Noah's Ark: Contagion

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Book: Noah's Ark: Contagion Read Free
Author: Harry Dayle
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out he realised they probably weren’t going to get better by themselves, and that medical assistance would be a good idea. The budget cabin was not equipped with a telephone; he needed his daughter to fetch help.
    “Erica, sweetie? Daddy’s not cross with you, I just want you to help me with something. Are you there?”
    He made a decision. If she didn’t come back within the hour, he would have to try and drag himself to the medical centre. Quite literally.
    • • •
    Jake stared out of the wide opening. HMS Ambush ’s conning tower seemed a long way away. The makeshift ramp that the engineering team had rigged up looked flimsy at the best of times, and now that both vessels were moving, it looked even more perilous. The connection had been made from a flexible telescopic walkway that was normally used by passengers getting on and off when docked in a port. On the Spirit of Arcadia side, the walkway was securely fixed with special bolts, just the way it was designed. The far end had been lashed to the submarine’s tower with a complex array of ropes, knots, chains, and who knew what else. Martin had told him it was done in such a way that it would detach easily should the two boats become separated. This had not filled Jake with confidence; he had no intention of taking a swim. It was all well and good the ramp being attached to the deck two exit, but that was still higher than he wished to fall should the thing fail.
    They were not travelling particularly fast; the reactor in the navy vessel wasn’t designed to power and propel a cruise ship as well as perform its regular duty and they didn’t wish to stress it. Even so, when he stepped out onto the walkway the wind slapped and whipped at him with unexpected ferocity.
    “Come on, old boy, we’ll be upon that signal before you get across!” Coote bellowed from behind him, laughing heartily as he did so.
    “This is bad enough when we’re not moving. I feel like I’m about to walk the plank!” Jake gulped a huge breath of salty air and stepped forward with faux confidence. Once he got going it was easier to continue. He didn’t look down, or behind him, but kept his eyes fixed on the submariner guarding the hatch at the top of the giant fin. The man was a true professional; if he found Jake’s fear amusing, he didn’t let it show.
    “Welcome aboard HMS Ambush , Captain,” he said, giving Jake a hand getting up over the lip of the tower.
    “Thank you.” He hesitated, searching for the name, “Brian, isn’t it?”
    “Yes sir, Brian, sir.”
    The sound of footsteps thumping along the walkway caused both men to look up. Brian immediately stood to attention.
    “At ease, Able Seaman Thomas,” Coote said, grinning from ear to ear. “I must say, Jake, I know you’re not a fan, but I think this arrangement is marvellous! Visiting your ship is like popping into town for a coffee and some shopping. So convenient. Just imagine, if we find more survivors out there, we could end up with a virtual floating village! Well don’t just stand there, old boy, let’s get inside and see where we’re headed.”
    Jake smiled. Gibson Coote was an acquired taste, but universally liked and admired by his crew, and he could see why. He ran a tight ship based on mutual respect. With many of his sailors now taking what Coote jokingly called ‘shore leave’ on the cruise ship, Jake had initially wondered if that closeness and loyalty might be eroded, but nothing of the sort had happened. If anything, Coote’s crew appeared to be pulling together to form an even stronger team, bound by a desire to work for the good of the combined population.
    The two captains descended the ladder into the labyrinthine hull of the submarine. Jake wasn’t a tall man, but on the few occasions he had been aboard he found himself automatically bowing his head as he walked through the narrow steel passageways, claustrophobic cabins, and working areas. Despite the abundance of lighting, it

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