/lit/ - Literature

>>7559210

A sharp whisper from the Captain, the Chief repeats the whisper to the two boys siting in front of him. The play with their wheels and angle the creature downwards. You think you hear a soft cry from the stern, you wish to yell at the culprit for such stupidity. But you fight your tongue and count the space between the pings. They are getting shorter, the enemy has better scientists, and didn’t you want to be that, a learned man? A sharp voice from the front, it’s the hydrophone man, and he hears splashes. You clutch at the pip at your side; hoping that it will protect you, maybe you can slide between the pipes, wiggle yourself through all the machinery like a snake, and communicate with the machine spirit of the weapon to let you free. How far is it to the surface? More splashes, and the thumps from outside and the constant pinging. The captain has fear in those eyes as his mind races, you close yours hoping to shut out any evil. Ping, splash, thump, ping, ping, ping, splash, splash, splash, thump, thump BANG! No longer thumps, bangs now and they are tossing you and the men and coffin from side to side like a toy. Pipes burst, dials smash and lights spark. Was that a command for full speed ahead? Deep down that little voice says pointless now, your bladder agrees with that and you feel the warmth crawl down your leg. You want to cry but your mind and body sputters as your arms hold on for dear life. Shadows are racing to and fro trying to control the chaos as the world outside and inside turns into Hell. An explosion above, water rushes down the hatchway. Fool you tell yourself, let go of the pipes but your body refuses. The coffin takes a sharp dive to the bow as the water rushes and rushes. Your body grows cold and numb as the room fills up and lights go out. A final image courses your mind. It’s your brother and mother, you are all at the dinner table and it is snowing outside but warm inside. You remember her soft voice say grace. You peak open your eyes, she sneaks a look as well at you and your brother and mouths the words “I love you.” Then the world goes black as the man with the white horse takes you to true peace.