Swiss Family Robinson "Same Setting"

DAY 1

I awoke upon the dry shore of a surprisingly large island. The waves crashed against the soaked shore of this accursed island. I do not remember how we arrived here. Our ship was old and small. My crew was new. The ship carried no important cargo. And I, the captain, surely doubt that we would have collided with something that could bring such destruction upon us. However, something caused our ship to become utterly destroyed. Now, we must cope with our horrid circumstances. Our only resources are what little provisions happened to wash upon shore, three measly knives, and the worn journal I write in now, so if we do survive this calamity, I may tell the tale to those I love. Only three of my once plentiful crew remained among the lonesome pieces of our destroyed vesel. At first, I could not tell if they were still alive. I shook them all, one by one. None awoke. As I began to abandon all hope of surviving my situation, one of the sailors released a groan. I sprung from where I had sat, and rushed to assist the man, who I recognised to be Johnathan, a passenger of my ship. He had wanted to be taken to Spain, and when he heard of our departure from our home toward there, he quickly came to beg us for a spot on our ship. How could I deny such an eager man? Now, as I sit and write, I do not realize his reason for wanting to leave. He has short, reddish hair, pale skin, and a thin frame. He is clothed in black pants, and a tattered black coat.

"Johnathan," I had said, shaking him.

"Captain…" He said weakly. "Where are we?"

Upon explaining our dreadful circumstances, we decided it would be wise not to waste time attempting to resuscitate our crewmates, and hoped they would wake in the same way as Johnathan. Eventually, we determined that the best option at this time was to conduct our efforts towards building some sort of shelter. We primarily used pieces of wood from our ship, and connected them with ropes and vines from the forest inland from us. Now, upon reflection, I recall Johnathan being fast on his feet and quick with his knife. Actually, I believe he did more work than myself. Eventually, two more sailors awoke and began to help us; Robert and Nelson. Robert is a burly, but considerate man. He always seemed to conduct his abilities towards the "greater good of man." He has darker skin and dark hair. He wears tan overalls and a blue-and-white striped top . Nelson is an intelligent man, by social standings. He is one of the only sailors I know to ever have graduated from a college. In fact, I remember that he claimed to have graduated from one of the most prestigious schools in the area. However, I doubt this statement is as true as he makes it seem. I trust him not. He is characterized by blonde hair and bright skin. He wears a scholar's clothing. I wonder how such a man decided to work a ship like mine. By nightfall, we had built a passable shelter and a ring of stones to safely build a fire. Even now I greatly appreciate the idea offered by Nelson. I simply would not be able to see what I was writing, or enjoy the bountiful warmth. He said he had read many books about surviving in the wilderness. I again doubt his word as truth. There is nowhere to lay our heads at night, other than the rough sand we walk upon. Still, as I turn to look at my resting crewmates, I see them toss and turn on the sand. As the moon creeps across the black sky, I feel as if hope has been restored. We may yet survive this experience.

DAY 2

We awoke this morning in poor condition. Actually, all except Nelson awoke. He refused to move, and pleaded for rest, half awake. We had no option but to oblige. This is no place for someone like him. I recall our clothes being dirty beyond imagination, and the blue and gold coat seemed to have lost all color. They had to be washed to some extent before continuing. We used the ocean nearby as well as we could, and the water was cool and refreshing. Time was indeed wasted this morning. We must realize we must abandon the comforts of home if we are to survive. Nelson awoke, and hunger set in. Human limitations are our enemy in this accursed place. There was a strange shortage of food on the shore. We all felt weak and helpless.

"Food must be found." Said Nelson. "We should plant and till now, in the morning hours."

I realized that this man was taking what was rightfully mine; Authority. What right does this man have to command MY crew? I was moments away from speaking my mind when Robert yelled,

"We need food NOW. We will simply starve without any. We have no time to wait for crops to grow. There is no point in remaining idle when death waits around every corner."

Even now rage stirs inside me. Merely thinking of how my right was robbed from me. However, I realized that there was no point. Reflecting at the scene now, I realize that Johnathan did not speak. In reality, he gave no input in anything at all. At this time, our group took what little weapons we had and left for the inland forest in search of food. It was stunning. Lush trees that grew tall and strong and long vines were in every direction. The air was moist. The light shone through where the leaves did not touch, making the ground appeared to be sprinkled with sunlight, like leaves in early autumn. We crossed scarcely any rivers, however, which was the only type of variety that could be asked for. The ones we crossed were greatly appreciated, due to the chance to revive yourself with water. Eventually, the forest seemed to go on forever, and what was originally beauty turned to something that causes frustration in large amounts. This did not help our current circumstances, which was already not desirable. We had found nothing to hunt, nor plant to eat. The sun was beginning to set, and it seemed as if fatigue was finishing what it had started.

"This is useless!" Declared Nelson. "We are lost, and will surely starve. Hope is lost! Death waits for us all!" I saw the fear and guilt beginning to fill Robert's face. He was obviously taking the blame upon himself. This is when I thought; If this accursed forest brought madness to a man like Nelson, what would happen to us if I did not speak? So, naturally, I had to determine my crew.

