He spoke to the helmsman quietly. Starboard five midships/ lining
Warlock up for a fracture-line in the ice pack. It was vital to come in
at a right angle, to take the ice fully on the stern; a glancing blow
could throw the bows off line and bring the vulnerable hull in contact
with razor ice.
Stand by, engine room/ he alerted them, and Warlock bore down on the ice
at a full ten knots and Nick judged the moment of impact finely. Half a
ship's length clear, he gave a crisp order.
Both half back. Warlock checked, going up on to the ice as she
decelerated, but still with a horrid rasping roar that echoed through
the ship. Her bows rose, riding up over the ice. It gave with a
rending crackle, huge slabs of ice up-ending and tumbling together.
Both full back. The huge twin propellers changed their pitch smoothly
into reverse thrust, and the wash boiled into the broken ice, sweeping
it clear, as Warlock drew back into open water and Nick steadied her and
lined her up again.
Both ahead full. Warlock charged forward, checking at the last moment,
and again thick slabs of white ice broke away, and grated along the
ship's side. Nick swung her stern first starboard then port, deftly
using the twin screws to wash the broken ice free, then he pulled
Warlock out and lined up again.
Butting and smashing and pivoting, Warlock worked her way deeper into
the bay, opening a spreading web of cracks across the white sheet of
ice.
David Allen was breathless, as he burst on to the bridge.
All gear checked and ready, sir. Take her/ said Nick. She's broken it
up now - just keep it stirred up. He wanted to add a warning that the
big variable-pitch propellers were Warlock's most vulnerable parts, but
he had a high enough opinion now of his Mate's ability, so he went on
instead, I'm going down now to kit UP.
Vin Baker was in the aft salvage hold ahead of him, he had already half
finished the tray of rich food and Angel hovered over him, but, as Nick
came down the steel ladder, he lifted the cover off another steaming
tray.
It's good/ said Nick, although he could hardly force himself to swallow.
The nerves in his stomach were bunched up too tightly. Yet food was one
of the best defences against the cold.
Samantha wants to talk to you, skip. Who the hell is Samantha? 'The
girl - she wants to thank you. Use your head, Angel, can't you see I
have other things on my mind, Nick was already pulling on the rubber
immersion suit over a full-length woollen undersuit. He needed the
assistance of a seaman to enter the opening in the chest of the suit.
He had already forgotten about the girl as they closed the chest opening
of the suit with a double ring seal, and then over the watertight
bootees and mittens went another full suit of polyurethane.
Nick and Vin Baker looked like a pair of fat Michelin men, as their
dressers helped them into the full helmets, with wrap-around visors,
built-in radio microphones and breathing valves.
Okay, Chief? Nick asked, and Vin Baker's voice squawked too loudly into
