Ark Of Hope: Beyond The Dark Horizon Read online

  The Professor nodded and smiled but made no effort to move other than to fumble his pipe out of his pocket and stick it in his mouth.

  “What about the little girl?”

  Professor Bunting waved his arm dismissively. “I told you, there is no little girl, Brett. You’ve had a drop too much to drink.” He laughed.

  Had he seen her? Brett was beginning to doubt himself. He’d never had a hallucination in his life so unless the Professor had put drugs in his whisky which was highly unlikely, then the little girl had been real. Perhaps the Professor had kidnapped her. The thought sent a shiver of panic through him. He knew he had a suspicious mind but he couldn’t help it. I mean, he thought, what did he really know about the old man? Not much. Only what he’d read on the Internet and Brett knew from past experience that people only put on it what they wanted you to know. What if this boat trip was an elaborate cover up to kidnap them, thinking Brett was rich, or worse, what if the Professor was a psychopath, a murderer? Just because the old man seemed friendly and genuine didn’t mean he was.

  All these thoughts ran through his head as he followed his friends into the small cabin. He could have led them all into danger because he’d been stupid enough to believe every typed word on a computer. He was seriously beginning to regret taking Henry up on his invitation, this wasn’t going well.

  Inside the cabin Cassie plonked herself on the swivel chair. “This is fun, isn’t it?” She said sarcastically. “It’s just how I’d imagined we’d spend a day of our holiday, in some grotty little boat in the middle of the ocean, pissing down with rain with a mad Professor.”

  “Firstly, he’s not mad, and secondly we’re hardly in the middle of the ocean, we’ve been on the boat less than half an hour. Stop winding us up, Cas.” Brett snapped, already under strain. If she’d wanted to make him feel guilty then she’d succeeded.

  The first loud roll of thunder clattered overhead and Jade shivered. “It’s an adventure,” she said determinedly. “This sort of weather happens all the time at sea, doesn’t it, Brett?”

  He bit his lip. “How do I know? The only other time I’ve been on a boat was a canoe on the canal.”

  There was one small port hole above the desk and it lit up for about five seconds with a bright flash of lightning. “Nice,” Jade muttered and then frowned. “I can’t feel the boat moving, have we stopped?”

  Brett hesitated unsure. “I think we’re turning back,” he said finally.

  “What do you really know about the Professor, Brett?” Robbie asked. He was trying to look out of the port hole but there was really nothing to see.

  “Not much. He’s considered an expert in his field but the stuff written about him is a bit jokey because of his flat earth theory.”

  “So what is his field?”

  “Science, ecology,” Brett sounded vague, ashamed to admit to them he’d not even bothered to look up Professor Bunting’s qualifications.

  “You don’t know, do you?” Jade gave a sharp bark of laughter. “This is typical of you, chasing your tail and dragging us along.”

  “You were happy enough to have a free day trip,” Cassie reminded her. “She’s got a point though, Brett, you should have checked him out. He could be a mass murderer escaped from an asylum.”

  “Yeah,” Robbie added, “or about to sell the girl’s off to a harem, what were you thinking mate?”

  Brett cringed; they were echoing his own misgivings. He felt his face go red, “Don’t be ridiculous; what you’re saying is stupid. You shouldn’t wind the girls up, Robbie.” Brett floundered on, “It’s not the Professor’s fault the weather’s against us.”

  “No, it’s yours. We should be on a beach somewhere sunning ourselves not caught in a storm on a boat that’s seen better days.” Jade said.

  Professor Bunting put his head round the door. He spoke mildly. “I can assure you, my dear, the boat is sound; you have nothing to worry about. I’ve cut the engine; we have to wait for the storm to abate. Please help yourself to a drink.” He waved his hand to a small shelf where a bottle of whisky and a set of tumblers stood. It seemed the Professor was fond of his tipple.

  The boat jolted and Cassie made a small moaning noise as another loud blast of thunder rolled over the boat.

  The Professor beamed. “You get used to it,” he told them.

  “Aren’t you staying in the cabin with us?” Brett asked him.

