Steered By The Heart-Compass

Everyone knew the tale - stick a compass needle into someone’s heart, lash them to the wheel, and you’d be steered safely home no matter the weather. Nobody had ever wanted to test it, but…

Steered By The Heart-Compass
Photo by Sesha Reddy Kovvuri / Unsplash

Written for Bradley Ramsey’s “Halls Of Pandemonium”, Day 25.

Everyone knew the tale - stick a compass needle into someone’s heart, lash them to the wheel, and you’d be steered safely home no matter the weather.
Nobody ever wanted to test it. No more’n they’d wanted to be out today. But the stranger’d brandished coin and cutlass, and Captain Crane folded. Now he took apart his compass, preparing to pay for his cowardice.
The stranger argued against turning back, despite the storm, but Crane was long past listening.
He heard the thud, though.
Jane tossed aside the bucket and picked up the prone stranger’s cutlass. Eyes cold.
“Got that needle?”

Prompt was “Write a piece containing these three elements: storm, home, compass”.

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