As he sank down into the boat, he heard Murphy cry out. "Hey, Brooks, that was me best knife!"
Murphy had only managed to get Havelock's shoulders out of the water and was clearly struggling. After casting a suspicious eye at the water to make sure no further attacks from the dead were likely, Bryant crouched forward to help him. Together, they pulled the Captain onto their boat, noting that, aside from a few cuts and grazes, he seemed to be more or less intact.
After checking to see if Havelock still breathed, Bryant gently tapped him on the cheek, adding a little more force when he was met with no response.
"Captain?" he said hesitantly. "Captain, we're from the Whirlwind - the Elita. You're safe now. Captain?"
Looking curiously onwards, Murphy was about to ask if the Captain was dead, when Havelock gave a start, and immediately lapsed into a coughing fit. Bryant placed a hand on his shoulder as he began to look about wildly.
"It's alright Captain, you're safe. We are among the living."
"Dear God," were Havelock's first words and he rubbed his eyes as he sat up and tried to catch his breath. He frowned when he saw the other occupants of the boat. "You are the only survivors?"
"Sorry, Captain, yes."
Havelock leaned heavily against the side of the boat and sighed. "I had hoped for more."
"There is no shame in it, Captain," said Bryant with conviction. "I don't think there is another Captain who could have done what you did today.
"'Tis true," said Murphy. "You are a true blue-blooded hero. Captain Havelock, killer of the unkillable, sinker of the unsinkable!"
"And willing to stay on a doomed ship to the end," said Bryant. "You get yourself another ship, Captain, and we'll be the first to sign on!"
Waving back their praise, Havelock thought back to his duel with Dubois, the rigged explosion of the Elita's magazine and, finally, the zombies racing through the water to fulfil their Captain's promise of death. He rubbed his temple in disbelief.
"I was to die, you see," he said, causing Murphy to give a curious and perplexed look. "That was what was meant to be."
"I don't think so, Captain," said Bryant with confidence. "Perhaps you should have been killed several times over. But you were thrown clear of the explosion and we were here to pull you from the water. I would say that God clearly preserves you for another purpose."
"And perhaps honour is now satisfied," said Havelock but he did not explain himself to his remaining crew. Settling down into the boat, he allowed his eyes to close as he thought of Dubois and what the French Captain had sought so fiercely.
He hoped Dubois was finally dead, blown apart in the explosion of the Elita and that, perhaps, some peace could be found in that rest. Try as he might though, Havelock could not bring himself to believe Dubois was completely vanquished. Maybe Havelock would receive a visitation of a vengeful spirit in the future. After the events of the past few days, he could now believe almost anything was possible. More likely, Dubois was trapped somewhere in the joint wreckage of the two ships, lurking on the sea floor for another chance to strike at the Havelock family.
The truth remained, however, that Dubois had been bested. It might well be that Havelock would, one day, have to face his nemesis once more to again answer for the actions of his grandfather. Perhaps it would be a later generation of Havelock that would be given that onerous task. For now, at least, he believed he could relax and, finally, sleep.
Watching his Captain rest, Murphy cocked his head as he watched an expression of serenity wash over Havelock's face. Looking over his shoulder, and seeing no sight of land, he turned back to the recumbent Captain.
"Bryant says the island is somewhere southwest. Is that right, Cap'n?"
Murphy received no answer. Havelock was already fast asleep.
THE END
MATTHEW SPRANGE - With a solid history in roleplaying design, Matthew Sprange has written over two dozen gaming books, including the Babylon 5, Judge Dredd and Starship Troopers games, and has won two Origins Awards for his work in miniature wargames. Death Hulk is his second novel, with his first being a trip into the Babylon 5 universe, entitled Visions of Peace.
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