Danny’s Boy

A short story – written a few years ago but it never saw the light of day except back on my home town forum. I’ve tidied it up a fair bit but the essence is still there. It was inspired by the loss of the ferry ‘Estonia’ in the Baltic, a terrible tragedy that claimed many lives and has never really been concluded. If I stray into nauticalese too much then tell me; it’s still a learning curve!

19.00 Hours.

” Mam? Is me Dad ‘ome tonight? “

She stopped washing the crockery and half turned,  looking to where young Dafydd sat, his face smeared with red jam from the toast he had just eaten.

” No, cariad. We’ll pick him up tomorrow morning, when he gets in. “

” Can we go an’ see his big ship then, Mam? “

Huelwen Jones smiled and, wiping her hands on her apron, sat down beside Dafydd. At seven years of age he was bright and inquisitive – full of questions that even the right answers did not seem to satisfy. She took hold of one of his sticky hands and, leaning close to him, looked directly into his eyes. They blazed back at her, sea-blue and bright with a childish mischief glinting in them.

“ Well, we can go down to the port and maybe they’ll let us go on board to fetch him. We’ll have to wait and see, wont we? “

Dafydd smiled the innocent and guiless smile of a child. He paused briefly, looking at his mother’s face and then – deciding that what she had said was fair – nodded his acceptance.

” Okay then, Mam. Dad’s promised me though. He has to keep his promises, doesn’t he? “

Heulwen Jones nodded and then stood up.  Danny had promised Dafydd that one day he’d take him aboard the ship for a look around. Working a week on, a week off, he alternated between the day sailing and the night run – tomorrow would be his last watch on the night sailing and then he would be home for a week.  He’d be tired, that first day home – they worked 12 on and 12 off now. Not like the old days, he always said. When he’d left deep-sea he’d been lucky to get the job but with a new wife and a young son, he wanted to be closer to home. At first it had been OK. The crews were all local men and the company was a good one to work for. Then they’d flagged out because the competition got keener and the employment contract had been changed to suit the economics of trade. Many men lost their jobs but for those left behind, it meant longer hours and a consolidated wage. In truth, Danny had told her once, it’s once on, stop on. But what’s a man to do when there’s nothing ashore for me, dol bach?.

Huelwen looked down at Dafydd, who was now drawing a picture of the ship. She watched him as he concentrated – tongue out – on using the crayons scattered on the table top.

” Bed soon. “

He didn’t reply,. Just nodded his blond head and bent lower to colour in his picture. She grinned to herself and then went back to the sink.

Outside the kitchen window, the winter evening was pitch black with rain hammering against the glass as the wind bullied it around. She wondered where Danny was right then.

19.03 Hours.

Danny Jones stared in frozen disbelief at the dark water covering the car deck. It slopped to and fro, almost languidly, and in time with the ferry’s rolling. Stepping gingerly over the coaming that led from the companionway onto the car deck, he shivered as his feet were suddenly immersed to the top of his safety boots in cold water. The shock of it started him suddenly, breaking his sense of disbelief. He took his VHF radio off his belt and holding the set to his mouth, called the bridge.

” Bridge? Car deck. We’ve got water on the deck down here. I can’t see where it’s coming from but you’d better get the watch down – and pass the news on to the engineers. “

The voice that answered him back was that of Mike Thomas, the Mate. Danny had known Mike since school days and then during their time deep-sea. They’d sailed together a few times and Danny had always held Mike in a high regard. He felt a slight edge of concern shiver through him when Mike replied.

” Aye Danny……How much water do you reckon? “

Danny was about to say too much when the ferry gave a sickening lurch to starboard. He managed to catch hold of the handrail that ran midway along the bulkhead, dropping the VHF in the process. He heard it splash into the oil sheened dark water that covered the whole deck and swore.  As he straightened himself up he heard a low rumbling groan and then – like a pistol shot in the vast expanse of the car deck – the sound of a chain lashing parting. His eyes scanned the garage quickly and something pulled his eyes to one of the four HGV’s they’d loaded.

