Chapter 44: Limping To Port Part 1

The boom thundered from the darkness hiding the derelict ship. Pentam cursed as he tried to see through the spyglass, but it only magnified the black void.
Others lined the rail with him, watching, praying. A cheer went up when a speck of light appeared.
"Someone's moving over there." Dr. Franklyn said.
Pentam put the useless glass in his pocket, then stood watch at the rail. The others gradually faded away, back to duty or bed. He stood staring at the tiny flickering light until the sun burst from the ocean.
"Make ready the boats." Captain Cully bellowed. Sailors scurried to get them ready. They loaded one with tools, Captain Cully climbed in the other. "You coming?" He looked back at Pentam.
Pentam scrambled into the boat and they rowed off toward the ships. He jumped aboard the wreck as soon as the boat nudged it.
"Permission to come aboard." Captain Cully stood in the row boat, a crooked smile on his face.
"Permission granted." Cal sounded exhausted, but she leaped to her feet to catch Pentam in a long kiss. The sailors swarmed over the ship to work on the rudder. The two smaller boats were tied together to hold it.
Something glinted in the sunlight, stuck in the mast. Pentam used the boat hook to pull down an enormous tooth.
"Cal." Pentam caught her attention. She came over from where she'd been sitting with Sir Shillingsworth. "I think you deserve this." He put the tooth in her hands. She needed both to hold it. For a long moment, they stared at the thing, then Cal handed it back.
"Hold onto it for me?" Pentam took it, and watched her as she sat beside her father. Sir Shillingsworth groaned and she immediately sat up.
"Father?"
"I'm guessing, from the fact I'm still alive, that you were successful."
"We were." Cal squeezed his hand. "I couldn't have done without you."
"Cal, I'd like to get your father back to the ship." Henrichs crouched down beside them. "They'll be a while getting that rudder off."
"I should stay..." Cal trailed off and looked at Sir Shillingsworth. "Please let Captain Cully know I'm heading back."
Henrichs stood and saluted. "Aye, aye, ma'am."
A group of sailors hoisted Sir Shillingsworth and carried him to the boat. Pentam climbed in to sit with Cal, who sat on the bottom of the boat with her father's head in her lap. Stefan and another sailor climbed in and set out off to the Peregrine.
***
Cal sat beside her father in the infirmary sketching the battle with the crabs and the sea monster. She'd filled most of the sketchbook. Monky slept in the other bed.
"Captain's compliments, he is asking the engineer to report to the bridge." Thomas grinned at her.
"I'll stay with him." Pentam said.
Cal followed Thomas up to the bridge.
"Ah, Engineer, Second Class Shillingsworth, how quickly can you get this tub underway?"
"Bran told me the boiler is holding pressure. We're almost to operational now. I'll get done there and get on it. We'll need to bring it up slow, I don't know what that bulkhead will do to the shaft when we transfer power, and I don't know if there is damage to the engine I can't see."
"Get on it."
Cal headed out, sticking her head in the door to tell Pentam where she was heading, then she ran to her berth, put her engine-room clothes on and slid down the ladder.
Bran waited for her.
"Pressure's at 50 psi." He shrugged. "You hear that whistle? Don't think we'll get much higher without blowing the valve."
"Fifty it is then. I'm going to check the pistons one last time then we'll set the engine going." Cal climbed through to the huge pistons. She didn't see any dents or material caught in the arms, but globbed some grease about for good measure. "Start the pressure to the engine. Take it slow, and be ready to cut back at my shout."
"Yes, ma'am."
A hiss told her he'd opened the valve.
"Earplugs!" she shouted, then put hers in. The engine strained, and Cal almost yelled for him to cut the steam then the pistons clanged and the drive arms started moving.
"Increase pressure feed to one half."
"One half."
The shaft turned faster and the deck beneath her feet vibrated.
"Slowly bring pressure feed to three quarters."
The vibration changed and the shaft thumped.
"Hold." Cal shouted. "Back it off." The shaft slowed and the thumping vanished.
"That's it." Cal climbed back to Bran. She looked at the valve. "We're running at a little less than two thirds power. Report to the Captain, I'll take this shift."
"Aye, aye, ma'am." Bran saluted and headed out of the room.
Cal felt the vibration of the room, then backed off the speed a bit further. The bell from the bridge rang twice in acknowledgement. Cal spent her watch letting her mind calculate their speed and how much coal and water they'd need. They'd make it to Finches Harbour, but slow.
When Bran relieved her, Cal staggered up to her berth and barely had energy to clean up before falling into bed. The giant tooth lay on her pillow. Cal stuffed it into her satchel and forgot it.
Thomas woke her in time for breakfast and her next shift.
"Cal, you're pushing yourself too hard." Pentam sat down beside her. "Can't someone run the engine room?"
"Who?" Cal looked at him, too tired to argue. "Are you going to help? We could use another hand."
Pentam opened his mouth, then closed it and looked down.