Against the Sea II: Tales On and Under the Sea

by John E. Christ

  “Stay with the Captain,” Habib said sharply. “I will go find Ali.”

  Daka raised his gun.

  “If he tries anything stupid, shoot him. We have no use for heroes.”

  “You have nothing to fear from me,” Sammy said. “There is something on this ship you need to be afraid of.”

  “You lie!” Habib slapped Sammy across the face. “Watch him!”

  The slap smarted only for a moment. Sammy knew he was still in control of the situation. The young boy Daka was ripe for conversion to his side. When Habib disappeared through the door he kept his eyes on Daka.

  “You work for a cruel master,” Sammy said. “I am sure he has made you all sorts of promises.”

  Daka remained unmoving and mute.

  “There are better and safer ways of making a living.” Sammy smiled. “When was the last time you ate and slept? The life of a pirate is not an easy one. There is nothing but death and sorrow awaiting a pirate.”

  “That will never happen to us.” Daka gritted teeth his teeth. “We have never been caught and never will!”

  “How many times have you taken a ship? I’ll bet this is your first time.”

  Daka blushed.

  “I’ll bet this is the farthest you have ever been away from home. To do that takes a lot of courage.”

  Daka nodded slowly.

  “What takes more courage is to follow good advice when it’s given. Sometimes those closest to us are not the best ones to trust. Are any of the men with you family?”

  Daka shook his head.

  “Does it make any sense to follow a stranger blindly into danger? I’m sure you would not do it at home so why do it out here on this ship?”

  “But you are a stranger too.”

  “So I am.” Sonny laughed. “Let me show you I can be trusted. First, put down your gun. I promise not to hurt you or run away.”

  Daka slowly lowered the gun. The man’s voice sounded sincere. All he wanted was a way out of this mess.

  ***

  Whatever brushed by Ali disappeared before it was seen. He had screamed like a woman. With heart racing he moved forward in the search of the crew. The promise of riches at times was not enough to compensate for the risk. If it were not for the desperate poverty of his mother and sisters, he would not have come. Ali had always been fascinated by the stories he had heard. It was easy to bully the infidel and get everything they wanted. As a fisherman he was used to going offshore out of sight of land. This was the first time he had boarded one of the large ships that passed by. From the outside, the ship was enormous, from the inside it was even more so.

  Where was the crew? Ali wondered if it was wise to continue, yet he dare not stop. Habib was a tough taskmaster who punished severely when orders were not followed properly. The compartments and rooms were well lit, neat and empty of anyone. There was actually little sign anyone had been in any of the rooms recently.

  Down a large corridor was a closed-door. Ali crept slowly up and listened. He silently opened the door. The interior was unlit. He could see nothing inside. There was no obvious light switch to turn on. He stood at the door while his eyes accommodated to the darkness. Even so there was little to see. A chill coursed down his arms. He shook off the sensation and stepped further into the darkness. He thought he sensed a presence.

  “Come out and give yourselves up,” Ali said loudly. “I will spare your lives if you obey. If not, you put your miserable lives at risk.”

  Silence.

  “There is no use fighting,” Ali said louder. “I know you are here. We have taken over your ship. We are armed and willing to use deadly force as we see fit.”

  Silence.

  “Don’t be foolish!” Ali shouted.

  Out of the darkness lunged a mass knocking Ali to the deck before he could scream.

  ***

  “I am surrounded by incompetence and fools,” Habib muttered. “I must do everything myself.”

  Rather than follow behind Ali and Zumi, Habib searched the upper levels of the pilot house and living quarters. There was no crew anywhere. Whatever the Captain had said was still hard to believe. How could he be the only person on board? He found the door locked. He reasoned the crew had managed to hide behind the door. Without hesitation he fired the AK-47 at the lock and easily kicked in the door. The interior of the room was unlit.

  “Show yourselves, cowards!” Habib shouted. “Your ship is now under my command. I shall spare your miserable lives as long as you cooperate. There is nothing you can do to stop us!”

  Silence.

  “You are bigger fools than I thought.” Habib laughed. “Come out and make it easy on yourselves.”

  Silence.

  “I know you are here,” Habib said sternly. “I can feel your presence. You do not fool me!”

  Silence.

  “When I turn on the lights, I will shoot the first person I see. This is my last warning!”

  Out of the corner of his eye Habib caught a sense of movement in the dark. He pointed his gun and smiled.

  “I can see you,” Habib lied. “Come out with your hands where I can see them.”

  A sound came from the opposite side of the dark. Habib instantly turned his gun toward the noise.

  “Oh, ho!” Habib laughed. “I know there are more of you than just one.” He stepped back into the door entrance. “Better show yourselves now or I’ll shoot.”

  Silence.

  “I’m waiting,” Habib said impatiently. “Your lives are at stake.”

