Dark Water
A loud tearing sound awoke Tom from his deep slumber. He opened his eyes and stared at the darkness before him. It took him a full minute to finally remember where he was and what he was doing there. Two days ago, Tom was invited by Ray to go on a three day cruise to America, with all expenses paid for by Ray. Needless to say, Tom immediately agreed. Just when Tom, lying comfortably on his soft feather bed, began recalling all the wonderful winnings at the ship’s casino and the beautiful sights at the swimming pool, he heard frantic shouting and hurried footsteps on the otherside of the door to his room. Just as Tom heaved himself out of his bed, the door slammed open, throwling the bolt across the room.
Framed in the doorway, with ragged breathing, was Ray. Behind him, between the door frame and Ray, Tom could see people hurrying back and forth, in the general direction of the staircase leading up to the deck. In two strides, Ray grabbed hold of Tom’s hand and dragged him out of the room. Tom, while attempting to break free of Ray’s iron-grip, demanded to know what was going on. Before he knew it, he was already on the deck, which was brimming with people. On the deck, Tom heard snatches of conversation which eventually pieced together the whole story - an explosion in the engine room had caused a large fissure in the hull of the boat, allowing water to enter it at an alarming rate.
Lifeboats were frantically lowered while people climbed aboard despite the danger of falling off or even being squashed by one. The large crowd made it difficult for Tom and Ray to get close to a lifeboat, let alone board one. And when they did get near to one, it was either full or they were pushed back by others who were desperate not to lose their lives to the vast freezing ocean. Just when they were pushed back for the third time, another explosion rocked the boat, causing it to cant towards the starboard side which resulted in many passengers falling off the deck and into the dark sea that swallowed them greedily.
One moment Tom was on the deck attempting to get near a lifeboat, and suddenly he was frantically gasping for breath. He swam frantically to the surface and inhaled greedily. Besides the icy water numbing his limbs, debris from the sinking wreckage rained down upon him. A hand suddenly grabbed his and pulled him away - just in the nick of time before a deck chair splashed into the spot water where Tom was treading a moment ago. He turned around to see his saviour when he came face to face with Ray, whose pale face was lit orange by the fire engulfing part of the boat. However, falling debris was not the end of their troubles. As the suveryed their surroundings, they realised that they were at least 50 feet from the nearest lifeboat. Thus despite their muscles screaming in protest from the icy water and the physical exertion fueled by pure adrenaline, they paddled frantically towards the nearest lifeboat. Each angonising stroke brought them closer to the lifeboat but drained them of whatever strength they had left.
After that seemed like eternity, they finally reached the small but servicable lifeboat. To their dismay, the lifeboat was full save for one remaining space whose occupant had died of excessive blood loss and was floating amid the burning wreckage. Tom and Ray tried to argue with the lifeboat incharge hoping that he would take both in, eventually he lost his temper.
"Look, there is only one place left. By letting both of you on, this boat will become more unstable and may even capsize. So its either one of you get on or both of you stay off." Tom and Ray looked at each other, comtemplating on who should sacrifice himself. Finally, Ray shoved Tom towards the lifeboat and without a backward glance, swam furiously towards the nearly submerged cruise ship.
Tom looked uncertainly as the distance between the two boats lenghtened. The longing to swap places with Ray was overwhelming, yet to be alive and safe made Tom feel relieved. A sudden bout of dizziness forced Tom to lean over the edge of the boat and vomit. He closed his eyes as the boat cut silently through the water. After a while, he opened his eyes and realised that his cheeks were wet, not from the splash from the oars but from his eyes. He stared at the dark water that reflected the dark starry night and cried out his anguish.
The greatest love is shown when friends lay down their lives for each other with no regrets.
comment by me: a bit poorly written.. Rather simple storyline… one of my rather ‘off’ pieces
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knowledge will not be attained in the first one houndred hours, nor will it be attained in the first 1000 hours, but let us begin.
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