“Ready?” Anna asked, looking at Simon and the rather uninterested Paul. She had connected the black box she insisted were the logs to the soundbox on the bridge. Simon nodded.

“Okay, here we go.” Anna sighed and pressed a button on the analog recorder. There was crackling, and then the tape began to play.

“Captain Rohn, 27th of April. We are on course and on time. Nothing out of the ordinary to report.”

Simon looked at Anna. So, this was the captain’s voice. He regularly reported that nothing special had happened, mentioned coordinates, and again and again, confirmed he was on time. Simon listened to the man’s voice, wondering when things went wrong.

“Captain Rohn, log. 29th of April, 1740. We have arrived at EcoFern two hours ahead of ETA. Ejected anchor and secured the load. We will begin with the first construction stage in the morning. Everybody is eager to get going. Seaman Krug has reported ill today. He seems to have eaten something that didn’t agree with him. The doctor ordered him a day of rest. No harm done; he’s not diving today anyway. captain out.”

Simon noticed Brockmann had entered the small room and was listening to the voice, too. He stayed in the frame of the hatch, leaning against it, and stared at the black box as if he could look right into it and read its contents.

“We thought we might begin checking the logs. Might give us some idea—” Simon started. Brockmann held his hand up to silence him.

“Captain Rohn here. The 30th of April. 0624. We have resumed our work, after a month away. We found the temporary line not working, and the transponder doesn’t seem to work. Checked the voltage station, but all systems seem to run properly. We now test grid by grid.” The captain sounded frustrated.

“Captain Rohn, continuing. It’s 1448 now. We checked the main station and the turbines. The power is there, just doesn’t get through. We think it is the cables. I want to remark I was against using the 45ers. We tried to narrow down where the problem is, but it seems we have little choice but to send guys down there to check it out. Krug has reported for duty today. I ordered him to get his guys ready.”

Brockmann sat next to Simon, listening to the presumed dead man reporting on his work on the power grid of the wind park.

“We got a pretty good idea what is wrong. Must be somewhere between the turbine E6 and the main converter. Krug is getting ready to have a look and report. If we have to replace the cable, we might lose three days or more, so may the gods of wind energy be with us.”

Simon smiled. “Gods of wind energy. The guy had a sense of humor.”

“One wouldn’t imagine, considering how his crew decorated the place,” Brockmann answered sharply. Anna gave him a look.

“Captain Rohn, this is 1726. I ordered the divers up again as the sun goes down. Wind is up to 7 knots. It isn’t safe for them down there. We have to continue later. First Mate Anton Schneider is overseeing the deck operations.”

The recording clacked as Anna stopped it.

“That was four days ago. Everything seems to be fine. Or he didn’t put any problems that had arisen on record, but he seems more concerned about this grid failure,” she said and looked at Simon now, ignoring Brockmann.

“Why is the first mate overseeing the deck?” Paul asked. Everybody stared at him. Paul shrugged. “He mentioned it. This isn’t a task for the second-in-command. A disciplinary measure?”

Brockmann nodded. “It probably started slowly. They just didn’t think it important enough to go on record.”

Anna activated the box again.

“First Mate Anton Schneider, upon request of the captain, I hereby record to log that today on the 30th of April 2020, we have found the wreckage of the German Reichsmarine Submarine U-37. The coordinates have been noted.”

The man seemed surprisingly sad about the find. His voice was much younger than Rohn’s.

“A submarine?” Simon asked. “Below us?” The others ignored him.

“Why did the first mate make that record?” Paul asked. “This is huge. They get rewards for finding those. Also, there are quite a few down there. The Northern Sea is basically filled with ammo from World War II.”

“Maybe the captain was busy?” Anna asked.

“Or he didn’t want to record it?” Simon asked.

