2042: The Great Cataclysm Read Online Free PDF Page A

they had no choice, they did not expect a change in conditions for days.
    The crew member unhitched the rib line from the steel peg Wolf’s men had driven into the edge of the water, while the others dragged and pushed the heavy rubber rib back into the wild water. They slipped and skidded over sharp rocks that thrust their way above the foaming waves and threatened to turn an ankle or worse. Each man scrambled into the small boat one at a time, grabbing the sides of the rib, while the treacherous waves lashed them with icy water and fought their departure with an intensity only beaten by the push of the powerful outboard motors.
    During their roller-coaster ride back to the ship, the rib was swamped by the raging sea non-stop. Shouting into the wild wind only served to freeze their teeth with air so cold it brought tears to their eyes. Nick and Jeremy knew better than to let go the hand holds, but Wolf almost went overboard when he wrapped his arms around his body instinctively to shield himself. His head slammed into the centre console and he floundered on the floor, but safe.
    The Platypus loomed ahead riding on her huge anchor, fighting to stay in position, thrashed by the mist and spray leaping off the ocean. Nick’s mind flashed back to Tahiti and the warmth they had left behind two weeks ago . A man must be bloody ma d , he thought. ‘We’ll have to move quick or we’ll be crushed against the ship.’ He shouted.
    Onboard Platypus the crew wearing tethers lowered ropes and the gangplank. Confused waves battered the small boat against the side of the ship unrelentingly, while the crew member battled to keep her steady. Nick immediately fastened a rope to his waist and turned, just in time to see Jeremy about to fall overboard. He lurched forward, grabbing Jeremy’s arm just as he went over the side, holding desperately as the boiling sea tried to wrench his body from the rib.
    ‘Wolf, grab his other arm!’  Nick yelled. Struggling together they pulled Jeremy’s flaying body from the angry foaming turmoil, all three falling soaked and exhausted back into the rib. Nick secured one of the swinging ropes around Jeremy’s waist and yelled above the roaring sea. ‘Christ Jeremy!  Thought y’were a gonna that time.’
    Jeremy regained his footing and gratefully slapped Nick’s shoulder.
    ‘Too easy, mate. Off you go!’ Nick said.
    Jeremy nodded and poked his thick glasses back from the tip of his nose, then with trembling bravado started up the swaying gangplank. Nick and the crew member held the rocking rib while Wolf followed, his big feet sliding several times, threatening to toss him from the slippery gangplank at any moment. Nicked leapt from the rib seconds before the crew member gunned the motors and swung away from the ship to escape the danger. Nick paused to watch the rib as he roared off toward the stern where the davit waited to pluck the rib from the boiling sea.
    ***
    An hour later after the men recovered from their ordeal, they got under way toward the Aleutian Trench. The ship pushed into a strong northerly wind with white-water breaking profusely over the bow, surging up through the hawser pipes and cascading down the forecastle, covering her foredeck with a constant spray of snow white foam.  Sam watched the ship’s heading on the Gyro compass, while gratefully appreciating the climate control inside the Navilon hood isolating them from the raging wind.  The clear-view screens set into it’s surface worked swiftly, their centrifugal motion throwing off the continuous spray that lashed with fury at the hood covering the foredeck.
    The blazing light of the Scotch Cap Lighthouse drew their attention. ‘That lighthouse isn’t the original.’ Wolf said. ‘The first one was hundreds of feet below it. They never knew what hit them when a hundred foot wave smashed into it. April Fool’s Day 1946, about 1.30 in the morning I think. That wasn’t all.’ Wolf continued. ‘There were more