Deep Sea Chapter 3

3.

The Surface

“Good Lord, are you accusing me of treason?” Lord Chamberlain Gibbons was enraged by the accusations made by Lord Henry. “Heavens forbid me but I can assure you that your plans are safe with me.”

Lord Henry looked towards the crate of his drawing that he had handled before to the Chamberlain. It was protocol to do so for the man held the position of trust and above all, the approvals of such projects. If the Ministry does not sanction the project, it will be considered as illegal to proceed.

“Then explain to me how I was to hear of that there were other similar projects that are similar to mine being promoted, or in the works.” Lord Henry pressed on. He then threw the paper clippings onto the Chamberlain desk. “They do not lie. Most times they do have some truths to their claims.”

“Good Lord, this is a mockery of this office.” Lord Chamberlain Gibbons snapped back but Henry was giving that up so easily. He leaned onto his good leg and pressed on his accusations.

“My plans were given to your care five years ago. It outlined the general scope of the works to be done and Lord forbids, my initial designs of the crafts. Today, I read news of it on the publications. So named experts are putting their marks on my design and with some even disputing its design.”

“The Lord does not forbid critics to comment on his creation, nor do me but since you said it was five years that you left me those …designs, I may admit that they could have been accessed by my own staff. It’s the discretion of the Ministry to verify your project for its viable prospect. In doing so….”

“In doing so, those bastards may have sold my ideas to others.” Lord Henry hit back with anger. “Does this Ministry not have any rules and conditions which they are to adhere to. Or do you sell even your own mother for self-gain.”

“Mine your accusations, Lord Henry. I was also a Military man and a child with a mother. I lived my life with discipline and integrity.”

“Mine or yours, Lord Chamberlain. We were on different sides twenty years ago. We fought but by sheer luck, your side avoided defeat through the calls of a truce.” Lord Henry recalled the Civil War they fought when the land cried for food and justice.

It was both which drove the people to revolt and sides were determined by emotions and fear. Lord Henry fought for the people against the authorities. He foregone his command and join the local militia. The war lasted three years but the toll on the land lasted more than ten years with over five million dead. It also spurred on the resurgence to work on an automation and hence the boom of the next engineering age. The advancement of technology then was at the development of steam and electricity was soon discovered. It was an era of Innovations.

“I recalled that too. Such a pity for I was trained to be a marksman then. I would not have missed hitting at your groin.” Lord Chamberlain had admitted that it was he who made Lord Henry a cripple.  “Such are the fortune of wars.”

Lord Henry held back his anger at that grim reminder and pressed on with his accusations.

“Tell me who else knew of my designs.” Lord Henry pressed his point forward.

“I won’t know. Your designs were in the archive and accessed by many. How would I know? It was five years, and I got only five months of the food supply now with fifteen million to feed. So which do you think takes precedent?”

“Fuck you.” Lord Henry cursed at the other before taking leave of the Chamber.

“I do hope so. Your baton reputation precedes you. Are you sure it’s not your stiff leg that they were humping on.” Lord Chamberlain called out to the departing Lord. Once Lord Henry has slammed the doors on the Chamberlain, it was opened to admit another three.

“I am not to be disturbed.” Lord Chamberlain spoke up without raising his face.

“Surely, we are not on that list.” General Ian Michael Clarke approached the Chamberlain desk. The General was the commanding officer of the army that fought for the authorities. He was a tall wide-shouldered man but with his elderly age, he had hunched on his frame giving him the looks of a grim-looking hooded serpent. He dressed in the uniform of the Army and flagged with all his medals. He was followed by Lord Ian and then there was the last person who was least expected to be there.

“Good day, Lord Chamberlain.” The third person greeted the other. Her name was Chen Lin Jan; a Chinese descent with some mixed blood of the Dutch and German. Her family had invested in the main continent and also in the isles for many generations but their main base was still in the East. She looked emancipated but it was her genetic Eastern look but beneath that slight frame was a lady of strength and resolute. She had on a dark suit and matching shoes with the leopard low cut blouse that was enchanted with the pearl string that reached just below her breast lines. On her chest was the heavy gold chain on his neck with the dragon emblem.

“Morning, Lady Jan. It’s always my pleasure to meet you.” The Lord Chamberlain stood up and offered his guest a curt bow. “Was your flight here eventful?”

“The the airship was added on with the turbine to speed up its flight but I still prefer the swift winds on the high sails.” Lady Jan's ancestors were seafarers that traveled the high seas with their wooden boats in search of fortune.

“I am here on the progress of the seaports.” Lady Jan cut her way into the main discussion issue. “My fleet of ships are on the way here.”

The Depth

Arnold picked up the spiked metal ball with his crane hook. It had an extended chain attached to it for the slingshot 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 to be was a target.

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Elise was checking on her utensils to make sure they were all secured for any sudden movements. So was the Maintenance Engineer Harry Small who was eyeing the pressure gauges. He was ensuring the ship's turbine will not let him down when the call for speed come. He hit 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. It was to detect any serpents 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 the 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 at it. It was the Captain’s command that they were waiting for.

“On the starboard at three hundred yards.” That was the bigger one. “It is 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 seafarers 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. It was the compartment for Hold Five. The saltwater rushed in but it was held back by the load of the small fish and carcasses which were released then. The one ton of baits was pushed out by the saltwater 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 degrees to the 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 earphones 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 pedaling moved the gears' locks to push out the shafts that released the keel into the saltwater. It was hard work but it will lend 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 wheelhouse.

“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 update on the pursuing serpents.

“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 saltwater. It will then be a 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 a 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 by 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 from 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's side when the wave hit the crane. Arnold was thrown against the ship's 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 were 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.