From the Deep Read Free

creature’s back slammed into the underside of the fishing vessel, launching it fully out of the water as it passed.
    The crab pot, still suspended from the winch, slammed into Morales, smashing his body with the same force of impact of being hit by a freight train. His body twisted through the air like a rag doll before it was swallowed by the rolling, black, Bering Sea.
    Rainwater was thrown into the sorting table, his head hitting it hard enough to make white flashes explode in front of his eyes.
    The boat slammed back into the water, the creature barely registering its presence as it went on its way. As soon as it touched down, it began to list, its portside dipping towards the water.
    “We’re going down!” Joey yelled, scrambling to his feet.
    “Where’s Morales?” Mackay said, shouting to be heard above the wind.
    Rainwater couldn’t speak, too afraid to do anything but try to process what he had seen.
    Mackay shook him by the shoulder. “I said, where’s Morales?”
    “Overboard...” was all Rainwater could manage.
    The portside rail was almost in the water, the boat listing at a sickening thirty-degree angle as it struggled to stay afloat.
    “Come on, we need to get suited up,” Mackay said, struggling to his feet and helping Rainwater back towards the interior hatch where Joey was readying the survival suits.
    “Put these on,” he shouted. “I need to get to the wheelhouse. You two get the raft ready, this thing will be at the bottom of the ocean within ten minutes.”
    With that, Rainwater’s uncle was gone, heading back inside the crippled ship. Mackay and Rainwater started to climb into their bright red survival suits as the boat creaked and twisted closer towards its watery grave.
     
    ***
     
    The wheelhouse was in disarray. Its windows shattered by the impact, the wind howled through the small room.  Sam was in his seat, his bearded face set in a determined grimace as he tried to keep control of the vessel.
    “Sam, come on, we have to get off before she sinks.”
    “I can keep us afloat.”
    “You can’t, we’re taking on water. The ship is gone. Come on, let’s go.”
    “Maybe we can-”
    “It’s over. We need to get off the boat, right now.”
    “What happened?”
    “Something hit us. Something big.”
    “Boat?”
    “No, I don’t think so. Call it in and let’s get the hell out of here.”
    “Goddamn it,” Sam spat as he sent the distress signal and followed his brother below deck.
    Mackay and Rainwater were already suited up and had the self-inflating lifeboat ready to go. Joey and Sam hurried towards them, having to lean against the angle of the boat in order to stay on their feet.
    “Come on, let’s go,” Joey said, as Sam looked around.
    “Where’s Grimshaw?”
    The men looked at each other, expressions blank and frightened.
    “Get that raft in the water,” Sam said as he turned back towards the hatch.
    “You can’t go down there, it’s probably full of water by now. It’s too dangerous.” Joey yelled above the wind.
    “I’m not leaving anyone behind,” he said, as he ran for the door and headed below deck.
    The three men stood and looked at each other, and then to Joey, who as deck boss was now in charge.
    “Do as he says,” Joey said as he stepped out of his survival suit and headed after his brother.
    Rainwater went to follow, when Mackay put a hand on his shoulder.
    “Not you too. Come on, we need to get this thing into the water. I can’t do it on my own.”
    Rainwater helped Mackay haul the self-inflating life raft across the deck.
    “How long do we wait?” Rainwater shouted, trying to ignore how close the water was to spilling over onto the deck of the boat.
    “Give them a few minutes then we—”
    A huge explosion rocked the vessel from below, launching the rear of the boat out of the water as deck boards exploded into the air.
    “We need to get into the water now!” Mackay yelled as the boat began to sink, the water finally clawing its