An Unsinkable Love(29)
A sudden loud moan and high-pitched hiss erupted from the ship as it upended, disappearing so quickly Bree blinked in shock. Lights glowed from portholes even as they slipped under the water. Great explosions of water geysered into the 98
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
air and a rumble like thunder boomed across the water. All those people! Had they gotten off? Bree squinted through the dark in an attempt to see how many other boats dotted the water, but it was too dark, and she couldn't see through the gauzy fog of tears freezing on her eyes.
* * * *
Bree jerked awake, shocked to have fallen asleep in such uncomfortable conditions. But many others in the boat were sleeping too, including Elizabeth, who leaned heavily against her. It seemed like hours must have passed as they floated in the bitter cold, but the night was still pitch black. A blanket of glittering stars floated across the midnight fabric above. They shimmered so brightly it brought tears to her eyes. The moon rose, a huge orange orb, sending a rippling ribbon of gold to meet them.
Bree stared out over the sluggish, rolling water, her mind blank until she noticed the moonlight highlighted oddly shaped flotsam in the water. Something bumped the side of the boat. She leaned over the gunwale and peered down. A retch seized her throat as she gazed into the blind, staring eyes of Mr. Thorpe. He wore a life vest over cotton striped pajamas, his skin a pale, pasty gray, rimmed with frost. She turned away, choking back sobs. When she could bring herself to look again, he was gone.
As she peered around, Bree realized among the odd shapes were many more lifeless passengers, as well as deck chairs, empty life vests and other items that must have 99
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
floated off the boat as it went under. She tried to count the bodies, but at one hundred couldn't bring herself to continue.
She turned her focus back to the passengers in her lifeboat. The man at the oars sat bent over, sleeping with his arms propped on the long wooden handles, his face nearly on his knees. The rudder man sat still, one hand on the tiller, the other clutching his coat collar close about his neck. Bree thought he might be frozen stiff, but he caught her staring and glared at her with a frightening malevolence. Feeling a coward, she quickly turned away.
She didn't know how long she sat there, oblivious to her surroundings, before she heard cheers out of the dark off to the right. As Elizabeth stirred beside her, she raised her head and turned toward the sound. A large ship steamed toward them, a thick cream of water racing at the bow. The women and children murmured as one by one they saw the ship moving toward them.
Shouts of "Hurrah!" and "We're rescued!" rang out as the weary, half-frozen survivors smiled and hugged each other.
Bree, afraid to join in the cheers, wondered if she were awake, or still sleeping. Could it be true, or was she dreaming?
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100
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
Chapter 12
Malcolm opened his eyes. Vague figures hovered beside him and sounds, muffled and faint, whirled around. His head pounded and he felt too tired to move. Bright lights flashed above him, leaving glittery streamers on his eyeballs after they faded. The noise around him got louder and he sorted words from the jumble.
"It's a ship. Look there, a ship!"
"Praise be to God! We're saved!"
Someone roughly patted his shoulder. "Don't you worry, feller. We'll get you safe and warm in a jiff. You should thank your lucky stars tonight, son. If you hadn't fallen damn near into the boat, we never would have caught you before you went under."
Malcolm tried to focus on the words, but they made no sense. He felt warm and wanted to take off the wet clothes weighing him down.
"Here, now. Stop it. What're you doin'? Leave that coat on, or you'll catch your death. It's the only dry piece of clothes you got. Now that we're so close to bein' rescued, it'd be a shame to kick the bucket, don't you think? Besides, it's my favorite jacket."
A man with kindly brown eyes leaned over and peered at him. He felt a cold hand at his nape as his head was tipped up. A draft of fiery liquid burned down his throat and Malcolm coughed and choked. As the alcohol slipped down his gullet, warmth drove off the lassitude that was trying to overtake 101
An Unsinkable Love
by Terri Benson
him. In its place came uncontrollable shivers. The lights and sound faded. His world went dark again.