The Last Airship by Christopher Cartwright Page A

safety raft to a cleat on Second Chance’s bow. He heaved the box overboard. The sodium crystals dissolved in the salt
water, triggering the release mechanism, and the box popped open. Seconds later,
the carbon dioxide canister deployed and could be heard releasing its gas,
instantly inflating the four-man life raft. 
    Sam
felt relieved.
    The
water was now more than half way up the inside of Second Chance’s hull.
    He
considered going back for his radio and satellite phone. Even his mobile phone
would have coverage, but since he was so close to land, he decided against it.
If the ship went down while he was deep inside it, there was no telling where
he’d end up or if he’d be able to escape its bowels.
    Sam
then pulled the life raft back aboard, so that it rested comfortably against Second
Chance’s shrinking freeboard. He was just about to say good bye to his
beloved ship and step into the raft before it was too late.
    At
that exact moment, he noticed the malevolent ship make an abrupt 180 degree
turn. It was, as though either the captain or a crew member finally noticed
that they had nearly killed someone.
    For
the first time since the other vessel approached Second Chance , Sam was
actually able to see someone high up on the bow of the ship. The man had blond
hair, and appeared to be quite large, but otherwise had no distinguishable
characteristics at that distance.
    He
seemed to be waving something at Sam.
    Did
they have a lower transom or at least a cargo net I can use to climb aboard
her?
    As
the ship returned, Sam was finally able to get a clearer view of the man who
was waving to him.
    What
is that in his hand? Is it a life preserver?
    Then
it hit him.
    The
man was holding a weapon.
    At
this distance, Sam couldn’t be certain of the type, but as the man took aim, he
its purpose became obvious.
    Someone
wanted him dead.
    The
revelation struck him with painful slow clarity as he watched his life raft
burst apart as the first round fired. There was a brief pause and he realized
that the shooter changed the cartridge before he started firing again.
    This
time the bullets were shredding what was left of his yacht.
    Sam
was out of options, so he dived into the now almost completely water-filled
hull of his sinking boat. Holding his breath, he swam down and towards the back
of the ship. The water was surprisingly clear and he could just make out the
location of the hole at the back end of his ship where his transom once was.
    He
watched the blurred trails of a number of bullets as they whizzed by him
through the water, only a couple of feet ahead of him and then cease.
    The
shooter must be reloading his weapon .
    Then
the real reason occurred to him.
    Sam
noticed that his ears were starting to hurt.
    Everything
had turned black.
    Second
Chance had reached its critical
point, at which it was no longer able to displace the surface tension of the
water, and now it was starting its journey to the seabed below.
    He
felt as if he’d been plunged into a washing machine as he tumbled around inside
the sinking boat. 
    His
instinct was to swim out of the hole where the transom used to be. It wasn’t
far. Perhaps only another fifteen feet away – an easy swim.
    And
then it struck him.
    Someone
wants me dead? Like, really dead.
    He
knew then that they were going to wait until Second Chance had sunk
below the surface, and then they’d spray the surface with more bullets. He
would never be able to hold his breath long enough to return to the surface.
Instead, he would have to swim underwater, as far away from here as possible,
without first dying from hypoxia.
    He
tried to remember his ship’s last location and the current depth beneath her
keel. They were two miles off Shoal Haven heads. There would be less than a
hundred feet of water at the seabed.
    Sam
couldn’t accept that he might die with the ship he loved. His mind fought for a
solution and then it presented him with one – a very simple one.
    The
diving equipment