CHAPTER 10
THE TABLES ARE TURNED.
Silence fell, and after a few moments Robin, with a catch in his voice said.
"I can hear water pouring in!"
Sure enough, when they listened, they could hear the gurgle of water as the ship started to fill. Rhes jumped to the door and tried to open it. He soon stepped back when he realised he was no match for a steel door with a large lock. He looked round the store, and saw a set of small curtains. He ripped them back, but, to his horror he saw there was only a small porthole. His head drooped as he realised that there was no escape that way.
The ship gave a lurch, and settled deeper in the water and a trickle of water appeared under the door. They could hear the faint shouts of the real crew, as they too realised what fate held in store for them. A slow death by drowning. Robina gave a choked cry and tried to climb on the table. Rhes gathered her into his arms, determined not to let her suffer when they sank into the cold black water
Suddenly, Robin shouted.
"I can save us. I can do it."
Rhes turned to Robin thinking that this nightmare was too much for him. When he saw the smile on Robin’s face, he realised that Robin had not cracked, but might just have a plan to save them.
"What do you mean, a plan to save us?", said Rhes. "Tell us quickly. There's not much time". I'm thin and I can squeeze through that porthole" he said. " And when I'm out I'll swim to the rocks, run around and let you all out."
"Great idea" said Rhes, as he put Robina down then attacked the catches that held the porthole shut. Seconds later he had the porthole open. Robin went out feet first, head down. He wriggled his legs until his middle squeezed through, but as his shoulders reached the opening, he stuck. Rhes pulled him back a bit.
"No I can make it." said Robin "Just hold my arm, while I get the other one through. This will make me thinner, then let me fall into the water outside."
The ship lurched again, and settled even deeper in the water. By now the water was swirling into the store, and was up to the tabletop.
With a gasp of pain, as the hard steel edge of the porthole skinned his shoulder, Robin popped out, and hung there supported by Rhes' strong arm.
"Let go".
Rhes opened his hand, and a splash told him that Robin was in the water. When he looked out of the porthole, he saw Robin swimming for the rocks as fast as he could go.
As they stood in the storeroom waiting for
Robin to let them out, the seconds dragged by, when without warning, the lights flickered, came back on for a few heartbeats, then went out. The room was plunged into darkness. Robina gave one terrified shout. Rhes could see her in the faint moonlight that came in through the opening.
He grabbed Robina’s arm, and pushed her towards the porthole saying.
"Save yourself. Like Robin did".
Robina tried to argue, but Rhes bundled her up to the porthole and pushed her out headfirst. As the ship was now so low in the water, there was no distance for her to fall. As she swam for the rocks, she turned and saw Rhes' head framed in the porthole, waving her on. or was it goodbye.
By this time Robin had reached the rocks, and had raced back to the gangway. It was almost level now, as the ship sank lower in the water. He ran on board, and raced down to the storeroom. As he passed the crews cabin, he paused to unlock their door. He went on, as the crew poured out and rushed for the deck. When he reached the storeroom door, he found that the key was still in the lock. Without it they would have been sunk, literally.
The lock clicked undone, and as he pushed to open it, Rhes pulled from the other side. In the darkness, Robin could hear Rhes thrashing about, and then heard him shout.
"I'm stuck. Get out of here. The ship is going down. My belt is caught and I can't get free. Save yourself!"
"No, I can't leave you".
More water poured down the passage, and Rhes' words were silenced as he was dragged under. The ship lurched again, and tilted down.
A light flickered behind him, and Robin turned to see a figure thrashing through the water towards him, a torch held out.
"Robin." shouted a voice, "Where is your friend. Is he with you?"
Robin knew at once that the voice belonged to Charlie. How he came to be there he neither knew nor cared. All he knew was that help was at hand.
"He's been dragged under. His belt caught on something and he just went down".
As Charlie pushed past Robin the torchlight flashed on the glittering edge of a knife. Taking a deep breath Charlie dived into the frothing water and vanished. Robin stared at the patch of light, as it wavered about for what seemed ages, until he was sure Charlie was caught as well. Air rushing out of the sinking ship made the water swirl about. Suddenly the light burst out of the water, and the glare showed Charlie with Rhes' limp form slung over one shoulder. With heaving chest, Charlie gasped for breath.
"Get out. Get out now. Can't you feel the ship is going fast. I can't rescue both of you".
By now the ship was tilting down, and sliding slowly beneath the water. Robin had a terrible time struggling up the sloping passage, and couldn't bear to think about the fight Charlie was having as he carried Rhes' limp body to safety.
When they reached the open deck, the ship was almost gone, and all they had to do was float off as the ship slid away away down, down into the deep cold water.
Luckily the last bubbles of air escaping from the ship kept them clear of the suction, and they were able to reach the rocks. Robina was waiting on the rocks. She was shivering with cold and fright. They dragged Rhes out of the water, and Charlie said.
"Try and get him warmed. I must see if all the other crewmen are alright.
The twins rubbed Rhes' arms and hands; the exercise helping to warm them as well as Rhes. They were rewarded by seeing Rhes' eyes flicker open.
"You saved me." said Rhes. "I thought I was a goner that time. All I could feel was the water closing over me, then nothing until I wake up and find you two over me, looking like a pair of drowned rats. Mind you I can't think of a nicer pair than you two".
"Shut up." cried Robina. "We did nothing, It was Charlie".
Rhes looked at them.
"That's right." echoed Robin. "He came back. He said he would have nothing to do with murder, and now he's proved it. He can't be so bad after all".
As they talked and waited, they heard voices and footsteps coming along the rocks, headed by Charlie. Tiredly, they all climbed the winding path up the steep cliff, and staggered along the path back to Port Erin.
Lights were blazing all over. People had heard what had happened, and had come to see what help they could give. When the long row of dripping people staggered into town, they were dragged into the Library; it being the largest place nearby. Blankets appeared then hot soup. Mugs of hot tea were handed round, until every one that needed help was cared for. Rhes had by now recovered, and he saw Charlie slipping away into the night.
"Where do think you are going?" He said, as he laid a friendly hand on Charlie's arm.
"I must contact the police. I know where the device is hidden, and I know where the hide-out is".
Mother and Auntie Amy collected the twins, and took them home for hot baths.
The police arrived, and Charlie had to face them by himself. He told them where the device was, all about the others, and most importantly of all, about Rex. He told where the hideout was.
As the twins were settling down to sleep, Mother said that after she and Amy had returned from their friends house , she had looked in to see if everything was alright , but had found to her horror two empty beds. In her panic, she had raised the alarm, and a search had been started. They had all been searching until the line of dripping figures had appeared in the town lights.
Sleep took the twins as soon as their heads touched the pillows, and while they slept, plans were being laid to catch the villains who thought themselves safe, thinking that the sink
ing ship had taken all the evidence to a watery grave.