“To the superstructure, but that side’s opposite where the damage is, so we’ll probably encounter less resistance if we cross here and go down that side.”
Bones nodded and the two SEALs moved across the deck to the other side. They made their way forward, following the same walkway Maddock had taken earlier. The going was quicker this time, though, as they saw no signs of crew. A shrill alarm began to blare and they heard a loudspeaker announcement in Japanese. They couldn’t understand it but it sounded urgent.
As they progressed, the angle of the deck grew more pronounced. It took effort not to go sliding down to their right.
“You must have done a pretty good job placing that bomb.” Bones pointed to the water lapping at the base of the superstructure. This thing’s going down.”
Maddock eyed the oncoming rush of seawater, then looked up at the listing superstructure. “Yeah, I thought we’d have a little more time than this to look around.”
“Think we can take the radio room now?” Bones gazed up at the leaning tower.
“Might as well try. Here, you get a consolation prize just for playing.” Maddock removed the second K5 from his waistband and handed it to him. Bones checked the clip and reloaded it.
“Well if today’s not my lucky day! Don’t even tell me how you got it.”
“We better hurry up.” Maddock pointed to the walkway that led to the upper gangway he’d taken earlier. They encountered no resistance as they moved along. Even so, he lowered his voice to talk to Bones.
“This room up here on the right is where I saw Tomoaki interrogating Spinney and Carlson earlier.”
Bones raised his K5 to the ready position as he neared the still-open door. But Maddock could no longer hear voices coming from the room and didn’t think they would all be inside in complete silence. Craning his neck around the door, he saw that he was correct. The room was empty. Another door inside the room was open and led deeper into the superstructure building.
He waved Bones inside the room and they entered. They trudged across the floor at an upward angle, past the table where Spinney had sat, Maddock pointing to a smear of blood on its surface. When they reached the opposite side of the room they each waited on either side of the door. They listened a moment, the blaring siren making it difficult to discern voices, but they didn’t think they heard any.
The entered a short hallway with two closed doors to their right and two to their left. All were unmarked, with no signs denoting what lay behind them, but Maddock knew the bridge would be at the front of the structure, so he motioned for Bones to go left, and they struck out in that direction. As they neared the end of the short hall they could see that the end in fact led straight to the bridge. They slowed as they approached, straining to listen.
A panicked voice. Maddock took a look into the room and was relieved to see there were only two people inside, both Japanese ship’s officers. He recognized the Captain’s insignia on one, and the other, talking frantically into a handheld radio, looked to be the first mate. The array of controls on the panel before them was lit up with flashing red and yellow lights. A cacophony of systems alarms brayed inside the enclosed area. The view from the expansive bridge window was terrifying, offering 180 degrees of water and burning island that made it all too clear the ship was going to capsize.
With hand signals, Maddock indicated to Bones that he would take the Captain while Bones dispatched the other officer. They moved silently into the room, weapons drawn. It occurred to Maddock that perhaps the Captain was taking action right now that could prevent the ship from sinking and that they could be about to interrupt him, but after watching for a couple of seconds it was clear that there was nothing they could do. The ship was going down. In fact, Maddock was more concerned for his safety just by being on the ship than he was being in the presence of the Mizuhi men.
But then the Captain turned around, his eyes widening as he moved to bring the radio to his lips and Maddock knew he had to act. “Drop the radio and freeze or I shoot!” He steadied the gun barrel at the Captain’s chest. The radio clattered to the floor.
The first mate wasn’t as compliant. He bull-rushed at Bones, charging with surprising speed for a man of such considerable bulk. But Bones was ready. He sidestepped the man, clocking him in the head with the butt of his K5 as he passed. His opponent hooked one of Bones’ ankles on his way down, tripping him up. Both of them wound up on the floor, grappling while Maddock kept an extra-wary eye on the captain, warning him with his eyes not to use the fight as an excuse to try anything.
The first mate gripped Bone’s gun hand and banged it against the floor. Bones head-butted him in the face, cracking his nose, which caused the man to release his grip immediately. Bones drove a fist into the man’s temple, slid his arm free and rolled away, springing to his feet once he was clear. He aimed his K5 at the stunned first mate.
“Satellite phone!” Maddock shouted at the captain, who shook his head and shrugged.
“No speak.”
Maddock muttered something under his breath and looked at Bones, who was staring out the window, where the view highlighted the precarious angle of the ship.
“Time to split.” It concerned Maddock that Bones appeared apprehensive, since he didn’t usually worry about much.
Maddock pantomimed using a phone to the captain, who again shrugged. “He’s playing dumb.”
“Why would he be playing dumb at this point?” Bones pointed out the window, where the water level appeared to rise by the minute. “You would think he’d want us to call someone. Anyone.”
“I know you have a satellite phone,” Maddock said to the captain. “The Yoshida brothers told me.” At the mention of the familiar name the captain and first mate exchanged knowing glances.
Suddenly the ship tilted sharply and the man Bones had defeated slid on the floor with the sharper angle. Bones tracked him with the K5 until he came to rest on the other side of the room against the control console.
Maddock hopped over the sliding man and pounced on the captain, putting him into a control hold, one arm locked around his neck, the other bending an arm back. His gun was back in his waistband but with Bones armed he felt he could handle the captain without it.
“Take me to the satellite-phone or I break your neck!” Maddock didn’t know if the man was faking his lack of English so as not to have to communicate, so for effect he applied additional pressure to the control point he had on his neck.
“Okay! I show you! Please stop.”
Maddock eased up on the hold but still maintained firm control of the man, who continued talking.
“Why you want? Do no good. No help coming.”
“So you do speak English.”
“Little,” the captain gasped in Maddock’s hold.
“Take me to the phone!”
“Ship sinks! Must go!”
“After the phone!”
The roll of the ship grew even more pronounced. Even Bones took notice.
“Now or never, Jim.” He gave Maddock a look that said he was seriously concerned for their well-being. Then he pointed outside the window to the water, where the first of the Mizuhi crew could be seen swimming for their lives away from the sinking ship and toward the flaming atoll.
“The satellite phone!” Maddock shook the captain, who pointed somewhere above his head.
“Keith, cover him.” Maddock released the captain. He tried to walk to where he was pointing, but slipped and fell as the ship rolled precariously. Water splashed on the bridge windows. Maddock pushed to his feet and staggered to the section of console where the captain had pointed. Looking up he saw a closed cabinet. He reached up and opened it and saw a black plastic case.