Terminal Justice by Alton L. Gansky Read Free Book Online Page B

in ebony skin, giving him the appearance of an anorexic teenager. In fact, the thirty-year-old was stronger than he appeared and quick. He possessed a lightning mind. The three men made the best possible team for special work like a rescue. They shared a mutual respect, but more important they shared trust. Rudy knew he would not have to nursemaid these men; they would do what needed to be done, and they would do it without hesitancy.
    Raising the handheld radio to his mouth, Rudy was about to ask that the
Sea Maid
turn a spotlight on the orange raft when the spotlight suddenly shone brightly. Looking over his shoulder, Rudy saw the powerful beam of the ship’s light piercing the ever-encroaching darkness. Rudy shook his head.
Just once
, he thought to himself,
I would like to be a step ahead of the captain
.
    The drone of the Zodiac’s powerful outboard motor diminished as Chief Adizes eased off the throttle and let the momentum of the boat carry it alongside the raft. Shank reached over the edge and pulled the raft close to the boat. Inside the raft were two African men dressed in casual slacks, white deck shoes, and off-the-rack T-shirts. The men were unmoving and apparently unconscious.
    “No uniforms,” Adizes said. “Must be off a pleasure craft.”
    “Most likely,” Rudy replied. “Mr. Shank, if you would please.”
    Shank immediately and deftly jumped from the Zodiac onto the raft. Placing two fingers over each man’s carotid artery, he felt for a pulse. “They’re alive, sir.” Feeling along the men’s arms and legs, Shank performed a quick examination. “I’m no doctor, sir, but I don’t see any blood and none of their bones seem broken. I wonder how long they’ve been out here?”
    “Not long,” Rudy said. “They’re clean-shaven, so they couldn’t have been out here more than a day.”
    “Then what’s wrong with them?” Shank asked.
    “I don’t know,” Rudy said. “You got any ideas, Chief?”
    The chief was leaning over the boat and holding the round raft in place with a viselike grip on the hold rope that circled the top of the float. “No sir, not a one. They’re not wet though, so they didn’t spend any time in the drink.”
    “See if you can rouse them,” Rudy commanded.
    Shank gently turned one of the men on his back and gently slapped him repeatedly on the cheek. “Hey, buddy, wake up. Come on, man, we’re here to help.” The man groaned but didn’t open his eyes.
    Rudy frowned. “All right, Mr. Shank, you stay in the raft. We’ll tie off and tow it back. We can take better care of them aboard ship than we can bobbing out here in the dark.” A moment later, the Zodiac was headed back to the
Sea Maid
with the raft and its puzzling occupants in tow.

    “Captain?”
    “Yes, Mr. Salizar, what is it.”
    “Mr. McGriff reports that all are aboard safely and the Zodiac is secured, sir.”
    “Very good.” Captain Adair nodded. “Helm!”
    “Helm, aye sir.”
    “Resume course, all ahead three-quarters.”
    “Aye, Captain, all ahead three-quarters.” A moment later, the low rhythmic hum of the ship’s engines reverberated throughout the freighter. Looking at his watch, Adair saw that only twenty-seven minutes had elapsed since the ship had stopped all engines. “It looks like we’ll be right on time, gentlemen. As always, right on schedule. In the meantime, I’ll see how our new arrivals are faring.”
    With purposeful strides the captain left the bridge, walked down the flight of stairs to the main deck, and quickly made hisway to a circle of crew gathered around the two men who lay on the deck. The ring of sailors parted as the captain drew near.
    “We were just about to transfer them to the crew quarters, sir,” Rudy said. “I sent Mr. Shanks and Chief Adizes for stretchers.”
    “You said on the radio that they appear uninjured.”
    “Yes sir. We don’t know what’s wrong with them. We think that they may have been on a pleasure boat that went down.