IC - Chapter Five - Onto The Ice

[Henrik]

Olof is just stunned. Two men... gone. The sea just swallowed them. One moment they were here, the next they were gone, dead. Olof feels empty. Callum's voice makes him pull himself together. "What do we do now?" he shouts trying to make himself heard over the sound of the storm.

[OrionUK]

James edges slowly towards Henning, making sure his feet barely leave the deck, and secures himself as tightly as he can muster. He is wishing this trip to the holds was over & hopes they find whatever is causing the crashing noise is found in the next hold.

James doesn't like the thought of Starkweather being at the rear after what just happened to Sean & Cotter but knows his experience could well save the loss of any more lives in this situation and even if he did voice any concerns he most likely wouldn't be heard!

[Raiko]

SS Gabrielle - The Southern Ocean - Approx 150 miles north of the Antarctic Circle
6:40pm - Wednesday October 26, 1933

The explorers slowly make their way to the second access hatch, fortunately although the Gabrielle continues to pitch and roll violently in the storm, none of the huge waves that wash across the foredeck are quite as massive as the one that took away Sean and Cotter.

Olof, Henning and Starkweather all loose their footing during the treacherous deck during the journey. Of these only Henning ever looses his grip on the guide-rope as the most powerful of the waves roars over the deck, knocking him straight off his feet and washing him across the deck; fortunately both Olof and James both manage to keep a firm grip on the guide rope and Henning is quickly hauled back to safety.

As soon as they reach the second hatch, Callum and John once again get to work unfastening it. Thumps and tearing rumbles can be heard from below as soon as the hatch is open, Callum quickly directs a flashlight beam down into the number two tween-deck hold to see what has happened.

Both men let out involuntary gasps as they see the damage below. The damage, seen in the dim light from an electric torch, is horrifying. Shadows dance hugely in the torch’s dim glow.

Four engines belonging to the Boeing aircraft were stored down there, but two of them have broken free of their straps and are loose within the chamber. With each pitch and shift of the ship they roll and bound about the compartment like gigantic steel bowling balls. The remnants of their crates are wooden shards scattered about the floor.

Everything in the hold shows the scars left by the careening motors. The remaining two engines are still secure, but their crates are both battered and crushed on one end, it is impossible to tell whether the engines themselves are greatly damaged. The boxes containing the wings of the plane are dimpled and crushed by the engines’ passage in several places, and the Boeing itself shows huge dents and gaping rents in its belly and along the fuselage.

The pallet of kerosene tins that was secured against one bulkhead is smashed and askew; flammable liquid spreads from crumpled containers and sloshes across the deck with every pitch or yaw, and the thin oily scent of kerosene fills the air.

The destruction is considerable and if something is not done quickly it could get much worse. In the kerosene-smeared chamber, a chance-made spark might start a fire that could sink the ship, if it descends through the floor of wooden beams into the rows of gasoline drums in the compartment below.

Looking over John's shoulder Starkweather sees the scene of destruction, "Bloody Hell! Quickly men, there's no time to loose! We must secure those engines!"

[Ghost_1971]

Callum takes a good look around the hold below. The detruction he witnesses is unbelievable.

"There's some cargo nets down there. That should make it easier. When the engines roll to the side, we can cover them with the nets and lash them to the side of the hold. Even with all the pitching of the waves, it should be fairly straightforward.." He tries to make light of the situation, but knows one slip up could kill or cripple any one of them.

[Dave Syrinx]

"That´s right Callum!""If we get down there, and hunker away from the path of the careening engines, we could come up with a plan. We´d be out of the blizzard and there are enough of mooring items down there. Plus we could sit out the storm down there, as it´s deadly to cross the deck again in these conditions." John takes a peek and looks for a safe spot in the cargo hold. "If we take cover there -", he points to the closest corner."-then we could fasten d-rings in the hull!" he pats his hammer, "Then one of us climbs over the immobile engine and do the same on the other end. While the engine rolls back and forth, we can trap it with a net, like you says, while it´s resting against the wall. The net have to be tightened real good. Then we repeat the procedure with the other engine. To finish up we secure all other crates down there, and put 'heels' down through the flooring to avoid the crates skidding off again." "But we´d better get down there first to see how this should be done." John brings up a handful of spikes, and asks for permission to head down!

[OrionUK]

James finds it hard to hear what the others are saying but as they seem to be talking about the hold James carries on edging towards the hatch, once there he realises exactly what the others were talking about & waits for his turn to head down into the hold.

[Henrik]

Olof is nervous, but there is a job that must be done. He gets ready to climb down and do whatever he can to secure those crates.

[Raiko]

#2 Tween Deck Hold - SS Gabrielle
6:41pm - Wednesday 26th January, 1933

Callum waits until the loose engines appear to be rolling to a relatively safe part of the hold and then clambers down the ladder, followed by John.

