Deepwater: A fast-moving eco-thriller by Alex Finer

Author:Alex Finer [Finer, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2021-09-21T22:00:00+00:00

17

Saul opened his eyes. The only light in the room came from the strip bulb above the washbasin mirror. A man was standing at the metal locker rummaging inside.

‘Where am I?’ Saul asked.

The man swung round. ‘Hey, how’re you feeling, buddy?’

Saul struggled to sit up. He got to one elbow and then sank back again on to the single pillow and hard mattress.

‘Take it easy. You’ve had a rough time.’ The man approached. ‘You in pain?’ He placed some folded clothes from the locker on the chair at the foot of the bed.

‘I don’t think so.’ Saul’s voice broke as he spoke. ‘You’re American?’ He felt fingers of fire stab the back of his throat.

‘And you sound like a limey. Saul Peters, right? Don’t speak if it hurts.’

Saul wondered how the man knew his name.

The man squatted by the bed and inspected Saul’s face. He turned Saul’s head first one way and then the other. ‘Not bad. Not bad at all.’

‘What happened?’ Saul croaked.

‘You’ve had a lucky escape. We were only just in time. Those burn bandages seem to have done the trick.’

Saul remembered the suffocating heat again. ‘Who are you?’

‘It must be kinda confusing. Don’t worry, I’ll explain. First, drink some of this.’ The young man produced a glass of juice from the table beside the bed.

Saul accepted gratefully. He let the man put the rim of his glass to his thickened lower lip. Much of his mouth was numb but he felt the juice glide across his tongue, cool the back of his throat and, with an effort, he swallowed.

‘That’s better. Slowly does it.’ The man tipped the glass and Saul swallowed once again, feeling the juice begin to lubricate his sore, raw throat. His tongue resembled furred leather and he could feel that his palate was swollen and tender. But the sensations were welcome. They were a confirmation that he had survived the ordeal.

‘I’m Dave, Dave Grearson. My commander is Jack Roseman. He said you might be the Englishman. Jack’s in charge and I’m the crew.’

Just two of you?’ Saul didn’t understand.

‘We’re on the seabed. In a submersible.’

Saul was amazed. ‘You’re kidding me.’

Grearson grinned, ‘I’ll show you around as soon as you’re back on your feet.’

Saul remained perplexed. ‘An American submersible six miles down? There’s no such thing.’

‘That’s where you’re wrong, buddy. You’re in one. How come a limey got on board the Voyager?’

‘We get around,’ Saul said drily. He was still trying to accept what Grearson had told him.

‘You had bad luck. Your cable snagged on the lava cliff. We didn’t have much time.’

Saul didn’t understand what Grearson was saying. The pressure and the heat six miles down made it impossible for any rescue from the cliff face. Yet he was alive. And he was in some craft other than the bathysphere. He suddenly thought of Kathy. ‘Have you told my ship I’m safe?’

‘That’s not so easy.’

‘Why not? You seem able to perform miracles.’ Saul became sensitive to Grearson’s hesitation. He grew uneasy.

‘Let’s just say it’s a question of security.

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.