The Cracking of the Ice. A flash fiction. By Walter G. Pedersen

Captain Mike White a seasoned professional fisherman with 30 yrs of experience yells at his crew from the helm on the p. a system, We are taking on water, ABANDON SHIP, I REPEAT ABANDON SHIP!!

His voice was cracking like the Ice beneath the ship.

Captain Mike White a seasoned professional fisherman with 30 yrs of experience yell’s at his crew from the helm on the p. a system, We are taking on water, ABANDON SHIP, I REPEAT ABONADON SHIP!!

Twillingate Newfoundland Canada.

Captain Mike White and First mate Paul O’Brian along with the crew on Ice crusher Serenity were preparing for another season of crab fishing, as they loaded the ship with supplies and crab pots.

Mike says to Paul ” Well preparation Is underway, did you remember to replace the ship’s bilge pump? “

” Aye Captain as ordered. ” Those were the last words he had spoken.

“very good said, Captain Mike”

The serenity set’s off on a westerly course from the harbor of Twillingate towards the Atlantic ocean the ice cracking as they departed. The crew was Is In high spirits eager to fill the crab pots, you could feel the

cold chill in the air as the wind blew across the deck, the crew relaxed bellow bundled in warm clothes drinking beer and playing cards as the skipper was on course for the open sea. all of a sudden Paul heard a grinding noise coming from the pump room below It was a faint sound,

so he Ignored it as he returned to the helm, Mike asked If everything was alright, Paul replied aye all is good I am going back below with the crew, we are playing poker tonight and I am feeling lucky,

very good said, Mike. That night after the crew bunked down for the night, a bad storm set In as It rocked and pounded the ship. Mike remained at the helm trying to keep control of his

the vessel he thought to himself, ” it’s been a long time since he had seen a storm this bad “. I t was a long night for as the storm continued battering the ship.

The rough and swelling seas were still high but the storm had subsided that day Paul was thinking of that grinding noise he had heard in the pump room so he went below to check it out worried maybe the storm had damaged something as he inspected it he noticed everything was ship-shape. latter that morning Captain Mike

sets off the alarm on the P. A system letting the crew know they had arrived at there location and start getting the crab pots ready to go overboard Common you sea dogs, get to it we have crab pots to fill he yelled down from the helm,

As the ship rocked back and forth the waves splashing over the deck of the ship the crew worked viciously to bait the pots and catapult them overboard, the Serenity was taking a beating that day from the storm the night before.

The crew went below for some much-needed rest and chow down with some supper knocking and grinding could still be heard from below but after being on deck all day nobody seemed to listen. That

evening it was pitch dark as there was a low overcast of clouds. The alarm sounded again on the p. a system as the crew scurried to the deck to start bringing in the crab pots excitement can be heard as they yelled, ” Crab pots be full boys” as the ship was pounded with waves.

As Paul arrives on the deck, he hears a loud BANG!! and loud grinding noise from below startled he runs below smoke was billowing out from down below, filling the pump room, he grabbed the fire extinguisher, the ship’s bilge pump had ground to a halt and the deck

was starting to fill with water. Miles from shore Paul returns and orders the crew to grab buckets and start bailing out the water by hand. The wind and waves proved too much for the failing crew, the ship was taking on far to much water as it was slowly sinking.

The Captain knew he had to act fast. as he gets on the radio calmly. Mayday Mayday! this Is captain Mike White on the Ice crusher serenity calling Canadian coast guard on VHF channel 16 our position is,

the Atlantic Ocean our latitude Is 15.326572, and the longitude is -76.157227. Our ship Is taking on water and we are sinking I have a compliment of 8 crew members we need help over.

They replied ” roger Ice cutter Serenity we will send help as soon as possible we are unable to send rescue at this time our helicopters and ships are ground due to extreme weather conditions over. ”

Captain Mike and give the orders. ABBONDONE SHIP I REPEAT ABBONDONE SHIP!!.

