Read Online Blood In the Water by Taylor Anderson - Free Book Online Page A

great deal, but the new shells, though far more effective, were actually harder on the bores than the shells they brought to this world. They still used copper driving bands, but the iron casings forward of there had quickly eroded the rifling. “Now we’ve got the liners, we ought to do it,” Spanky persisted. “The condensers, pumps, even the bunkers leak. We’re gettin’ salt water in the fuel now.” He held his hands out at his sides. “More than ever, anyway.” There had been a little saltwater seepage into
Walker
’s fuel bunkers ever since she was built. It had eased a lot after ler last refit, but now it was getting out of hand. “Hell, you’ve seen the lists,” Spanky snorted. “Even Earl’s damn Coke machine is on the fritz, not that he puts anything in it.” He shook his head. “The old girl’s wearing out.”
    Matt nodded. “Yeah, but like I’ve told you before, she’s doing what she’s for.” He smiled sadly. “Besides, I don’t know about you, but I think—I hope—we really hurt the Grik this last time. I expect, based on reports and what I saw myself, that what they sent against us was their second string and a lot bigger shoe is getting ready to drop. But with the rest of First Fleet and Generals Alden and Rolak on their way, we’re going to have a helluva
boot
to drop on them.” He rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know,” he repeated. “It’s just a feeling I have, and I may be wrong. God knows that’s happened before. But if I’m right, and the Grikreally are finally trailing blood in the water, I’m damn sure not going to throw the old girl out of the war now. She deserves to be in at the finish,” he added softly, then looked back at Tabby. “Do what you can. We’re done out here in the strait anyway. You can at least finish patching up the condenser for number two, and plug as many tubes as you have to to get it back online when we get back to Grik City.”
    â€œAy, ay, Cap-i-taan. I’ll do what I can.”
    Matt nodded. “Thanks.”
    *   *   *
    Passing the steam frigates
Scott
and
Nakja-Mur
on picket duty several miles outside the harbor, they opened the narrow entrance to Grik City Bay late that afternoon. Following the revised channel markers to the broader expanse of the bay, where the bulk of what remained of First Fleet (South) lay at anchor some distance offshore, USS
Walker
came to rest at last. There wasn’t much of a fleet left.
Santa Catalina
was there, as were a couple of newly arrived fast transports and oilers made by stripping captured Grik Indiamen and putting engines in them. Away from the docks, it would be easier to get underway and maneuver if necessary when the now inevitable nightly air raid came. Only the most heavily damaged ships, like Jarrik-Fas’s USS
Tassat
, were tied to the pier, helpless against air attack, but helpless in any case.
Tassat
, for one, could barely keep herself afloat. The two great seagoing Homes-turned-carriers
Arracca
and
Salissa
, under Matt’s friends Tassanna-Ay-Arracca and Ahd-mi-raal Keje-Fris-Ar, stayed at sea with
Arracc
a’s DDs to screen them. At least the air raids weren’t that much of a threat to mobile ships. The Grik had begun lashing their dirigibles together in order to maximize their mutual defense and concentrate their bombing. The results were mixed, but it was now impossible to scatter their formation and shoot them all down. They always had plenty of warning of their arrival, though, and their direction betrayed their probable targets. Most nights, the men and ’Cats on the ships in the bay just watched as bombs fell on the great mound of the Celestial Palace, or “Cowflop,” as it had been irreverently dubbed. The enemy had initially avoided targeting the huge stone edifice rising three hundred feet above the