Doctor Who_ Rip Tide - Louise Cooper [55]
'No.', we'll do it. Maybe not it?' the tide were higher, but we can't just leave the poor guy there, can we? I'll take senior crew ... Adam,' he said, to one of the new arrivals, who had a hooked nose and a rugbyplayer's build, 'and ...' He scanned the boathouse, saw Nina's shape in the gloom. 'Geoff. And every launcher we can get!'
Nina uncrossed her fingers and shut her eyes briefly in relief.
Steve started to put his gear on. Other crew were arriving now. Tim was starting up the tractor and bringing it round to hitch up the lifeboat trailer. For another minute or so the boathouse was a confusion of scurrying, scrambling, shouting figures. Everybody was always hyper at the beginning of a shout as tension levels rose and adrenaline flowed. The hitch was completed, chocks knocked away the tractor throttle opened with a roar and they were heading for the beach, the boat rumbling and bumping and the crew striding beside it. Nina strode with them. With her hair concealed by the helmet and her face blurred behind a visor no one had yet realised that she was not Geoff Parkes. She stepped out with the others, trying to look masculine and professional and trying to quell the hammering of her heart under her ribs. What she was about to do — it?' she could get away with it — terrified her. Surfing was one thing, and she had often been fishing in larger boats, but the prospect of facing that sea in a small inflatable D-Class, and helping with a rock rescue, was far beyond anything she had ever experienced. At the moment it felt unreal, for the helmet muffled sound and cocooned her in a false calm. But in a few minutes it was going to be very, very real indeed. You're insane, Nina! an inner voice yelled at her. She squashed it, despite the fact that her stomach was churning like the tide. I'm not going to abandon the Doctor! Think, girl, think – you've watched dozens of launches; think what you've got to do —
They reached the line of the incoming tide and the tractor swung in a wide arc to reverse the boat into the sea. The launchers were in position; an incoming wave lifted the boat off the trailer, and then they were all clinging to the grab-ropes, striving to keep her head to the sea.
'Push her out a bit – move!' Steve scrambled in, lowered the outboard engine into the water; the others hung on as the next set of breakers nearly pulled the boat from their grasp, and Nina almost lost her footing and went under. Gasping, she righted herself, braced her feet again. Steve was watching the sea, waiting for a momentary calm in the sets. 'Wait ... Wait. Hold her ...' Then she saw him tense –
'Now!'
The engine kicked to life with a chattering snarl, and Nina and the hefty Adam threw themselves over the rubber gunwale and into the boat. Nina felt as if a huge animal were humping up from the water beneath them; her hands locked round a grab rope, and a welter of spray flew in her face as Steve powered the lifeboat through the surf towards open water. The next seconds were a breath-snatching, bone-shaking rollercoaster as they met a new set of breakers head-on. Like a wild horse the lifeboat reared up, almost taking off from the surface, then it dropped stern-first with an impact that punched through Nina's spine and made her teeth snap together with shocking force.
Suddenly they were through the worst of it, the engine note slowing as they made their way into the swell and began to gather speed.
'All right?' Steve yelled, the question barely audible. Adam, who was in charge of the radio, gave a thumbs-up, and Nina tried to nod. She was still clinging on for dear life; if Steve had had time to look more closely he would have realised instantly that something was awry, but his whole attention was on the sea and the helm. They were clear of the bay now and turning to follow the coastline south-westwards; a break in the clouds let sunlight through momentarily and the sea lit up as though a searchlight were on it, while long shadows sprang out from