Benjamin             the great search

Prologue

You’ve probably had journeys on airships across the gentle waves and landed on islands to experience the odd mini-expedition. You’ve maybe been searching for unknown creatures but when you find them they are always discovered. In summer, you probably sat on the deck and had a ice-cream (that probably melted onto your hands) and many different delicacies from abroad. When you flew, the wind wrapped around your head and flowed freely around your body. When you flew, your parent probably told you not to disturb the captain or not to fiddle with the ropes. You probably raised the balloon with the ropes and let the ropes murder your hand. Travelling by skyship in the summer is not the same as in winter.

Travelling on an expedition to unknown lands is very different in the winter months. no-body knows what lives there. You should try a skyship journey when the weather is against you: heavy rain, bitter temperatures and roaring waves. You should try flying with little to no food and low fuel. You should try coping with a deadly Zburator tearing the balloon apart and destroying the vessel.

Chapter 1

We ran, legs burning. The Socair was rising out of the harbour. We were closing in fast hoping to get on before it was too late. Suddenly, the balloon rose from the lower decks gliding higher than ever before. The streets of Findochty were filled with life cheering to the crew. John and Bailey jumped up onto the ship nearly missing the hard-oak deck. The crowds gasped as we leapt. The waves started to get rough. Inside, the pumps were on full blast to inflate the balloon. Outside, Captain Peter Sherman was shouting orders to the crew and staring at us.

John and Bailey gazed down as the ship rose higher than the crest of the hill. They could see endless waves. They could hear the distant rumble of other sky ships. John or Bailey grinned as they set off on an adventure to the Fair Isle looking for the famous explorer Oscar Wedram. Inside, the cook was tidying the galley. Outside, the wind was battering the side of the hull and making it hard to keep the ship going in a straight line.

Within an hour, we were closing in on the first stop of to collect the perishables. Then the water supply for the engine. We were losing power. We were dropping altitude. Luckily, the captain pulled us away from the ground and landing safely at the bury. John sighed, “I wonder if we will find Oscar Wedram,” he muttered, wondering if he is still alive.

That night the weather turned. Wind bellowed pushing the ship of course. Rain thundered on the deck. Lightning impaled the sky.

Chapter 2

Over the next few days, the Socair sailed through endless snow storms. Rain impaled the delicate paint. A couple of hours later, the storms gave way showing the Fare Isle. Flying over the North Sea, John looked down with his lucky           binos. There was enough room to land. But the ground was too soft for the ship’s safety.

Finally, the captain looked over the stern. John was waiting for the call. Then the captain bellowed, “Coming in to land!”. Suddenly, the captain spotted what look like the remains of R2-D2. The ship of the lost explorer. Has Oscar Wedram landed here?

The engines stopped turning; everyone called to the anchor release system.  John and Bailey stared across the vast jungle and spotted the wreckage: tangled steal work, a shredded balloon and what they were dreading. To one side, a small green pasture held rare herbs. On the other side, the jungle spread for miles. But in the centre was what they wanted a large fresh water lake. In the middle of the lake was a giant hole dropping into the abyss.

Without warning, the crew scrambled of the ship. Bailey charged off. We all looked at the wreck but we found nothing. Apart from charred book and damaged machinery but no escape vessel. A few hours later Bailey came back carrying a case. John took it off him and saw Morse code: — .– (O.W).

“Let’s get the tents out and camp here,” he called, “and then tomorrow we will do the proper search of this island.” As soon as the tents were up the fire was blazing. The smoke was going north away from the island.

A shadow creeped towards the tents. A rustle. A twig snapped. A howl silenced the crew. It was close. Another howl came. John knew what it was. The worst thing that could happen. A animal that could tear you limb from limb. Rip the ship to shreds. Bailey stared into the pitch-black jungle. Right at the destroyed ship.