The following day was typical doldrums weather. A flat sea and copper sky. The soundman said the sea sounded dead. As usual we had choir practice before lunch. I read The Sea Wolf and dreamed of cold seas and fog. Balz said it was too hot to wear a tea cozy.
We surfaced at 2130.
The sky was brilliantly clear with Orion shining overhead. Stars reflected on the flat sea, giving one the impression of being on a spaceship floating in the middle of the universe.
"Flugzeug!"
"Alarm!"
I stepped aside to let the lookouts scramble down the hatch.
The airplane was loud.
A bomb exploded on the stern. I got slammed against the bulwarks.
Somehow I managed to get into the conning tower.
It was impossible to breathe.
The submarine was full of smoke.
I couldnīt stand. I couldn't walk.
Someone sat me on the chart box and handed me a breathing aparatus.
I realized I had a broken leg.
"Fire in diesel compartment is out, Herr Kaleun," someone said.
"Seal off aft torpedo room." Balz yelled. "Stop the dive."
Thatīs when I noticed we were going down stern first.
Everyone wore his breathing aparatus.
Main electricity was out.
"Full speed ahead," Balz ordered.
My leg was broken, maybe some ribs. My arms were burned, too. I forced myself to ignore the pain and think like an officer.
The depth meter showed hundred and twenty meters.
"Stop the dive."
"Weīre out of control, Herr Kaleun."
"Blow ballast!" Balz looked around. Get your life jackets on. Take Herr Schmenk out first. Line up by escape hatches. Schmenk goes out first. On deck, deploy life rafts-"
"Critical depth, Herr Kaleun."
"Blow all ballast."
"Hoffman and Herzog are dead, Herr Kaleun."
"Prepare to abandon ship." Balz bellowed.
As I got dragged to the forward hatch, I saw the depth needle indicating a fast ascent.
Klank, salt water burned my face. I got shoved onto the deck.
I gulped air.
"Mach schnell. Sheīs going down." Bosun Detzelīs voice rand next to me.
Stay tuned for the next episode.
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