  The light in the corridor went out, plunging Habib in total darkness; as he turned a large mass smashed into him. He fired aimlessly as he lost consciousness from the blow.

  ***

  “Daka are you afraid?” Sammy smiled. “What do you think your friends have found? Haven’t they been gone for a long time?”

  “You are trying to trick me.” Daka lifted his gun. “We have control of your ship. It is ours!”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I don’t like the way you talk.”

  “Sometimes the truth is dangerous.”

  “I don’t trust you.”

  “It is just you and I,” Sammy said slowly. “And you are the one with a gun. What chance what I have if I wanted to get away from you? Think about it.”

  The gun felt increasingly heavy in Daka’s hands. Perspiration made his palms slick.

  “I see you as a young desperate man,” Sammy said softly. “You need help but you don’t know how to get it. I don’t think you would shoot me. We are brothers.”

  “You have so much and we have nothing.” Daka tried to relax. “How can we be brothers when my family is starving?”

  “There is no need to starve. The United Nations and America send food, water and medical supplies all the time.”

  “It all goes to the government and the Army. Nothing is ever given to us who need it.”

  “Then why are you here when you should be trying to change the way things are run in your country? A long time ago my country was oppressed but the people rose up and threw out the oppressors so that all could share equally in freedom. You could do more good for your family at home than out here.”

  “Habib says this is the only way,” Daka said. “God takes care of those who take care of themselves.”

  “That is a great truth for all peoples.” Sammy nodded slowly. “Everyone must decide for themselves how best to do that. I think you are still trying to find your way.”

  “Daka, where is Habib?”

  Daka and Sammy simultaneously turned to the voice. Hassan came close with gun raised. Daka was speechless. This was unexpected.

  “What is the matter?” Hassan scanned the area.

  “I thought you were to stay with our boat,” Daka stammered.

  “I came when I saw the signal. The boat is tied to the back of the ship.”

  “What signal?”

  “There was a light flashed several times at me,” Hassan said. “I thought I was needed
.”

  “I have been watching our prisoner. The others are looking for the crew.”

  Hassan stepped up to Sammy, staring him in the eyes. “What is going on here?”

  “There is nothing for you on this ship,” Sammy said slowly. “If you leave now, you might save your life.”

  “Do you think I look stupid?” Hassan sneered. “I am afraid of nothing.”

  “You make a big mistake.” Sammy smiled.

  Hassan abruptly turned away and faced Daka. “Which way did Habib go?” Daka pointed. “We shall all go find him. Come!”

  There was only one way through the first door. Along the way Hassan checked each compartment. He found no one or anything unusual. They went down level by level reaching the engine room.

  “Who checked this place?”

  “Zumi, I think,” Daka said softly.

  The engine room was filled with the noise of operating machinery. The twin shafts were rotating smoothly. There was no one stationed at the controls. Hassan looked in every corner, found nothing and turned to Sammy.

  “Where is the crew?”

  “Everything is automated,” Sammy said. “There is a computer running the ship.”

  “And where is this computer?”

  Sammy remained silent.

  “You must tell me where this computer is!” Hassan growled. “Or…”

  “…You’ll kill me?” Sammy laughed.

  Hassan jumped and smashed the butt of his gun against Sammy’s head. Sammy fell to the floor but did not lose consciousness. The blow should have drawn blood but there was none. He got up slowly.

  “I think it is time to end the game,” Sammy said. “I have warned you.”

  “If you value your life, I would do nothing,” Hassan said.

  “I don’t have to do anything. You will soon regret your actions.”

  “We must find the others,” Hassan said. “Let’s go through that door.”

  The next compartment contained tools and instruments. No one was present. The door at the far end was locked.

  “Open it!” Hassan screamed.

  Sam entered a code into an adjacent keypad. The door opened. Hassan looked through the door into the darkness.

  “Turn on the light!”

  “There is a switch inside the door to the right,” Sammy said.

  As Hassan stepped through the door Sammy grabbed the barrel of Daka’s gun pulling it away from him. He dashed to the door locking it behind Hassan. There was a scream of rage behind the door. Daka stood stunned.

  “I will not hurt you. You must get off as quickly as you can.”

  “You can’t do this,” Daka said weakly. “My friends will kill you.”

  “They are not your friends,” Sammy said flatly. “For everything one does in life there are consequences. You are young enough to change your ways for the better. Those with you are beyond all help. They deserve what they get. You must get on your boat.”

  “I can’t leave without them.”

  “Daka, you are now a man. Stand on your own two legs. Save yourself so you may serve your family as you should.”

  Sammy grasped Daka by the arm and pulled him along out of the engine room. The howls of rage continued behind the door. There was a burst of machine gun noise then silence. Daka looked back.