O Christ…..

The whole HGV was moving, the cab rocking slightly on its suspension whilst the trailer bumped and shuddered. He could see that the tractor unit was opening a gap between itself and the trailer and he knew in a heartbeat that the whole rig was working its way loose.

Without thinking he splashed his way to one of the intercom stations that linked the car deck directly to the bridge.

19.05 Hours

Mike Thomas was looking into the anxious face of the Captain.

“ Danny Jones reported water on the car deck and then we lost contact with him – but he managed to get to one of the intercom stations. There’s an Artic loose down there as well as  water sloshing about.  He can’t see where it’s coming from – just says the whole deck is covered….”

The Old Man’s eyes widened and, for an instant, he stood still with a look of incredible disbelief on his face. Mike knew what he was thinking. The weather was a southwesterly nine, gusting 10. In the last hour it had altered direction, shifting a few points more to the west so that the seas were now confused, driven into a frenzy by the shifting wind, they were shouldering and colliding with each other – and caught in it, the ferry was rolling like a wild animal.

He snapped back to the present and looked directly at Mike.

” Right. We’ve got to get her head to sea! When she is, pull her back  to slow ahead both and we’ll keep  her nose into it – meanwhile, get the watch down to the car deck. Call the engine room and tell the Chief to start the pumps. “

” What do we tell the passengers? ” Mike asked. “ Do you want me to put a broadcast out on the PA? “

He looked into the Mate’s face and blinked. ” Eh? “

“ They’ll want to know. The last couple of hours a lot of them stopping the crew to ask why we’ve slowed down – as soon as we turn, they’ll want to know why. “

The Captain looked around him, his expression worried. At the back of his mind – as Mike Thomas knew – was the thought that a broadcast might start a wild panic. The ship was rolling and pitching heavily – an announcement would only add to any fears of the passengers.

” Tell them…….no. Tell them they need to start moving up from all decks to the lifeboat deck. Make sure that they get life jackets – get the stewards on that straight away. “

” Shall I sound Emergency Stations? “

” Not yet. God knows what that will do to them the way things already are – just move them. Oh and Mike? ” He looked again at the mate though Mike knew what was coming. ” When we’ve made the turn, get down to the car deck yourself. Take charge of the watch – and for God’s sake, pray we can deal with this…. “

Mike Thomas nodded. He looked out through the forward bridge windows to where the looming, spiteful seas were piling, mounting the forecastle with an almost malevolent glee. She was shipping it green…..

Mike Thomas nodded at the QM, who was standing by the wheel.

” Stand by – disengage the auto pilot and take her by hand, Steven. ” The Quartermaster noddedtook his place before the wheel.

Behind them, the Second mate held the ship’s PA in his hand, standing by the control panel with his shoulder braced against the bulkhead. ” Captain? “

Mike ignored them to focus on his own task.  He gripped the chrome handles of the twin-engine throttles and, very carefully, waited until the Quartermaster announced that the auto pilot was off and he had control. Then, pushing the throttle handles forward he gave the QM the order.

” Bring her round to 225 – now! “ He pushed the main engine throttles down to give the ship the power to make the turn into the wind.

They all felt her start to shoulder the seas aside as the engines increased their revolutions, fighting the weather as she struggled to find her new heading. She took it hard, punching her way through the seas that raged outside, sending sheets of white water skyward as her hull powered its way through them, forcing them apart. Mike Thomas watched the gyro repeater above his head, seeing the wheel counter as it moved. 190…195….200….205…210…215…220….225….

” Course 225, wheel amidships. ” The QM sounded relieved.

” Very well. Good job. “ He smiled briefly at the QM and then brought the controls back to slow ahead both.

” Course 225 Captain. Both engines slow ahead. “

The Old Man nodded once and then turned his back on the Mate who, leaving the Second Mate to take his place, started down the companionway that would lead him through the passenger areas and onto the car deck.

