From the Deep (11 page)

CHAPTER 24

The California coastline had exploded into a melting pot of frantic activity. Driven into frenzy by the media coverage, docks and jetties everywhere were overcrowded with people, all desperate to get out to sea in search of what was now being dubbed the ‘sunshine state monster.’ Boats of every conceivable size and shape were being loaded and prepared to head out to sea. Some were setting out with the intention of killing the creature and were readying dynamite and harpoons. Others were content simply to try to find the creature, and many opportunist skippers were charging curious civilians extortionate sums to join in their adventures.

Milton walked down the dock, struggling to cope with the explosive heat.  He had hoped that by heading out early, he might avoid the crowds. Unfortunately, it seemed everyone in California had the same idea.

Melina was waiting for him by the boat he had hired. She looked stunning, dressed in a red vest top and jean shorts, and he couldn’t help but let his eyes linger on her as she loaded the last of her camera equipment onto the boat. She took off her sunglasses and greeted him with a bemused smile as he arrived.

“I thought you said it would be quiet this morning?”

“I thought it would be. It’s like a damn circus. Seems like everyone who has ever seen Jaws thinks they are Roy fucking Scheider.”

“The world’s gone monster crazy. What did you expect?” she said, giving him a smile that made him melt a little inside.

“I expected it to be a little less… frantic.”

“Well, whatever the crowds are like, I have to say, I’m impressed.”

“Oh yeah? With what?” he said, making sure to stand a little taller and push his chest out a touch.

“With you. With getting the network to agree to this. I’m surprised they went for it.”

“You told me to think out of the box, so I did. What do you think of the boat?”

She stepped back and admired the fifty-three foot state of the art vessel, which was equipped with the latest in cutting edge sonar and fish finding software.

“I love it. Do you suppose we can keep it?” She said with a wink.

“Who knows, if we’re the first to get footage of this thing, then maybe.”

Melina smiled, and the two stood and looked at the vessel as it bobbed against the dock. “Well,” Milton said, clapping his hands together, “we better get moving. I’m hoping to have this thing found in time to hit the six o clock news.”

“That’s optimistic,” Melina replied, as she slipped her sunglasses back on and climbed onto the boat. “Where is the rest of the crew?”

“No crew, just us on this trip.”

Melina frowned, and for the first time seemed a little uncertain. “Don’t you need specialist operators for the underwater cameras?”

“Relax, I have it covered. We only need to film a static shot. Point and shoot. That wasn’t worth the five grand or more these so called specialists were charging. Do you have any idea how in demand they are right now?”

“Still, we don’t really have the experience to do this ourselves.”

“Nobody is expecting us to film some kind of National Geographic documentary here. We just need to snag footage, the
first
footage, so we really need to be making a move. Trust me on this, okay?”

“Okay, what’s the plan?”

“Way I figure it,” he said as he hopped from the dock onto the boat, “is that we head away from the coast.”

“Any reason?”

“Yeah, I did some research. Before the attack on the boat race, there were a series of beaching’s and whale carcasses reported that washed up all across the Californian coast. I marked the positions on a map and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t look like a pattern.”

“I’m impressed, really impressed.” She said with a wide grin.

“It seems our creature feeds every few days, which means by now, he should be out looking for something to eat. We will find him, and film him from that,” he said, pointing behind her.

“Please tell me that’s not a shark cage.”

“The best money can buy,” Milton replied, striding over to the steel sections of cage and laying a hand on it. “This is our ticket to the next stage in our careers, Melina.”

“I don’t like this, Milton. This is how people end up getting in over their heads. You were the one who said these people are acting like Roy Scheider. Do you remember what happened to Robert Shaw?”

“Come on, that’s just fiction. It’s perfectly safe.”

“Look, I know I said you needed to do something to get noticed. It doesn’t have to be this extreme. As you said, a shot from the surface will be fine. I assumed you would be lowering those underwater cameras from the surface. I didn’t think you would ever consider going down there.”

“It does have to be extreme,” Milton shot back, a little snappier than he intended.

“No, it doesn’t. I’m all for going out and trying to get footage of this thing, just, let’s do it from the boat. We don’t need to get up close and personal.”

Milton sighed, and looked out over the crystal blue California waters, then back at Melina.

“You know, maybe you’re right. I’m sure we can get what we need from on board the boat.”

“Exactly,” she agreed, “let’s just get our footage and get back here in one piece.”

“Agreed,” he said, happy that she had bought the lie.

“Glad to know we’re on the same page.”

“Aren’t we always?” he said it with a deliberate flirtatious edge, testing the waters. Her small half smile wasn’t at all discouraging, and he proceeded to untie the line holding them to the overcrowded dock.

