Wyrm 2

There’s not much time left so I’ll be brief. The house is warm, the animals are safe, but I can hear it calling and will have to follow – there was a bargain, you see.

I never said much about that first voyage, did I? The captain was mad and the ship barely seaworthy. How we made it to the ice fields I’ll never know.

When the blizzard hit, I was up in the crow’s nest. It was no ordinary storm – the souls of the dead wailed on that wind and I knew the rest of the crew were already among them. All I could think of was you and the little ones.

Then I saw it there in the blinding light at the heart of that gale – the white worm that the natives speak of in those parts – wings the size of icebergs, eyes of blue flame. I hope that God will forgive me some day but I prayed to it.

The years have been good to us, haven’t they? It will be a heavy snow but the grandchildren will dig you out in the morning. I’m sorry to leave but it kept its promise and I must keep mine.