10 - Ship Explosion

The timer hit 00:40.

"Let's get the fuck out of here," he said.

Both of them limping, they dragged each other through the door and up the stairs. Zeus stumbled and almost missed the top rung, but McClane grabbed him and pulled him up onto the deck. Together, they dashed as fast as they could for the stern. They climbed over the rail and dived off the side of the ship.

They were still in midair when the ship ex­ploded. The shock wave hurtled them far out over the Long Island Sound. They hit the water with such violent force that they were both instantly knocked out. They sank, unconscious, many feet down below the surface. Debris from the blast rained down around them.

They floated amid the newly created saltwater junkyard. McClane was the first to stir. He came to, flailing his arms, fighting for air, dazed and confused. Looking up, he saw rays of sunlight, weakly penetrating the watery depths.

He paddled over to Zeus and shook him back into awareness. The underwater universe was so peaceful and soothing. Their own world seemed so very far away as they began to swim toward the light. Fighting the temptation to surrender to the water, they rose up and up and up.

They broke the surface, spewing water and seaweed. They could see nothing for miles around, except water and smoke and pieces of wreckage that were all that was left of Simon's ship.


- Die Hard with a Vengeance, Chapter 10