19.07 Hours

Huelwen Jones brought the quilt up under Dafydd’s chin, carefully tucking him in. The mobile above his bed tinkled and jingled gently. Then she kissed him on the forehead, gently running her hand through his hair before moving softly towards the door.

” Mam? “

” Sleep, Dafydd bach! “

” Mam? Don’t let me be late to see dad and his ship? “

” Never! Anyway, it’s time for sleep, cariad. See you in the morning, okay? “

She drew the door closed gently and then walked downstairs. She could hear the wind around the house, buffeting the eaves and moaning, wailing like some lost banshee. Rain spanked against the windows as she entered the living room, harsh and raucous as it was battered against the panes by the shrieking wind. She thought of Danny and looked at the clock on the wall over the fireplace. He’ll be home soon, she told herself. The storm can do its worst then, when my man’s home. She allowed herself a small and self-conscious smile as she thought of their early days in bed whenever he returned from a trip to sea. On nights like this there was as much passion in their bed as outside the house. What was it he used to say? Safely anchored in the lee of bum island – that’s all I want on a night like this, cariad bach!

She laughed to herself as she made her way to the lounge.

19.08 Hours

The HGV gave a groan and then – with no warning – sheared the rest of the lashings and keeled over with a crash that boomed through the garage like thunder. To Danny Jones, it sounded like nothing he had ever heard before. The resulting impact resonated through the car deck like a giant hammer, adding its knell to the insistent pounding of the sea beyond the hull. Danny had only just managed to leap clear against the central island amidships as the HGV slid past him with a shriek of tortured metal, smashing against the side of the other HGV. Both vehicles now began to work against each other in time with the increased rolling of the ferry and Danny knew it wouldn’t be long before they were both loose.

As he made his way towards the intercom again, a crew access door swung open. He just managed to catch it before it swung back. With shaking fingers he secured it by the hook. As he looked up he came face to face with an elderly man, whose face was frozen in a rictus of fear.

” Are we sinking? “

Danny shrugged, unsure what to say. I don’t know mate he thought before he forced himself to smile.

” Some cargo worked loose but the rest of the crew are on their way to secure it. I’d go back to where you came from, mate – they’ll make an announcement before long. “

The man wasn’t listening. Instead he was staring over Danny’s shoulder, his eyes wide with terror now.

” There’s water in here……O God…….! “

Then he ran down the companionway, calling someone’s name and leaving Danny to stare at the empty maw of the door frame.

He tried thinking straight, wondering whether he should report in that he’d had a passenger on the car deck or try to make his way forward to the bow door to see if his worst fears would be confirmed. If it’s there, he thought, then God help us. Please, don’t let it be there….

He tried to control his breathing, to calm himself down and get himself sorted. It could be anything, he said to himself. It could be one of a million things and bugger all to worry about…..then, seeing the small intercom box on the bulkhead, decided to call it in about the need to get the duty watch down.

With any luck, Mike Thomas was already on his way down with the rest of the watch.

19.10 Hours

Mike Thomas was – right then – trying to fight his way through a knot of struggling, frightened passengers who had heard the announcement to make their way to the Emergency Stations and were now crowding the alleyways in their efforts to make it. At one stage he tried to shout for calm and order but his pleas were ignored as the press of people continued to move en masse.

Turning to one of the Duty Watch, he told him to stay close by.

The man – an elderly AB called Huw Hughes ‘Bach’ by the crew on account of his diminutive size, nodded nervously.

” I’m not leaving you, Mister mate! You lead an’ I’ll be right behind you…..”

Mike Thomas smiled despite the circumstances. Then, taking a deep breath, he began to shoulder his way through the tangled mass of humanity, forcing a path against their flow shouting as he went, heading for the car deck.

Three decks below.

19.12 Hours

On the bridge, the Old Man leant with his face pressed to the wheelhouse windows. He had shone the two powerful searchlights into the now pitch black of the night and watched as the seas tumbled and rolled towards his vessel, as high and as solid as mountains. He felt worry gnaw at his stomach.