“Captain here. Captain Rohn. We have brought the salvage on board. See my separate report on it, please. I . . .” There was a break, and then the record seemed to resume. “I have the heavy and sad duty to put on record the demise of two of my crew members. Diver Juan Domingez and Seaman Reinholdt Danziger have passed away today under circumstances . . . yet unclear.” Again, there was a long break.

“The two men guarded the cargo room. Their death wasn’t . . . my first medical officer has given the preliminary statement they didn’t die of natural causes. They were murdered. Brutally murdered. My first mate found them and reported immediately. We have reported the murder, and police are on the way, but they are still two days away. On a personal note, I’m alone on the bridge now. I don’t know who to trust. We have a murderer on board the ship. Someone . . . ripped Domingez’s throat out with their bare hands. With bare hands. I have no suspects. Not one of our people has shown any . . .” Someone opened the door in the background, and the recording stopped.

“No time code,” Anna said. “There was no report about a murder.”

“The communications officer lied to him,” Brockmann said. “The captain was waiting for reinforcement that was never coming.”

Simon sighed. “Is there more?”

Anna nodded and pressed play again.

“Captain here. It is . . . not sure what day it is. I’m not sure of anything anymore. Not sure if I’m awake or if I’m dreaming. I hear those voices. Those whispers in a tongue I don’t understand. I heard Robert talk in this same language, but when I asked him, he didn’t remember. We are missing another five. Found blood on the deck. I have handed out a handgun to my first mate and took one myself. Never used one of those.”

There was a long break. “It is that thing. That thing started it all. When it came on board, it all began. I’m not even sure what it is. Anton says it’s a sarcophagus, but I’m not so sure. Not so sure it’s even . . . human.” Again, there was a long pause.

“I found Maria looking at it. Armin Maria, my security officer. When we asked him to leave, he insisted on staying with it. Took us five men to get him locked up in his room. Now nobody dares to go in there. I hear him scream and yell, and I can’t understand what he’s saying. The police will surely be here soon. I had Robert send an SOS, too. No reply so far. Maybe we are not even . . . there anymore. You won’t understand it, but it feels as if we are in another place.

“Maybe this is hell. Maybe this log isn’t even real. I have locked down every crew member I don’t need to keep the ship operational in the cantina. Thomas and Rudolph had breakdowns. We had to restrain them in medbay. Thomas screamed that we need to throw it overboard. I agree, but I don’t dare . . . go down there.” Again, a break.

“My first medical officer is missing, my second mate, too. I’m surrounded by them. I see their eyes, hear their whispers. They whisper in strange tongues to each other. I can hear it when I pass the cantina. I know through the metal walls I shouldn’t hear them, but I do. Chanting . . . whispering. Maybe this isn’t about saving ourselves. I’ve been thinking about it. I’ve dreamt about rewiring the air conditioning and pouring CO2 into the vents. Into the cantina.” The recording stopped.

“Oh wow,” Paul said. “The captain went mental, that’s for sure.”

“We need to check the cargo area,” Brockmann said. He looked with his grim eyes at Anna and then at Simon. Both nodded in silent agreement.

“I’ll come with you,” Anna finally said. Brockmann nodded and stood up.

Simon watched them leave, then turned to Paul, who seemed to be deep in thought.

“What is it?” Simon asked.

“I don’t think he’s telling the truth. The captain. Not the entire truth, at least.”

“About what?”

“The murders. You ever served on a ship?” Paul leaned forward, putting his arms on his knees.

“Nope.”

“These things appear larger than they are. It’s hard to get any privacy here. You bump into people all the time,” Paul pointed to the logs. “Killing five and no suspect? Most people would have alibis or just make a list of those who have none, and you got your suspect list. You know?”

“You think he knew who killed them?”

“Maybe, or he didn’t want to know. Maybe he was too damaged to do the questioning.” Paul shrugged.

“Or maybe the crew was no longer in a condition to be questioned,” Simon said and stood up. “I know who I can ask,” he said with a sigh and made his way back to the captain’s quarters.