Cold weather was one thing — cold weather with added
Protected by the hull of the U-boat, she instantly grew warmer, even though the internal temperature was likely close to that on the outside. The hatches on the bow and stern side of the access point made it impossible to see what was on the other side.
The only light within the U-boat would be whatever the sun — and their flashlights — touched.
Zahra stepped away from the ladder, pulled out a flashlight, and clicked it on. She showed it around the room.
A whole bunch of… nothing.
Yana clambered down next and did as Zahra had done. She ignited a flashlight and stepped aside so the next person could descend freely.
Hammet took the descent slower and easier than the ladies had. For being such a big guy, he was showing off remarkably light feet. Then again, Zahra knew just how lethal KSK commandos were — every muscle was fine-tuned for maximum efficiency. They moved fast and could do so quietly.
Hammet stepped down onto the floor. The U-boat replied with a groan when he fully added his weight to the mix. All three explorers froze and looked at one another. Then, they craned their necks back and looked back up through the open hatch. Kyle slowly leaned into frame.
“Like Ethan said, I’d hurry if I were you.”
Zahra nodded. “Why don’t you two get topside? It’ll help lessen the load a bit.”
“You sure this is all worth it?” Kyle asked.
Zahra replied without hesitation. “Absolutely.”
Neither Yana nor Hammet fought her. They stayed silent and watched Ethan disappear.
Kyle stayed for a moment longer. “Godspeed.” Then he gave them a quick, casual salute and vanished.
Zahra turned her attention to her team. “Ready?”
Yana shrugged. “We’re still here, aren’t we?”
Hammet nodded once. He was ready to go, too.
“Okay, let’s make this quick.” She looked at the big German. “Where should we start?”
“Captain’s quarters. If there is anything of importance on board, it will be there.”
“Know where it is?”
Hammet scratched his chin. “I have an idea, yes. Should be just up ahead, toward the bow. We’ll need to get through the first bulkhead.”
“Good enough for me.” She stepped aside. “Take point, Herr Braun.”
Hammet stepped around the two women and moved off. He headed forward. Upon closer inspection, Zahra saw that the hatch was slightly ajar. Hammet put his broad shoulder into it and pushed. It screeched, but thankfully, it opened.
Until it didn’t.
“Something is on the other side, I think,” Hammet said. “Give me a hand.”
Zahra and Yana squeezed up beside him and placed their hands flat on the hatch. The metal was cold, even beneath Zahra’s gloves.
Hammet leaned into it again. “Go.”
They did, and their combined strength was enough to push aside whatever was blocking the hatch from opening. Without warning, it was free of its drag and yawned open. Zahra stumbled through and caught the toe of her boot on the raised bulkhead. Hammet swiped at her arm as she fell. His efforts only spun Zahra onto her back.
She landed with a bang… and a scream.
Typically, Zahra didn’t cry out in surprise like a classic horror movie damsel. But the sudden appearance of a dead man’s face can have that effect, and she did indeed cry out in surprise as the flashlight landed on a face.
The deceased skeleton, flesh still clinging to skull, sat up against the wall just outside the hatch opening, and it was plain to see that he’d been there for some time.
Yana and Hammet saw him too, but after Zahra. Their reaction was more subtle, though no less disgusted.
This sailor was emaciated, starved, but also frozen. His head was tilted back against the wall as if he’d died in his sleep. The cold temperature had slowed the decomposition significantly. If Zahra had to guess, she would have said he’d only been dead a few months — let alone a few decades.
“Looks like we found the crew,” Hammet said.
“Well,” Zahra said, sitting up, “one of them, anyway.”
Yana pointed past Zahra. “No. All of them.”
Seated, Zahra twisted and looked behind her. In Yana’s light, she saw that the corridor beyond the hatch was littered with bodies. The few faces she could see mimicked the man sitting next to her.
“Looks like they got stuck in the ice and were unable to evacuate,” Hammet said, stating the obvious.
He reached a hand down and helped Zahra up. She slowed as she hovered over the nearby sailor’s head. “Oh, my God.”
“What is it?” Yana asked, leaning closer to her.
“This man was murdered.”
They gathered around the first corpse. From her original, lower angle, Zahra couldn’t see the bullet hole in the man’s forehead. She showed her light on the next closest man’s face. He too sported a circular hole in his head.
So did the next man.
She exhaled slowly. “They all were.”
“What the hell happened here?” Yana asked.
No one could answer that question. Not yet.
