(continued from port)

A number of us arrived at the Market Square after retreating from the port. Only a few of the stalls in the square remained and even fewer stal owners. The stall owners that were here seemed to have no idea what was going on.

"Captain Korg's Death Fleet has arrived!" I said to them as I began kicking ove stalls to make some sort of barricade, some sort of defence for us, "they'll be here at the Square very soon!"

I had managed to make a some sort of wall out of stalls for us to take a defensive position behind. More and more people were arriving from the port and moving behind the barricade.

One of the authority officers, I think he was called Jones, was handing out weapons to people.

"Everyone with a firing weapon... a pistol, shotgun... whatever... get to the front of the barricade!" I shouted, "as soon as everyone else arrives from the port, no doubt there will be Korg's Pirates hot on their trails! Fire at any Pirate you see!"

I too took position at the front of the barricade, my crossbow ready. This was going to be bloody. And I was unsure how much effect our weapons would have on these Pirates... after all, they were in league with the unstoppable Korg.

As I waited along with everyone else, a sudden pain shot through my chest. I squrmed for a second and the pain began to ease. Still it troubled me...

I jumped behind the barricade that Mister Johns had set up. Ducking behind it I took my pistol from its holster around my belt and began to load it up.

I looked at Mister Johns who was just next to me. He was showing signs of pain on his face. I was concerned.

Emmsi climbed over the barricade and a few feet back. When I caught her eye I motioned over at Mister Johns. She knew what I was thinking. We both looked up to the sky. We feared the worse. We hoped we were worng...

I crouched behnd the barrier that Mr Johns had set up and got in position with the gun I had been handed. I too noticed the look of pain on Mr Johns' face and as I caught Olivias eye I could see she was concerned too.

(continued from port)

The doctor, Helen Corr, myself and several crew members from the 'Old Sailor' arrived at the Market Square. We found that Mister Johns had set up a barricade. This was a good idea. It meant we had something to protect ourselves behind when the enemy arrived.

But what could possibly protect us from Captain Korg and the Axe of Lunea?

"Get behind the barricade," I said to Helen and the doctor.

Those injured at the port had been taken to the Market Square and already the doctor was tending to their wounds. I smiled. She was a good doctor who obviously knew what she was doing. I wondered if she would consider joining us when we set sail again.

I saw Tess Bail crouched over her parents who were both badly injured. My heart went out to her. Tess meant a great deal to me and it saddened me to see her crying.

I loaded my blunderbuss and positioned myself next to Mister Johns.

"There are still several people on their way back here, including Phoenix," I said, "as soon as they've got here... the next faces we will probably see will be that of the pirates."

Mister Johns nodded gravely. I looked back at the other people read yto fight who were lined up alongside us, just behind the barricade. It troubled me that one of these people was a cult member... and that we still didn't know who or what they had planned...

(Continued from port)
I had been dragged back to shore by the captain, it must have been a serious battle if we had to retreat, I always thought the Death fleet was a well made up bed time story, I never imagined them to be real.

I nodded to the captain and hurried of to tend to the rest of the crew.
My heart pounding in my head, I had never done anything like this before but I couldn't threat I had to keep an air of coolness.

"I need to go back and get my other bag, this one was for a call out, I dont have enough for everyone" I said to the captain, "Would it be safe for me to go?" I asked him.

Perhaps after all this was over, I would be able to join them on thier voyage to wherever they were going, they obviously needed a good doctor.

"Your other bag is still at the port?" I asked quickly. She nodded her head.

This was bad. When we lef tthe port had already been in a bad condition. The Death Fleets weapons had seen to that. Was the port even still safe to stand on? And the Death Fleet could have reached the port by now. I had strong reservations about her going back.

"Obviously I cannot tell you what to do," I said to the doctor, "as you are not a member of my crew. So if you wish to go back for your bag then I cannot stop you... however I would storngly recommend against it."

I looked into her eyes. She was obviously a very determined woman. I wondered if my warnings would stop her from going. I doubted it.

"If you do go, and you get into any sort of trouble, my security officer, Phoenix, is still somewhere at the port," I said, "shout out his name. He will come and help you."

I sighed what was I going to do? I couldn't stay here and let them die, but I couldn't go back and die myself.
"I cant risk going" she said, "You dont by any chance know if fig root grows around here anywhere? I can use it as a natural blood clot..." she asked.
She had studied botany as a child so knew how to use earths natural subtances in her work, it often proved an advantage and if the root grew here it would be a great help.

My burns were painful but not life threatening so I managed to move over to my wife and daughter. I was grief struck to see Elizabeth in this way. Her skin scorched. She used to be so beautiful. I held them both thightly. I wished that Tyler was with us so we could be a family again. Where was Tyler? I really did not know.

I overheard Dr Van Tassel talking to the captain. She was mentioning fig roots.

"Excuse mr Dr," I said, "but Old Man Gills Shop shop sells fig roots. Old Man Gills shop sells anything. And at a time like this I'm sure he woldn't mind you getting them for free."

"Well thank you, thats a lot of help" I smiled at him, I had tended him earlier he looked alright.
I had also tended his wife, she wouldn't stop talking about him and her daughter.
"Your a lucky man" she said to him before heading off for the shop.

I ran forward brandishing an axe. "If they want me then they'll have to come and take me! I'll never surrender! Never! Never! Neeeeveeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr!"

I tried runnign forward siwshing my axe about in the air but I tripped over part of the barricade and fell to the floor, hitting my head and rendering me unconscious!