To Live Another Day by Gail Luppos (new ebook reader txt) 📖

of clothes.


She sighed in relief. All she had to do now was wait and hope that this cargo batch would make it onto the ship before she died of dehydration. Before she new it Robin quickly fell asleep, her dreams full of a shrouded figure with a bloody sword.
The jostling of her barrel immediately woke Robin up. For a second her heart beat rapidly as her nightmares came back to haunt her. Her thoughts went wild as she imagined herself being speared through with a sword dieing a slow and painful death. "Oh gosh Robin, don't ya think your being a little over dramatic. They're just loading the barrels onto the ship. They don't even know your hidden let alone are they going to kill you." She laughed at herself. She was such a worry wart. She grinned happily. " At least my plan to disappear underway. The sooner i disappear the better." All she had to do was sit back and enjoy the ride as this ship took her wherever fate destined her to be. And it was for free. She just wished it would take her far far away from London and across the sea to some other country. Where she could live freely and without being told whom she was going to marry and how she was going to live her life. But now her plans had changed. She frowned at the thought. What was she thinking! She couldn't just walk away and let that stupid man her stupid betrothed get away with murder. And kick her out of her home. I t was unjust. Besides she had always hated the man. He was always causing fights, outburst and was constantly found in the brewery with some whore. No she would get her vengeance. And he would pay for his crimes alive.. or dead.


Robin quickly became bored and listened in on the sailors conversations. A gruff voice called out to his comrades, " We be docking at Crete in a month. On the way there, we will be dropping off a few items. I expect you to treat this cargo with care. His voice turned menacing. " And if any of you dare to touch me barrels you will regret the day your ma ever birthed you." Robin heard some of the men gulp. He was obviously the one in charge with the way he commanded his men. The sailors muttered " Aye sir." He roared, " What did you say! I cant hear you!" The sailors shouted, " Aye! Aye! CAPTAIN !" "That's much better. Now get back to work you lazy pigs! We set sail at full tide. And I expect the cargo hold to be full by then. Or Else. " He growled one last time at his men and walked away. His footsteps echoed through out the night as he stomped up the plank and onto the ship. Robin let out her pent up breath slowly. She definitely did not want to meet M.r Grouch. Wonder what he got stuck up his ass.
The excitement of being a stowaway wore out the first hour Robin had been on the ship. She had thought of anything and everything to do. Her already tattered shirt was now nonexistent and she had to pull one of the extra shirts out from the barrel underneath her. The cramped space was really killing her. But she couldn't climb out of the barrel until she was sure that no one was going to come down into the hold. "Just a few more hours Robin. Just a few more, you can do it." She let out a loud breath and plopped her head on her knees. She groaned. She couldn't take it any more. She was hungry. Having not eaten the day before she mentally kicked herself. How could she have been so stupid and not eaten anything? That was it she was done with this barrel.


She placed her hands on the lid of the barrel and slowly twisted it off. She slowly climbed out but the darkness hid her view and she tumbled to the floor stumbling over several barrels. The noise was thunderous. She cried out in shock. No one could even sleep through that noise. "I'm so dead I'm so dead. Hurry hurry find somewhere to hide. Oh my Gosh!!" .. She quickly placed the barrel lid back on and searched around to find a hiding spot. she crawled on her knees her hands outstretched trying to find anything. Her hand came in contact with something warm. " Hmmm, " she thought. Feels like a leg." She gasped in shock and stumbled back as she realized that it was indeed a persons leg. She glanced at the persons face and shook in fear." Oh crap " The sailor grinned maliciously," that's right me boy you are in some trouble now." He grasped her by the wrist and wrenched her towards. Robin dug her nails into the wood and began to yell out profanities as he dragged her towards him. With a sudden jerk he lifted her in front of his face. "We Have A STOWAWAY!" He yelled. Robin held her nose .His breath smelled like rotting eggs. He looked down at her. " Something unpleasant bout me boy?" Robin shook her head rapidly. " Thought not." He said. The hold door opened with a crash and Robin flinched. She began to struggle again even though it was futile. She bit the sailors hand and he roared out in pain. He released his hold on her and she ran towards the door. "Aah! Get the stowaway! I want him after he's caught." Robin looked up to see a sailor blocking her path. He was younger than the rest. But boy did he look revolting. Looked like a pig bred him, she mused. She ran to the left and as soon as Mr. pig man leaped for her she dodged him and went the other way.


