Here's the story I posted on Twitter during last week's Twitter Fiction Festival. Each chapter is one tweet. I wrote the story using words and pictograms made with typographic symbols. I hope you enjoy it!
The Caribbean. ~~~~~~~~~~~
1750 ~~ ^ ~~~~~~~~
The 1st days of the voyage were beautiful ~~~~~~~ ^ ~~~~
Then a storm struck /\/\/\/\/\^/\/\/\/\
The mainmast fell with a crash | / __ !
The pilot strove at the wheel and directed the ship to a small isle's cove (\/)
The storm passed. The passengers and sailors rowed ashore. <>==\__/==<>
While repairing the ship, the castaways built a little village of huts under the palms of the shore. ``|`` /\ /\ /\ ``|``
A community formed. They worked on the ship. The island provided for their needs. They watched the horizon. ~~~~~~~~~~~
The Capt. questioned his handling of the storm, his ability to lead the castaways. He thoughtfully watched the waves roll in. ((......
A romance developed between a young sailor, Matthias, and a wealthy trader’s daughter, Loretta. (}{)
The trader reacted to the romance as might be expected >:-(
One day, after several weeks on the island, the seaward gaze of the castaways was rewarded. ~~~~~ ^ ~~~~~~
The islanders rejoiced, until the ship drew nigh. It flew a black flag. 8=X
The Capt. realized there was no time to waste. The sands of the hourglass were running. |X|
The Capt. hatched a daring plan. The women and children were taken to a cave in the forest. ``|`` ((())) ``|``
Some men took defensive positions on the cove's shore, where they had previously moved some of the cannons for protection. /O'==
Some men swam to the damaged ship and hid themselves. Matthias took cover behind a row of barrels. (-)(-)(-)(-)
The pirate ship arrived in the cove. The men on shore created a diversion by opening fire. /O'== * * *
The salvos from shore stopped as the pirates drew closer. The men on the damaged ship swung to the pirate ship with grappling hooks. (* (*
The clang of sabres. 0={----------
The crack of muskets. )=,==< *
Matthias and many others distinguished themselves. The pirates were defeated. Cries of victory replaced the sounds of battle. :-D
On the pirate ship, a map of the island was discovered. -------X
The castaways followed the map and dug a deep pit. \___/
They began to despair. Then a shovel struck something. D---->*
They removed several large chests from the pit. {[-]}
Inside the chests, there were piles of doubloons. @@@@@@@ @@@@@@@
The trader, recognizing Matthias’ valor, offered his share of treasure, and his daughter’s hand, to the young sailor. O<
The Capt. took the helm of the pirate ship and the castaways departed the island well laden with gold. ~~~ ^ ~~~~~~~~
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~~~~~~~~~~~ The End
