.
Hanna was still weak and waited anxiously for her new friend to return.
Gunuruk came back and settled beside her.
With extraordinary gentleness, he began cleaning the wound.
Hanna was sweating and appeared feverish.
Even so, she endured the pain stoically while her attentive companion did everything he could to tend to her injury as carefully as possible.
When he finished, Gunuruk hurried away for another large piece of cloth.
He wrapped it tightly around her leg, trying to keep the cleaned wound closed so that it would bleed as little as possible.
Once he was satisfied, Gunuruk encouraged Hanna to close her eyes and rest.
She needed no persuading.
She was utterly exhausted.
Yet despite her fatigue, her sleep was far from peaceful.
Nightmares and feverish delirium troubled her as the hours passed.
When Hanna awoke, the brilliant moon announced the arrival of night, shining beautifully above the furious waters of the ocean.
The ship rolled incessantly, its timbers creaking in a most unnatural way.
Large quantities of water were pouring through the hole in the hull, slowly but inexorably flooding the hold.
Gunuruk’s face showed deep concern.
Suddenly, a tremendous wave struck the side of the vessel.
Everything began rolling across the floor.
Water was now pouring down from the deck as well, and the situation had become chaotic.
Hanna and Gunuruk struggled to find something solid to hold on to.
Above them, the voices of the crew sounded increasingly desperate.
Hanna could not understand what they were shouting.
But the expression on her little companion’s face told her that things were unlikely to end well.
The great ship seemed to be turning aimlessly as waves battered its hull.
The situation worsened with every passing moment.
Hanna did not know what to do or how to react.
She clung tightly to one of the walls, trying to avoid the objects rolling wildly from side to side.
Gunuruk hurried back and forth through the hold.
Despite his plump body and awkward walk, he moved with astonishing agility, using his large nails to grip whatever he could.
“Net nuku nos Hanna!” he repeated whenever he approached her.
She had no idea what he was saying.
All her strength was devoted to keeping her balance.
Another enormous wave struck.
This time, the hull could no longer withstand the tremendous force of the sea.
A terrible cracking sound rang out, as though the ship had split in two.
Water rushed in from every direction.
Part of the ceiling collapsed, bringing two men down with it.
They were immediately caught in the violent torrent pouring through a great breach and swept out into the ocean.
The ship was sinking into the darkness of the night.
And Gunuruk seemed to have disappeared.
Hanna reacted at once.
Struggling to remain upright, she began calling for him.
“Gunuruk!” she shouted with all her strength.
The little creature managed to reappear on the other side of the ship, which was now almost completely flooded.
Hanna did not hesitate.
She plunged into the water, for it seemed that Gunuruk could not swim.
But just as she reached him, a wave hurled them both out of the vessel.
Behind them, the ship sank rapidly beneath the sea, accompanied by a high, grinding shriek.
The two companions were now alone in the middle of the storm.
Countless objects and fragments of the wrecked vessel littered the surface of the raging ocean.
Refusing to release Gunuruk, Hanna desperately searched for anything that might keep them afloat.
The seconds passed in agony.
Exhausted, she endured the pounding waves while dodging the wreckage that had resurfaced dangerously after the ship disappeared beneath the water.
A large section of the deck drifted toward them.
Hanna barely managed to avoid being struck.
Then, on the verge of collapse, she caught hold of it.
With one final effort, she managed to climb onto the floating wreckage, hauling Gunuruk up before her.
The little creature coughed violently, struggling to expel the water he had swallowed.
Then they looked around in alarm.
The night dragged on.
In a desperate struggle for survival, the two friends fought to remain aboard their improvised craft as the storm tossed it helplessly from side to side.
Their future was uncertain.
And although dawn gradually brought calmer seas, it offered only the smallest comfort.
What hope could they possibly have in that endless ocean, adrift on a battered fragment of a ship?
At last, both succumbed to exhaustion.
Almost lifeless, as though they had perished, they lay motionless upon their makeshift raft.