Around The Horn
Author: Arch Angel
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

The night went by quickly and we left early in the morning the next day. Javier and Maria were quiet but studious as I showed them the simple controls to the barge. I let each have a turn with the controls to the horror of the merchants as we plummeted a hundred feet when Javier bumped the height lever.

“Careful,” I said in admonishment. “That lever is very sensitive to height adjustments, and while the barge can’t rise very quickly, it can fall as fast as gravity allows.”

The kid nodded his ashen face from his position on the floor. He had fallen when the barge came to a sudden stop. I hadn’t intervened in the error as I knew it would level out. I was also the only person braced for it to happen as everyone, including the merchants, had fallen.

“Monitor the controls while I go out and see if anyone needs healing.”

“Please, Mr. Paul, let me,” Javier said, getting to his feet.

I nodded as the kid moved past me on slightly wobbly legs.

I turned toward Maria, “try not to crash us into th
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