Into the Fire by Couch Dick & Galdorisi George

Author:Couch, Dick & Galdorisi, George [Couch, Dick & Galdorisi, George]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller
ISBN: 9781250026859
Goodreads: 23359280
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Published: 2015-05-05T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

KUJIDO ISLAND IN THE YEONPYEONG ISLAND GROUP

November 13, 1830 Korea Standard Time

From the starboard bridge wing of Milwaukee, Kate Bigelow watched as the two big Zodiacs, under the supervision of Master Chief Wilbur Crabtree, shuttled personnel from the ship to the rocky shore. There were bundles of supplies in each shuttle, but the priority was on the crew. Once they were safely ashore, they could send back teams to gather provisions—if the ship was still there. Milwaukee had a fifteen-degree starboard list, which made getting people and supplies over the side a little easier. Ashore, there was an orderly file of the ship’s company in helmets and foul-weather jackets making their way across the gravel beach and over the berm to the abandoned cannery.

An hour earlier, artillery rounds began to drop around the island and had begun to range closer to Milwaukee. For a while, none had come closer than two hundred yards, but the whistle and boom of the incoming shells terrified the captain and her crew. For these sailors, it was their first artillery barrage, and it was terrifying. Then a round landed on the beach just twenty yards off Milwaukee’s port quarter, sending a wave of rocky shards pinging along the side of the ship. No one was hurt, but everyone on the weather decks dove for cover. Only the threats of Master Chief Crabtree and the senior petty officers got the crewmen up and moving again. That was when Kate Bigelow decided it was too risky to remain aboard Milwaukee. She had to move her crew ashore to the abandoned cannery.

Now on the port wing of the bridge, Bigelow felt the pressure wave of the shell and singing of rocks as they rippled along the side of the ship. She was rooted in fear, afraid to move, afraid to breathe. My God, I can’t take this. She might have remained there immobile longer had her XO not appeared at her elbow.

“Status?” she managed, trying to sound normal.

“About three-quarters of the crew are ashore, including most of the wounded. There are two Chief Picard says just cannot be moved. She’s asking to stay behind to tend to them. I told her we’d make that determination when the rest of the crew was off the ship. When everyone’s in the shelter ashore, the master chief will begin the supply-shuttle runs.”

“Very well. How’re things ashore, Jack?”

“It’s pretty Spartan, but the structure is solid reinforced concrete, like it was built to withstand a tsunami or something. The crew’s scared, Captain, and this artillery is not helping.”

O’Connor’s reminding her of the crew seemed to bolster her. “We’re all scared, Jack, including me. I want you ashore and at the cannery organizing things there. You’ll be in charge until I get there. And, Jack, good job in getting things prepared and everyone off the ship.”

“Understood, ma’am. I’ll see you ashore.” And because it somehow seemed the thing to do, he offered her a salute, which she returned. “Good luck, Captain.”

“And to you, Jack.

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