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

Manny attempted to steer them upward toward the navigation bridge, anywhere to buy time, but Bashir was restless. Spotting the heavy hatch down to the machinery decks, Bashir slipped past Manny and began descending into the humid heat and thick scent of fuel oil. Moments later, Bashir's voice echoed up loudly from behind the massive, silent main engine block. "Dahir! Here!"

Manny felt the remaining strength drain from his knees as he hurried down the ladder after them. Bashir stood before a massive gray steel door flush with the bulkhead, lacking any outer handle. He shoved it hard, but the reinforced door didn't budge. Lowering himself, Bashir pressed his ear flat against the cold steel. Inside, the second engineer's knee joint popped loudly in the dark silence. Bashir's eyes widened instantly. "Somebody is in there!" Dahir slammed his heavy fist against the steel three times. 

"Hey! Open!" The heavy plating swallowed the sound. He turned to Manny, his voice soft and lethal. "Only you, cook? You lie." Manny stammered, trying to think of something to say, "It's the paint storage room. The door jams!" Dahir gestured to one of his men to retrieve a heavy wrench from the bench. Manny knew the door would hold, but he was running out of time. He needed a better distraction. "You want the captain's money?" Manny blurted out. "It's in my cold store."