ParadisE

ThE JourneY To

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A Short and Sweet Introduction

ell I dont know where to start, I have never done this. So I

guess I will make it short and sweet, starting with my name, Then my story. My name is Thompson Elrose. I am not sure of the year, but we call it now year 203. I was born in London, or so I was told. I do however know I was born in London (...supposedly in London). A great war hit sometime in what people say was about 1800 or so (give or take a few years), but no one is quite sure. Many ed to a citadel in the mountains, and other large heavily armed structures, well the ones that survived My mum was one of the lucky ones. My father, however... well lets just say I am a bastard. " People have since run out of their bunkers after the war was won. No one quite knows how long we humans spent in the bunkers, no one knows why people have spent so long in them; Was it because the sounds of war had become embedded in their heads, and haunted their dreams? Or is it simply because no one had actually told them the war was over? " They have since moved on to create the world anew. Establishing land, leaders, and so forth. Life is quite different from what it was. " Alright, so lets begin reading here, my memories. My Diary, the Journey to Paradise.

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Entry One The Last Day T

he value of a penny seems so null when paradise in a post

apocalyptic world is so near, that you can taste it. This realisation came to me one day when I was walking from my cabin to the foredeck of the Ship, The Red Willow. A magnificent Airship in which I am indeed a crew member of, and proud to say not only am I a crew member but the Captain. Well Airship, hardly., it is unlike most Airships these days, it not only flies, but sails upon water as well. The War created a new Era once the cannons and swords had ceased for cross sea transport we humans had to taken to the skies in order to get around. It truly was a new era. Though a magnificent Airship, it bears a crew of but six members, we must recruit more. ~ We are in fact in the skies right now flying to the city in the sky called Wilderstone. Some have come to call it The City of Angels for it floats nearly FIVE KILOMETERS above Old Great Britain, almost as if watching it. Oh my, wonderful day we are here. Wilderstone, the largest city in the sky. Docking our ship. Captain Thompson, Said to me my first mate, Elijah Wright Where are we to go to recruit? Elijah looked around, as if baffled. Yes, First Mate, and smart as he may seem, but when it came to direction, heading or where to go, be turned into a bumbling moron.
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A pub. said I. It is there that we will surely find a crew. I do not think he was going to argue going to a pub? A nice frosty pint, fresher tobacco, good company, and in the process finding a crew to complete ours? No one in their right sane mind would question this. They would have to be some sort of cur to even dispute this. Though at the time I didnt know it, we were not as welcome as we seemed to be in Wilderstone. ~

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Entry Two My Story

I think it best to tell my story at this time; I was born in a Citadel in the ruins of Old London, in who knows what year. As I had said, war struck and there were more important things to do rather than keeping track of the years gone by. We spent many years in that bunker, until I was five at least, how long before I do not know. But it was at the age of five that my mum had died of unknown causes. I was taken under care of one of her closest friends Lucy Wright. Oh yes, Elijahs mum.. He and I were the same age and a few months apart, he being the elder one. Elijah and I had become friends. We had always played Pirate games. He being more the leader than I, had always claimed himself the Captain. I did not mind. At the age of twelve my adopted mum, his mum, had died of an incurable flu. We had become Orphans upon the streets of London. We stole food simply to survive. We always hit the same bakers cart in the morn, and then at supper time we switched places because our original vendor had gotten smart. Although one day was different. We had spent the night in an alley, and went to our usual cart to get food. However a tall man stood upon a lamppost staring at the cart. He was tall, at least 182 Centimeters. His clothes were fair, from the back, we could see only the blazer in which he wore which draped past his buttox. His hair was longer than his neck; and it was draped in dreadlocks and tied up at the middle of the back of his head with goggles underneath the tie for his hair. He seemed to be intently and compulsively watching his pocket watch.

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He had walked away from the lamppost in which he rested upon. Elijah and I moved in to get breakfast. Upon stealing a loaf of bread and this time a tin of fine tea. Oh what a feast this will be. But we were not going to be able to enjoy it. We were grabbed by the collars of our shirts. I had the bread Elijah had the tin of tea. Both dropped. The tall man had caught us steeling, he had lifted us up. The bakers attention was shifted to us OIE! He exclaimed Jus what do you think you are doing sir? Put those children down. The tall man laughed. And let them steel your merchandise? He asked. You best be on guard, for there are street rats who will attempt to cheat you. The baker looked down to the bread and the tin, Why you scroungy little rats. He pulled out a plank of wood and lifted it to us as if meaning to hit us. The tall man set us down still holding our tunics. Enough said he. I can see these boys had suffered enough without your bullocks. and wild antics. The baker dropped the plank of wood. I will take care of them. he continued. The baker groaned. Oh fine then you beat them. Beat them? He asked rhetorically, Oh no, I have much harsher of a punishment in mind. the tall man bowed his head. Good day sir. said he to the baker. He yanked us both taking us to our alley and knelt down to our height. He let go of our shirts, and we had both attempted to run. Yet, we were too slow, he had placed his hand upon our chests, pushing against us, and throwing us down to the brick ground. You are slow, unclever, oblivious, and now clear to me; weak. he degraded us with his poisonous words. Who was he to speak down to us. WHO ARE YOU!? Elijah screamed uncannily. And who are you to speak to us in that manner? I my friends am Captain Meriwether. Captain of the Airship The Red Willow. he responded A man crept up behind him, and oblivious he calld us? You three. The man said. What is your business in this alley.? It was the Constable

