This is a story about pirates off the coast of Somalia. It is based on true events as reported on the bbc news website but also entirely fictional. It's melodramatic, I'll admit that. Yet, a few friends have read it, pointed out a few things that needed changing but really liked it. So I thought I'd put it up here and see what you have to say. To those who critique, I owe you one and thank you. Here it is:
- The Modern Somali Pirate Story -
First light - the sun just creeping over the watery horizon. In a second, a beam of perfect red shot across the curve of the world and the first hint of the Sun began to stretch upwards. The ocean waves lapped against the cruise ship silently, those on the high deck too far up to hear. These people were of course the crew, polishing the deck hours before the first passenger would even open their eyes.
On the bridge Captain Fisher studied the progress of the ship during the night. He’d been off duty and so had attended dinner with the passengers before retiring to his private quarters. Now, the silence was eerie around him. Straightening momentarily he studied the two crewmen, who’s names he couldn’t remember. They stood together, whispering and joking about something from the night before. Usually he’d instruct them to get back to work, but it was still early so he let them off.
Other than this little distraction the ship and its surroundings were empty of sound. Even the engines were dulled by the layers of deck between the bridge and engine room. Sighing, Captain Fisher stared out towards the open ocean - the sun blurring his vision. The ocean appeared pink under early morning light. It was too quiet. Leaving the bridge quickly and quietly, Captain Fisher stood on deck, observing the many early risen staff getting to their work. Even their footsteps fell quietly upon the deck this morning. He could feel it in his bones that something wasn’t quite right. Yet, he couldn’t put his finger on what it was.
Until a shadow passed silently overhead.
Looking up, the Captain spied a young bird high in the air, swirling around the unusual monument that was the ship. It made no noise. Where were the birds? The shore was only a couple of miles away. By this time the birds should have been circling the ship, calling to be fed. But not today.
Down in his cabin, Adler had woken early and now knelt on his bed, staring out of his small porthole at the ocean. Three small speedboats sat in silence, several darkly clad men in each. Adler wondered what the crew might be doing out on boats so early. Checking for problems around the cruise ship? No, they were too far off, but still just sitting there. It was as though they’d been there for quite some time. Waiting quietly, not wanting to draw attention. Something wasn’t right and Adler knew it.
Just as he was about to pull away from the porthole and report the boats to a crewmen the men on them appeared to stand. In unison the three boats sparked up their engines and made their way noisily towards the cruise ship. Adler watched terrified as they drew hidden weapons. One in particular held a long dark object on his shoulder and pointed it directly towards the ship. By pure chance, it was also pointed at Adler’s cabin.
A puff of smoke billowed from the back of the device and what looked like a small cannonball shot from its front.
“Oh crap…” Adler dove onto the floor of his cabin just as the outer hull tore apart like paper with a loud deafening bang.
Smoke filled Adler’s cabin, singeing the hairs within his nose and smelling of burning rubber. He coughed violently as plaster fell from the ceiling and a cheap bookcase collapsed forward in front of him - the blackened books spewing out across the floor. Coughing again, Adler knew he had to move. Miraculously the explosion hadn’t killed him, but he knew if he lingered too long the smoke would. Crawling towards his door Adler could hear gun shots and shouts throughout the ship. As he crawled into the passageway he was alarmed to find wispy smoke travelling along the ceiling. As he reached back into his cabin, pulling the door shut, he heard a further explosion along the ship and was sure he had heard screams.
On deck Captain Fisher ran madly to the communications room, barking orders at crewmen as he went. When he reached his destination the Captain found a lone remaining crewmen shouting into a mouthpiece.
“Mayday! Mayday! We are under attack from pirates directly off the coast of Somalia, calling for immediate assistance at bearings-”
The Captain swung the door shut with a loud clatter and continued along the ship. He sweated profusely, worrying for his crew and passengers. The rattling of bullets against the metal hull was torrential. He had already heard two explosions, both of which had knocked him off of his feet. His breathing grew heavy just thinking about what could be happening below deck. He didn’t know yet if the pirates had managed to board the ship.
Of course, the Captain had known about the threat of Somali pirates in the area. He had been given a warning and some clear advice before taking his post as this cruise ships Captain. For some months now cruises and privately owned boats had been getting attacked by pirates off the Somali coast, the owners of boats and Captains being slaughtered. Captains. Fisher pushed this out of his mind, trying to remember the advice given to him if this situation should arise. The speakers. Why hadn’t he remembered immediately. The company had supplied the boat with loud bang speakers to trick the pirates into believing the ship was returning fire! The speakers were in his cabin.
