The Cold Beneath by Tonia Brown

Author:Tonia Brown [Brown, Tonia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Horror, Lang:en
Published: 2012-05-28T21:08:40+00:00

I should explain that I never, in all of my time aboard the Fancy, expected to gain a position of authority. When I signed on, I assumed I would act as an auxiliary staff member and nothing more. Granted, I had spent the last few weeks becoming familiar with the workings of the ship and even doing the odd job here and there when needed. But most of that was out of boredom, not ambition. I was, and still am at heart, a timid scientist, not a bold sailor. There has never been a time when the idea of rank or clout excited me. I just wanted to be left alone, not left in charge.

Yet the position was thrust upon me. There was a quiet dissent among the men under me as to my experience in such matters, not to mention my lack of interest in the arrangement. Lightbridge asked me in private to take on the remaining men, not because he didn’t trust those left aboard, but because he felt my impartiality to the remaining crew would prove a needed asset in a leader. You see, despite the supposed ‘inevitable rescue’ he continued to tout, behind closed doors he voiced his worry that the crew would face many hardships before such a thing came to pass.

Running out of food, for example.

While we were well enough stocked for the journey planned, the extended stay called for a tight rationing of supplies. As a result, the larder and cooling unit were kept under lock, and the key given to the one in charge. The kitchen staff paired with Geraldine to draw up a reasonable schedule designed to keep the men as fit as feasible while stretching the food as long as possible. A schedule that I was honor-bound to follow. It was by no means glorious work, but I took it on as a favor to Lightbridge, under the assumption that my main duty as acting captain was to supervise the rationing schedule and nothing more.

To my credit, no amount of training could have prepared me for what occurred.

“What are your orders, sir?” was the initial question of my acting first mate.

“I don’t really know,” I confessed. I was in no shape or position to order anyone around. I didn’t even know who I was talking to. As casually as I could manage, I shifted my glance to his badge to read the single word etched upon his silver nameplate. “What do you recommend, Shipman?” Shipman was the only name by which I knew him. I never bothered to ask the man his first name.

He gave a tired sigh that suggested he dealt with this sort of thing all the time before he said, “In light of recent events, I suggest you implement a few days of R and R before plunging the men back into a routine.”

“Excellent idea. Do just that, if you don’t mind. But encourage the men to stick as close to the Regimen as permitted. Especially the vitamins.

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