Chapter 40: Steam Cannon Part 1
"You're going to do what?" Pentam tried to hold his words in, but the fear bubbling in his chest forced its way out.
"Build a steam cannon and use it to kill the sea serpent. Then we'll bring the rudder back to the Peregrine and make the repair." Cal looked at him as if what she described was as simple as going to the market. The bandage on her cheek made her look frail until he met her eyes and saw the indomitable spirit burning there.
"Do you know how dangerous steam cannons are?" Damn, that wasn't what I want to say, traitorous mouth.
"Floating with no rudder isn't safe either." Captain Cully frowned at Pentam.
"But going to the derelicts...." Pentam snapped his mouth shut and left before he said any more. He caught a glimpse of the hurt on Cal's face. Then she dismissed him and turned to the task at hand. Pentam went to the stern rail and looked out over the ocean away from the weeds. He didn't want to see how close they'd drifted.
The discussion on the deck had finished. He'd been the only one foolish enough to hope there might be another way. Sailors opened the hatch behind him. Cal's voice floated up, pointing out what she needed from the cargo hold. It was casual and matter of fact, as if he hadn't just walked away from her. Pain wrenched at his heart and he tried to fight back the sobs.
"The only thing scarier than facing danger is watching someone you love face it."
Henrichs leaned on the rail beside him. "It's why I'm only married to this ship. I couldn't do what you're going to have to do."
"And what would that be?" Pentam's words rasped at his throat. Metal clanged behind him. Men grunted as they lifted heavy objects.
"You're going to kiss her good luck and tell her you trust her." Henrichs left no room for argument. "She can't be distracted by worry about you."
"About me?" Pentam turned to look at Henrichs. It was a mistake. Her eyes bored deep into his soul and pinned him like one of Dan's bugs.
"She loves you, and you ran away leaving her to think you doubt her. You don't think her heart isn't going to be aching? An instant of distraction could be the difference between life and death. If you love her at all, you'll make sure she doesn't have to think about anything but her task. You can melt into a pool of jelly later."
Pentam tried to argue, but now his words caught in his throat. Henrichs didn't expect argument, she expected him to obey. Cal was a member of the crew, Henrich's responsibility.
"Yes, ma'am." He took hold of the fear and strangled it, stuffed it down deep in his soul.
"Good man." Henrichs' face softened and she put her hand on his shoulder briefly.
Pentam turned to see Cal ordering a mix of scientists and crew as they laid out a long pipe in front of a steel barrel. Thomas wielded an immense wrench to attach a fitting to the barrel. Another stepped up to help and both men strained.
"That should be good." Cal pointed at the pipe. "Let's get this on." The group picked up the pipe and Cal guided the end into the threads. They turned it until they couldn't any more, then used the pipe wrench again.
The pipe looked horribly fragile. Pentam envisioned the thing exploding, sending pieces of Cal flying away.
He walked up to the group. Cal looked at him and frowned. A knife went through his heart.
"Maybe a second pipe welded over the first one where the joint is. It needs to withstand a lot of pressure."
Cal considered his suggestion, then nodded to herself.
"Take Stefan and pick out something which will work." A sailor stepped away from the group and Pentam followed him away.
"We'll need a welder. Let's get this ready to put Pentam's pipe in place." Cal's orders followed him through the door.
He climbed down the ladder, then another and another to the depth of the ship. Banging came from the engine room. Pentam peeked in to see two sailors, black with oil and grease struggling with a fitting on the boiler.
In the parts hold, Stefan was already comparing pipes.
"Better to be a bit too big than too small. We can wrap the barrel of the cannon to make the fit tighter." Pentam looked around at the room.
Stefan nodded and slapped a length of pipe. Pentam inspected it, tried to heft it. He struggled to get it off the floor before his hands slipped.
"The cannon needs to be a balance between strength and weight. It's no good if they can't get it into place."
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