"You fools!" I shouted. "Giving up will do us no go. We will die if we do not try, and we may yet still find rations if we remain determined." It was at this point I realized Johnathan was gone. I had no recollection of him leaving, and neither did the remainder of my crew once I had spoken about it. We had no time to mourn, however, and decided that we must return to our "campsite." It was beginning to become suitable dark, we thought, and we would have the same chance at finding food as pressing forward. We kept on, retracing our steps as best as we could until we heard a rustling nearby.

"Stop!" I commanded. "Listen." We stood still for what felt like years. The rustling got closer. It got louder. The night kept creeping in as we stood, and waiting for whatever came for us. Then, we saw it. A strangely vibrant snake slithered up to Robert's ankle. Its forked tongue flicked out of its angular face as it began to bring the front of its body off the forest floor. It prepared to strike. Only I had seen it. Time seems to slow as I rushed towards it. I drew my knife, and slashed its head. Scale split from scale. Flesh ripped tore from flesh. The serpent was dead. Robert was startled, and back away quickly, until he collided with a tree, and made a loud thud. He soon realized what the situation had been.

"I owe you my life." He said eventually.

"This snake was very deadly." Nelson said. "We must remain vigilant." It seemed like immediately we heard more rustling. We knew what was coming.

"Ready yourselves!" I said, Nelson drew his knife shakily, and Robert lifted his fists. One after another they came out of the greenery, and one by one they were beaten back.Swing after swing, slice after slice. Steel met with fang and fist met with scale as the fight went on. Eventually, we beat them back. Spirits seemed to be at a high after such a decisive victory. We took what meat we could from the snakes, and continued our trip back home. When we finally arrived, we cooked the meat and ate well. I sit now with a full stomach, and we still have some meat leftover. I see a figure moving closer now. It appears to be Johnathan. I will go see.

DAY 3

The man last night was Johnathan. I would have killed him if I knew where his true intentions lay. Now, my standing is even worse than where I started. We awoke and ate what food we had left. However, Nelson had not woken yet. We had just decided he was just doing what he did yesterday. Eventually, we began to worry. So, I went to see him. He was gone. No trace. It was as if he had disappeared from reality. We all looked for him, but nothing could be found. Eventually, Robert spoke;

"This is impossible!" He said, "One could not simply disappear into the night without a trace."

"Yes…" Said Johnathan. "That means someone else must have done it. For he could not cover his tracks as well as this. Someone else must have taken him away." Upon reflection, I now realized this is the first time Johnathan spoke. He had simply agreed silently to whatever we had said. I knew what he wanted.

"You don't mean... You can't... He wouldn't..." Stammered Robert.

"I do," He said. "Haven't you seen how he looked at Nelson? How did he hate him to all end? It would certainly be something he would want to do. To have that "nuisance" out of the way." I was infuriated. Such an insult would not be taken lightly. I was about to speak when Robert said

"Yes… I do remember that."

"He would be a danger to be kept around" Said Johnathan.

"He would be."

I gazed at Johnathan's expressionless face, and I glanced at Robert and saw the realization in his eyes. I knew what he was thinking. It was then when I decided that I could linger no longer. I risked my life if I stayed. I took my knife and ran. I heard Johnathan speaking from a distance

"Look! Proof! The guilty flees!" Frustration. Sorrow. Hopelessness. These words are not powerful enough to express how I felt. It seemed that life could be worth living no longer. I had lost all honor I had left. Why would this man do this? What did he gain? I walked across the dry sand of the beach, and I still heard the waves crashing against the shore. I walked until I saw footsteps in the sand. I thought that there was no chance I had gone in a complete circle. So I followed the tracks. With nothing better to do, I put what felt like the last of my energy into finding where these footsteps lead. Eventually, I found it. A corpse. However, this was not an ordinary body. It was covered in dried blood. Cuts and gashes were everywhere. It was mauled and hardly distinguishable as human. It was Nelson. He had been stabbed multiple times and ripped apart. Bones were exposed and they were twisted and warped and bent in unimaginable ways. Terror and fear set in. I would die here. Alone. As I began to walk once again, I was struck harshley in my back. Pain flowed through my body. I coughed blood as I hit the grainy ground. I rolled over to see Johathan looming over me, knife in hand.

"You thought I would let you get away so easily?" Johnathan said evilly. Everything sounded draw out and sly, as if he had planned everything since the beginning. "I am surprised about how gullible you all are. Or were. I wanted to go to Spain to escape the law. So, when we shipwrecked, I could simply not risk anyone realizing who I was. I will escape by myself. And I will look like a better man too. About how the crew tragically died while I tried to save them. Now, your ignorance and pride will finish you off." He bent down on one knee. He lifted his knife high above his head and readied to end my life.

"You are the one who is ignorant, traitor!" I drew my blade and plunged it deep into my adversary exposed chest. He keeled over, grasping the knife in his chest. Blood spewed from him and onto the ground. He dropped his knife and dropped it on the sand himself. He was dead.

I cannot write in this journal anymore. This book contains everything I want to forget. For what is a captain without his crew? If only I had not forsaken my friend, we all could have lived through this experience. He only wanted to do his best. There is no time for remorse, however. Tomorrow, I will prepare a raft and set sail. Without extra weight or other mouths to feed, it certainly cannot take long. To whoever finds this, or whoever this is bestowed upon, I have one request. Please remember me.

END