The Iron Man [Serial]

Ray of Light

Our submari, the Narcís, smelled and felt different when running submerged than at the surface. I had not been in-tune with the changes at first. Once we were out of the English Channel and into the Bay of Biscay we often ran at the surface so as not to deplete fuel for the chemical furnace, though I gathered we submerged out of some need for secrecy when along common Mercantile routes. Bells sounded when the Narcís was to ascend or descend, with the number of repetitions and timing signalling which. The air had greater brine to it when we were at the surface. When we were submerged all scents lingered, be they tea, or spice, or sweat. It was our rule to have no two adjacent doors open at the same time when under the water. And when we surfaced, all hatches were opened for a time to hasten the exchange of air.

It could get hot inside, whether we were above or below the water, but these were different heats. I noticed when we were submerged the pipes along the upper parts of interior walls on the starboard side would become hot to the touch while those lower would merely be warm. Having lived several winters in London and worked in the dhobitorium, I gathered pipes functioned both engine temperature regulation and radiant heating for the crew areas. When we ran at the surface, and traveling south as we were, the sunlight warmed the copper-clad hull and made the upper deck wet-rooms quite warm, and made lying upon the lower couches in the parlor preferable to the alcove berths.

We were nearing the Straits of Gibraltar, as regardless of the language spoken I heard "Portugal" less and began to hear "Tangiers" or "Gibraltar" more, and often "Mercantile." Both cities were centers for trade and transport, to the point of belonging to The Mercantile in all but name. These cities were used as setting for not a few popular picture-novels.

I found Murphy and Alpha up on the fin. Aftward I saw the stacks locked in the upright position venting smoke and steam. Alpha was leaning back against the starboard wall of the fin, drinking what I supposed to be tea, his eyes port. Murphy had been close beside him, leaning towards the wall with eyes starboard. He moved to put his back to the opposing wall as I climbed up.

"Will we make port?" I asked.

Murphy answered, in English, in blatant disregard of orders, "Probably not. We'll go somewhere better. Everyone goes to Tangiers."

Alpha caressed a brass handrail. "Not with my Narcís."

"Not ready to be seen together?"

Alpha smiled over his teacup. "Honeymoon's not over."

Garin's voice came through the open voice-tube, "We got a ray!"

Alpha dumped what remained of his beverage over the side.

"What is-?"

Alpha leaned toward the voice-tube. "Which station?"

"Tangiers."

"Coming down!"

"What is a ray?" I asked again, as Alpha slipped down the open aft hatchway with his teacup hanging from one finger.

Murphy tipped his head towards to bow of the boat. I moved closer to him, my right hand on the rail to steady myself. Toward the still-submerged bow I could see the outer surface of the parlor skylight, and then the smaller forward fin. Looking closely I could see some apparatus was extended above the fin on a metal shaft.

"For wireless signals," Murphy said.

I looked fore, but was unable to recognize anything of the apparatus, though I could see it rotate somewhat, and that it was longer in part when in profile. It was not quite like the periscope, which I had seen and knew to be placed close to where I stood.

"Here." Murphy offered his small spyglass. I took it in both hands, pulled gently to telescope it's length, then brought it to my eye. I was able to sight land on our horizon, but only its vague outline.

The Narcís pitched up at the bow. I felt Murphy's hand on my elbow, though in truth I barely swayed. "Thanks," I said, as I lowered the glass. Even if he were often taking liberties, I did want to know I could trust him not to let me fall into the drink.

He shook his head. "Dolly must have us at full steam. But I can see you've got your sea legs." He lifted his right hand to my face. "You look good, Jules, but you're getting some new color." His thumb brushed over my cheek.

I raised my own hand to my face, lightly pushing Murphy's aside. "It's the sun." I looked down to the spyglass, then glanced at Murphy's dark eyes. "A ray like a sunbeam?" I looked through the glass again. I could only see the distant coasts as before, and not yet in detail. But, as I panned my glass I caught a flash of light.

I was unable to see it with naked eyes, though I noticed the sun was on its afternoon descent to the southwest.

"From a lighthouse?"

"Ha," he said, having acquired my habit.

I smiled at that.

"Let's go down for a bit."

I gave a nod then collapsed the spyglass.

Murphy leaned toward the voice-tube, "We're coming down. Do you need me to do periscope checks?"

Alpha replied in Arabic.

Murphy agreed with an affirmative in the same tongue. "Go down before me," He said then.

I climbed down through the aft hatch into the rear of the pair of wet rooms. I waited as Murphy screwed shut the voice-tube, then climbed down and sealed the hatch above.

When we reached the parlor Murphy said to me, "Stay here. Alpha wants to speak to me."

I nodded. The Narcís lacked reliable means of long-range communication, as ships did without wires, but if they had means of communicating with land stations, messages might be passed on by wire from there. Alpha might already have submitted some report about me and had an answer.