Chronicles Of The Pelabruse : Book One

Slowly but surely , they pulled away from the flaming wreck , slipping silently along her length ,  just under her bow , and safely away . After clearing the underside of the hull , the professor decided to take a look .  Raising the  periscope slowly , he  rotated  it slowly around searchingly until he had the ship in view . Considering the scene for a few seconds , he began to relay his observations . “ She’s burning badly now . Flames are everywhere .” he reported .” It’s just a complete inferno  . The forward magazine is completely engulfed , she’ll blow any second . “ Continuing his scan meticulously , he tracked   along the fired ships length , just past  mid ships to the crews quarters. He was amazed that she was still afloat . “ There are several of the  beasts still  on board . They’re tearing it apart . They seem to be searching for something . I suppose they want the food from the ships stores , or perha …. . “ He stopped mid sentence  pulling  back momentarily from the instrument and falling  silent . He had just witnessed  the end of Leonora . “ What is it ? “ asked William . “ What did you see ? ”  he demanded  . Thinking quickly as always , the Professor gave him an answer . “ It was an explosion Will . It startled me .It lit up the whole sky . “ William looked quizzically and stepped in “ Let me see. “ he insisted .  Taking Covington’s place he gazed through the glass transfixed .  “ My God ! “ he exclaimed   ,”  She’s been reduced to smoldering kindling ! “  Those malevolent  bastards have  ripped her apart !   “  Inside , the occupants were silent , listening intently to the Death song of their former home away from home  . The sound of exploding rounds  and , gun powder could be heard from under the sea , as the invading flames came into contact with the whole of the ship’s magazine  , setting it  off like some kind of macabre fireworks display  ;  though  not in  celebration , but as a funeral pyre . The shock waves reverberated downward through the water , bouncing off  the steel plated hull of the “ Diver “ ; shaking her severely . The men held on , waiting for its impacts  to ease . As they pulled farther and farther away , driving deeper down into the depths of the sea , the explosions grew distant , and soon they could only  hear the haunting sound of the ship slipping beneath the waves , as charred and battered remnants  breaking up . It was a solemn moment indeed .
    Making her way towards the Irish coast , the Diver ran straight and true . The current was with them running north from the Celtic sea , through St. George’s channel . “ By Professor Covington’s estimates we should make landfall in no more than an hour or so . Isn’t that right James ? “ said my father speaking to both his brother and he . “  “ True enough William , however I do believe this current may be stronger than we had even hoped for . “ “ How do you mean James ? “ My father queried . “  Come gentlemen I’ll show you . “  The captain motioned for one of the crew to take the helm . Stepping over to the navigation table  Professor Covington directed their attention to the map . “ You see here ? This is where the Catcher was anchored , and just here is the coast at Glenariff . Our problem may be that the current will take us past it , as well as bring us into shore . “  “ How can you tell James ? “ asked William . “ Look at the men Will . “ nodding his head towards the propeller gang . “ They’re barely breaking a sweat , and we’re making four knots already . “ “ How far a distance difference are we talking about James ? “ chimed in Michael  with concern in his voice . “ I should say only a few miles captain . “ responded the professor . “ However that is not the real problem . You see our original landing point is soft sand with few rocks to worry about , here . “ he said pointing to a spot on the map . “ Whereas if we miss that ; the  part of the coast we will have to come in on is rough surf , somewhere around the castle ruins .”   “ But the castle is our immediate goal anyway professor . “ responded my father . “ Yes William, but if the Diver is dashed upon the boulders lining that part of the bay we may never get there .