Brusilov nodded and left the relative shelter of the wheelhouse to explain the boarding plan to the others.
Lucy watched the ship grew closer. She wasn’t looking forward to the transfer.
“Will you be okay?” Brusilov asked, leaning close so his words could be heard above the storm.
Lucy nodded. “I think so.”
“You will cross with Sergei and Babinski. Watch what they do and copy them. Just make sure you time your leap when the barge has reached the top of its rise or you’ll be crushed.”
“Thanks,” said Lucy, worriedly.
Brusilov smiled. “You’ll be okay. Compared with what you’ve been though lately, this will be easy.” He moved away to talk to his men.
Lucy stared back at the ship that seemed to tower above the small barge when they drew near.
Brusilov pointed at the net slung over the side of the ship. “Get ready.”
Lucy, Sergei and Babinski lined the side of the barge as it approached the climbing net and were thrown to the deck when a wave smashed the barge into the larger vessel and squealed along its length until they parted. They quickly scrambled to their feet and watched the net draw closer.
Sergei went first. He placed a foot on the side as the boat began to rise and sprung when it reached its peak. Babinski did exactly the same and both clung to the netting. Lucy stared at the net as she geared herself to make the crossing. When the end of the net drew nearer and the barge rose again, she placed a foot on the side and jumped just before it dropped. Her hands clawed at the netting and as soon as they touched they enclosed around it. Her body hit the hull harder than she would have liked, but she had made it.
“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” called out Babinski, a little way above her.
“Look out!”
Lucy turned. Brusilov had his hands cupped around his mouth, as the barge rose up towards her. She jerked her legs clear as the barge’s stern struck the ship and slid by.
Brusilov physically relaxed when he looked back to see everyone was okay and climbing up to the crew waiting by the rail above. He crossed to Nikolay peering from the wheelhouse. “That went smoother than I imagined.”
“Let’s hope our boarding has the same outcome,” replied Nikolay as he steered the barge around for their turn.
“As it is customary for the Captain to be last off the ship, I’ll take over.”
Nikolay smiled. “That only applies when the ship is sinking. This barge can handle a bit of wind and a few rough waves. Besides, I designed her. She’s a stubborn bitch and needs a bit of coaxing to perform the way you want her to and only I have the touch.”
Brusilov placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Okay, Nikolay. I wouldn’t want to be accused of interfering with your girl, but as soon as we’re at the net, you leave her.”
“Don’t worry, Captain, I’ll be right behind you. She knows this ain’t no long term relationship.” Nikolay nodded ahead as they approached the ship again. “Better get ready.”
Brusilov turned to see the bow of the ship plough through the waves a short distance away. He nodded at Nikolay and went to stand at the side.
Nikolay stared at the approaching ship and coaxed the barge to carry out his bidding. As soon as they were level with the net he would rush for the side as the Captain disembarked and leaped for the net. As the bow of the ship slid by, he sensed eyes upon him. He glanced up at the crew lining the ship’s rail, but it wasn’t from them. When he glanced around the barge his gaze halted on the slightly raised deck hatch. He sensed a presence In the darkness below and then noticed the eyes peering out at the ship. When the two vessels were practically touching, the blackness seeped out like an escaping oil slick.
Nikolay shot a glance at the Captain leaping for the net. As soon as his foot left the side Nikolay turned the barge away.
Brusilov glanced down when he noticed the barge turn away but saw no sign of Nikolay on the net. He looked at the wheelhouse and saw him still at the controls with his attention focused elsewhere. Brusilov followed the man’s gaze to the dark menacing form flowing over the deck towards the rail. It was the thing from the spaceship. His hand grabbed the alien weapon from beneath his jacket and fired at the monster stretching like soft tar for the ship. The monster screamed when the bolt of light passed through it and collapsed half over the rail. It jerked back aboard the boat when a wave struck and shredded its form.
When a second shot burnt away more of its body, it drew itself into one solid shape and looked at Brusilov as he fired again. Prepared this time, EV1L parted its elastic form and the ball of light passed harmlessly through the gap and exploded on the deck.
Those gathered at the rail stared at the dark monstrous form.
Lucy shivered in fright on seeing EV1L again.
Though it looked different now, darker, thicker, and slightly glossy, Babinski recognized it as the thing that had taken Mikhail and Rozovsky. He glanced around the deck and shouted, “Quick, someone, fetch me a rope.”
Babinski snatched the rope from the man who brought it to him and turned to the rail. “Nikolay,” he shouted as loud as his lungs would bellow.
Nikolay tore his eyes away from the monster and glanced up at the men.
Babinski waved the rope when Nikolay looked up at him, and when the man nodded, Babinski threw the coil and kept tight hold of the other end.
Nikolay caught the rope, lashed it around his waist and ran to the side of the barge.
EV1L saw the movement, avoided another light ball and rushed for the man.
Nikolay jumped onto the low rail and leaped from the barge.
EV1L watched the man disappear beneath the waves and turned back to its attacker. Though the human aimed the weapon at him, it didn’t fire. Both of them knew it was now trapped on the vessel moving away from the ship.
Babinski and four other crewmen pulled on the rope.
Nikolay gasped as the freezing water sucked all the heat from his body. Knowing he had only seconds to live, he pulled his steadily resisting body to the surface. Fighting a losing battle against the cold and the waves that threatened to carry him away from the ship, he shivered uncontrollably as he looked up the side of the hull and saw the men looking down at him. The rope yanked him nearer. His freezing hands attempted to grip the taut lifeline, but he couldn’t close his fingers. They dropped by his side as blackness overwhelmed him.
Babinski and the men dragged Nikolay through the waves and up the side of the ship. As soon as he reached the top, two men hauled him onto the deck. The medical officer standing by ordered the men to strip off his wet clothes and his naked body was scrubbed with dry towels. After fresh dry ones cocooned his body he was carried below deck to the infirmary.
When Nikolay opened his eyes twenty minutes later, he was in a warm bed.
“Welcome back, comrade.”
Nikolay turned his head and saw Brusilov’s smiling face. “What happened to that thing?”
“It’s trapped aboard the vessel and on a collision course with an iceberg. It won’t survive for long.”
“I jammed the wheel,” Nikolay explained.
“I guessed as much. Now rest. We’ll soon be heading back home. Our mission wasn’t as successful as I had hoped, but we’re not returning empty-handed.”
Nikolay nodded, remembering his lost comrades. “I hope the Federation appreciates the sacrifices.”
“We’ll see. I am sure Moscow’s propaganda machine is already working on the public account of our predicted success, but behind closed doors…” he shrugged. “Now get some rest, we’re heading home.”