Harry Heron: No Quarter by Patrick G Cox

Author:Patrick G Cox [Cox, Patrick G]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science fiction space exploration, Space Opera, Military Science Fiction, military sci-fi, Space opera Science fiction, British military science fiction, Science fiction action adventure
Publisher: IndieGo Publishing LLC
Published: 2017-11-16T07:00:00+00:00

FREDERIK FOUND HIMSELF BELOW DECK WITH THREE extremely cold and very wet members of the crew of the sloop Bittern. All of them were shocked that their sloop had been overwhelmed in a moment of poor handling that had resulted in the boat’s catastrophic broach and dismasting. All her crew had survived, but some had swum clear of the boat and could not be seen.

On deck Harry and Ferghal worked with the rest of his crew to close the distance between themselves and the new leader, the Guillemot. Well before the next mark, they had succeeded in overtaking the Peregrine, whose crew sportingly cheered as they did so, then caught the Kestrel at the mark itself, managing, having achieved the right under the rules to do so, to force their way between the rival boat and the mark. Ferghal and Harry displayed nerves of steel as the other boat shied away from the threat of collision and allowed them to pass. That left the Guillemot to catch.

Harry called to his crew, “We will have to take a chance.” He hesitated. “Elize, we depend on you to control the foils.” He watched the waves, the wind whipping the crests into long white streamers, but, ironically, flattening them as well.

“Keiron, stand by to hoist the smallest spinnaker. And we will have to cut it loose when we have done.”

He made sure Keiron understood his order before he joined Ferghal at the wheel. The strain increased, and the boat almost became airborne, its hull vibrating violently, under the additional power from the sail. He dared not allow the spinnaker to be fully sheeted home, but it lifted them clear of the water on the partially deployed foils.

In the cockpit, Elize strained on the manual adjustment controls to keep the hull just above the surface.

The spectators held their breath as they witnessed the titanic struggle to control the now heavily overpowered boat as it overhauled their rival. Harry’s crew were aghast as they passed the leader.

They’re trying to copy us,” Franz exclaimed. “I hope they’ve practiced manual control on the foils and sails!”

Harry, straining at the helm with Ferghal, smiled grimly. “I hope they know the risk they take.”

“Do we?” gasped Ferghal sweating under the strain.

They tore past the Guillemot yawing badly as her helmsman struggled to control his boat and Senzile fought to control their own spinnaker.

Harry judged the moment as the final mark loomed ahead. “Let go the sheets,” he yelled. “Let them fly free completely!”

The sail streamed upward, tearing the released sheets from their fairleads to whip ahead of it.

“Franz — cut the halyard — let it go with the wind.” He watched the sail blow free and clear. “Elize, retract the foils! Ready all for the gybe!”

They heard a shout from behind followed by a series of terrifying cracks and crashes as they began the gybe.

Harry dared not break his concentration, and when his crew turned to look aft, he bellowed, “Eyes in the boat. Concentrate — or we go

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