Chapter Ten

The darkness, the fog, the danger--it was suffocating Clytie Seaborne. She felt helpless, and useless, just standing there in Wilson's grip, the cold barrel of his gun pressed against her temple. Eventually, this was going to give her a headache. She tried to shift her head so that there wasn't so much pressure against it.

"Be still," Wilson snapped, tightening his grip on her.

Clytie sighed. Useless. She was quiet and still for awhile. Then, she asked, "Can we at least turn around so we can see where we're going?"

Wilson grunted in reply, but turned around, turning Clytie with him.

What Clytie saw took her breath away. The ship was slowly moving through the water, through the fog that was so thick, nothing could be seen of what was ahead. Straining her neck, Clytie peered back at the bridge. How on earth did the captain know where he was going?

"Be still, I said!"

Clytie gritted her teeth and kept still.

(LINE)

"Come on." Jimmy crawled through the small space between the walls, motioning for Ann and Preston to follow.

Ann, who was in the middle, stopped for a moment to toss her hair out of her eyes. She wished she had worn it differently today. "How long now?" she asked, crawling after Jimmy. She didn't even want to think about what she was crawling on… Dust certainly, but maybe… No. She wasn't going to think about it.

"It's not far now," Jimmy called back. "This comes out in the hold, if I remember correctly."

"Is there any way we could, perhaps, find some weapons down there?" Preston asked, brushing a spider web out of his face.

"Sure," Jimmy replied. "The captain keeps weapons everywhere. It's just a matter of breaking into whatever he's got them in."

Soon, Jimmy stopped crawling and started pressing on the wall in front of him. Ann and Preston came up behind him, waiting. Finally, Jimmy had worked the panel loose, and the three of them slipped into the hold, which was eerily quiet.

Jimmy and Preston helped Ann to her feet, and she stood there for a moment, feeling the movement of the deck beneath her feet. "It won't be long now until we reach the rocks," she said quietly.

"Then we've got to hurry," Preston said, looking around. "Let's go."

(LINE)

"So, Carl, you're making another film, are you?" Jack asked suddenly.

"Yeah. I sure am. This'll make up for last time." Carl lifted his chin. "The world owes this to me."

"Does it, now? Explain. You've got me interested."

As Carl launched into a complicated explanation, Englehorn frowned. What was Jack doing asking Denham all those questions? He glanced back at the two men. Carl's eyes were trained on Jack, and he was getting very involved in his explanation. It's a distraction, the captain thought. Good work, Driscoll. He glanced at Darby, who was watching Jack and Carl with interest. If only he could catch his First Mate's attention…

"Mr. Galyon," he said quietly, so as not to disturb Carl. "Look ahead and tell me what you see."

Darby turned to him and frowned in confusion.

Englehorn nodded toward Carl and Jack and mouthed, "Distraction."

Darby nodded in understanding, said, "Just the fog, Captain," then motioned to the pistol in his belt and raised his eyebrows in question.

The captain nodded slowly, then held up his hand as if to say, "Wait." He turned back to the wheel. Those rocks would not be long in coming. "Mr. Galyon, slow us down."

Darby nodded and hurried to obey. He glanced down at the deck. Wilson and Clytie had their backs to the bridge. He caught the captain's eye and looked pointedly down at the deck.

Englehorn followed his eyes and noticed the change in Wilson and Clytie's positions.

"But, Carl, why didn't you just ask us to help you?" Jack was saying. "Why do you have to do this?"

"I know you wouldn't help me," Carl scoffed. "This is the only way." He glanced at the captain.

Dang it, look here, Carl. "Carl--"

"You see, the captain here has a thing for Miss Seaborne down there, so I knew I could use that to my advantage," Carl said, his attention turned from Jack.

Englehorn glanced back at Jack. Do something, Driscoll!

"Carl, explain to me how you always know how to use every situation to your own advantage," Jack spoke up quickly.

He had Carl's attention.

Darby and the captain breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Galyon, in about twenty seconds, I will tell you to stop the ship." Englehorn slowly began to draw the pistol from his belt. "Do as I say, then draw your pistol and turn on Mr. Denham. Do not fire unless it is absolutely necessary. I don't want to have to clean up any human remains from my bridge."

Darby nodded.

Englehorn straightened. "Mr. Galyon, full stop."

Then everything happened fast.

Darby quickly pulled on the levers. The ship lurched to a stop. Then, the captain spun on Carl, aiming his pistol. "Don't make a sound, Mr. Denham," he said, his voice cold. "And I don't think it will do you any good to signal Mr. Wilson. His back is to the bridge."

By this time, Darby had drawn and aimed his gun as well. Carl was looking at two barrels aimed straight at him. "Whoa, whoa, fellas!" He held up his hands. "Calm down."

