It's an easy voyage, this part. Deadheading back to Portsmouth[???]. The cable had been laid out almost perfectly. The contractor was very happy, or at least the engineers were, about finishing a day early. Lately, too many voyages came out a day late and a dollar short. If our luck holds up, this one'll net us way more than a dollar in performance bonuses!

North Atlantic weather is always a bitch, especially at this time of the year, but what's a little cold? Rain and blow from above is still better than the rips and swells from below that could kick up during the stormy season.

"Keep a sharp eye out for icebergs," the Captain had instructed before he went below. "Wake me up immediately if you spot any. Especially in these parts," he had said, with a wry grin, tapping the chart. He must've thought he was being oh so clever, when he poked his finger at the exact spot on the chart where the Titanic went down.

I knew that we were passing nearby. But, so what? We've got electronics. And the Ice Patrol. They didn't have that in 1912, did they?

He's a good master, he is, that one. Cares about his crew -- not like that last bugger I served under! But I just wish he wasn't so, so, ... What's that word? Oh, yeah: "erudite". That's the word he likes to use, when he shows up somebody who ain't read as much as him. I just wish old man Worters wasn't so goddamn "erudite".

Well, he sure did get us done layin' the cable with no trouble. An' a bonus, to boot. Speaking of boots, first thing I'll do is ditch these [sqeakers] and get me a new pair. My share as 2nd Mate'll buy me more'n a good pair o' boots, fer sure. But what's all that got to do with "erudite"? Or with "erudition" as he likes to put it?

"Sharp eye for 'bergs," he said. Ice Patrol said there'd be a few small ones, but nutt we can't cope.

Helmsman's doin' OK. Pretty good, in fact. Might be officer material. Mebbe he's after my job. Been with Cap'n Worters a long time, and theyre real friendly-like. Seems a bit itchy around me, that helmsman.

But he's no threat. I got a lot o' years on him, an' I did real good on this trip. I think Worters is starting to lighten up on me. Easy home. That's's what I like. Just a little more, and I can spend a whole month with my babe. Mebbe even get in a little skiing, too.

"Sir."

"What?"

Instead of answering, the dumb kid just pointed at the screen. I dunno much about that radar stuff. He knows I don't. Is he trying to show me up? Naaah, he looks worried about something. Mebbe I should look serious an' make like I'm studying the screen, too. "Well, Mr. Pearson, what do you make of it?"

"Well, Sir, I never seen ice give such a return. That's too big a cross-section. That scattering, there, could be a small berg, but this here blip's gotta be something more solid. More regular."

"How far out d'ya think it is, Benny.

"Return time makes it over two miles. Closer to three."

"How far off our course? That's what I want to know."

"Half a mile, at least. To the North. When we pass."

"OK. Helmsman, cut back to [??? lower power]. Joe, switch on those fog lights for me, would ya?'

"Aye, sir," they both replied, in unison.

"Now, how about a lookout? Can we get a lookout up on the bow?"

"I can't spare a [???]. I'll have to use one of the [???] to go up there"

"Do it. Cap'n said to 'keep a sharp eye'."

"Aye, Sir. I'll send Simpson up there, right away."

Simpson slogged across the windy deck as slowly as he thought he could get away with. He had looked forward to quiet 4-to-8 watch [dog watch???], with nothing much to do but play solitare [??? or ???].

All of a sudden, that damned Bosun had reared his ugly head and ordered him into his fould weather gear. just to look for stupid icecubes!

For what? The damed ship was steel. Ice Patrol said there was nothing to worry about. Nothing reported. These officers, they just want to brown-nose the higher-ups. And who has to do the dirty work? Guys like me.

Second Mate, he's new here. Always wanting to kiss ass and impress Worters. So, go dump on Simpson. Yeah, he's probably sippin' a hot coffee and laughing his ass off, watching Simpson slip and slide all over the friggin' deck! Him, high and dry, way up there in the goddamn warm bridge.

"Simpson, shake a leg, there. We're getting closer to it."

"Aye, Sir." (Don't spill your coffee, Sir.) Almost said it, too. Son of a Bitch, I'd like to shake his leg 'til it comes off, and' then I'd throw it over the side for the fishes.

Whew. There I am. Nothing out there. Northwest, he said. Nothing at all.

"Holy, shit!" Three seamen uttered the same words, in the same instant, and covered their eyes in more or less the same way. Simpson quickly realized he couldn't keep both hands on his eyes, and brought his left hand away just in time to grab the rail, again.

It was too late to block the flash, and the image didn't quite register in their brains until after half a second more of blinking.

The lightning flash revealed an image that ... ++++ ????

"What the [bleep] was that?"

"Looked like a torpedo sticking out of the top of an iceberg."

"Strange looking iceberg. Shaped like a dome. More like a blob of ice cream, with a submarine on top of it."

"No, wasn't big enuf to be a sub."

"I still say it looked like some kind of a hull. A boat stick sideways, into the ice."

To Simpson, ...
... horizontal ...
... arcing & crackling persisted ...

Simpson, who had the best view, was silent for a very long time.

The Second Mate noticed the helmsman staring at him, expectantly. "All engines stop," he said into the pipe.

"All stop," the pipe replied. ++++ [Change this - no more "pipe". Does he use phone? Does he use the "dial"?]

"Joe, get the Captain."

"Aye, Sir".

????? Captain not in cabin. Now on his way.
(Capt. awakened? Capt was awake, at coffee?)

"On the double!" The Second Mate realized that this was way beyond him, and he'd better cover his ass in a hurry.
????? Is there an intercom or phone in the Crow's Nest? Walkie-talkie?
???? Does it take time for Simpson to pick up? (Can he hear Simpson fumbling?)
??? Change story: ask another for a report.
OR, have Simpson climb down. (Relieve him?)
??? Simpson was only halfway up ladder. (They found him at bottom? Did he fall?)
++++++++++++++++

???? Get other info:
Looks like a tabloid. Maybe 20-30 feet high. Not more'n 100 foot long.

"Simpson, report."

"A big flash, Sir."

"We all saw that. Exactly what did you SEE out there? How big is it?"

"I dunno." Simpson suddenly seemed either stunned or weeping. Perhaps it was the wind. Or the walkie-talkie. (??)

"Pull yourself together, man! What, exactly, did you see in the flash."

"Looked like a bottle, Sir."

"Bottle?"