There is an island I know of. It’s not a place sailors are likely to put on a map. It can’t be got to that way. I don’t know where it is, I reckon not any soul knows, but I was there. There ain’t no people there, least ways, not anymore. There were some, I suppose. Built things, they did, a city and a temple. They ain’t there now, most likely. Pity ‘em if there are.
You see, that place ain’t kindly to men, no sir. I was there. Island’s full of bugs, poisonous things. Crawling up your leg, you won’t feel nothing. Take a bite out of you, oh, nothing to do then but die, and die slowly too. Crocodiles, nasty things, and worse than that too.
Aye, there be things on that island I don’t suppose ye know about, strange things. Live in the temple, mostly. Come out at night they did. Horrible. I saw one. Weird looking, ape like, black leathery skin, and skinny, down to the bone. No face, that I can recall. Just teeth.
Thems what live on that island, those strange shadows. Come out at night, I say. Strange creatures, mind you, never hurt us sailors none. Just came out at night, quiet like. I saw them, see. I was on watch. There he was, came out suddenly. Saw ‘em clearly as I see you. No, they didn’t hurt us, least not us who stayed out of their temple. The others, thems that charted the ship, well I don’t know what happened in there. There was screaming.
We waited for ‘em to come out, waited for days. Then I saw one of them creatures. Just appeared suddenly, he did. Had a bag. Left it there, and then he ran off. I didn’t chase him, happy he was gone, but there was that bag.
No, they didn’t hurt us sailors none. But that bag. They did someth’n to them that went into their temple. Shrunk ‘em real small like. They was all shriveled up, like raisins, they was. Sucked dry. Well, us that was left wasn’t too interested in staying after that, no sir.
But I was there, and I remember it, leastways, I remember remembering. I can’t help you get there. Too long ago, and the stars, they was strange those stars. I don’t think a fella can just sail there.
The bodies? Oh. There was some debating on that point. Bring ‘em or leave ‘em. The captain wanted ‘em. Could sell them as curiosities, he said. Well, when the captain makes up his mind, and us all willing to go, he took them aboard. I don’t know what happened to ‘em after that.
Tale Told 