Chapter 10-1

“Please,” I answered softly, “I prefer this one.”

 “Aye,” he said with grace, “I am a pirate of honor,” and he assented to my choice.

With a hint of reluctance, he placed the amulet on a ribbon around my neck. As he turned away to close and lock his treasure chest, I knew he wished its cache was still intact.

Now the amulet was mine!

How strange that such a dull and lifeless object, one that had been of such little value or interest only moments before, could so quickly and become my most cherished possession.

I could barely conceal my eagerness to return to the privacy of my cabin and examine the amulet more closely. Still, I stayed on for a while, thanking him for his gift and continuing our discussion of the charts he had shown me earlier in the evening.

Soon I excused myself and retreated to my cabin. There in dim light of the oil lamp, I examined the amulet more closely. What had appeared merely to be scratches on the surface were now revealed to be writing. What could it mean?

Translated Winter 2005

The Amulet