The Pacific Conspiracy (5 page)
Read The Pacific Conspiracy Online
Authors: Franklin W. Dixon
Joe cupped his hands. Frank jumped, caught the edge of the wall, and pulled himself up. When he lay across the top of the wall and reached for Joe's hand, their hands were a good half foot apart.
"You're going to have to jump!" Frank said. "I can't reach down any farther, or I won't be able to brace myself."
Joe turned around quickly to check on the dragon. It was moving again.
"I'm jumping," he said, gritting his teeth in anticipation of the pain. "I'm jumping."
He jumped and caught Frank's outstretched hand with both of his.
"Don't tell me how close that thing is," he said, planting both feet against the wall. Despite the pain in his ankle he made it to the top.
"You okay?" Frank asked.
"Pretty much," Joe said, catching his breath. He was exhausted. He looked down at the dragon, which was just beneath them. He shook his head. "Fido, the Komodo dragon. World's best watchdog."
"Come on," Frank said, lowering himself down the other side of the wall. "We're going back."
"Aren't we going to check for another way in?"
Frank shook his head. "Your ankle could be broken. We'd better get back to our room and see how bad it is."
Joe hobbled to the back door of the mansion. Frank punched in the code on the keypad there, and they stepped inside, finding themselves in the kitchen.
"At least we know there's something in that building worth protecting," Joe said. "Even if we can't be one hundred percent sure it's the bomb."
"It's not the bomb," Frank replied. "Not yet. But we do have to tell Endang about this place as soon as possible."
Joe nodded. "Hey, look," he said, pointing to a jar on the counter. He reached inside and Pulled out a few more of the cookies Susanto had served them earlier.
"Just so the trip isn't a total loss," he said, inching down on one while he held out another to his brother.
Frank shook his head and walked by Joe's outstretched arm. "You're hopeless," he said.
***
"I'm starving," Joe announced the next morning to Susanto. She was holding a platter of bacon, eggs, and English muffins.
The sun was streaming in through the kitchen window although it was only seven in the morning. Joe's ankle, it turned out, was only sprained, not broken. He told the others he'd hurt it coming out of the shower that morning - the nice, hot fifteen-minute shower he'd taken. Despite the pain he felt better and certainly cleaner than he had since arriving in Djakarta. On board the Hatta they took only lukewarm sponge baths to clean themselves.
Susanto handed him the platter, and he helped himself to his second huge portion.
"Anybody else?" Joe offered, holding out the platter. Krinski, seated at the head of the table, shook his head, as did Frank and Bob. Boris was too busy eating to look up, and Bill was sitting quietly drinking coffee. He wouldn't start eating peanuts till a little later.
Joe handed the platter back to Susanto. The whole situation felt weird. Here they were, a happy little family of Assassins gathered around the breakfast table, getting ready to blow up the world - or whatever - with their hydrogen bomb.
"You enjoy the breakfast?"
Joe smiled at Krinski. "It's delicious."
Krinski shrugged. "That's why I like Americans. You know how to enjoy life, how to live."
"It's easy to enjoy life when you have all the money in the world," Bob said.
"Well, we're all going to have plenty of money," Krinski said.
"How soon?" Joe asked.
Boris pointed his fork at Susanto. "Should she be here now?"
Krinsky shrugged. "She barely speaks English, but - as you wish." He clapped his hands and said something in Indonesian to Susanto. She bowed once, set the platter in the center of the table, and backed out of the room.
"How soon are we going to have plenty of money?" Joe repeated.
"I thought you were more concerned with avenging your girlfriend's death," Boris reminded him.
"I'd like to do both," Joe said, taking another strip of bacon from the platter.
"Well, don't worry," Krinski said. "You Won't have to wait much longer. Of course" - he turned and stared at Boris - "if you'd brought Professor Stavrogin here instead of eliminating him, I could have finished up a whole lot faster."
Joe hid his expression behind another mouthful of food. He wanted to smile. He and Frank were the only ones at the table who knew that Stavrogin wasn't really dead. They'd saved the Professor back in Alaska by pretending to kill him. He was with the Network now, safe and sound.
Bill frowned up from his teacup. "Stavrogin wouldn't have helped."