  “Forget him. There is nothing we can do for him. He will soon realize his mistake. Do you need to be forced?”

  Daka shook his head and was released.

  ***

  “Betrayed by my own,” Hassan muttered. “He is now one of the enemy.” Lowering the gun Hassan reached out in the dark for the door. He found it with little difficulty. He swept one side then the other for a light switch. The walls were smooth on each side. Since most men are right-handed, he reasoned a switch was most likely found on the right side when facing the door. Slowly he waved his hand across the wall moving to the right. As he did he thought he detected a presence near him. He stopped and lifted his gun.

  “Whoever you are, I am armed!” Hassan said loudly. “Show yourself and be spared!”

  The darkness remained mute. With a sudden chill running across his shoulders he resumed scanning the wall for a switch. Just as he touched what he presumed was a switch he thought he detected movement from behind. He swung wildly around firing blindly in a wide arc. The flashes from the gun illuminated a presence he could not identify. On the other hand it was not moving nor did it fall under a hail of bullets.

  “I must be going crazy.” Hassan gasped. “There is nothing in here but me. I must get out of here.”

  He resumed following the wall giving up the idea of finding a switch. He had to find another exit door. He could only hope to find light in the next compartment or corridor. He remained consciously aware something was amiss. The feeling there was a presence in the room with him did not disappear. He almost felt he detected breathing until he realized it was his own. He finally found another door and it was firmly secured but not locked. He slowly released the seal pulling the door open toward him. There was total dark ahead. Hassan turned and stared into the dark behind. In a way, this was no different than being in an underground tunnel, only the air was better. He smiled for feeling foolish. As he turned to pass through the door it hit him. He never had a chance to scream.

  ***

  Sammy led the way to the lower stern deck where the boat was tied. Daka reluctantly followed, confused as to what he should do. His orders were to remain with the Captain. By allowing the Captain to lead him back to the boarding place, he felt a growing sense of betrayal on his part. The gunfire behind the sealed door still echoed loudly in his ears. Duty demanded he kill the Captain. Yet he was unable to do so. His manhood had been challenged and he failed the test. He would forever be treated as a cowardly woman when he returned home. There was a point he had to assert himself.

  “Get into your boat.” Sammy pointed over the rail. “Go and tell your friends and family it is not safe to go after the big ships.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Daka said softly slowly regaining his voice. “I think you are trying to trick me. I am smarter than you take me.”

  “Son,” Sammy said warmly. “I am trying to save your life. You no longer have any friends on the ship. They are gone.”

  “I will wait here with you until my friends return.”

  “That will never happen.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “You know nothing about this ship, do you?”

  Daka refused to acknowledge the question and stared at Sammy.

  “You and your friends look upon this ship as an easy way to make a lot of money. These waters have been unsafe long enough. A ship should be able to move across any water without fear of attack. This ship was designed to prevent pirates from taking over.”

  “How can that be?” Daka interrupted. “I have seen no resistance to our boarding. You are the only person I have seen. Where are the others with weapons to face us?”

  “Your limited experience does not allow you to imagine what is possible.” Sammy smiled.

  Daka put more tension on the trigger. The longer he listened the more confused he became. He needed help.

  “Be reasonable. Put your gun down and get into your boat before I have to do it myself.”

  “Stay away from me!” Daka shouted. “I am not afraid to shoot you!”

  “Then shoot as you must.” Sammy advanced toward Daka. “You have made your choice.”

  As Sammy reached to grab the gun, Daka pulled the trigger. The AK-47 spat a continuous ray of bullets and Sammy reeled backwards. Daka could not watch and closed his eyes. He did not hear the body hit the deck. Only when he stopped firing did he open his eyes and saw Sammy inert on the deck. In spite of all the wounds, there was no blood.

  “I am no coward!” Daka puffed. “I am a man and you are nothing. We will take what we came to get!”

  There was nothing to do but try and find the others. Daka reentered the ship and headed to the engine room
. He was certain Hassan would be proud. He opened the locked door calling for Hassan. There was no reply.

  “He will not answer,” said a voice from behind. “He is gone.” Daka swung wildly around. Sammy was standing behind him and his jaw dropped open.

  “A little surprised, are you?” Sammy laughed. “You cannot kill me.”

  A wet spot darkened the crotch of Daka’s pants. Terror filled his eyes and he was frozen in place.

  “You should have left as I told you. What you don’t understand is this ship is fully automated with its own defense system. No men are necessary. You may not understand this, but I am a machine like everything else around you. Now you must pay the price like all the others.”

  The gun dropped out of Daka’s hands as Sammy broke his neck. The ship continued on undisturbed in its mission. Sammy threw Daka’s body into the boat and cut it loose. Perhaps it would be found as a warning. If not, the ship would always be ready to protect itself.