Christmas Over the Bar by M. L. Buchman

Author:M. L. Buchman [Buchman, M. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Buchman Bookworks, Inc.

8

“Well, that was fun,” Ham announced.

Even with the two of them and the four-axis autopilot the rescue had been a major battle. Even clear of the land effects, the waves and wind had been in a contrary mood.

Harvey and Vivian had done their usual amazing task. Harvey had dived into the fray, eventually recovering two bodies and three survivors. While they worked frantically to save the latter from hypothermia, it was now up to Sly to get them to the cutter Steadfast. Quickly.

But getting there fast wasn’t the problem. They had a ferocious tailwind, which was a good thing. If it had been a headwind, as it had on the way out, they would be in even worse trouble than they were. Having his only available refuge being a hard-pitching cutter just five times longer than his helo was not a comfortable thought tonight.

“Cutter Steadfast. This is Dolphin 58 inbound,” Ham called ahead on the radio.

“Roger, 58. Winds forty, gusting sixty. Waves at thirty, chaotic.” That was the problem. Landing on the pitching helo deck.

“Roger that. We’ll need immediate medical for the three survivors. Crew plus five aboard.” A nice way to say they had two in body bags.

“Sounds like this is going to be even more fun.” Sly couldn’t see a thing out in the utterly foul night and was completely dependent on instruments. Storm dark. Moonless storm dark. And they were still fifty miles to the ship.

“Sure thing. And I’m not looking for a swim, so try actually landing on the deck this time.”

Back during training, Sly had misread the markers on the airport runway that were supposed to be the outline of a ship’s deck. So, he’d landed beside the theoretical ship rather than on it. Five years, and Ham hadn’t let him off the hook on that yet. “It was my first landing, for crying out loud.”

“Whine. Whine. Whine,” Ham teased as he entered Steadfast’s latest GPS coordinates into the onboard systems. “Fifteen minutes,” he called back to Vivian and Harvey.

“Okay,” Vivian’s calm response was a good sign for the three survivors. Not that she was ever not calm. But if things were still going badly, she’d be too focused to even hear them.

“Man, that’s gotta be a rough ride. Steadfast is coming toward us at full steam.”

Sly eyed the fuel gauges and hoped that she really was. He had reserve fuel, but he’d have to land dead clean if he didn’t want to get caught depending on it.

He hoped he could make it back to shore tonight. Maybe swing by the Workers and see if the nameless woman was still there, crooked smile and all. Wicked hot, but…he hadn’t really looked at her body once he’d heard her laugh. Weird thing to stick in his head. He hadn’t even lorded their meeting over Ham, which was not like him at all.

Whoever she is someday, Sylvester, Mom was the only one to always use his full name, make sure she’s someone who does not go to sea.

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