"We could have forced him," Krinski said. "Without someone to double-check my equations this could take another two days."
"If you're using a computer to check the equations, I can help," Frank said quietly.
"Really?" Krinski asked. "Which programs have you worked with?"
Frank rattled off half a dozen or so. Krinski looked impressed. "You can start this morning," the professor said.
"Hold on," Bob said, shaking his head. "We're all supposed to go back to the boat together."
"You can tell Nwali I insisted the boy stay," Krinski said. "If he wants to meet that ridiculous schedule of his, then I need help."
Joe had to stuff more eggs in his mouth to keep from smiling. This was the biggest break they'd had in the case yet.
"All right," Bob said reluctantly. He pushed his chair back from the table. "We'll contact you later in the day."
Joe followed the other three out the front door to one of the main avenues, where they caught a cab. By the time they reached the Hatta it was midmorning. Nwali was waiting for them.
"He is allowing the American to help with the equations?" Nwali shook his head. The leader clearly wasn't pleased.
"We tried to bring him," Bill said.
"Enough," Nwali said, and he turned to Joe. "I have a surprise waiting for you in your cabin, Joseph."
"For me?" Joe asked, puzzled.
Nwali nodded. "Come, I will show you. All of you, except Bob, please follow. Bob, go to the radio room."
He took Joe's arm and guided him below deck. The others followed a few steps behind.
Nwali said nothing, his eyes focused straight ahead. The younger Hardy was beginning to get a bad feeling about this.
"Here we are," Nwali said, opening the door to the Hardys' cabin.
Joe tried to keep his expression neutral. Sitting on Frank's bunk, holding an ice pack to her forehead, was Endang, appearing very small and very frightened.
A million thoughts flashed through Joe's mind. Had Endang talked, told Nwali she was with the Network? No. She was too much of a professional. But what was she doing here?
"Aren't you going to say hello to your friend, Joseph?" Nwali asked.
"Hello," Joe said simply.
"I saw her watching our boat from the pier and had her brought here. She must be very anxious to see you again, don't you think?"
He continued without waiting for an answer. "Tell me, Joseph," Nwali said, "how is it that she knew where our boat was? Did you tell her?"
Boris stepped up beside him. "I can make him talk," the Assassin growled. "Give me five minutes alone with him."
Nwali held up a hand. "It's not necessary. I'm sure Joseph has a good explanation. Don't you, Joseph?" His voice was calm and reasonable. But his eyes were cold and dangerous.
"How did this woman find our boat?" He leaned in closer. "And what else have you told her about us?"
Joe swallowed hard, desperately trying to think of an answer.
Joe opened his mouth with no idea of what was to come out.
Just then Endang jumped up from the bunk and ran into his arms. She began babbling in Indonesian.
"I do envy your skill with the ladies, Joseph," Nwali said. "One girlfriend dies, and you find another."
Joe saw red but restrained himself from striking out at the terrorist leader. Nwali was talking about Gina, but Joe was thinking about Iola Morton, his first girlfriend. She had died in the very first encounter he'd had with the Assassins, a victim of a car bomb meant for him and Frank. He'd almost forgotten how much he hated the terrorists for that, how much he wanted to destroy them.
He knew what he had to do.
Joe twisted his face into a sneer and shoved Endang away from him. She landed on the cabin floor and immediately began sobbing.
As Joe observed her he worked hard to keep himself from smiling. She should have been an actress.
"This girl means nothing to me," he said.
"But you know how we operate. You tell no one anything that might compromise our security." Anger crept into Nwali's voice. "You told this woman where to find us."
"I don't understand what's happening!" Endang burst out, tears streaming down her face.
"I made a mistake," Joe said, hanging his head.
"You did," Nwali replied. He stared silently at Joe for what seemed an eternity. "A fatal one."
Endang started crying again just as Bob entered the cabin.
"Krinski is on the line. He needs to talk to you immediately."
"Of course," Nwali said. "I'll be there in a moment."
Bob nodded and left.
"What do you suggest we do about your mistake, Joseph?" Nwali asked. "What do you suggest we do with this woman?"