  “I’d rather be outside. There are a few adjustments I need to make to the engine.”

  “It’s packed up, hasn’t it?” Jade said flatly.

  Professor Bunting clamped his lips down on his unlit pipe and chewed on the end for a few moments. “It happens.” He said.

  “Jesus.” Robbie pulled a face. “Do you need any help? I’m pretty good with engines, I’m a mechanic.”

  “Now that is kind of you, young man, but I think I can manage.”

  Brett was surprised. He would have thought the Professor would have been glad of some help but he’d sounded confident so Brett supposed he knew what he was doing.

  The boat listed to one side and everyone grabbed something to hold onto. The rain drummed down, large heavy splodges that met with the waves and careered off the sides of the boat. The flashes of lightning were becoming more persistent, every few seconds.

  “Nothing to worry about,” Henry assured them with a strained smile. “Although,” he added as if he’d just thought about it. “It might be a good idea if you came up top with me. You might get a bit wet but it would be preferable to being trapped inside this little cabin if something did happen.”

  Jade was staring at him, horrified. “You think we’re in trouble, don’t you?” she whispered.

  “Not trouble exactly, but you can’t be too careful and the storm does seem to be getting worse.” Professor Bunting admitted. “In fact, it’s probably the worst one I’ve been caught in.” He looked around at them, “Cheer up, It’ll blow over in no time, mark my word.”

  At that moment the Ark of Hope lifted out of the water and fell back with a shudder. It tossed from side to side.

  “We may have to abandon ship,” Henry sounded pensive, thoughtful. “I have a life raft, don’t worry.”

  “What are our chances of survival in an open lifeboat, Henry, in this storm?” Brett asked almost conversationally.

  Henry scratched his chin. “Not too good, I have to admit, but I’m afraid it’s all you’ve got.”

  For the first time Jade was really afraid. This was happening. It wasn’t a book or a film to be enjoyed, it was here and now and life and death. She took a deep breath, the last thing she could allow herself to do was panic. “Life jackets,” she said.

  “Ah, there are two somewhere.” The Professor took a step backwards. “Follow me,” He instructed.

  “Two? Cassie whispered to Jade, “What are we supposed to do, share them?”

  “Can you swim?” Jade asked.

  “No. I never made it past paddling.”

  “Then you can have mine. Don’t worry; it may not come to that.” Jade hoped she was right but as the boat continued to rock violently she wasn’t so sure.

  Brett had carried his jacket onto the boat, now he put it on with the hood up.

  “He actually thinks we’re going out there in the storm?” Cassie’s eyes were wide with fear. “Not me, I’m staying put.”

  Brett took her arm and said gently. “We stay together, Cas, we have no choice but to do as the old man tells us if we want to survive.”

  “Survive? Oh, God, what do you suggest Brett; that we link hands and swim to shore?” Cassie stood trembling.

  “I’ll look after you, I promise,” Brett assured her.

  Frightened, Cassie allowed herself to be led out of the cabin.

  “There’s something I have to do first,” Professor Bunting yelled back at them, his voice choked off by the fierce wind. They huddled behind him as he reached under the wheel. He pulled out a bell and began ringing it.

  “What
’s he doing?” Jade shouted to Brett. “There’s no one around to hear him.”

  The Professor put the bell back. Brett shrugged, his hood practically covering his face. “I read somewhere the bell is the soul of the boat. If you ring it when you’re in trouble it reaches the ears of the angels and it will protect you. Just a fisherman’s tale, one of many.”

  “Oh Christ,” Cassie moaned. “We’re relying on superstition to get us out of this.”

  The boat suddenly lunged forward. A wave swept over the side and Jade found herself hanging onto the Professor’s cardigan.

  “We’ve hit something!” Henry sounded amazed.

  “How’s that possible?” Brett shouted.

  “I don’t know, I can hardly see anything.”

  The boat swung around and once again smacked into something solid.

  “Maybe it’s an iceberg.” Robbie suggested.

  “No, not this far inland.” The professor’s voice changed; there was a note of disbelief in it. “Can you see it? We’ve hit the side of a ship.”

