Sunken Ship Island

Author: Alexander Beliaev [Soviet Union]
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-12-01
Features: Synopsis Shipbuilding engineer Gadrin, detective Sipkins, and Miss Kinkman, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, survive a shipwreck. Driven by ocean currents, their ship drifts to the Sargasso Sea covered in dense seaweed and enters the mysterious Shipwreck Island. The island is composed of numerous ships entangled in seaweed, unable to break free. The island's governor, Sletyon, is selfish and tyrannical, and the islanders live without freedom. After secret planning, they and some islanders finally escape Shipwreck Island in a submarine. However, soon after, the three of them return to Shipwreck Island—why?
Excerpt: Inside the cabin, the young Reginald Gadrin was playing chess with a fat middle-aged man. "Checkmate! Checkmate!" Sipkins scratched his right ear in frustration and said angrily, "Let the shark devour you. You won this game, but you lost the game I arranged for you. Are you satisfied?" With that, he leaned back self-satisfied and burst into laughter. Gadrin shrugged and said, "You rely on sheer numbers. Perhaps that game isn't over yet!" "Have you still not admitted defeat with this small chain?" Sipkins shook the chain connecting Gadrin's hand to the bed. "Come, let's play another game. I'll get revenge." As he said, he set up the chess pieces. "It seems we can't play anymore! The ship is shaking badly now." "Yes, it's shaking badly." Sipkins made a move. The cabin was stuffy, and the sound of the machinery made the walls tremble. The two fell silent, merely striving to keep the chess pieces balanced.