Ivan pushed away the men about the companion. He descended two rungs of the iron ladder, turned and sneered into the gloom of the engine-room.
“You are to remain below,” he said coldly. “Get steam up and give us full speed. You will be thrown overboard if you do not obey my orders. The citizen captain so directs me.”
“Where’s me twa thousand rubles?” shouted Mike Monkey. “Coom down here —ye scum of the steepies! Coom down!”
Ivan started descending. He thought better of the action when Mike snatched up an iron bar and brandished it with agility.
“Coom down, ye Bolshevik dog! Coom down if ye dare!”
Ivan called in Russian. A ferocious face appeared over the edge of the companion. The sharp point of a bayonet extended into plain view. The muzzle of the rifle deflected until it was directly aimed at Mike. He dropped the iron bar to the grating.
He held up his hands.
“That let’s me out!” he cried through chattering teeth. “Don’t shoot!”
“Go forward,” Ivan ordered. “You and the American go forward and put coal on the fires. You, McMasters, attend to the engines. None of you three men will be allowed on deck. You will all be shot if you do not keep the ship moving at full speed. Those are the orders of the citizen captain.”
Micky picked up an oil can. He squirted a stream at the nearest crank.