Boris stepped forward. "The boy is useless," he said. "Let me - "
Nwali shook his head. "I asked Joseph."
Joe took a deep breath. He knew what Nwali wanted him to say. He knew how the Assassins operated, and he couldn't blow his cover. That would mean not only Endang's life, but his and Frank's, too. He had no choice.
"She means nothing to me," he repeated.
"Good." Nwali smiled. He reached into his waistband and pulled out a small pistol. "Then you won't have any problem killing her."
He handed the gun to Joe. "Will you?"
Joe swallowed hard.
"Of course not," he said.
***
It had been a long time since Frank had spent concentrated time in front of a computer screen.
He'd been running numbers for Krinski for close to three hours, keying in different variables for equations whose meanings only the scientist understood. The funny thing was, Frank wasn't bored. Two weeks playing solitaire were much more boring.
"Three more simulations to run," Krinski announced. He pushed his chair back from his computer and came over to stand behind Frank.
"I'm very impressed," Krinski said. "You certainly seem to know what you're doing."
"Well, Professor," Frank said, turning in his chair and looking up at Krinski, "so do you."
Krinski laughed. "You Americans. You're never afraid to say what you think."
Frank laughed, too, even though he hadn't told Krinski what he was really thinking: You don't trust me, Professor, do you? You've left out any information that would help me figure out what the numbers I'm working with are intended to simulate.
What little Frank could deduce had to do with the rate of descent of a heavy object in a sort of thick, viscous fluid. How long would it take such an object to fall if it started off at ten miles an hour, twenty miles an hour,
etc.
There were a number of other variables in the equations as well, but Frank had no idea what they represented.
"I'm very pleased with the assistance you've provided me," Krinski said. "Very pleased. I may even ask Nwali to assign you to me for the duration of this mission." He folded his arms and stared at Frank. "What would you think about that?"
Frank smiled. "That would be terrific." But not for the reasons you think, Professor, Frank mused. It'll give me a better chance to figure out what you're up to.
"Well, then," Krinski said, "it's settled." He clapped his hands. "Susanto!"
The woman entered the room from the kitchen and bowed once.
"I'd like some tea," Krinski said. He turned to Frank. "For you?"
Frank shook his head.
"Very well," Krinski said. He returned to his terminal and shut it down. "I'll be right back," he said. "I have a few things to take care of in the other building."
Like piecing together a hydrogen bomb? Frank thought. "Can I help you?" he asked, trying not to sound too eager.
Krinski shook his head. "I think I can manage. You finish up those simulations."
Frank smiled as he watched the man go. Krinski would be more than a little surprised at how good the work he'd been doing had been. While crunching numbers for the professor he'd managed to access portions of the computer Krinski had no doubt intended to be off limits to him, including a file marked Indonesia Simulation.
Now that sounded very interesting. Frank opened the file. Suddenly the screen came to life, filling with what appeared to be a map of the world. But this map had only one continent.
"Pangaea." That was Krinski's voice, coming from the computer. He must have put together this file as a presentation for someone. Nwali, perhaps? "Legendary supercontinent of two hundred million years ago."
As Frank watched, the single supercontinent drifted apart, forming into more recognizable shapes: Africa, South America, North America, Europe, Asia.
"Pangaea broke apart because of the movement of underlying geological structures known as continental plates." Now areas of each continent and its surrounding ocean were shaded in different colors.
"Even today continental plates are continually moving." Now the picture zoomed in on Asia. A dotted line appeared, circling a group of islands. The islands were Indonesia, Frank realized.
"This is the Java Trench, a place where two continental plates have collided. Their banging together resulted in the formation of the trench and left the area tremendously unstable.
"If a powerful explosive were detonated here, the result could be worldwide geological change."
A powerful explosive, Frank thought, his throat suddenly dry. Like a hydrogen bomb.
"This is the simulated result of one such explosion."
The screen went white. The light was so bright Frank had to shield his eyes. Then all at once the map of the world came back on screen.
Everything was different!
California was gone. The east coast of the United States had changed, and so had England and the Indian subcontinent.
Frank quit the simulation and sank back in his chair. So this was what the Assassins were planning. They were going to change the world - forever.