THE SEA WON’T TAKE IT

Sun came up blood-red,

No wind upon the bay.

That damned coin sat on my table

Where I swore it couldn’t stay.

Crew stood quiet behind me.

Nobody touched a thing.

I picked that bastard up…

And heard the harbor sing.

Throw it deep…

Let it drown…

Aye.

That’s the plan.

We sailed beyond the harbor,

Far past the morning tide.

No gulls above our rigging,

No ships on either side.

I tied the coin to cannon shot,

Wrapped the chain up tight.

SEND IT DOWN!

With pleasure, boys.

I threw it overboard

And watched it leave my sight.

Down it went through blackened waves,

Deep beneath the foam.

For the first time since we landed…

The bastard wasn’t home.

THROW IT DOWN!

LET IT SINK!

SEND THAT CURSE BELOW THE DRINK!

DEEP IT GOES!

COLD AND BLACK!

THE SEA CAN HAVE—

AND KEEP IT BACK!

Good riddance.

Then the ship leaned starboard.

Once.

Then twice.

Something underneath us

Dragged its nails along the side.

The water started bubbling.

The sky turned sickly gray.

Then something struck the deck behind me.

TING.

Captain…

I know.

There beside my boot…

The coin.

Wet with seawater.

NO…

I picked it up and threw again.

Harder.

Farther.

Deep.

Ten breaths later from below

We heard the ocean speak.

Bring it home…

Bring it home…

Oh, fuck you.

We loaded up a cannon,

Put the coin inside the bore.

Fired that cursed piece of silver

Half a mile from shore.

FIRE!

Smoke cleared from the deck.

Nobody made a sound.

Then from inside my coat…

Came that familiar little sound.

Clink.

It came home…

Aye.

It fucking came home.

THE SEA WON’T TAKE IT!

DEEP WON’T HOLD!

CURSED BLACK MARK

UPON THAT GOLD!

THROW IT FAR!

THROW IT LOW!

EVERY DAMN TIME—

BACK IT GOES!

NO KING!

NO CHAINS!

BUT SOMETHING DEAD

NOW KNOWS OUR NAMES!

Keep the sails low, boys.

We find who cursed this thing…

Then make the bastard

take it back.

Bring it home…

Bring it home…

Stop saying that.