Warning: I know there should be one, but I can't think of any appropriate one. I believe it's safe for reading, but if you happen to have a weak stomach you might want to avoid reading. Note: This story is based on a Portuguese tale (or legend, if you prefer).If you see this symbol * look for word explanation on the end of the story. - The Catrineta Vessel - by Sandra Almeida Ever since Adama had told him the tale of Earth, Boxey had gained an interest in tales and legends. Whenever he had the chance he would go to the library after school period. Today was one of those cycles. His father was on yet another mission with Starbuck. His grandfather had a Council meeting. Athena was on duty on the Bridge while Cassiopeia and Sheba had gone to the Rising Star with Jolly and Bojay. Marza and Dillon had gone to the Patlive to meet with Chameleon. He had no idea were Boomer was. He walked into the library's hall, as usual the only sound he heard was absolute silence. Not that the people in the library were sticking religiously to the rules, but because besides Sumian, the librarian, the room was empty. There were so many things people had to do, spending time here wasn't top on their list. Sumian had told him, only during the night cycle did the place have a few people in. He smiled at Sumian who joyfully returned his friendly smile. "What brings you here today, Boxey?" Sumian was a tall man but rather skinny. The loneliness of his work often kept him out of the social circle. Even so, he was a very nice man, always friendly and ready for a good joke. There was nothing he liked better than to see his place full of people reading. "I had a few free centars and decided to come here and read one more Colonial tale!" He cheerfully replied. "Which do you suggest today?" He asked as usual. He had found that Sumian loved to help, and asking him to suggest what to read made the man happier, besides he usually knew what Boxey liked to read. The man's eyes filled with excitement at his request. "Well... Let's see... How about a tale of a ship?" He suggested and then added. "From the time of the pirates and corsairs on the Piscon seas? It is believed to have happened during the third millennium." "Third millennium!?" He repeated amazed. "Great!" Boxey agreed, anxious to read the tale. Sumian smiled. "Ok, go to table three. I'll set your reading screen from here." He told him. Boxey thanked the man and walked to table three. He sat and turned the reading screen on. The name of the tale showed up on the screen and read _The Catrineta Vessel_. He started reading the tale. During the third millennium, voyages by sea were much harder and painful. The sailors would face not only the sea and its natural ambushes, but also all the pirates and corsairs of the most diverse colonies, some of them made of the corso* a national institution, profitable by the way. On the other hand, the hunger, the thirst and the scurvy living side by side with the many dangers of the seas and the corso*, left an incredibly large room for fear and anguish. That sure was a long time ago, Boxey thought. He tried to imagine how things probably were then. After creating the mental image, he threw it away and thought it was probably ten or twenty times worse. Why would they make those trips by sea? He pondered. Why take so many dangers... He thought about it for a while. Maybe they were looking for adventure... No, that's not it! Maybe shuttles hadn't been invented then or those trips were too expensive? Yes, probably one of these reasons, he concluded pleased. 'I'll have to ask the ancient history teacher, next school period!' He returned his attention to the screen and continued with the reading. It was during that millennium, in a date long ago forgotten, that the Vessel Saint Antonio departed from Pernam destined for Olissippo and in it was Burquer, son of the founder of Pernam. The story of this voyage was registered forever in the 'Tragic History of the Seas', and is believed to be connected to the genesis of a popular romance 'The Catrineta Vessel'. 'Tragic History of the Seas'? He thought intrigued, he wasted no more time pondering the matter, and continued his reading. Shortly after departure from Pernam, the topman of the Saint Antonio saw in the horizons line a sail approaching rapidly. It didn't take long to verify it was a Virgon corsair ship, the kind that would hide in some cove and live off the booty of the Piscon's ships. They unfurled all the sails to try to escape the pirates, but the Saint Antonio continued sluggishly, as its holds were full of Pernamian products destined for Lusytanya. 'Oh, oh... They are going to be caught!' He moved restless on the chair, looking for a new position.. Soon reached, they were boarded by the corsairs, who, in a ferocious wrath, eliminated the small resistance of the Piscon sailors. With the officers and a big part of the crew either fettered or killed, the Virgons plundered the vessel, taking everything they could, including the navigation instruments and food supplies. The Saint Antonio ended semi-destroyed, without Captain or crew, drifting at sea, far from land. The sun burning, reflecting a thousand times on the sea. The thirsty started to settle, and the hunger and the scurvy quickly killed the more wounded and weak. The survivors, however, didn't find fortune in being alive, their eyes sunk in and dull, faces drawn and lips dried. They were lying on the deck half dead of despair. Again, he looked for a more comfortable position as he imagined the men as described. It was not a pleasant image at all. Suddenly, the moaning of a dying man, brought light to the eyes of a sailor. Somehow he moved away from the bulwark where he was seated and crawled over to the dying man, trying to pluck him, voraciously with the claws of despair and hunger, as if he were a piece of meat. What are the dead and dying for if not to serve the needs of the living?! 