I'M WATCHING

Zub

Zub

a fish in the black sea beyond the curved glass. It’s pale and hapless and stupid. It has no eyes to speak of. Its mouth gapes meaninglessly. On the other hand, it’s out there, happily breathing water, and I’m about to die.

Always

Always

THE FISH

I'M WATCHING

Zub

Zub

Its creamy skin blushes gold in the light from the zub.

THE GLASS

I'M WATCHING

Zub

Zub

is a flattened bulge, like a Cyclopean eye or a snub nose. It’s almost a foot thick, but clear as good gin. I didn’t want glass at the front of my zubmarine, but it was one of the conditions of sponsorship. One of the easier ones, in fact.

DYING

I'M WATCHING

Zub

Zub

I might as well get on with it.


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed


I'M WATCHING

Zub

Zub

Always

Always

THE FISH

I'M WATCHING

Zub

Zub

THE GLASS

I'M WATCHING

Zub

Zub

DYING

I'M WATCHING

Zub

Zub

I might as well get on with it.


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed


A spreading scar

THE GLASS

I'M WATCHING

Zub

Zub

Where the zubmarine struck the rock, the glass is starred as if with frost. As I watch, one of the cracks lengthens a finger-span, with a dull half-melodious sound like a tap on a vitreous drum. When the glass shatters, I'll die. When the oxygen runs out, I'll die. When the zub hits the floor of the Underzee, I'll die. If I make it back to the surface, I'll still die, but not for another forty years. But I won't make it back.

An occurrence! Your 'Fathoms' Quality is now 90!

My last gulps of air. I should savour them.

An occurrence! Your 'Oxygen' Quality is now 100!


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.

Oxygen

My last gulps of air. I should savour them.


DYING

I'M WATCHING

Zub

Zub

I might as well get on with it.

When the oxygen runs out, I'll die. When the zub hits the floor of the Underzee, I'll die. If I make it back to the surface, I'll still die, but not for another forty years. But I won't make it back.


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.


WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

is locked crab-tight around the hydroplane control. As long as it remains there, the Dandelion's nose will point downwards.

Always

Always

I'LL TEAR IT FREE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

though it may mean snapping the bones of his fingers.

I'LL WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

for now.

I'LL SCREAM AT WINTHROP

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

who may be dead, but deserves a piece of my mind.


WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

Always

Always

I'LL TEAR IT FREE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

I'LL WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

for now.

I'LL SCREAM AT WINTHROP

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub


THE LAST EXTREMITY

I'LL TEAR IT FREE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

of Winthrop's terror clamped them tight on the stick. Each finger cracks like a - there is no suitable simile. They crack not like frozen twigs or walking-canes, but like a dead man's fingers wrenched, snapping, free.

I tug at the hydroplane controls. The stick doesn't move. Whatever damage the collision did has locked us on a downwards course. With the airlock crushed, I can't get out of the zub to repair it. There's only one way this will end.

An occurrence! Your 'Winthrop' Quality is now 1 - I've broken his fingers.!

You've gained 10 x Fathoms (new total 100).

Only my breathing


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Winthrop

He's dead. Shut up, Winthrop.

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.


THE ZUB TILTS

I'LL WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

for now.

and tools slide across the deck.

Only my breathing


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.


WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

Always

Always

I'LL TEAR IT FREE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

I'LL WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

for now.

I'LL SCREAM AT WINTHROP

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub


WINTHROP GOT YOU

into this! Winthrop built the zub. Winthrop steered into the rock. Winthrop is dead and he’s STILL CAUSING TROUBLE

I'LL SCREAM AT WINTHROP

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

You've gained 10 x Fathoms (new total 110).

You've lost 5 x Oxygen (new total 95).

No voice but my own


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.


MY VOICE ECHOES

I'LL STOP

screaming at him

off the steel of the bulkheads. Winthrop gazes tranquilly at the glass. The zub slides on into the dark.

Voices?

You've lost 2 x Oxygen (new total 93).


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.


WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

Always

Always

I'LL TEAR IT FREE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

I'LL WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

for now.

I'LL SCREAM AT WINTHROP

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub


THE LAST EXTREMITY

I'LL TEAR IT FREE

WINTHROP'S FIST

Zub

Zub

You've gained 10 x Fathoms (new total 120).

Voices?


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Winthrop

He's dead. Shut up, Winthrop.

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Winthrop

He's dead. Shut up, Winthrop.

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Winthrop

He's dead. Shut up, Winthrop.

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Winthrop

He's dead. Shut up, Winthrop.

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.


a stranger

A past yet to be revealed

Winthrop

He's dead. Shut up, Winthrop.

Fathoms

The sea folds round you.