Read Online Deadly Crossing (Tom Dugan 2) by R.E. McDermott - Free Book Online

were secured with twist locks and not tie rods. He watched as the first officer directed sailors releasing the twist locks and the chief engineer directed the placement of tough but thin rubber air bladders into the narrow space between the ‘special cargo’ container and the box below it. All the bladders were positioned on the inboard side of the container, so that when inflated, they would tip the container outboard, toward the side of the vessel.
    The men finished their tasks and began to scramble out of harm’s way, just as the radio on the captain’s belt squawked.
    “First officer to bridge.”
    “ Da . This is bridge. Go ahead,” the captain said.
    “We are finished, and all men are clear.”
    “Good! Spasibo , Mr. Ivanov. Chief, do you copy?” the captain asked into the radio.
    “ Da , Captain. I am here,” the chief engineer replied.
    “Very well,” the captain said. “Begin inflating.”
    He was answered by the hiss of air rushing through hoses, followed shortly thereafter by the distant sound of an air compressor cycling on. He watched in silence as the inside edge of the ‘special cargo’ container rose slowly into the air and the container tipped outward toward the starboard side. After a long ten minutes, progress stopped with the container at an odd angle. The captain keyed the mike on his radio.
    “Chief, do you copy? What is the problem?”
    “The bags will only lift seven hundred and fifty millimeters, Captain. I think we have hit the limit, and it is not enough to tip the container over. I can shore the container up with wood and reposition the bladders, but it will take some time.”
    The captain thought a moment and looked out at the sea around the ship.
    “Let me try something first,” the captain said into the radio as he moved into the wheelhouse. “It may take a moment. Make sure everyone stays well clear of the container.”
    “Understood,” the chief replied.
    “Put steering on hand,” the captain ordered the helmsman, then glanced once again at the sea. A southerly wind was generating a moderate swell, striking the ship almost broad on the port beam, inducing a slight but gentle roll.
    “Steering is on hand, Captain,” the helmsman said.
    “Very well. Five degrees right rudder,” the captain said, and the helmsman confirmed the order and turned the wheel.
    The captain moved to the wide windows at the front of the bridge and watched the sea with a practiced eye as the ship’s bow swung northwest, and the swell began to strike the ship from astern and at an angle.
    “Steady as she goes.”
    The helmsman repeated the captain’s order and steadied the ship on her new course.
    The captain nodded to himself at the anticipated effect as the ship began an increasingly violent corkscrew motion in the quartering seas, dipping further to starboard with each successive roll. On the fifth or sixth roll, the ‘special container’ reached the tipping point and rolled off the stack into the sea with a spectacular splash. He heard a cheer from the men assembled forward and allowed himself a small smile.
    “Well done, Captain,” said the chief over the radio.
    “Come left to new course of two four zero,” the captain said, waiting for the helmsman to confirm the order before moving back out on the starboard bridge wing to gaze over the side. In the ship’s wake, the container was already sinking as it filled with water through holes pre-drilled near the bottom of the container for that very purpose. He lifted his own radio.
    “And well done to you, gentlemen. Now, Chief, please take a sledgehammer to some spare twist locks so we have some evidence of the ‘violent rogue wave’ we encountered to present the authorities in Savannah.”
    The chief engineer acknowledged the order and the captain sighed. Now to craft some fairy tale for the logbook.

Chapter Five
    Kairouz Residence
London, UK
    “Sergei Arsov,” Anna said, turning her laptop on the coffee table so the others