COIN CAT
Sophie Harris, 9
Clifton with Rawcliffe School, York
The salty sea air blew through my fur as I stood at the stern of Poseidon. I had boarded the ship one week ago, but it felt like ages since I had felt the solid ground beneath my paws. I had been taken aboard Poseidon for two reasons: to keep the mice and rats away and to guard the gold coins. I was allowed a break at lunchtime but apart from that I was on guard duty. I could hear heavy footsteps behind me. "Come on Tiger, back to work." It was the Captain. I leapt back down to the steerage and jumped onto the chest. Before long, I was fast asleep ...
When I woke up it was very dark. I could here a faint slapping sound coming from above me. Imagining it was one of the Captain's midnight parties, I jumped lightly off the chest and headed upwards. As soon as I reached the deck, I knew something was wrong. It was pitch black up here too. The slapping sound I had heard earlier was gone. I turned round thinking it was just a dream and began to make my way down to the steerage. Suddenly, a wave of water hit me on the face. I spluttered as salty ocean crept its way into my mouth.
At that moment, the cloud that was covering the moon drifted out of the way. The sight that met my eyes still terrifies me now. The sea that had once been so calm and clear was rising and falling in great arches some hitting the side of the boat, some reaching across the deck like grabbing hands. Only one thought passed through my mind: "get to the coins'~ I practically fell down the trapdoor leading to the steerage where the coins were kept and raced down the passage to the chest. My paws scratched oak wood and I clawed my way up. I curled up on the chest and stayed there. Maybe some one would wake up and find me ...
Seconds then minutes then hours passed by. After a while, I became restless and jumped nimbly onto the wood panelled floor. I began to venture to a part of the ship I had never been in before - the cabins. I ran towards the steward, Billy's, cabin and pawed at his face. "What? Who? Where?" Billy spluttered "You're meant to be guarding the coins." Then his expression changed as he felt the rocking boat. He rushed off calling to me "Go back to the chest, Coin Cat. I'll take care of the storm" I ran back towards the coins, but the boat was swaying so violently I could hardly move. The last thing I remember was falling towards the wall and then it all went black ...
Afterwards, Billy said I saved the lives of over one hundred people by warning him of the storm and I had been brave like my namesake, "But," he added "to me you'll always be Coin Cat"