The loading tray opened. The hot case man reached in with giant leather gloves, snatched out the spent powder case, and pitched it out the hatch in the back of the compartment. As soon as the old case was removed, the powder man loaded a new case and the projectile man loaded a new projectile.
“Shot fell short,” the pointer said.
“Keep ’er at four-five-oh,” Udell said. “And Mr. Avery, sir? Mr. Reinhardt wants you in the director.”
“Tell him I’m coming.” Jim clapped the man on the shoulder and squeezed out the tiny door.
To starboard, a sleek dark shape raced toward theAtwood, its bow wave white on either side, eerie in the light of the star shells.
An actual U-boat. His first sight of the enemy. Jim’s breath locked in his chest. With the bow gone, the destroyer had lost much speed and maneuverability. What chance did they have?
The aft guns thumped out a greeting, followed by the rat-a-tat of the .50-caliber machine guns.
Jim continued on his way to the director. Three mess attendants approached at a fast pace. The replacements for the wounded men. “Head to number two handling room. Udell will tell you what to do.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
A shout rose, and Jim wheeled to starboard.
A torpedo track, a burning white spear, plunged toward theAtwood’s stern.
Lord, save us!Jim cried out and grabbed a ladder. “Brace yourselves!”
The destroyer jerked from the impact, bounced high, landed hard. Jim fell to his knees, one hand gripping the ladder, his shoulder wrenched.
How bad was the hit? He couldn’t see that far aft, past the bridge and the funnels, but another orange fireball mirrored the earlier one at the bow.
TheAtwooddrifted to a stop. Swell, they must have lost the propellers. They’d be dead in the water. And above the propellers on the far end of the stern? The depth charge racks. The sailors who manned them. How many more had died?
“Lord, make it stop.” He massaged his sore shoulder and climbed up to the director, but why? The ship settled lower, listed several degrees to starboard.
A new sound from the direction of the U-boat, a low thudding, popping sound. The deck gun?
Jim burst into the gun director. Commotion.
Reinhardt met his gaze, wild-eyed. “Number four’s in bad shape. Three took damage.”
The talker pressed his hand over his headphone. “Udell says number two took damage from the deck gun.”
Jim couldn’t move. Dead in the water. All four guns out of action. It was over.
Reinhardt swatted Jim’s arm. “Check on two, see what can be done.”
“Aye aye.” A formality, but until the captain ordered them to abandon ship, he’d do what he could.
As he climbed out onto the signal deck, another star shell lit up the sky and gunfire sounded aft.
An American destroyer!
“Thank you, Lord!” Jim clung to the rail.
On the U-boat, black ants of men scrambled down the hatch. They’d submerge and flee and leave theAtwoodto her fate.
The ship’s alarm bell clanged, and the bugle sounded “abandon ship.”
Jim’s blood went as cold as the waters beneath him.
Durant’s voice came over the loudspeaker. “All hands prepare to abandon ship. Another destroyer is on its way to aid in rescue. Do not enter the water until necessary. Repeat, do not enter the water until necessary.”
