Chapter 5: Alarums
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:51 pm
It was just past five AM when Green and Lars got two-thirds of number one running again. Tired but pleased with their work, they proceeded down to B deck. "Mister Lars, feel free to go ahead and clean up," said Green. "You have just two hours left on watch anyway. I'm going forward to check on things in the bridge; it was fearfully hard to hear Leftenant Briggs on the telephone in the engine room."
...
Leftenant Briggs entered the bridge. "Almost morning, Tommy," he said. "It appears I'll be taking the helm first watch. Tried to get some sleep, but I really couldn't. Nice to have most of our power back, eh? Have to hand it to Green, he really knows how to get things done."
The First Mate glanced at the clock, then at the forward window, and frowned. Walking forward, he checked the compass, then leaned over the railing to look out toward the horizon. "Something is wrong here," he said. "I'll be right back." With that, he left the bridge.
A few minutes later, he returned. "Leftenant, we have a problem. We're going the wrong way. Oh, certainly, the compass says we are proceeding eastward, but I'm afraid the sun says we are going west, and between you and I, I suspect the sun is right." He sighed deeply. "Bring us around toward the sunrise, Mansel, while I go and wake the Captain. He won't be pleased, I'm sure."
As Tommy prepared to turn the ship about, he looked out toward the slowly-brightening horizon, and stopped cold. Land, he thought, there's land out there. But we're hours away from England, and a couple of days from Canada, and Iceland is too far off our course...
...
Leftenant Briggs entered the bridge. "Almost morning, Tommy," he said. "It appears I'll be taking the helm first watch. Tried to get some sleep, but I really couldn't. Nice to have most of our power back, eh? Have to hand it to Green, he really knows how to get things done."
The First Mate glanced at the clock, then at the forward window, and frowned. Walking forward, he checked the compass, then leaned over the railing to look out toward the horizon. "Something is wrong here," he said. "I'll be right back." With that, he left the bridge.
A few minutes later, he returned. "Leftenant, we have a problem. We're going the wrong way. Oh, certainly, the compass says we are proceeding eastward, but I'm afraid the sun says we are going west, and between you and I, I suspect the sun is right." He sighed deeply. "Bring us around toward the sunrise, Mansel, while I go and wake the Captain. He won't be pleased, I'm sure."
As Tommy prepared to turn the ship about, he looked out toward the slowly-brightening horizon, and stopped cold. Land, he thought, there's land out there. But we're hours away from England, and a couple of days from Canada, and Iceland is too far off our course...