Fudge Pt 4

What happened next happened as fast as the Flash with a bad case of diarrhoea. One second I was tentative but dry; now I am wet and wishing I was anywhere else but here. And so it began, the First Mate had called the order for the contestants to be dropped into the pool. Now the only the thing he had to worry about was the sharks swimming furiously below him and the rest of the group.

The group began to swim downwards towards the Captain's hat; the majority of the group had trained to swim in order to win the competition, but Pickle had avoided the hassle. The sharks began to swim towards the group with frightening speed; I knew that time was of the essence, not because of the sharks but the lack of oxygen. Pickle noticed that along the wall to his right were ledges at recurring intervals, it almost looked like an underwater ladder. I drifted myself over to the ladder and began to pull himself down towards the bottom of the pool. It seemed like instinct; I knew exactly where the air pockets were for me to catch my breath. The pool as it turns out looks to have been crafted for those who were not Herculean athletes but for those who could be given a black eye from a dry sponge, not that I know what that is like.

After what seemed like an age; I wearily found myself at the bottom of the pool. Above me was carnage, the sharks taking hold of the other and furiously throwing them from the pool. I could spot blood in the water; which could only mean that one of the other had put up a fight, now the sharks were in rage mode. The only way to end this was to ascend the pool and be declared the new Captain, not something I wanted but hey ho. I grabbed the hat and removed the weight from inside. From the crack in the wall I drew my last breath, it would have to do me. I crouched on the floor and kicked off as hard as I could, swimming for life and limb. I rose as fast as I could; my breath was failing me as I has exhaled all the air I had about halfway up. I swam as fast as I could despite the lack of the air; my vision was going dark and my chest was in agony but I kept going. It was getting harder to keep going as I had not only reached my limit but had gone past it, I used what little strength I had left to thrust my arm upwards. The crowd eagerly watched the pool; most of the participants were on the side being treated for any wounds that occurred and being comforted by family, or chastised if they were in a certain family. The crowd sat on tenterhooks, the tension could be cut with a spoon. The wait was over. My hand broke the surface of the water and clutched weakly within it's grasp was the hat. There was a stunned silence as The Crew reached in and hauled me out of the pool. The First Mate threw a blanket over my shoulders and then took my hand, raising it high in to the air and proclaiming "Citizens of Steamwood, you're new Captain!" The crowd went wild, 75% of the nose being my father. The band played the ceremonial Congratulations music, trying to drown out the noise of the crowd.

Later that day after I had been officially given the title of 'The Captain' and given the official garb of office I was given the official orientation. I was taken to my new office and explained what my duties would be. The first mate took me to the side and explained what was to happen next. I was to undertake the Captain's Pilgrimage. This would involve me leaving Steamwood and travelling to the mainland in order to learn new things that could help make life in Steamwood a better community. The following day my family and a small crowd had gathered in the Town Square ready to wish me good journey as I board the Captain's personal watercraft, the hilariously name 'Squid Pro Quo'. I started up the craft just as the crew had taught me and sailed out of the mouth of the cave into the open water of the English Channel. Using the map and compass in the boat I decided to sail towards what the map listed as London