1275psi -> RE: The little ship that could. (12/4/2013 9:03:49 AM)
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Hirate hesitates for but a moment as he crosses Chiburi's gangway. It is before dawn, cold, but still The lights reflect on the calm bay, just near her stern, ripples in the water, a school of minnows using the hull for shelter. Another moment, all who have sailed the seas know. When Hirate crosses that gangway, a unseen bridge also is crossed Now, on the shore, he can pretend he is a civilian, can pretend, in a way, that he is still free. Cross it, and he will be subtly, but inescapeably, captured. Those hidden Mistresses, the sea, the ship, will wrap invisible chains about him. The sad part, thinks Hirate, as he crosses onto the cold deck, nods to the even colder quartermaster, is a large part of him welcomes those hidden chains. Almost seeks them For many, to serve the ship, the sea, is a service that fullfills life itself. he makes his way to the small galley, puts the kettle on. two other seamen join him, quiet "goodmornings", the clatter of cutlery, the sipping of liquids. But mostly silence And then, as ever, with the sun still to rise, to work The engine room is cold. Flashup of a diesel space lacks completely the romance of steam. There is no long slow buildup to the climax, no steady rises of pressure, no step by upward step towards the goal. No. Its open this, open that, confirm this, confirm that. Then, the intake of breathe, and the crossed fingers........... At 7 am, Hirate pulls the start lever The port diesel, the bitch of the pair, hesitates, jerks, then rolls, clattering a little (that distict noise of injectors working in a non firing cylinder), then, with a satisfactory roar, she takes life The starboard, the barsted, behaves, starting today with out hesitation. Chiburi, for today, is good. Hirate will run the engines for about 15 minutes, then shut them down until Chiburi sails at 10 am. It will be a short trip, barely a thousand yards into the bay. Captain Ukagi shouts a few orders, the anchor splashes down, and Chiburi slips back into silence, the generators rumble her only sign of life. Not a clue on her next mission, she is, in fact, almost alone in the harbour. Hirate will catch some sleep, as, apparently will most of the crew. Okano goes fishing, and wonders what they are waiting for.
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