The Storm Episode One by Albert Sartison

Author:Albert Sartison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: chaos, ocean, concrete jungle, tenerife, civilization collapse, brain evolution, canarias, dystopia science fiction, cosmic storm

He had to hide himself somewhere until it became clear and send an alarm signal to the mainland. John looked speculatively towards the door through which he had just entered. The weather outside was raging so fiercely that even without carrying an injured dog, he could easily be swept into the ocean. There was no question of the two of them walking about outside. He would have to risk using the internal staircase.

Trying to make as little noise as possible, he cautiously approached the other door. All ears, he assessed the situation in the stairwell. There did not seem to be anyone there. Then John realised he was carrying Rafael. The dog’s hearing and sense of smell were just what he needed now. If only he could understand what was required of him...

John looked the dog in the eyes. To all appearances, he was fully conscious, although both wounds were obviously causing him severe pain. Rafael, sensing someone looking at him, looked back. Amazingly, the dog appeared to have read his thoughts. He pointed his ears for an instant and his nostrils expanded in time with his breathing. Then he licked himself. That was a good sign, it seemed there was no-one there. John took the risk of leaving the cabin.

The staircase was in a huge well that ran through the whole ship from top to bottom. It began down below in front of the engine room, extended up through almost thirty decks and ended on the viewing platform at the top of the superstructure. It would be hard to think of a more dangerous route, given the existing situation, but there was no alternative.

Luckily, the sounds coming up from the engine room below mingled with the noise of the weather outside concealed the sound of footsteps somewhat and for John, who was creeping as quietly as he could, any help in remaining undiscovered was welcome.

He now had three things to do. Send an SOS, find a good refuge until help arrived, and give first aid to Rafael.

The last of these was no problem, as there were first aid kits all over the ship. The SOS would be more difficult, he would have to get to the bridge for that, and finding a good hiding place for several days was certainly no trivial matter.

There were a number of hiding places in a ship as big as a fair-sized skyscraper, of course. No, there was another difficulty here. John still did not know from whom he had to hide: from a crew member gone crazy, or from outsiders? It would be easy to hide from outsiders, but the rest of the crew knew the ship as well as he did. The better concealed his selected hiding place, the more likely it was that it would be the very place he would be sought.

John had no doubt about where he should begin – with first aid for the dog. He had a living animal on his hands that was writhing in pain, but still quite patient, just whining softly now and again.

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