The Depth
Arnold picked up the
spiked metal ball with his crane hook. It had an extended chain attached to it
for the sling shot move. It was an improvised weapon against the large monster
like the giant octopus. He moved the crane towards the inside of the ship and
waits for its cue. Then it was a waiting game for the serpent to appear on the
side. Martin at the other side was holding nervously on the trigger. His
harpoon gun was loaded and it needed was a target.
Meanwhile in the
kitchen, Elise was checking on her utensils to make sure they are all secured
for any sudden movements. So was the Maintenance Engineer Harry Small who was
eyeing the pressure gauges. He was ensuring the ship turbine will not let him
down when the call for speed come. He hit at the gauge glass to make sure it
was not stuck on the indicator pin. His assistant Engine Officer Exec Marvin
Cantle was seated by the console with his right hand hovering over the lever
there. He had on the earphones which listened to the sound below the hull. The
lever will open the vents at the bottom of the hull and released the deadly
drums containing the explosives. It was a form of depth charges that will deter
any predators lurking below it.
Then the smaller
serpent was seen on the port side when it surfaced beneath crest of the waves.
“On the portside at two
hundred yards.” The crew who saw it called out on the wired communication
system but no one fired on it. It was the Captain’s command that they were
waiting for.
“On the starboard at
three hundred yards.” That was the bigger one. “They are swimming parallel to
us.”
So it seems that they
have an escort of the two serpents. Stacy stayed her course with the wheel held
tight. The waves were still coming in high and there were the strong winds. She
looked towards the Captain.
“Do we cut the engines
and used the sails?”
The Captain did not
reply but kept his focus on the menacing serpents. He had seen his share of them, and survived
those encounters. The serpents will not attack immediately but once they do, it
will be ferocious. Not many sea farers lived to tell the tale but the Sea King
was not any ordinary ship.
“Boatswain, jettison the
remaining baits in Hold Five.” The Captain gave his command since the serpents
were sighted. He got the affirmative and then the howl of the hull plates on
the starboard creaked as a section of it was opened. The open area was the
compartment for Hold Five. The salt water rushed in but it was held back by the
load of the small fish and carcasses which were released then. The five tons of
baits were pushed out by the salt water which had regressed back to the sea
with the baits.
“Serpents on the
starboard taking the on the baits.” The crew called in. It was working and then
it was to flee the area.
“First officer, get us
out. Ten degree to port side. Full speed.” Captain Arthur called out. He then
hauled up the communication line to the Engineering Section. “I want the ship
to fly.”
“Aye, Captain.” Harry
replied and then rushed to the turbine console. He looked at the power gauge
and then steadily raised the level up. He then looked towards his Engine
Officer.
“Screw your sounds. Get
those keels out.” Harry called out. Marvin dropped the ear phones and ran to
the fins controlled console. He strapped in just in then when the other Engine
Officers joined him. There were six of them and they soon stepped on the pedal
to turn the gears to unlock the six side keels below the draft line of the
hull. The pedalling moved the gears locks to push out the shafts that released
the keel into the salt water. It was a hard work but it will lent speed to the
ship with its reducing the drag. On the upper deck, the Boatswain called out
for the sails to unfurl. It was time to break the speed record in sailing out
of danger.
Stacy held onto the
wheel when the Sea King lurched on the extra momentum. Soon she was sailing
above her draft line and making good progress. The crews were holding their
breath for the next call.
“Stern, give me a
sitrep.” Captain Arthur called out. He was blinded at the wheel house.
“It’s a no go. We have
the bigger one on our stern.” The reply came back.
“Blow the ballast. We
are going to take to the sky.” The Captain called out. It was Stacy who
cautioned him.
“We could tilt without
the ballast leverage.” Stacy gave her view but the Captain order was never to
be questioned. The Engineers lived to their reputation and released the ballast
with a word of prayer that they will see the sunlight soon. It was not an easy
task when you confined to the interior of the ship most times and at worse in
moments like this, that may be the last thing you will see before death.
Stacy held had on the
wheel trying to keep the ship afloat while the Captain accessed the odds of
survival. He was calling for the crews to give him a fast updates on the
pursuing serpent.
“Fifty yards, Captain.”
The crew called out and it was then the Captain gave the command.
“Drop the charges.” The
order was given and Marvin was out of the keel seat to the earlier console. He
pulled the lever to release the five drums. The five drums formed the first
salvo which when released from its holding racks will activate the ten seconds delay
detonator. The drums will roll down the chute and be ejected out into the salt
water. It will then be push by the ship sailing power to the rear and float
there to sit out its countdown. Each drum will release twenty pounds of
explosives together with fifty pounds of sharp metals pieces with an impact
effect at over fifty feet.
“Five degrees to port.”
The Captain called out to Stacy. Just when he felt the ship turned the charges
went off in the stern on the waves. The
explosion caused a cut in the waves and then the rippling effect pushed the Sea
King ahead on its own path.
“We got first blood.” The
crew shouted out. It was victory of sorts but they knew the worst was yet to be
seen. It came soon when the wounded serpent rose out of the surface like a
frigging dragon. It was then Arnold swung his spike ball at the monster. He got
a hit at the wounded side and caused it to sink back into the water. Arnold
held hard on the levers waiting for the next attack. It came but it was then headed
at the crane. The serpent rose and snared the crane but its neck and then
pulled it down.
Arnold was in the control
box felt the crane being pulled down. He reached for the seat straps but by
then the crane had tilted towards the sea surface. He pulled away the straps
and pushed himself out. He stood by the control box doorway. He was not on the
ship anymore but standing on a tilted crane hovering over the sea surface. He
was to jump for the ship side when the wave hit the crane. Arnold was thrown
against the ship side and then battered to fall into the sea.
“Man overboard.” The
alert went out but Arnold had gone below the waves. It was impossible to rescue
him then with the serpents and the waves.
Below the waves, Arnold
floated with the current. He was half conscious but stood no chance of
surviving. The water temperature was below zero and he was hurt. His wounds were bleeding then and it was the
directional bait for the predators. The first ones that hit him was the smaller
flesh eating young sharks that swam towards him. They tore at his bleeding
flesh with chunks of it. He struggled in his half-conscious mind and then fell
numb to the bites. The school of sharks had not seen the bigger predator which
came with its jaws opened. The wounded serpent caught the bleeding body in its
jaws and then it down to snap it to half.
Arnold had his last
fuck before becoming supper for the serpent.
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