'They're going to eat another man?' He was indignant at the thought, as well as nauseous. 'Yuck! Could that happen? It isn't right, they shouldn't do it! It's against the laws of man!' He tried to understand why, how it was possible even to consider that. One would have to be pretty desperate and faithless to reach that low, was one of his plausible conclusions to try and justify that action. The dying one found strength to shout, not in the soul but in the deep instinct of body's survival. Immediately other sailors approached, some to prevent the butchery, others to take part in it. In the middle of the shouting, however, a calm voice raised itself above all others. It was Burquer, exhorting them to calm, trying to bring them to the conscience fact they were men and brothers in misfortune. He said so much and in such a way that suddenly the gibberish and despair ceased, the bodies and the souls appeased. 'Finally! Someone with sense.' He cheered. He was starting to admire the man who had managed to control the others fears and despairs. He remembered his grandfather's words back on Caprica and then on board the Galactica about keeping their faith and such. Somehow he figured Burquer had used a similar speech and would have been a very influential presence. As he pictured the man standing on the deck talking to the others, it was the figure of his grandfather that was there. The vessel continued to drift, but, shortly thereafter the land of Lusytanya was spotted where soon they were sheltered and treated. It is said many yahrens later, when Burquer was an old hobbler, he used to sit by the sea, surrounded by friends, telling his tale like this: There comes the Catrineta Vessel That has a lot to tell Hear me, now, sires A tale to astonish ... It passed more than yahren and cycle Over the waters of the sea ... There was no more to eat .... There was no more to morsel ... They threw leather on the sauce They could not swallow it They threw luck to the adventure Who should they kill And right the luck fall to The captain-general*. Above, above topman Above to the royal top See if you see lands of Iberia Sands of Lusytanya. I don't see lands of Iberia Nor sands of Lusytanya I see seven naked swords That are to kill you! Above, above topman Above to the royal top See if you see lands of Iberia Sands of Lusytanya. Alvissaras*, captain My captain-general* I already see lands of Iberia Sands of Lusytanya. Plus, I see three girls Under an orange-grove One, seated sewing, Other, in the distaff spinning ... The more handsome of all Is in the middle crying. All three are my daughters Oh! I wish I could embrace... The most handsome of all With you I shall seal ... I do not want your daughter That so much it cost you to raise ... I give you my white equine Which there is no other alike. I do not want your equine That so much it cost you to teach. I shall give you so much money That you'll be unable to count it ... Keep your money That so much it cost you to earn. I shall give you the Catrineta vessel For you to sail in. I do not want the Catrineta vessel That I do not know how to pilot. What do you want, my topman? What alvissaras* shall I give you? Captain, I want your soul To take with me ... I rebuke you, demon That you were tempting me ... My soul only to God My body I give to the sea ... An Angel took him on his arms It did not let him drawn ... Gave a burst the demon The wind and the sea appeased ... And at night the Catrineta vessel Was at shore stranded. As Boxey reached the end of the tale, he was breathless. He saw this story could easily be their own. As they too were sailors, in space, but sailors nevertheless. They were lost in the depths of space, with lack of water and food. Diseases due to poor living conditions were a constant in several ships of the fleet. The loss of hope and the installment of despair in many people of the fleet were also creating problems, just like in the story. The Demon, he remembered when they had their own on board, and how the people were all ready to follow him. Only his father and grandfather managed to see through him and remove his mask. It was just like in the story, faith in God had won the battle and the demon had vanished in a burst of smoke. He turned the reading screen off and walked to Sumian. "What a great tale, Sumian!" He cheered. "If more people would read it maybe they could defeat their demons more easily." He said full of hope. "Yes Boxey! History, tales and legends have a lot to teach us. It's a pity only a few people see that!" Sumian was visibly saddened by that. "These stories could probably fill many people with hope and strength." He finished his trail of thought agreeing with Boxey. "Well, I have to go now," Boxey said a bit saddened. "I'll be back as soon as I can!" He gave a big smile and started to walk toward the exit. As he opened the door, he turned back to face Sumian. "I've got an idea, I'm going to write a text to present in school tomorrow. At least they'll know about this tale." He walked out happy. "Yes Boxey, that's a wonderful idea. See you in a few cycles!" Sumian shouted trying to make his voice be heard by the boy's ears. His voice echoed on the now empty room and his cheeks turned slightly reddish as he remembered the golden rule of a library: No shouting! - End - * Alvissaras - Finder's reward. Corso - A fleet of vessels with license from their govern to pursue pirates and enemy vessels. Captain-general - Commander of a Colony.