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Clark. A vicious man who was hellbent on power. He had to know everybody's business. He thought he had more than he really did. Meriwether lipped the word run yet no audible words escaped his lips. Us two boys ran. I stopped to look at what Meriwether was doing, He had pushed Constable Clark back making him fall to the floor. He struggled to get up as Meriwether ran through the alley and towards us GO! he yelled, DAMN IT GO! He yelled. Finally the Constable was up from his trip. Us the accidental triage scaled a tattered wooden fence. Before dropping down, I figured since I was in much trouble anyhow, I shall say this HEY FAT ARSE! TRY CATCHING US NOW! He charged the fence and attempted to scale it as we did yet was unsuccessful in doing so. We tucked away in a nearby pub. Elijah and I were silent as he ordered an ale and a bottle of rum.. We then meandered to a secluded corner where the shades were drawn. Who are you? Elijah asked as the man lit a long Churchwarden Pipe What are you? And do you mean to harm us? He pulled the pipe from his lips grip, blew a plume of smoke, and sipped on his ale before answering Elijah. I told you I am Captain Meriwether, Captain of the Red Willow Airship. He sucked more smoke into his lungs and said It is I who should be asking the questions. he said. Now who are you two? I began, This is... But was abruptly cut off as Elijah spoke. This is my first mate Thompson Elrose, and I... I am Captain Elijah Wright. Captain? Meriwether asked playing along after another hit off his pipe. Where is your ship then CAPTAIN? He asked mockingly yet obviously still playing due to the smile on his face. A pirate wont tell another pirate the whereabouts of his ship. Elijah informed. He might try to steal it. In fact yes we did have a ship it was a large wooden crate With the pipe in his mouth Meriwether grunted. Good boy he said blowing smoke out.

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Say. I began to say, and trying to find the correct words, Are you a real Airship Pirate? I asked. I mean I thought the King shot all of them down. To my knowledge there were not that many airship pirates, but quite obviously, I was wrong Meriwether took a swig of rum, making such a face upon restoring the cork. You bet your knickers I am. He said. And the King thinks he shot them all down, but more than half still remain. He said. He and the East India Trading Company are all that we must be weary of these days. Elijah was in awe, Can we join your crew? he asked absolutely flabbergasted. Meriwether burst in laughter My dear boy, he said with his laugh winding down. No, I cannot risk the lives of children. Besides what would your mothers think if I swooped you up? (The only idea running through my head at this time was A pirate who gives a damn?) We havnt any. His mother passed of causes unknown, and mine of the flu. Elijah responded. Now your decision? Meriwether stroked his chin. Well that does change things a bit. he said. And I do need able bodied young crew members. You are Orphans correct? he asked for assurance. Has Elijah not made this clear? I asked. Well your dear Constable is probably on the look out for you two and what happens under his command of you would be far less a punishment than what you will Endure upon my ship. He said. If we hurry we can sneak out. He left three quid on the table and we snuck out. Police roamed the streets, apparently the news of us had not reached the other officers quite yet, because we had reached the docks unmolested by them. Meriwethers ship was about eight meters long, which was quite large. It had four massive fans; two in the front, and two in the back, it had other smaller fans around it as well. Behold. He said. The Red Willow. we boarded the ship, Most of the crew were asleep, WAKE UP YOU FAT ARSED LAZY SKY DOGS! Meriwether screamed. He grabbed a cane which he had obviously

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left behind sitting on the railing of the ship he had planned on making a run for it anyhow it seems. He slammed the butt cane on the deck. WAKE IT UP! THE LOT OF YA! YOU BUNCH OF LAZY CURS! Every one shot up at the sound of the cane. We take to the sky. Hoist the sails, blow the fans. Quick before the wind changes.. The crew dropped the anchor into the sea. OIE! I screamed running to the edge of the ship. Why did you not lift the anchor? I asked the crew member who was dumbfounded Captain Meriwether, he dropped the chain in the sea. The captain laughed, My dear boy, you would make a bloody good first mate. He laughed again Where we are going, we dont need anchors. Then where are we going? Elijah asked. Meriwether looked at him and smiled My boy, He pulled down his googles and then looked northeastward We are flying to Paradise. ~

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