  And Robbie saw it; a massive wall of sheer metal disappearing into the clouds of the storm. “How did we miss that?” He asked.

  “We didn’t,” Henry replied. “It wasn’t there. No ship that size would be this close to the Bay.”

  “There’s some writing on it.” Cassie said.

  Through the driving rain Robbie could just make out the first three letters. PRI, “What does that mean?”

  “It means,” the Professor said excitedly. “We’ve found the Princess May. She’s been missing for more than half a century. I believe it was 1951 she disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle. There was over three hundred passengers and crew on board and no one has heard or seen them since.” His voice held a note of awe, “I can’t believe it.” He breathed.

  “For Christ’s sake,” Robbie bawled, “This boat’s going to tip over and we’re all going to get drowned. Knock it off with the history lesson; I don’t care about some mouldy old ship, what about us?”

  A long wide flash of lightning lit up the sky clearly showing a rope ladder hanging down the side of the Princess May. It was flapping against the hull, a rhythmic menacing beat.

  “We go on board,” the Professor told Robbie calmly.

  Jade peered forward and made a moaning sound in her throat. “I’m not climbing up that ladder,” she hissed. Rain slapped at her face and she screwed up her eyes. “It looks dangerous.” She added. She watched the wet rope slapping against the hull of the ship and shuddered.

  “It is, I’m afraid,” Henry agreed. “Unfortunately, my dear, you don’t have a choice. Climbing up that ladder may be the only chance you have of saving your life.” He shook his head regretfully. “The lifeboat wouldn’t stand a chance against these waves I’m afraid.”

  “Oh, God,” Cassie bleated. “This is really happening, isn’t it?” A huge wave rammed into the Ark of Hope and Cassie sank down in a heap on the floor. “I can’t do it,” she wailed.

  Brett lifted her to her feet and put his arm around her. The wind was lifting his hair and his eyes looked wild. “You have to,” he shouted, “It’s our only hope.”

  “There’s no time to waste,” Henry said placidly. He glanced behind, “The boat’s beginning to fill with water.” ’He turned to Jade, “You’re going first, you’re the lightest. Come on, chop, chop!” Jade tried to resist but at that moment a terrifying burst of thunder shook the boat and she stumbled against Robbie.

  “I’ll help you,” he shouted his words almost lost in the wind. “I’ll be right behind you.”

  “No!” Professor Bunting yelled. “One at a time, it’s too risky, we don’t know how strong the ladder is.”

  Jade wished she hadn’t heard him say that. Her heart was pounding with fear; balancing precariously on the edge of the boat, Robbie hanging onto her legs, Jade couldn’t remember ever being this terrified. The hull of the Ark of Hope was banging continuously against the sides of the ship, the motion making her feel sick. She felt herself being lifted, pushed forward and she automatically stretched out her arms, her hands grabbing onto the wet rope ladder.

  She could hear Robbie shouting something but she couldn’t make out what it was, the encouraging words lost forever in the raging storm. The wind and rain buffeted her and she could feel herself swaying from side to side. What she couldn’t do was turn her head and look down. Every few seconds a flash of lightning would sizzle around her but all she could see in front of her were her fingers gripping the cold wet rope ladder. Robbie’s words had been drowned out by the storm and she was on her own, she needed to concentrate, if she made one false move and slipped it would mean certain death.

  The rope was thick and difficult to hang onto and with every step she was convinced she was going to fall. She’d always considered herself to be fit, daily exercises, running, the gym twice weekly, but she was no match for this. She had no breath left and her legs felt like lumps of clay as she dragged them up. The space between each rung of the ladder was set high and a couple of times her foot slipped on the wet rope. There was no breath left in her to cry out so instead she gritted her teeth. The ladder seemed to go on forever until eventually she reached the top, forcing herself over the rail and falling onto the deck of the ship, her body banging down on the hard floor. Unwilling to move Jade curled up into a ball and waited for one of the others to join her, praying they’d make it, not even thinking what might happen if they didn’t and she was left here on her own.

