JSM - Edition Four

P ompeii continued

As the darkness cloaked the city, raining rocks and molten lava were replaced with poisonous gas. Maria cried and cried. Everyone she loved was gone, forever. She hadn’t realized, but she saw that her shoulders were covered in blood where the 10,000 degree ash had fallen on her. She could not bear thinking about what had happened. Her life and her world as she knew it was gone. What seemed as the only thing worth living for was the baby boy she had been given. She didn’t know if he had a name, so decided to name the baby after her father, Julius. Despite the chaos going on around them, Julius felt safe and was resting peacefully in her arms. She wondered what the baby would be when he grew up. Julius was a beautiful baby. His almost black eyes were reminiscent of a starry black night, and his light brown hair was so soft under Maria’s fingertips. His pale skin was so warm under the blankets. Maria decided to let the baby sleep on the blankets while she took her turn to steer the boat. The boat had travelled many miles out to sea. The people on board were thirsty and Maria squinted while she looked for land. The sun was setting and Maria was gradually getting colder. Way out in the distance she saw a speck of land and she steered the boat towards it. Maria and the other 20 or so people on the boat were tired, cold and hungry. After some time, the speck of land became larger and she headed towards what looked like a beach between the trees. With determination, she steered the boat forward until they arrived. Maria stumbled out of the boat with the baby wide awake in her arms. The baby was squirming and both of them were being shoved by the others as they ran up the beach looking for food and shelter. Maria was relieved and astounded about what had happened. She repeatedly questioned – Did that just happen? Am I alive? Am I dreaming? That beach was in a remote part of the island of Sicily. Maria and the others headed towards the dull fire light that could be seen in the distance. The lights turned out to be a small village and Maria and the baby wandered through the streets trying to catch someone’s attention. Nobody seemed to hear her. After hours of calling for help she started to lose hope. She was tired. She needed to lie down and rest- she’d try to seek help again tomorrow. Maria was ravenous – she hadn’t eaten for three days now. Any food she had managed to beg or steal had been given to the baby. Maria collapsed down in a heap by the side of the road with exhaustion. Maria was just about to go to sleep when a man came up to her. The man had blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes. He looked old, but friendly. The man said, “I have been watching you and you look lost. Would you like me to take you to your mother?” Maria shook her head sadly as two large tears welled up in her eyes. Maria finally answered, ‘My mother is dead.’ “Oh, I’m sorry – I had no idea. I can offer you tea and a bed and when you are ready, I’m here for you to tell me what has happened,” the old man offered. With that invitation, Maria, Julius and the old man set off through the streets of Sicily, until they reached the old man’s house. Maria and the baby took a seat on a lovely patterned quilt, drank warm tea, ate bread and retold Pompeii’s story.

A bigail B rinkworth Y ear 4F

JSM Edition Four

Page 47