Arena of Souls: A Brock Stone Adventure (Brock Stone Adventures Book 1) by David Wood

Author:David Wood
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Publisher: Gryphonwood Press
Published: 2014-10-30T06:00:00+00:00

16- The Reef

“We’ll drop anchor here for now.” Stone picked up the binoculars and focused them on the fog-shrouded island. A solitary peak rose up above a halo of low-hanging clouds. Though the distance was not great, he could tell very little about the place. The mist that rose all around rendered visibility almost nil.

“Why so far away?” Trinity asked.

“Coral reefs. Shallow and razor sharp.”

“How can you tell they’re sharp?”

“Look over there.” He handed her the binoculars and pointed to a distant spot to the southeast.

It took her a few seconds to see what Stone had already spotted—a German U-boat, the center of its hull shredded, straddling one of the reefs that guarded the island.

“Odd. It’s facing backward, and only the center of the hull is damaged. It’s like someone picked it up and dropped it onto the reef.” Trinity lowered the binoculars and looked up at him. “How could that happen?”

“A freak wave, I suppose. No telling what the sea will do in these parts.” Stone tucked the binoculars into their case and dropped the case into a rucksack. “In any event, I’m not taking Thresher across the reefs. It would be suicide.”

“How are we going to get there?” she asked. “It’s too far to swim.”

“Maybe for you.” Stone winked. “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

Thirty minutes later, they piled into a canvas raft equipped with a powerful outboard motor. Each of them wore a Mae West—the brand new, inflatable life jackets that, when inflated, gave the wearer the appearance of being as well-endowed as the popular actress. Their provisions, along with three Enfield M1917 rifles, were secured in a second, smaller raft tied to the one in which they rode. Stone wore his Webley at his hip, and each of his companions was also equipped with a handgun. He didn’t know what they might face on the island and hoped they were sufficiently prepared. Had they carried much more, the rafts would have ridden too low in the water to clear the coral reefs.

He fired up the outboard motor and soon the craft was skimming across the surface of the water. The raft leapt up and splashed down as it crested each swell. Trinity threw back her head and laughed, letting the salt breeze blow back her hair. She always managed to find joy in simple things.

On the other side of the raft, Moses wore his usual, grave expression and Alex’s mouth twisted into a sour grimace as he stared balefully at the water.

“Are you nervous or about to be sick?” Stone asked his friend.

“Both. I’ll feel better when we’re clear of these coral reefs.” As he spoke, Alex shot a glance at the reefs that loomed ever closer.

“Worst case, we have to swim for it. You do know how to swim, don’t you?”

“Sure. I can swim from one end of the swimming pool to the other. Think that will be enough?” Alex managed a smile.

“If not, you can hitch a ride on one of those sharks.” Stone gestured toward the island.

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