Deep Water Dreams - Part 7 (692 hits)
Category: Science & EnvironmentalRating: 2 on 11 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by SilvrWolf (View user info) at 2004-09-03 15:25:15 EDT
<In this chapter, the third simultaneous scene takes place. I was going to wrap this whole episode up in one chapter, but hey, this story is nothing without the suspense. I hope you enjoy.>
Part 1 - http://www.ubersite.com/m/41854 --- Part 4 - http://www.ubersite.com/m/43424
Part 2 - http://www.ubersite.com/m/41987 --- Part 5 - http://www.ubersite.com/m/43593
Part 3 - http://www.ubersite.com/m/42645 --- Part 6 - http://www.ubersite.com/m/43668
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The trawler 'Deep Ocean II' headed southwest from the South Point Lighthouse in the sudden storm. The swells of the turbulent sea tossed the small vessel across each crest, slamming it into the trough below. The boat was built for this kind of weather; she had been constructed as a crabbing trawler for duty in the North Sea.
Her captain, Bill Foley, had purchased her six years prior on a trip touring Norway's coast. Were it not for him, she'd have been scrapped the next spring. He took her back to his east coast home and spent nearly a year completely remodeling the old crate. After all of his hard work, she was now the most renowned and reputable fishing vessel in the area, with some of her tales even reaching into the Caribbean. The notoriety was probably due more to Foley's eccentric behavior than anything to do with the vessel herself.
Bill was a most accomplished fisherman. If anyone came into town looking to catch the fabled blue marlin that frequented the continental shelf, he was the one to see. Almost reckless in his determination, he'd often put his client and crew into dangerous situations just to "get the fish".
He also gained much of his fame from his exploits with sharks. Four years ago, six people had been attacked over a two week period, two of them fatally. Capt. Foley had made it his personal mission to find the culprit and garner the fame and attention it would surely produce. When it was over, he and his crew were the ones who'd caught the two 14-foot tiger sharks responsible for the attacks.
He hated sharks. Few things would inspire one of his patented fire and brimstone diatribes than someone mentioning a shark. Even someone talking about the movie 'Jaws' would draw his wordy ire. He had good reason, too. He had been in service on the U.S.S. Indianapolis when she was torpedoed. He had endured watching his friends and even his own brother being torn apart in the open sea by these creatures. 1,600 men went into the water that night and only 900 made it home. It inspired a deep hatred within him that would even make him disregard the laws that protected endangered species. If a shark was landed on his vessel, it went back into the ocean with its stomach torn open, regardless of species.
Bill smiled at the angry sea. His pilot and spotter, Tim Dowell, clung nervously to the wheel, carefully steering the boat through the swells. Sam Peters, the first mate, stood with a firm grip of the wall handles inside the wheelhouse. No one spoke a word. They were always silent when they took night trips like this. The ocean was slowly calming the storm was moving onshore. Tonight, the crew would travel until dawn and set up for a relaxing day of recreational fishing.
They'd had an excellent week, and decided to take a day for themselves. Capt. Foley had always treated his crew as family, and this was their reward for a job well done. Tim had been with Bill for eight years now, and he was the only one to ever pilot for Foley. Sam was a newcomer, with less than a year's service on the 'Deep Ocean II'. The lives and careers of first mates on marlin vessels are not known for longevity, but in his short time onboard, he had proven himself to a huge degree. Never had any man been able to gain Bill's complete trust and total respect in such a short time.
The trawler shuddered and the engines revved high above the normal range. The crew lurched forward as the boat came to a complete stop with the engines roaring deafeningly. Tim pulled the throttle back to idle and looked wide-eyed to Bill.
Bill looked back at him, "What the hell was that, Tim?"
"I don't know, sir, but the damned engines about blew up," he responded.
"Well, get below and find out!"
Sam had already gone below deck to check on things, but Tim followed anyway. Bill looked out over the dark sea and grumbled under his breath. He had sheared a propeller shaft pin many times before, but never both at the same time. Nevertheless, he was still convinced that that was where the problem lies. He pondered if his ship had finally seen her better days.
Below deck, Tim and Sam checked each shear pin and found nothing wrong.
"Sam, go out on the stern and check the props," Tim growled.
Sam nodded and rushed out of the engine room. Tim cursed and threw a wrench across the two engines. It clanged off of the portside engine's valve cover with a loud report, and then tumbled noisily to the wooden floor. He headed back to the pilot house.
On deck, as he was starting up the stairs to report the situation to Bill, Sam yelled something, "Come back here! You've gotta see this!"
Tim rushed to the stern, "What? What are you so excited about?"
"Take a look for yourself," he handed Tim the spotlight.
As Tim aimed the spotlight into the water, his aggravation turned to fear. There was nothing there to see. The drive shafts had been sheared completely clean from the props. They were dead in the water.
User Reviews
Submitted by mbstateside (user info) at 2005-12-12 14:32:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-02-17 16:14:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by NetProphet (user info) at 2004-09-06 23:00:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent work. I think you might consider working in less Anglo-Saxon characters though...
Current Characters:
Karen Mills, Jennifer Shockley, James Reston, Billy Thompson, Reese Sutherlin, Dr. Clifton/Chilton, Bill Foley, Tim Dowell, and Sam Peters.
Where are the Samir Najanananidads? The Jin Shi Taos? The Kareem Rusaffa Jifirins? The Mickey O'Roockes, Jacque Grenoirs, Hilda Watulchkas, and Alfon Niquita Haronasiir the Thirds?
Submitted by jack11058 (user info) at 2004-09-05 03:52:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This is the best series I've read on here. Deserves much more in the way of hits and reviews.
Submitted by PWNstar (user info) at 2004-09-04 04:20:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
best series EVAR
Submitted by Impassive-Digressive (user info) at 2004-09-04 00:28:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Another installment of literary asskicking. Keep on rocking.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2004-09-03 23:21:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
People, start reading this so you can keep up.
Submitted by SilvrWolf (user info) at 2004-09-03 16:58:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by 1Point21Gigawatts (user info) at 2004-09-03 16:04:08 (#)
Ranking: 2
You're either extremely worldly, or you've done research across several realms for this series. I'm enjoying it immensely, though.
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Thanks, but the sad truth is my mind is just a trough of useless information. The only thing I wasn't sure of was the casualty count from the Indianapolis, and I didn't even bother to research that. I know I'm pretty close, though, and I'll adjust it true on the final draft.
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Oh, and electrictoothsyndrome, this IS a novel. It didn't start that way, but I HAVE to finish this story, and I might as well try to get it published.
Thanks again, everyone.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2004-09-03 16:32:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You're still doing great! You could make a novel out of this. You are THE MAN, Silvr!
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2004-09-03 16:07:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by 1Point21Gigawatts (user info) at 2004-09-03 16:04:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You're either extremely worldly, or you've done research across several realms for this series. I'm enjoying it immensely, though.