The Shower

On Board

He was down on his luck and saw an advert in the paper. It was to take part in a trial which would involve being monitored on a two week Caribbean cruise. A suit and wardrobe would be provided on the cruise so he would fit in with the clientele and not be noticed by them. He had to follow certain patterns but nothing too rigorous.

He got a way below decks cabin to himself but it had enough room. He was expected to use all the cabin’s facilities and fill in reporting forms to be given in to his supervisor at the end of the day.

The liner left Southampton at 4pm so he had time to wander round and explore the ship before the evening buffet opened at 6pm. He wondered about maybe getting to know some other passengers but part of his instructions were that his cabin was for him alone and if anyone else came in there he would be put off the liner immediately, so if he wanted that money he had to stick to his instructions.

He wondered if anyone else was on the same trial as he was, but there was no way of telling so, he just engaged in a little non committed small talk as he took a soft drink (he was told no alcohol could be consumed while he was on board the liner). How they were monitoring him, he wasn't too sure, but it was probably some form of closed circuit TV, but he kept thinking of the money to come when he finished this.

He reached the buffet and there seemed to be a lot of cold meat on the tables, exotic ham, cold beef slices, long pork, chicken, turkey and venison, and then more. He half filled a plate, ate , and then returned for more so he could try every meat that was on the table. It wouldn’t be good to look as though he was greedy, but he was taking advantage of the excellent buffet and he wasn’t the only one. This might be a once in a lifetime chance for him to enjoy such a perfect spread of food, he certainly would never forget it.

When he was full he got another soft drink and then wandered around the liner once more, dropping into a TV room then there was music playing, but then started to feel tired so he went back to his cabin. He needed to be up for the breakfast buffet at eight so his instructions suggested he be showered and washed by seven thirty, so he set his alarm for six thirty.

The Next Morning

His alarm went up and he got out of bed, lost his pyjamas, got into the shower and pulled the shower door shut. The water was running and it was hot, as he soaped himself down. He then noticed that the water wasn’t draining and it was half way up his shins. He reached down to see if the drain was blocked, but it wasn’t, and the water was getting deeper.

The water was getting hotter, there was something wrong. He went to open the door, regardless of the consequences, a cabin flood, but the door wouldn’t open.

The water was pouring in and up to his chest and he noticed that the shower was a completely sealed unit.

He tried to push his way out to no avail. He was going to drown, or be boiled alive or both.

The shower filled, the temperature was just below boiling, with one drowned man floating in there… cooking…….

The Pick Up

Two men with a trolley were working their way down the corridor, opening cabins, going into the shower rooms pulling the plugs to drain the shower, then removing the bodies (cooked), putting them on the trolley to take to the kitchen.

“Long Pig” was a favourite delicacy of the paying clientele on this cruise.

Qualifying Addendum

This was partially inspired by the BBC Series “Wreck” which you can find on iPlayer. Music is the original version of "Sailing" by The Sutherland Brothers later covered by Rod Stewart on his "Atlantic Crossing" album.