Ben Hammott - Salvage

EV1L stared across the ocean at the lights of the vessel for a few moments as if contemplating its victim’s request. The creature wanted to go to the water vessel. If it could sneak aboard and hide until it arrived at another land, it would survive. It could also snack on others of the species type it had seen onboard to keep its strength up. EV1L returned its scary gaze back upon Richard as it changed form, rising up into a human shape, like a golem formed of black, greasy wet clay, and nodded its malevolent head.

Giving the black golem, that seemed to have understood and accepted the deal, as wide a berth as the width of the barge would allow, Richard anxiously rushed to the stern and into the small wheelhouse. He ran his eyes over the sparse controls. It seemed simple enough, a throttle and a steering wheel. He powered down the vessel and grabbed the wheel, but it wouldn’t turn. A frantic search revealed the pin that held it in place. He freed it and pushed the throttle forward halfway while turning the barge until the bow was lined up with the distant ship.

EV1L watched Richard’s every move until it was satisfied they were heading for the ship and then moved to the bow and stared out at the approaching vessel.

Though frightened by the proximity of the boat’s only other passenger, Richard relaxed slightly when it stopped staring at him and turned away. Death didn’t seem so imminent now and he was hopeful he might actually survive this ordeal.

Though Richard was naive at times, he wasn’t stupid and knew by the barge being set adrift with the dark phantom as its only passenger, the ship’s crew was probably aware of its presence and would take steps to prevent it boarding their vessel. Though he had no idea of what actions they would take, he imagined his life would bear little consideration with their preventative measures. He would have to think of a plan whereby he could be saved without seeming to endanger those on the ship.

As he grew nearer to the vessel he was able to read its name, Spasatel Kuznetsov. It was Russian, not the American ship he had expected. That didn’t bode well for his survival; the Russians would care even less about his life than the Americans or British. He needed a good and convincing plan if he was going to live through this. He gazed back at the dark form still focused on the approaching ship and wondered what its plans were. Whatever the unfathomable thoughts of the dark menace, Richard was confident pain and death to others played a prominent role and he didn’t trust it not to include him in its killing spree when they were onboard. He looked across the waves at the helicopter drawing nearer to the large ship. He didn’t have much time. It was his only means to escape from the dark presence.

As his eyes desperately scanned the ship for a solution that would get him safely aboard, an idea formed that would result in the death of the dark golem and hopefully his survival. Though he saw a few Russians moving about the rolling deck, none looked in his direction. Richard altered course slightly to keep the bow pointed at the Russian vessel and flashed the deck lights on and off in the hope of attracting someone’s attention.

Showered and dressed in borrowed clothes a few sizes too large, Lucy exited the cabin she had been allowed to use. She placed her hands against the walls to steady herself against the rolling movements of the vessel as she headed along the corridor towards the galley. Though she had grabbed a quick snack before her shower, she was still famished. Now she had washed away every remnant of the alien grime, she felt like normality was beginning to return to her life that had been anything but recently.

Babinski was tucking into his second helping of food when Lucy entered the galley. He smiled at her change of appearance. “You look better.”

“I am thanks.” Her mouth watered at the sight and smell of food the men were eagerly consuming at the tables spaced around the room.

Babinski indicated the empty chair beside him. “Come, sit and eat.”

Lucy gratefully took him up on his offer.

Babinski turned towards the man behind the counter of the galley kitchen. “A bowl of food for the lady, Gresol.”

Gresol brought it over, placed it in front of Lucy with a smile and glared at Babinski. “I don’t mind doing it for our pretty guest, but I’m a cook not your personal waiter, so next time you want something, get off your lazy arse and fetch it yourself.”

Babinski smiled at the man. “And I was hoping for a private massage later.”

Gresol rolled his eyes and returned to his kitchen.

Lucy wolfed down the hot food, a type of meat stew with vegetables.

A man popped his head into the galley. “Lucy, there’s an American helicopter on the way to pick you up.”

Unable to answer with her mouth full of food, Lucy nodded at the man.

“I’ll bring her up,” volunteered Babinski. “What’s the ETA?”

“It’s already approaching off the port bow, so a few minutes.”

Lucy placed the spoon in the bowl and let out a satisfied sigh. “I’m ready.”

Babinski found Lucy a waterproof jacket and led her out of the galley.

Ivan Chersky glanced at Brusilov when he entered the bridge. “The American helicopter is on its way, Captain, ETA six minutes, but there’s something else approaching from the opposite direction.”

Brusilov crossed to the radar and peered at the unexpected blip moving through the slower moving blips that formed the newly created iceberg field.

“I think it’s the barge, Captain,” said Chersky.

Brusilov glanced out across the sea in the direction of the detected blip and noticed a light flashing. He took a pair of binoculars from their place on the wall and walked out onto the small deck surrounding the front of the bridge. Ignoring the wind and snow that whipped around him, he placed the binoculars to his eyes and focused on the flashing lights. He was surprised to see Chersky proved correct; the barge headed straight for them. At first he blamed the wind and waves for altering its course, but as it drew nearer he saw a man leaning out of the wheelhouse waving. He wondered where he had come from, how he had gotten aboard the barge and what had happened to the evil menace; it couldn’t still be aboard if the man was still alive. Brusilov swept the binoculars over the length of the deck and was shocked when he spied the dark form standing near the bow with its eyes focused on his ship. Though confused as to why it hadn’t killed the man piloting the barge, he was well aware of the danger the dark entity presented if it managed to board the ship. He returned to the bridge, grabbed the radio, reset the frequency and pressed the talk button.

Richard stopped waving at the Russian ship and turned when a voice crackled behind him.

“This is Captain Brusilov from the Russian vessel the Spasatel Kuznetsov communicating with the man piloting the barge heading for my ship. I order you to turn away and keep a safe distance. If you approach you will be blown from the water.”

Richard found the radio hanging on the back wall and pressed the talk button. “Captain Brusilov, this is Richard Whorley speaking from the barge. I am a British scientist working with the American salvage team and any aggression levied against me will likely be looked upon as an act of war. I am in trouble and need rescuing. This is an SOS. I repeat―this is an SOS.” He lifted his finger and waited.

“Mr. Whorley, you are endangering everyone aboard this vessel by bringing that alien to us and I am within my rights to prevent that from happening. Approach any closer and you will be blown from the water and destroyed.”