By the time the motions of the ship are carrying the engines back towards them they have been joined by Olof and have almost removed one of the cargo nets from the wall of the hold.

Henning is also down the ladder and is dashing towards Callum as the ship rolls, he slips off his feet and looks on in terror as one of the engine rolls straight at him. James now halfway down the ladder and Starkweather, the last man on deck, is preparing to descend as well.

[Raiko]

#2 Tween Deck Hold - SS Gabrielle
6:41pm - Wednesday 26th January, 1933

Henning, who is half way back onto his feet, freezes as the aircraft engine hurtles towards him. Without stopping to think of his own safety Olof lets go of the net and lunges for Henning, pulling the messboy back out of the engine's path.

The engines rolls past them and narrowly misses John, who nimbly backs into the hull to get out it's way.

Henning, still looking shocked, grins at Olof, "Thanks, I thought I was a goner!"

The ship rolls again as Henning and Olof rejoin Callum and John finally getting the first net off the wall. The four then stand ready to pounce on the first engine that clatters into the closest wall. Nearby James and Starkweather pull down some ropes to help secure the engine as soon as it's in the net.

The moment of truth has arrived: an engine bounces off the side of the damaged Boeing fuselage and then careers towards the nearby wall. Those holding the net leap into action...

[Raiko]

#2 Tween Deck Hold - SS Gabrielle
6:41pm - Wednesday 26th January, 1933

The four men holding the net surround the engine as it slams into the Gabrielle's hull. Callum trips and crashes into the wall, loosing his grip on the net.

Nearby James finds himself in the path of the other engine - he tries to dodge out of the way, but is too slow and realises that the eight hundred pound engine is going to smash right into him.

"Look out!" Starkweather dives at James, he tackles James around the chest and sends them both crashing to the floor. The rolling aircraft engine misses James by inches.

As the stormy ocean rolls the Gabrielle back in the opposite direction Starkweather and James rush over to the others carrying the ropes. With Callum still recovering from hitting the wall, the other three strain against the weight of the engine, but with the help of the ropes it is quickly secured.

[Dave Syrinx]

As the commotion settles John prepares the next move. He brings his hammer up and nails a board to the floor, creating a ledge where the engine gets some extra stabilization.

[Dave Syrinx]

"Let´s get this other baby tied down and secured! Are you all right, Callum?" John secures the hammer and gets ready to rumble with engine #2...

[Ghost_1971]

Callum rubs at the bruise on the side of his face, and the swelling that's appearing there. "Yea. I think so thanks John. That wasn't like me at all. Must have slipped on some of the Kerosene or something..."

[Henrik]

Olof gets ready for catching the last of the engines. They seem to get the hang of it.

[Raiko]

#2 Tween Deck Hold - SS Gabrielle
6:41pm - Wednesday 26th January, 1933

Starkweather joins John, Callum and Olof gathering the second net.

A violent motion of the ship sends James tumbling into one of the damaged crates that still house the other two Boeing engines, he quickly recovers and joins Henning getting the ropes.

The next roll of the Gabrielle sends the loose engine rolling directly towards the four men holding the net.

Starkweather shouts, "This is it lads! Get ready!"

[Dave Syrinx]

John helps to secure the net and hollers, "Can´t hold it, it´s gliding through my hands!"

[Raiko]

Everybody shifts their positions slightly to stay out of the engines direct path as it crashes into the wall, Olof stumbles and releases his corner of the net, which leaves John perilously close to loosing his own grip.

Fortunately with the help of Callum and Starkweather, he is able to hang on until Olof leaps back to his feet and helps out.

James and Henning dash over with the ropes and soon the second engine is secured to the hold wall.

[Ghost_1971]

With the tying off of the last knot, Callum breathes a huge sigh of relief.

"I'm glad that's over with! Well done every body. Bloody well done!" He then slumps down on a coil of rope to sit out the storm. "I just wish we'd brought something to drink...."

[OrionUK]

"You're not the only one, a nice shot of whisky would go down well a the moment, although I think we need to see if we can quickly clean up this Kerosene before it becomes too much of a hazard?" James slumps down to catch his breath then breaks into a grin "Well one things for sure all that excitement certainly made me forget about anything to do with sea sickness"

[Dave Syrinx]

"On that note..." John interjects, reaches into his coat pocket and produces a tin canteen; with amber fluid, smoky essence..."this is worth waiting for, lads!" John proffers the small pocket flask to Callum, Starkweather, Olof and James. (Insignia of a yellow tiger with blue stripes...) "Compliments of old Harris, the crazy old bugger!" John bursts out in laughter, the suspense of the terrific moments of skidding and slipping. As the flask returns, it´s considerably lighter, and unfortunately empty...