Cargo Ship Encounters Pirates – But What the Ship's Cook Does Next Stuns Them All!

"Here," Manny said, pointing to the gray metal box tucked in the corner. Dahir stepped inside, followed immediately by Bashir and the other two. None of them trusted each other around money. All four armed men crowded into the tight, cold space, shoving onion sacks aside, their breath steaming up the small room.

Dahir yanked hard on the brass padlock. "Key!" "On the hook," Manny said, pointing back toward the entrance. "Right by the door." He pushed himself up slowly, exaggerating the stiffness in his old knees, and began walking toward the doorway. Nobody looked at him; every eye remained glued to the steel box.

Reaching the threshold, Manny stepped backward onto the warm galley deck, put his full body weight against the heavy white door, and swung it firmly shut. The heavy chrome lever dropped into place with a loud, metallic clang. Locked. Pounding started instantly. Manny slid open the small tray hatch half an inch. "It's plus two in there!" he shouted over the thumping. "You'll just be cold! The navy is on its way!"