The crew started to ready the lifeboats as they dressed in their orange survival suits and lowered into the choppy ocean. everyone except the captain, but Paul knew he couldn’t leave him alone so he decided to stay behind, as it

continued to take on the water they watched helplessly from the deck as the crew was struggling to stay afloat as the lifeboat flipped over with still with no help in sight as they grabbed onto the haul of the boat.

some could no longer hold on as they drifted away pulled from the strong current and rough waves from the deck of the sinking ship, they could hear them screaming in the darkness for help unlike what they

have never heard before the cry for help was almost unbearable to listen to in the ridged water as the temperatures plummeted to minus 40. The night was long and cold and fear was setting in. thinking if they will survive.

As the sun started to come over the horizon they could hear a helicopter approaching from the east, and the coast guard ship, on a p. a system.. ” Pon Pon, they replied. we have a lifeboat and ship insight and we are approaching with help.!! please stay calm we are sending divers in for a rescue.”

Mike and Paul stared at each other with a sigh of relief clinging to the bow of the nearly sunken ship as the coast guard finally rescued them, as they boarded the helicopter one of the officers approached them and said. ” We regret to inform you we were only able to rescue 3 of the crew members from the lifeboat.”

They were somber and quiet on there way back home all Mike could think of Is why he allowed his crew to get in that lifeboat blaming himself in away. But thankfully they had survived the horror and ordeal later that morning they had arrived back to Twillingate. as their families and friends gathered to greet them,

they worried and for there safety. getting off the helicopter they were dressed in tattered and torn clothes covered with blankets they had received from the coast guard. Captain Mike, took the families aside and informed them of the crew who had died at sea as they wept and cried.

It was a sad day in Twillingate as it is a tightknit fishing community. Mike and Paul, were raised there they knew the families and friends very well. they had even gone to church and played darts with the crew often.

The pews were filling up with people at the Twillingate church, cars were lined along the road as everyone was seated, the minister walked in and approached the altar. clearing his throat he opened the bible to a passage and said: ” We would be less than honest if we said that our hearts have not ached over

this situation today, our community has lost 5 of our brothers to the sea, let them receive the Lord’s blessing. The Lord bless you and watch over you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious

to you and these families may the Lord look kindly on you and give you peace; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit Amen.” After the service, they all gathered at the local pub to

celebrate their lives and remember the good times they had together, Mike raised his glass of beer to make a speech as he said: To my lads of the Serenity may your souls be at peace and the Lord shines upon

you. CHEERS!!. as everyone in the room yelled, CHEERS!!. later on, Mike took Paul aside and said: ” I thought you told me 5 days before we sailed you had that bilge pump replaced.? ” Paul replied: ” I did

purchase it from the marine manufacture brand new.” Mike asked: ” Who Installed It.? ” Paul said: ” a technician from the Industry came out and installed it themselves I was under the impression they knew

what they were doing.” Mike: ” well that Impression cost us some lives out there, well don’t blame yourself Paul you couldn’t have known, sorry to snap at you we need to take action and find out what

really happened.” that week Mike and Paul took legal action against the marine industry for the lives of there crew members. The supreme court tried to rule out that the storm could have damaged the pump but later revealed it was faulty from a frayed wire and awarded the families of the 5 men 2 million dollars for the bilge pump they had sold to Mike. That year the company had gone bankrupt for lack of sales and faulty equipment.

The 5 members who lost their lives at sea were well remembered as their names were put on a plaque in the local church. To this day every October 5th, the crew of the Serenity is remembered by friends and family as they come down to the ship’s harbor and toss flowers Into the water and say prayers.

This short story was dedicated to the brave men & women taken by the sea, every year families lose loved ones we pray for you… For no one you truly love Is ever lost.

THE END.

Author's Note

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Reviews

[David J. Boozer]

That was awesome Walter!!!!!!!!!