Running swiftly now, Captain Fisher made his way along the deck, searching for an open hatch to save time. Meanwhile one of the speedboats circled around to his side of the ship, firing dangerously in every direction. He had to make it! He had to save his ship, the crew, the passengers! Adrenaline pumped through his body as he ran faster, slipping slightly on the freshly polished deck. He could do it! He had done it!
Just as Captain Fisher reached an open hatch a frenzy of bullets pierced his back in a spray of red liquid which burst out across the deck.
Adler could tell from the insignia on his shoulders that the man that had just collapsed before him was the Captain. His arm and facial muscles were tensing uncontrollably in a horrible display, a final rush of adrenaline before death. The blood was pouring from his back, being pushed out by the pint. His icy blues eyes stared straight into Adler’s as he reached out a shaking arm. Snapping out of his pause and remembering to breath again, Adler jumped forward on his knees and held the Captain, pulling him within the hatch. A red froth bubbled around his mouth and his eyes narrowed. Adler didn’t know what to do.
The Captain whispered something incoherently.
“You’ve got to speak more clearly! I can’t understand you!”
Adler was shaking even more than the Captain.
“You’ve…got…to-”
Bullets echoed from the passageway from which Adler had come - the pirates were on board somehow.
“Please hurry! They’re coming.”
“You’ve got to get to my cabin…” The Captain coughed, “Speakers on my. Just turn them on…they’ll leave.”
Adler’s eyes opened wide. He didn’t know what the Captain was talking about but it sounded like a way to get the pirates of the ship. What speakers? What would happen if he turned them on? Just as Adler opened his mouth to speak the Captain went limp in his arms. All life had left his body.
Adler had never seen a man die before. Nor had he ever imagined a man should die in his arms. Laying the Captain’s body aside, Adler stood up in a daze as bullets panged against the outer hull near his head. If he’d only known even the smallest amount of first aid, maybe he could have done something, save his life. So this was what blood smelt like. It covered his hands and legs. The firing was suddenly so close and loud that Adler jumped. Someone was screaming in the passage to his left.
Time to go. Adler ran to the edge of the wall, glancing quickly around to see objects flying from a cabin and into the hall accompanied by shouts and screams. A pirate was raiding that room. Adler couldn’t have helped even if he’d wanted to. Continuing down the passage while he could, Adler stared from door to door, looking for the correct insignia. The sign that would tell him that this was the cabin of the late Captain Fisher.
Up ahead, Adler spotted the correct door. Behind, he heard the voice of someone not native to the English language. The voice was deep and coarse, the sort of voice that would always win an argument.
“Hey you!” It shouted angrily.
Perspiration ran down Adler’s face but he kept walking. He heard another shout, this time in the man’s own language and then the cocking of a gun. Adler’s heart was beating quickly, threatening to burst through his ribs. Jumping through the door just as bullets echoed along the corridor, Adler fell onto the floor. Without waiting for the man to arrive he jumped up and sealed the door, wedging a chair under the handle. Beyond it he could hear the heavy footfalls of the man. Even they sounded angry. Within a second he was beating on the door with the butt of his gun, and even worse, it was threatening to buckle and break under the pressure.
Adler turned and sitting there on the desk, just like Captain fisher said, was a pair of loud speakers. They were both attached to a small box with a switch. Adler drove his hand forward and flicked the switch just as the door splintered behind him.
Deafening bangs filled the small cabin, forcing Adler to press his hands hard against his ears. The bangs echoed out into the corridor. Out along the passages. Out onto the deck, and far out across the sea. That was how loud they were.
The noise was so loud that Adler refused to open his eyes, fearing that they couldn’t handle the pressure created within the small cabin. He fell back onto a bed and his head pounded like the gun had on the door, over and over and over. Until Adler felt like his head was going to explode. He didn’t know how long had went by, but if he waited any longer he risked losing his hearing indefinitely.
Jumping from the bed Adler flicked the switch a second time. The noise died immediately. The door was splintered, revealing the wall of the corridor outside. The man was gone. Opening the door, Adler stared in both directions along the passageway. There were no men here either. Beginning to smile, running along the passages, Adler discovered that there were no pirates anywhere. Frightened passengers however were beginning to creep from their cabins with relieved smiles on their faces.
Springing out of a hatch and onto the deck Adler let out a cry of joy as he saw the three boats speeding off towards Somalia. They had left. Other passengers emerging onto the deck were also celebrating at the sight. The pirates were gone! Adler had succeeded! He alone had driven away the pirates. But…he turned towards the limp form lying in a pool of blood nearby, at what cost?
- The End -