"Calm down?" Englehorn shook his head. "After what you've done today?"

Jack glanced quickly at the captain, thinking for a second that he might attack Carl. There was something very scary, very dangerous in his eyes at the moment.

Darby cleared his throat. "Captain, do you think we might need to come up with a plan to get Miss Seaborne back from Mr. Wilson?"

Englehorn took a deep breath, calming himself down. "You're right, Mr. Galyon. Let's do that." He turned to Jack. "Get Mr. Denham into the hold. Make it look like he's taking you there, just in case Wilson notices."

Jack nodded.

"Mr. Galyon, you and I are going to get down there and rescue Miss Seaborne."

(LINE)

Ann, Preston, and Jimmy crouched at the top of the stairs. From where they were, they could see Wilson and Clytie at the bow of the ship.

"Why is his back turned?" Preston wondered aloud. "Why isn't he keeping his eyes on the bridge for Carl's signal?"

"I don't know, but I sure am glad that's how it is," Jimmy replied. "That definitely works to our advantage."

Suddenly, as if in response to Jimmy's words, Wilson turned around. He didn't see the three people on the stairs because his eyes went immediately to the bridge. He was frowning. "Carl!" he called. "Where are you?"

"Carl's not on the bridge!" Ann exclaimed in a whisper. "Where is he then?"

"Obviously, something's going on," Preston said. "He wouldn't just leave the captain alone up there."

"This is good," said Jimmy. "If the captain's free… then that means he can help us. The ship has stopped, so he doesn't really need to be at the wheel. We can distract Wilson, and--"

"What about Jack?" Ann whispered, her eyes large. "Where is he?"

"He might still be on the bridge," Preston said. "Then again, maybe not."

"I'm right here," a voice whispered from behind them.

"Jack!" Ann threw herself into his arms.

Jack hugged her for a moment, then said, "We've got Carl in a cage down below. Darby and Englehorn have weapons, and they're ready. We just need to distract Wilson." He pulled back from his wife. "Ann, you need to stay here."

Ann frowned. "Of course not. I'm part of this rescue mission. I could--"

"Jack's right. This could get dangerous."

"Jack, no!" Ann protested.

"Ann, yes," he replied. "Stay." Then he turned and nodded to Jimmy and Preston, and the three men made their way across the deck.

(LINE)

Clytie saw them before Wilson. At first, she didn't say anything. Then she realized what they were doing. They were trying to distract him. "Jack! Jimmy! Preston!" she exclaimed.

Wilson turned and saw them. He now aimed his gun at the three men instead of Clytie.

Please, God, don't let anyone get hurt. Clytie squirmed a bit, testing Wilson's hold on her. It was still strong, but not half as tight as it had been. Maybe she could break free and get that gun…

"Get back!" Wilson hollered. "Get back or I'll shoot!"

"So will we," said Jimmy, holding up a gun he had found.

"I'll shoot her!" Wilson cried, once again holding his pistol to Clytie's head.

"No, you will not," came a voice from behind. There was a crack. Wilson stumbled, his hold on Clytie loosening.

Clytie darted from his grasp, jerking his pistol away from him, then quickly spun to face him. Someone had shot him in the shoulder from behind. The captain! At first, Clytie was sure that it was all over. Then she saw Wilson go for something in his boot. Another pistol! The big man was surprisingly fast as he drew the weapon and spun on the captain and Darby, cocking his pistol. He pulled the trigger before anyone could react. Darby collapsed to the deck with a cry of pain. Wilson aimed at the captain.

"Wilson! Stop or I'll shoot!" Clytie yelled, aiming at Wilson.

Wilson froze, remembering abruptly that she had taken his gun. He turned. Clytie, Jack, Jimmy, and Preston were all aiming guns at him. He looked behind him. Englehorn, standing over Darby, was doing the same. He was surrounded. The big man let his gun clatter do the deck and hung his head.

"Clytie… Are you all right?" Englehorn asked.

She nodded. "I'm--I'm fine. Darby?"

Darby climbed to his feet, clutching his left arm. His face was pale. "Just a scratch," he replied.

"Jimmy, Mr. Galyon, get this man below--again," the captain ordered. "After that, tend to your wound, Mr. Galyon. And Jimmy, you tell the crew that this ship is back in my control."

Jimmy and Darby once again led Wilson away.

Ann ran up behind Jack and threw her arms around him.

Preston took off his glasses and cleaned them.

Clytie and the captain stood there for a moment, neither of them sure just what to do. He holstered his pistol, and she slid the one she was holding into her pocket. Then they just continued to stand there, looking at each other.

Finally, he stepped forward and simply pulled her into his arms. Clytie closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning against his chest. She could have stood like that forever.