Chapter 41: Steam Cannon Part 2
Stefan nodded again, then wrapped a length of chain around the pipe. He whistled sharply. A head appeared in the hatch far above. The rope was lowered for them to fasten to the chain. A minute later the pipe lifted off the floor and up to the deck.
"Thanks," Pentam said to Stefan. "You go back up on deck. I'm going see if I can't lend a hand in the engine room." He rolled up his sleeves and went to the other room.
"Anything I can do to help?"
Within minutes he was black with oil and grease and thinking about nothing but forcing a recalcitrant fitting into place.
***
Cal inspected the finished cannon. The double walled barrel added a lot of weight, but Pentam was right. The release valve had been fitted so she could attach a long bar to it for leverage. She wouldn't have time to wrestle with it. Her arm was greased to the shoulder from trying to get it to move easily.
The harpoon was an eight-foot length of oak which fit exactly into the barrel. The crew had dulled a couple of axes and several knives putting a wicked point on it. Thomas had used a rag on a stick to oil the inside of the barrel after packing it with wads of canvas.
She saw the force her cannon would generate. Nothing made of flesh and blood would survive a direct hit.
It weighed too much. All of them together couldn't move the blasted thing. They could use the crane to load it in the boat, but how were they going to get it in position? Thomas said he could do it. She trusted him.
Henrichs announced she was coming, and to Cal's shock, her father insisted on coming as well. Captain Cully had dug up a sword for him, and she remembered Henrichs saying how good he was with it.
"We go as soon as we can get the boat loaded." Cal peered up at the sun and frowned. She didn't want to be wrestling with this beast at night. It would take some time to fill the tank, and more to heat it up to a decent pressure. She ran calculations in her head. It would mean the middle of the night at the earliest they would have enough pressure.
"You'll need two boats." Henrichs eyed the cannon. "The second one can return after everything is transferred to the derelict."
"You heard her," Cal shouted, "let's get the boats in the water. Everything but the cannon in the small boat. Load it first and stand off. We load the cannon in the larger one. Only the rowers in with the cannon. My father and I will ride in the second." She looked around. "Where's Pentam?"
Stefan pointed down.
"He's still down there? What's he doing?"
Stefan pantomimed using a wrench.
"I'll be back in a few minutes. Henrichs, if you can take over here?"
The First Mate nodded with a slight smile, and Cal ran off.
In the engine room, Pentam and Derick struggled with a pipe while Bran guided it into the fitting.
"There." Bran dropped down to the floor, while Pentam and Derik slumped. "We'll have to weld it."
"We're finished on deck. Get it welded and start the fire. The sooner we have pressure the better. I want us to be able to sail as soon as the rudder's in place." Cal looked closely at the fitting.
"Aye, aye, ma'am." Pentam's eyes twinkled at her through the black on his face. He pushed himself off the floor and came over to her while Bran headed up to the deck.
Cal used her sleeve to wipe the worst of the mess from Pentam's mouth, then kissed him soundly, tasting him, memorizing the feel of his body against hers. Reluctantly she stepped back.
"I must go."
"I know." Pentam reached to caress her unbandaged cheek. "I wouldn't want to be that sea serpent." He grinned, but Cal saw the glisten in his eyes and felt the trembling of his arms.
"In my satchel there's a spyglass, if you want to watch over me."
"I'm sorry - "
Cal put a finger over his lips. "I know." She turned and left the engine room before the tears started in her eyes.
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