Blood in the Water (Destroyermen) by Taylor Anderson

Author:Taylor Anderson [Anderson, Taylor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction - Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780451470638
Amazon: 045147063X
Publisher: Roc
Published: 2016-06-14T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

Aboard the NUS Congress

The Caribbean

October 7, 1944

“Holy smoke! Would you look at that!” Fred Reynolds said, practically pounding Kari’s shoulder and pointing over Congress’s starboard rail to the north, northeast. Looming large across the morning sun-dappled sea between the steam frigate and what Lieutenant Hudgens had told them was the only “Cayman” Island lying about ten miles away, were two large three-masted sailing steamers. They looked a third again more massive than the Allies’ latest Scott Class steam frigate/DDs, and nearly as large as the biggest Dom ships of the line they’d ever seen. Screening them were four frigates identical to Congress, at a glance. Their sails had been sighted at dawn, rounding the western point of the island, and Fred and Kari had been amazed that no alarm was sounded when so little of the ships were visible. But somehow, in that indefinable way sailors had, Captain Willis had immediately declared the approaching squadron as friendly.

“Just look at the cut of their sails,” he’d told them, as if that explained everything. Of course, the color of their sails was significant, even to Fred and Kari. Warships of the Dominion almost always sailed under red canvas painted with the garish gold cross of their twisted faith. But Fred remained suspicious. “What if the Doms used white sails to trick us?” he’d asked. Willis had smiled. “They have tried that before, as we have attempted the reverse from time to time. It even works occasionally, from a distance, or when done by a prize. Ordinarily, though, the cut tells the tale.” He’d paused, still smiling at Fred and Kari. “And besides, I am certain that is Commodore Semmes’s squadron. The vicinity of Cayman Isle is his station.”

“Does it belong to your people?” Kari had asked.

“Cayman belongs to no one, at present. Cuba is ours,” he added with satisfaction, “wrested from the Dominion in the last declared war we fought them, twenty-three years ago. I was a midshipman then and participated in the decisive Battle of Santiago, likely the last battle we will ever fight with more sails than steam. I was aboard the old Texas,” he said proudly. “She was pounded to an irreparable hulk,” he admitted, smile fading, “as was half our battle fleet. But though the Doms outnumbered us three to one, they were beaten soundly enough that they’ve never made a serious attempt to retake the island.” His brows had furrowed. “Until recently, that is. For the last several years, they have been amassing a truly enormous fleet that we have been endeavoring to counter with quality if not quantity. Not so successfully, I might add. Their labor pool is so much greater than ours, you see. It was obvious they meant to return to Cuba, and perhaps press even farther.” His eyes had gone wide, and he blinked at Fred and Kari. “And then their fleet just . . . went away, presumably crossing westward through the Pass of Fire. Further substantiating the tale you brought us.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.