“Well, let’s get to it. Feel free to go ahead and grab a drink. The bar inside is fully stocked.”

“Network really splashed out on this huh?”

“Hell yes, they want the exclusive on this. They pretty much gave us free reign to spend what we need to get the job done.”

“Well, if it’s on the network, who am I to turn down a free drink on such a beautiful day?”

She winked at him, and he wondered if it was suggestive or innocent. Either way, he thought it was going to be a hell of a trip.

CHAPTER 25

The
Victorious
, vaulted over fifteen foot waves as it ploughed through the East Siberian Sea. Andrews was sitting in the wheelhouse trying not to spill coffee all over himself. Russo simply stared out of the window, his face twisted into a grimace.

“I thought this expert of yours was certain we’d find it out here,” he growled.

“The ocean is a big place. It was always going to take time.”

“We don’t have time. We have obligations towards certain parties who are relying on us locating this animal.”

Andrews took a careful sip of his coffee, and followed Russo’s gaze out of the window at the rolling seas.

“Surely they understand we can’t make this thing appear out of nowhere. They have to give us time.”

Russo whirled on Andrews, his face contorted into a grimace.

“You convinced everyone you knew where to look. That you had an expert who would help you pinpoint the creature within a matter of hours. That’s what you said.”

“I never said anything about a couple of hours. I said I would find this thing and I will. Hell, it took the entire might of the government ten years to find Osama Bin Laden, I’m sure your bosses can give the two of us a little more breathing space to do what we need to do.”

“We need answers. I need something tangible that I can report back with.”

“I get that, really I do. The truth is, this isn’t an exact science. It will take as long as it takes.”

“Oh, that’s okay. Let’s waste more valuable government resources whilst we wait for this thing to show,” Russo growled.

“Take it easy, there’s no point in getting yourself agitated.”

“There is every reason. I have a job to do. If you and your people aren’t up to the task, I’ll have to get someone who is.”

“That’s not necessary. The marine biologist will locate the creature. You have my assurance. She’s good. Just give her a little more time.”

“Then where is she? Where is your superstar marine biologist whilst we’re floating around out here in the middle of nowhere?”

“She’s plotting our next move right now as it happens. Jesus, Russo, relax. I’ll go talk to her and see if I can get an update.”

“Do it. Make it clear to her I want results and want them now.”

“Understood. I’ll make sure she understands the urgency.”

“Actually,” Russo said as he turned towards Andrews, “I’ll do it myself.”

“I can handle this.”

“The fact I have to press you on this says otherwise.”

“Look, I get it. You need to see something happen. I’m not some slouch or freeloader. I’m as desperate as you are to find this thing.”

Russo looked at Andrews and sneered. “You are nothing like me. Nobody is.”

Andrews wasn’t a man often lost for words, yet, this was one of those rare occasions. He stood and stared at Russo, unsure how to react. The tension was broken when Dexter walked into the wheelhouse.

“I, uh, just came to plot our next search location.”

Neither man responded, as Dexter sat at the small table and unfurled his charts.

“I have work to do. We can continue this conversation later.”

Andrews had heard enough anyway, and headed below deck, leaving Russo staring out of the window at the rolling landscape of broiling ocean.

CHAPTER 26

The 238 foot Russian made Kilo class submarine drifted through the murky depths off the Siberian coast. An older spec submarine, the Kilo class was still used for drills and training purposes, both of which were taking place today. The sub could house a crew of up to fifty-two, yet for this particular training exercise, there was less than half that on board. Commander Alexi Valentin shifted position, folding his massive arms as he looked at the trainee crew. The forty six year old was at one time, one of the brightest prospects in the Russian army. A leg wound sustained during a training exercise in the Siberian wilderness had put a stop to his active service career, and so he had spent the last twelve years putting new recruits through their paces. His fierce reputation was enough to ensure that the recruits toed the line, and if it didn’t, his intimidating presence did. He was broad, and at well over six feet tall, he seemed to fill the submarines narrow corridors as he made his way through the labyrinth like maze. He kept his hair short, a blonde buzz cut, and he glared at his recruits through harsh eyes, which were a brilliant, if cold, shade of blue.

They were in seven hundred feet of water, and Valentin thought most of the trainees might yet make the cut.

“Okay,” he said in his native tongue, his voice reverberating around the cramped operations room. “Descend to seven hundred and fifty feet and begin a sonar ping test.”

The sub dived deeper into the freezing waters and not for the first time, Valentin hoped the old girl held together.

