Free Noah's Ark: Survivors by Harry Dayle Page B

reason, effective immediately, we are introducing a rationing system ship-wide…”
    Jake proceeded to announce all that had been discussed: the food and water rationing, the limited use of electricity and heating. He announced that a service for the dead would be held on the deck four rear terrace the following morning and anyone who wished to attend was welcome.
    “These measures, I know, will not be easy, but I hope you all understand that they are necessary. They apply to everyone aboard, crew and passengers alike. It goes without saying that all normal services on board are suspended. All crew members are relieved of their regular duties. We are, to all intents and purposes, in a kind of hibernation. I recommend everyone tries to get some rest. Those who are injured and have not yet been treated should attend the medical centre, which has now been relocated to the gym. If your injuries are not serious, please do give consideration to others who may need attention more urgently than yourself.”
    Jake felt he was beginning to ramble. He knew he needed to wrap it up.
    “I know you may have many questions and concerns, and we will address these as best we can in due course. For now, I ask for your patience as we adapt to our enforced circumstances. Urgent problems can be addressed to uniformed senior crew members, who will do their best to help. Thank you.”
    He breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that the announcement was lacking in authority and conviction, not to mention structure and coherence, but he was just happy to have got it over with. The questions would come, of that he had no doubt. For now, though, he wanted to take his own advice and get some more rest. He settled down in the captain’s chair, closed his eyes, and was asleep within seconds.
    • • •
    He was awoken by the sound of Lucya working on her maps behind him. Checking his watch he saw, to his horror, that he had been asleep for more than four hours.
    “Hey, sleepy!” Lucya called over.
    “Why didn’t you wake me?”
    “You needed the rest.”
    “We all need rest.”
    “Yeah, don’t worry. I got my head down for a few hours, too. I’ve only just come back.”
    Jake got to his feet, stretched, yawned, and took a look outside. The sky had cleared even more; there was even a hint of sunshine. Looking at the flat, calm water, at the mass of ice in the distance, once again starting to shine in the light like the dawn of a new day, it seemed impossible to believe what had happened only hours earlier. The serenity of the scene gave him hope. If this place, this inhospitable Arctic desert, could look so placid and beautiful after the onslaught it had suffered, then there was a real chance that other parts of the world had survived too. He desperately wanted to give the order to fire up the main engines, to pull up the anchor and to sail south to look for survivors, for civilisation, for land. But he knew that was impossible. He had one throw of the dice, and the lives of everyone on the ship depended on getting it right.
    He wandered over to the map table to find Lucya deep in concentration. There were two huge nautical charts laid out, as well as a long plastic rule, coloured pencils, and a circular slide rule.
    “Having trouble?” he asked.
    “It’s been a while since I did these kinds of calculations by hand. Don’t laugh, and don’t say I told you so. I’ll get it, I just need to refresh my memory.”
    “I have total confidence in you. Listen, I think I’m going to head out and try and get around the ship a bit, see how the others are getting on. There are nearly a thousand crew members I haven’t spoken to, apart from over the PA. I should at least try and talk to more of the department heads, let them know what’s occurring.”
    “A few people have already asked me why you’re acting captain. They want to know what’s happened to Ibsen and Hollen.”
    “What have you said?” Jake felt a pang of concern.
    “I said you’d