She was bow down – he could feel that even as she rolled and pitched under him. He also knew that this meant that the most likely place  the water was coming in was for’ad – through the bow visor. With the water she was taking on deck added to the water that must be seeping in through the seals of the bow visor, it was no wonder he could feel her head down.This is not looking good….

He had already broadcast a Mayday and the Second Mate was even then passing a sitrep to the Coastguard ashore. Two rescue helicopters had been scrambled, a Nimrod was due to take up station in ten minutes – and somewhere out in the confusion of that boiling sea, a bulk carrier and a salvage tug were making for them.

It might not be enough, he thought and then shivered as his mind recalled TV images he had seen a few years back of a ferry disaster in the Baltic. Another image – that of his wife and his two daughters – flashed before his eyes and he shut them, gripping the bar in front of him until his knuckles hurt. Oh Annie…..Oh God, love…..

Then the strident shout of the Quartermaster brought him immediately back to reality.

” Look…..Jesus fuckin’ Christ….Look….”

The Old Man followed Harrison’s outstretched arm.

It was the last thing he saw……..

19.12.15 Hours

The ship took a sudden and vicious list to port.  Mike Thomas was thrown to the deck and – with an incredible grip of fear that seemed to reach into his very guts – realised that the list was increasing, going through 30….35….40…45…50 degrees of roll.

Behind him, he heard Haw Bach’s voice and was confused by its composed tone.

” Well, that’s it then boys bach……last orders…..”

Mike Thomas’s last conscious thought was of the main engines suddenly dying – of the ship’s very heart stopping. The lights went out replaced immediately by the dimmer emergency lighting – and then there was a startling hush that seemed to fall on the huge press of people surrounding him, covering them all in a black widow’s veil.

19.12.30 Hours

Huelwen was talking to her mother on the ‘phone.

” I’ll tell Danny when he gets up tomorrow, Mam. I’m sure he’ll come over and fix it for you. “

” I don’t like to ask myself, Dol. He’s tired for a few days after doing the night sailing and chwarae teg, he needs a rest. Your dad says he couldn’t do it – not in weather like tonight. Arglywydd, it’s a dirty night! “

” She’s a big ship, mam. “

Mrs. Evans didn’t sound convinced.

” Aye, and they said that about the Titanic too, dol! “

They giggled like schoolgirls then and continued with small talk until – having promised once again that she would tell Danny to come over to fix the porch light – she put the ‘phone down and went to the kitchen to make some tea.

19.12.30 Hours

Danny Jones watched in disbelief as the bow door suddenly shook on its hinges – followed by fountains of water sprouting in solid white jets through the rubber seal, water that teared and shrieked its way through the door seal as the ship settled lower into the sea..

He knew that the seal was ruptured beyond any hope and that the bow visor beyond was probably filled with tons of cold sea. With a great effort, his shaking hands managed to get a hold on the intercom.

Without warning, the entire ship snatched to port again, throwing him off the centre island and against the cab of the HGV. The impact winded him and, with a dull pain in his whole body, he cursed and tried to pull himself upright. He heard the awful groaning of her as she began to list more and more over to port. She was going, He knew that with a dreadful clarity. She was going.

Something told him to look to his left and, craning his neck around, he watched as the lashings on a VW camper van parted, as if they were being snapped off by some unseen and  malevolent ghost there with him on the car deck.

Danny Jones died instantly as the ferry, with incredible speed, rolled right over to port, capsizing completely in less than a minute. Crushed by the impact of the van, Danny Jones was one of the fortunate ones.

Death would not be long in coming for those struggling and screaming in the confusion of the now doomed vessel.

But coming it was.

19.12.31 Hours

Dafydd woke in the darkened bedroom, his eyes gritty from sleep. He felt cold and confused.

Sitting up, he called out softly for his mam, straining his ears to hear if she had heard him – but no rely came. After a few minutes he lay back on his pillow and gradually began to fall back into the sleep he had woken from.

His last thought – as unconsciousness washed over him –  was that, tomorrow morning, he’d show his dad the picture he had drawn of his big ship.