“Seven hundred and fifty feet, sir,” one of the new recruits said as he looked at the commander.

“Very good. Begin ping test.”

“Yes, Commander.”

The creature had registered the presence of the submarine, but because of its size, it had kept a respectful and cautious distance. Some two thousand feet away it was resting on the seabed, its mouth open as it fed on billions of tiny micro bacterial organisms, filtering them out using a sophisticated retractable plate at the back of the throat. As the seawater raced through the filter, the organisms were collected in their millions, and then when full, the creature would retract the net like appendage, devouring its meal.

The first sonar ping reached the goliath beast in seconds, sending it into a furious rage. It lurched from the sea floor and raced towards the sub, mistaking the sonar as a challenge from an aggressive rival.

“Commander, sonar has picked up an object moving towards us.”

Valentin strode over to the radar station, leaning over the console and looking at the streak accelerating towards them.

“It looks like another sub.” He growled and turned the navigator. “Radio in to base, find out if there are any other drills in the area. Do it now.”

Valentin turned back to the sonar, and tried to figure out who it could be. He thought it might have been the Koreans. Ever since the EU restrictions were placed on them, they had blatantly flaunted their efforts to attain nuclear and military independence. Whatever it was, it was coming straight for them, and Valentin felt a rare surge of adrenaline. He watched as the signal closed in, and it was either through instinct or through experience, he understood this was no sub.

“Stop pinging.” Valentin ordered, waiting as the junior officer obeyed.

“Should I attempt to establish contact, sir?” the officer asked.

Valentin shook his head. “That won’t do us any good. Whatever that thing is, it’s organic.”

Even though they were fresh out of the academy, the recruits knew better than to question their commanding officer and instead, flicked concerned glances at each other as the object drew closer.

“Shut down everything, all operations bar life support.”

The recruits were frightened enough to obey immediately, and within seconds, the submarine was silent, its control room bathed in a red glow from the emergency lighting.

Everyone, including Valentin, held their breath and waited.

Seven hundred feet away, the creature slowed, approaching the submarine cautiously. It moved alongside, mouth open as it tasted the water around the motionless vessel and tried to assess if it was a threat or not.  It rubbed its snout against the cold steel hull, and retreated.

“Commander, what is it?” one of the junior officers asked, his eyes showing the fear that they all felt.

“I don’t know. Some kind of whale maybe.”

“Sir, that’s not possible, it’s bigger than the sub.”

“I know,” Valentin said, watching the radar.

He thought he knew what it was. He had seen the stories of the creature sighted off the coast of California, and had believed them to be nothing but fantasy. Now, as he stood sweating in the tight confines of the sub, he believed every word of it. He strode over to the radio, and was about to call in to base, when the operator yelled the words any submersible captain dreads to hear.

“Brace for impact!”

Valentin jogged to the radar display to see the creature, represented by a green smudge on the screen racing towards them.

“Full speed ahead! Hurry, it-”

Valentin was cut off by the explosive sound of metal buckling as the sub lurched violently, tossing Valentin off his feet and into the navigator’s control console.

He struggled to stand, blinking away his confusion as alarms started to sound through the sub.

“Damage report,” He barked. “Give me the damage report now!”

“We’re breached in the rear compartments, Commander, taking on water.” One of the trainees croaked.

“Get us out of here, now.” Valentin snapped.

“We can’t, sir, both screws are offline.”

All eyes fell onto Valentin, and for once, he didn’t know what to do. Aware that the creaking hull of the ancient submersible was the only thing separating them from certain death, He gave the only possible order.

“Take us to the surface,” Valentin said.

“But, sir-”

“Do it now.”

“Yes, Commander.”

After attacking the sub’s hull, the creature had decided it was neither edible, nor a threat, and had begun to retreat, leaving the stricken submarine where it was. It was time to feed, and the creature was about to start hunting when the subs ballast tanks whirred into life, making the vessel buoyant and taking it to the surface.  Enraged by the persistence of its rival, the creature raced at full speed towards the boat, mistaking the crippled vehicles attempt to surface as an act of aggression. Valentin realised too late what was happening. Before he had time to react, the near four hundred foot missile smashed nose first into the already weakened outer structure. The entire rear end of the thirty-year-old submarine sheared away, flooding the interior chambers with thousands of gallons of seawater. Valentin and his crew of rookies never stood a chance, as the submarine imploded, its mangled remains spilling debris and bodies into the water and sank towards the bottom of the ocean. Satisfied its prey had been vanquished, the ravenous creature snapped at the floating debris spilling from the sub, then set off towards its usual warmer hunting grounds. It was time to feed.