Read Online Under a Tell-Tale Sky: Disruption - Book 1 by R.E. McDermott - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: R.E. McDermott
Tags: Chaos, apocalypse, post apocalyptic, Dystopian, teotwawki, shtf, EMP, solar storm, the end of the world as we know it, solar flare, solar, grid, grid-down, shit hits the fan, coronal mass ejection, power failure
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pointing.
His watch partner followed his pointing finger.
“That’s the signal all right. Flash him back, then help me get the pilot ladder out,” the second man said, as his shipmate moved to comply.
Minutes later, an aluminum boat with two men aboard pulled into the beams of their flashlights and moved sluggishly to press its length against the ship’s hull, just below the dangling ladder. The men in the boat were standing ankle deep in water.
“Damn, Levi,” one of the sailors said, “you’re damn near sunk.”
“Obviously,” Levi said, “get us lines down here so we can tie her off bow and stern to the ship’s rail. We can save her if she doesn’t sink!”
The sailors ran to grab rope from the nearby deck locker and, minutes later, had the boat safe from immediate danger. They threw down additional lines to allow Levi to tie off gear in the boat to be hoisted aboard. When satisfied they’d done all they could, Levi took a last look around and nodded, and both newcomers climbed the swaying rope ladder to the main deck. They reached the deck just as the chief mate arrived, summoned by radio.
“Good to see you, Levi,” Georgia Howell said, offering her hand. “Who’s your friend?”
“Thanks, ma’am,” Levi said, returning her handshake. “This is my father-in-law, Anthony McCoy. Anthony, this is Georgia Howell, the chief mate.” Levi grinned and nodded at the two sailors. “And these two deck apes are Charlie Lynch and Pete Sonnier.”
Anthony shook hands all around as Levi turned back to the chief mate.
“Ma’am, someone upstream shot some holes in us,” Levi said. “I’d like to hoist her aboard with the deck crane as soon as possible. She’s our ride home.”
“Okay,” Howell said, “but we’d have to put on the deck light, and the skipper doesn’t want us showing any more lights than necessary. It’ll have to wait until daylight, but we’ll make sure she’s not going anywhere.”
She turned to the two sailors. “Pete, Charlie, get some extra lines on that boat and make sure they’re snugged up good and tight. And check the other lines while you’re at it. You know these engine-room pukes couldn’t tie a knot to save their own ass.”
Levi smiled to himself at the familiar banter as the two sailors laughed.
“Yes, ma’am,” said the two sailors in unison as they set off to get more rope, and Howell turned back to Levi and Anthony.
“Let’s head up to the Old Man’s office. He told me to wake him as soon as you arrived.”
M/V Pecos Trader
Buckeye Marine Terminal
Wilmington, North Carolina
Day 7, 3:30 a.m.
“They fired on you for no reason?” Hughes asked.
Anthony answered before Levi got a chance. “I expect it was because they missed with the stuff they tried to drop on our heads.”
Hughes chuckled in spite of the situation, taking an instant liking to Levi’s father-in-law.
Levi gave Anthony a ‘shut up’ glare and reasserted control of their side of the conversation.
“No reason I can think of, Captain,” he said, “but it pretty much squares with what I’ve been hearing on the radio. Most of the cities are becoming war zones, and Wilmington’s no different. The gangs are out of control and the police and National Guard are overwhelmed, along with everyone else. I mean, let’s face it, the cops were hard-pressed to control certain sections of the city even when everything was working, so they got no chance now. Nobody really knows what’s happening for sure, but it’s nothing good, I know that, and I don’t see it getting better.”
Hughes nodded. “I’d already come to the same conclusion. That’s why I’ve decided to sail back to Texas.”
Levi nodded. “I figured you might. That’s really why we’re here.”
Hughes raised his eyebrows in an unspoken question, and listened as Levi explained the reason for the visit.
M/V Pecos Trader
Crew Mess Room
Day 7, 10:30 a.m.
Hughes held the meeting in the crew mess
His watch partner followed his pointing finger.
“That’s the signal all right. Flash him back, then help me get the pilot ladder out,” the second man said, as his shipmate moved to comply.
Minutes later, an aluminum boat with two men aboard pulled into the beams of their flashlights and moved sluggishly to press its length against the ship’s hull, just below the dangling ladder. The men in the boat were standing ankle deep in water.
“Damn, Levi,” one of the sailors said, “you’re damn near sunk.”
“Obviously,” Levi said, “get us lines down here so we can tie her off bow and stern to the ship’s rail. We can save her if she doesn’t sink!”
The sailors ran to grab rope from the nearby deck locker and, minutes later, had the boat safe from immediate danger. They threw down additional lines to allow Levi to tie off gear in the boat to be hoisted aboard. When satisfied they’d done all they could, Levi took a last look around and nodded, and both newcomers climbed the swaying rope ladder to the main deck. They reached the deck just as the chief mate arrived, summoned by radio.
“Good to see you, Levi,” Georgia Howell said, offering her hand. “Who’s your friend?”
“Thanks, ma’am,” Levi said, returning her handshake. “This is my father-in-law, Anthony McCoy. Anthony, this is Georgia Howell, the chief mate.” Levi grinned and nodded at the two sailors. “And these two deck apes are Charlie Lynch and Pete Sonnier.”
Anthony shook hands all around as Levi turned back to the chief mate.
“Ma’am, someone upstream shot some holes in us,” Levi said. “I’d like to hoist her aboard with the deck crane as soon as possible. She’s our ride home.”
“Okay,” Howell said, “but we’d have to put on the deck light, and the skipper doesn’t want us showing any more lights than necessary. It’ll have to wait until daylight, but we’ll make sure she’s not going anywhere.”
She turned to the two sailors. “Pete, Charlie, get some extra lines on that boat and make sure they’re snugged up good and tight. And check the other lines while you’re at it. You know these engine-room pukes couldn’t tie a knot to save their own ass.”
Levi smiled to himself at the familiar banter as the two sailors laughed.
“Yes, ma’am,” said the two sailors in unison as they set off to get more rope, and Howell turned back to Levi and Anthony.
“Let’s head up to the Old Man’s office. He told me to wake him as soon as you arrived.”
M/V Pecos Trader
Buckeye Marine Terminal
Wilmington, North Carolina
Day 7, 3:30 a.m.
“They fired on you for no reason?” Hughes asked.
Anthony answered before Levi got a chance. “I expect it was because they missed with the stuff they tried to drop on our heads.”
Hughes chuckled in spite of the situation, taking an instant liking to Levi’s father-in-law.
Levi gave Anthony a ‘shut up’ glare and reasserted control of their side of the conversation.
“No reason I can think of, Captain,” he said, “but it pretty much squares with what I’ve been hearing on the radio. Most of the cities are becoming war zones, and Wilmington’s no different. The gangs are out of control and the police and National Guard are overwhelmed, along with everyone else. I mean, let’s face it, the cops were hard-pressed to control certain sections of the city even when everything was working, so they got no chance now. Nobody really knows what’s happening for sure, but it’s nothing good, I know that, and I don’t see it getting better.”
Hughes nodded. “I’d already come to the same conclusion. That’s why I’ve decided to sail back to Texas.”
Levi nodded. “I figured you might. That’s really why we’re here.”
Hughes raised his eyebrows in an unspoken question, and listened as Levi explained the reason for the visit.
M/V Pecos Trader
Crew Mess Room
Day 7, 10:30 a.m.
Hughes held the meeting in the crew mess
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