The Cursed Island: short story

By Patrice Martinez

Surprised by a storm, the fishing boat of three valiant sailors departed from the coast. One of the men had been living on coastal shipping for ages, the second, a sturdy Visigoth man, had broken with his former life as a pirate, and the third had recently arrived on the fishing boat as a young sailor. But the ocean pushed them to an archipelago, from which the beam of a lighthouse emerged in the night, along with its frenzied speed. They landed on the coast of the smallest island, under a raging sea which had shattered part of the boat. The vision of the lighthouse lost on this islet did not enchant them, they had to go there, because no dwelling remained in that austere place. When they reached the door of the fire tower, a mishap made them ask many questions about a drama that took place there a few weeks earlier.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Nov 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9781667465838

Book preview

Patrice Martinez

The Cursed Island

Short story

NOVELS

By the same author:

Under Patrice Martinez

The Revenge of Ixion  

Hestia’s Grave

The God-Universe of Tau-Thetis

Under Yan Derupe:

Grand Pavois – White Princess -

Illustration: Lighthouse by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay - Phanes-editions

Legal deposit: September 2021

Any other use of information or data, and any reproduction, even partial, is strictly prohibited, and constitutes a punishable criminal infringement.

The small coaster was now similar to a fragile nut shell, due to the anger of sea elements exalted by the storm; from roll to pitch, the fishing boat paled in comparison to the height of the waves which were reaching several hundred feet and sending the sailboat back and forth in a frenzied dance, jostling the three sailors from port to starboard like simple rag dolls destined to their toddlers. The mast trembled under the tension forces of the large rollers, and the hull vibrated, ready to give in under the terrible assaults of the sea god. Gaukil and Landeric had folded up the sail in time, while Akhila, with muscles as hard as iron, was firmly holding the helm, but the sea fury augured a terrible end if it were to run out of steam. Finally, the Visigoth was not controlling the boat, because the raging waves had decided to push them off their fishing road... pushing them to the high sea. The boat pitched under