A True Story.

A burly Polish man on a steel ship walks along the decks towards an officer dressed smartly in uniform, smoking a cigarette by the starboard lifeboat. The officer speaks in a british accent:

‘Adam, the airtight doors on deck 2 need to be undogged and opened before we get in. Take a man and see to it, would you?’

The Polish bosun speaks:

‘OK chief. I do it myself. No problem’,

The chief officer looks at the bosun with concern, but respects his experience.

‘Very well’

The chief watches Adam walk away along the deck, a plume of smoke leaving his mouth.

Adam approaches the doors on deck 2. Sledge hammer in hand he hits the dogs on the door. One by one they ungrip the door, until only 2 remain. The head of Adams hammer flys off and skids along the deck several metres behind him. Unperturbed, he looks at the second last dog and bashes it in the desired direction with the palm of his right hand. It gradually unlodges until with his final thrust the metal dog spins round at speed and smashes the back of his hand causing a cracking noise and blood to pour from his hand at the point of impact. Adam looks at the back of his bleeding, broken right hand for a moment without an ounce of concern.

He approaches the final metal dog and uses the palm of his other hand to smash the dog in the desired, unlocked direction. After several hits with his whole body weight behind them, the metal dog dislodges, spins around, and smashes the back of his left hand. The bone cracks and blood now streams from both hands.

The door now undogged, Adam walks to the electric motor which will open the door.

As the blood drips on the legs of his boiler suit, Adam leans over and uses his elbow to activate the lever. The noisy motor whirs and the door starts to open.

The chief officer walks down some stairs to where Adam is. Their eyes meet and the chief notices the blood on the boiler suit and floor, and the flaccidity of Adams hands.

Without emotion Adam breaks their eye contact and watches the door open. The hint of a smile can be detected as he proudly watches the door open, and know another job is well done.