  She’d never been so frightened and she thought she might be having a panic attack. Her breath was whooshing out in sharp little gasps and her head felt hot. She just needed to hang onto the thought that she’d made it, she was safe.

  “She’s done it!” Robbie shouted, jubilant. “Who goes next?”

  “You or Brett,” the Professor said.

  “You go,” Robbie said to Brett. The boat tilted and a rush of water flowed over their feet. “The boat’s leaking,” he said panicked.

  Professor Bunting nodded. “So it is,” he said. “Better get a move on.” He turned to Brett. “Off you go then.”

  Brett moved forward looking uncertain. “Why can’t we wait the storm out?” he asked. He’d watched Jade swaying precariously halfway up the ladder, his heart in his mouth, but she’d done it. Now it was his turn.

  “Engine’s flooded.” The professor’s voice was flat and strangely indifferent. “Think yourself lucky you’ve a ship to climb onto. It’s a miracle. Now get a move on.”

  Brett heaved himself up the ladder. He didn’t like heights and the sight of the rope ladder thrashing about in the wind, thumping against the side of the ship terrified him but he wasn’t about to argue, or admit it. There were two things he kept to himself, fear of heights and claustrophobia. He never put himself in a situation where he would have to face either, now it was thrust upon him.

  He wondered if the rope ladder would hold his weight and realised too late that he should have been the last one to climb up. If the rope ladder broke because of him, the others would have no chance of surviving the storm and Jade would be left by herself. But it was too late thinking that now; he was already halfway up, climbing steadily.

  He was thankful for the hours spent in the gym, welcoming the easy strength he possessed, and even more grateful that the ladder proved to be strong, holding his weight. He threw himself over the top of the ship landing next to Jade.

  Cassie pulled off her false eyelashes and took a deep breath. She’d always admired the heroines in films, those sparkly brave young women who tackled everything thrown at them and always landed on their feet, make up intact. She needed to get into their mindset, behave like a heroine not a frightened little girl. She rolled her lips together to get the final taste of what was left of her strawberry lipstick and allowed Robbie to grasp her waist and hoist her onto the ladder. How bad could it be?

  Very bad. Her body jolted and swayed, the wind roaring past her trying to pry her hands from the rope. She coul
d feel her long pink false fingernails snapping off, snagging on the thick rope, as she gripped every rung. Each time she lifted her leg she was convinced the ladder would disappear and she’d be left dangling. It was hard not to imagine herself hurtling down into the murky depths, her life over because of a lousy boat trip.

  It seemed to take forever but eventually Cassie felt she was getting the hang of it, she just had to take it slowly. Just as she was beginning to think she’d been on the ladder for hours and the nightmare was never going to end she felt hands grabbing her and she was hauled over the side.

  “Christ, Cas, you came up that rope ladder like a monkey, well done.” Brett said, folding his arms around her.

  They waited together for Robbie and the Professor.

  Robbie was trying to urge Henry onto the ladder but the Professor was having none of it. “Look,” Henry told Robbie, “The Ark of Hope is my boat so it’s my responsibility to make sure my passengers are safe. I’m the Captain so to speak so I should be the last one to leave. And anyway,” he added. “I’ve a few of my belongings to collect. Go now, I’ll follow shortly.”

  The boat heaved again and Robbie clutched the side. Henry seemed determined to be the last man standing so, shrugging his shoulders Robbie began his ascent up the ladder. A sudden sharp gust of wind swirled around him like a typhoon and he almost lost his grip. Halfway up he took a risk and looked back. A sheet of lightning lit up the sky and Robbie gasped.

  The Ark of Hope had disappeared! All he could see below him was the choppy waves beating against the side of the Princess May. There wasn’t even the smallest indication left in the raging water that the Ark of Hope had ever existed. He scanned the bottom of the ladder but Professor Bunting was nowhere to be seen.

  His breath whooped from fear and exhaustion as he managed to clamber over the side of the ship, rolling over as he fell. The others joined him.

  “Thank God,” Brett said, “I’ll wait here to help the Professor up.”