- August 5th, 1781 -
Luca’s ears were ringing as he stared up a sky full of smoke. Shots flew overhead as he saw men darting quickly around the ship in his peripheral vision. The back of his head felt wet lying on the deck of the Admiraal Generaal, the largest ship of the line in the naval fleet escorting the Dutch merchant ships.
One of his fellow officers came to Luca’s side, kneeling beside him with a fearful expression on his face. He was shouting words that he couldn’t hear over the ringing sound in his ears.
Finally, the ringing died down and Luca could begin to make out words.
“…been hit with a grape shot! Those British bastards! We need to get him below deck!”
Memories of the battle came flooding back all at once, and the sensation was so strong that his hand flew to his he
