Pressure by Brian Keene

Author:Brian Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781466882492
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

ELEVEN

Gripping the rail, Abhi threw up over the side again while Captain Takenaka stood on the gore-stained deck, surrounded by spilled blood and slashed flesh and pulped innards and brass shell casings, laughing heartily.

“I’m really starting,” Abhi gasped between retches, “to dislike that man.”

Carrie patted Abhi’s back and didn’t respond. Her feelings regarding the ex-whale hunter were conflicted. On the one hand, he’d just committed one of the bravest, most determined acts she’d ever seen. But despite that, the callousness and arrogance he seemed to display, now that his payday was almost assured, repulsed her. He seemed to have no regard or thought for the sailors who had perished—sailors who had been a part of his crew. His taunting of Abhi, which had been playful when they disembarked, had now turned scornful and mean-spirited.

Shock, she thought. Maybe he’s in shock. Hell, we probably all are. He’s coming down off an adrenaline rush. Maybe he doesn’t realize he’s being such an asshole.

Abhi leaned out over the railing and vomited again. The wind blew the smell of it back to Carrie. She winced, trying to hide her disgust.

“Hey, little man,” Takenaka called. “Make sure it all goes in the ocean, or I’ll have you shoveling it up along with the rest of this mess.”

“You’re right,” Carrie muttered. “He’s an asshole and a bully. I hate bullies.”

“That’s right,” Abhi croaked. “Defend my honor.”

“You don’t have any honor to defend, Abhi.”

“Thanks. That makes me feel much better.”

“Are you sure that you’re okay? These chest pains have me concerned.”

“I’m fine, Carrie. Honestly. Now go defend my honor and let me puke in peace.”

She gave him one more reassuring pat, and then stalked across the deck toward the mercenary captain, taking care to watch her footing, as it was slick with seawater and blood.

The second creature had relented its attack in the wake of the explosion and—apparent—death of its companion. The combat and the ship’s subsequent plunge had resulted in some damage to the vessel. They were now limping through the water rather than racing, but the sonar and other electronic gear was still operable in the aftermath, and there was no sign of either creature, either visually or through more technological means.

“That was some fight, eh, Anderson?” Takenaka called to Carrie as she approached.

“It was something alright,” she agreed. “But it doesn’t excuse you from being a jerk, Captain.”

“What is … the word you said? A jerk?”

“It means you’re an asshole.”

“Ah, asshole. That word I know. I apologize if I have brought offense. I am just happy to be alive. You and your assistant should be, too.”

“Not everyone was so lucky,” Carrie pointed out to him. “What about your men who died?”

“What about them? It is not the first time we have lost people. In Somalia, we lost thirteen men in a single night. In Libya, six of our crew were captured by extremists. Two of them were crucified. The others were beheaded, and their bodies were used to fill in potholes in a road.”

“That’s horrible.

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