She quickly ran up the steps and out of the hold into the blasting sun light. She gulped in terror as she noticed the group of men standing on board the ship. They all looked particularly grubby, and irritable. " Uh oh." She quickly ran to her left where the rat lines hung. She grasped the lines and pulled her self up. She shrieked in terror as she barely missed the brush of a mans hand. "Don't look down! Don't look down! She chanted. She lithely pulled her self up and over the first mast to look down upon the ship. Her breath froze in terror as she realized that with one slip of the hand she could fall to her death. On the bright side she could always dive into the water, Pff! Right, like that would work. She would probably die from the impact of the water from this high up . Even if she survived the impact, she was in the middle of the ocean without a boat. But as soon as she thought that her eyes spied upon a boat on the other side of the deck. She nearly leaped with joy. But she was clutching onto the mast for dear life. The mast swung suddenly with the wind and she shrieked. The men froze as they climbed. Several fell off. But none were seriously injured....Sadly.
Robin clutched the ropes tightly as she glanced down at the men. They were half way up to her position. She was becoming a nervous wreck. She was trapped. Undeniably caught and awaiting punishment. She searched furtively for something anything to use as a weapon and espied upon a dirk used for cutting the ropes. She quickly palmed it in her hand. Feeling slightly more reassured, Robin began to wait in anticipation. As the first sailor reached her, she rammed her dirk in his hand causing him to fall. He was only slightly injured and she watched as he joined the men to catch her again. The captains voice rang out, " Who ever catches the scum bag get their own personal slave to do their work for the week!" They men began to cheer and grinned up at their prize, Robin. She laughed nervously as she watched the men climb with new vigor. The next man to reach her surprised her as he sprung up and grasped her ankle. She began to shriek and the men on deck began to cheer and hoot for the sailor to capture her. She quickly sliced at his hands that held onto her ankles. The young sailor just grinned fiendishly and said, "Your gonna 'ave to do worse than that to git rid o me." Desperate to get loose, Robin stabbed downwards,ramming the dirk into one of his hands. He gave a scream of pain as he clutched his hand to his chest. With a quick shove, Robin sent him reeling off the mast. Robin began to sweat as more men came up the rat lines. Warding off several men at a time, Robin began to feel the strain and she became lazy with her defense. Before she could blink her dirk was thrust out of her hand and a sword was held to her throat. Robin gulped as she looked up at her attacker. It was the captain. The bloody captain had caught her. He glared down at her with distaste. "Get up!" He said harshly. She stumbled to her feet and stood before the captain. He gestured with his other hand which held a pistol. " Climb down and don't try to run. I won't think twice about shooting you." Robin shook her head, " No sir. Wouldn't dream of it sir." He snarled. " Well what are you waiting for? Get a move on!" Robin nodded and quickly lowered herself down the ropes. She stood at the bottom and winced as she noticed the evil glares from the other sailors. Frightened, she backed up a step and rammed into a solid brick wall. She jumped from fright and glanced behind her as she gave a sigh of relief. It was just the captain. Not some injured sailor out to exact their revenge upon her. But then again she'd rather take the crew of angry sailors then the captain with the way he glared at her. If looks could kill, then she'd be incinerated with his burning look. He walked up to Robin and began to inspect her from head to toe. "My crew is not to pleased with the turmoil you caused." He stopped his inspection and stood in front of her. He gripped her by her collar and drew her up close to his face. " And neither am I for that matter. You are an idiot if you think you can stowaway on my ship and get away with it." He smirked at her. Robin clenched her fists together." You're calling me the idiot? You bastard! Your the idiot for hiring a crew like this in the first place. They are slack with their work,are poor swordsman and can't even catch a supposed