“Because those subs are stealthy. We talked about this. They reduce their sonar signature. Even active sonar will have trouble seeing them. If we pick them up, they won’t look like a submarine, they’ll look like a much smaller object.”
Jake was nodding. “That’s what I thought. Yes…that’s what I thought.” He turned to the two sailors who were still with them in the room, sitting looking somewhat bored. “You, stay here and help Bodil with the lookout. You, go to the bridge and relieve Daniel. Send him out on deck to help me, and tell him to bring the radios. I’ve got an idea.”
• • •
Lucya froze. Her hands were still by the grille opening onto the classroom. If anyone looked towards it, they would surely see her.
The room beyond had become silent but for one man — the leader, she presumed — who was shouting orders. The children were afraid. A few began to wail and sob.
“What is trick?” The words cut through the air like a clap of thunder. “You try trick? We kill child!”
Another scream. Impossible to tell this time if it was Erica.
Then, Erica’s voice. Remarkably calm under the intense pressure. “It was me! I sneezed. It was me!” As if to prove the point, she sneezed, and then a third time. “I’m sorry, I had an itch. I didn’t mean to!”
“You go there. Corner. No help others.”
“Yes, sir. I will go to the corner.”
More words, this time in Korean. The men could be heard moving around. Were they checking the room, making sure nobody had somehow got in? Lucya wondered. She could hear the chairs and tables that hadn’t been used in the door barricade being moved, pulled back. Every corner of the room was being examined. Holding her breath, she pulled her hands back from the grille, and just in time. The light entering the shaft was momentarily blocked. Someone was in front of the grille. It rattled as the man on the other side verified that nobody could have come through it. He called to his leader, the voice so close, just inches away from her. Then he moved on, the light returned, and Lucya breathed out, very quietly.
• • •
The wind whipped around Jake’s face when he stepped outside. He could see the two sailors standing by the sonar winch equipment, idle, and called to them. “You men! Fetch one of those life-raft capsules and bring it to the bow section. Quick as you can!”
Without waiting for a reply he was off, jogging along the deck towards the front of the Lance. Daniel came out and caught up with him.
“Got those portable radios you asked for,” he said. “I thought we only brought them with us for emergency use. Have we found the sub?”
“Not yet. Daniel, see that harpoon gun?” He pointed towards a structure near the bow. A swivelling frame atop which sat what could almost have passed for a telescope, were it not for the pointed and lethal-looking arrowhead that protruded from the sea-facing end. Daniel nodded. “Ever used one?”
“No, Cap… No, Jake.”
“Then we’ll have to learn together. Don’t look so worried. Accuracy won’t be important.”
They approached the harpoon launcher cautiously, as if a misstep or too much noise would cause it to go off on its own. Next to the main assembly, in a frame bolted to the side of the hull, were an array of projectiles. Two of them carried warnings: Caution: Explosive.
“What’s a research ship doing with exploding harpoons?” Daniel asked.
“It was a fishing vessel before. I suppose they chose to keep this. It’s probably been used for whaling in the past.”
“Think it still works?”
“We’ll find out. Ah, here are the others.”
The two sailors appeared, carrying between them the white capsule that housed an inflatable life raft. It resembled an enormous pill, and was designed to split open when it hit the water, the raft inflating automatically, filled by a compressed-air cylinder.
“Weren’t many of these left,” one of the men commented. “Looks like someone’s nicked a few already. I’m guessing those would be the ones tied up to the side of the Arcadia?”
Jake nodded. “Now, your mission, chaps, is to get that thing hooked up to this in such a way that we can fire it out to sea.” He patted the top of the harpoon launcher. The men took a step back.
“You’re not serious?”
“I’m very serious. And may I remind you that time is very much of the essence.”
The sailors studied the harpoon launcher and the range of projectiles stored next to it. They talked among themselves, working out a way of fulfilling the bizarre request.
“Daniel, the radios?”
“Here.” He pulled out three small portable radio transceivers and held them out.
“Are any of those waterproof?”
“They all are.”
“Delayed transmission function?”
“Yep, these two can do that.”
“Perfect.” Jake smiled. He took both of the radios in hand, looked them over, and pocketed one. “We need a way of attaching this to the raft capsule.”
“I’m on it.” The sailor took off, heading back towards the wheelhouse section of the ship where he disappeared inside.
Jake turned back to the others and watched. They had removed the harpoon from the launcher and were now piercing the capsule with the heads of two smaller harpoons.
“Captain Noah, for this to work we’re going to have to insert these quite deep into the capsule. They will certainly pierce the fabric of the raft inside. It may not float for long.”
Jake waved a hand. “It doesn’t need to. Do what you have to.”
They looked sceptical, but they didn’t question. Pushing hard, they buried the spears until almost half their considerable length had disappeared into the white plastic. Satisfied with their efforts, they picked up the strange construction and inserted the exposed section of the harpoons into the launcher, squeezing them together so that they both fit in the small tube. The raft wobbled precariously, but it held.
“How far do you think it will go?” Jake asked.
“Never used one of these. The raft don’t weigh much, just bulky is all. No way of telling though.”
“No,” Jake said thoughtfully. “No, you’re right. Probably best you get yourselves to the back of the ship. On your way, collect up the other two and Bodil. Stand by to launch that lifeboat if necessary.”
“Captain, what are you planning?”
“If we can’t find that submarine, then we’re going to make it come to us. Now, go, quickly!”
The men nodded, and scarpered. They passed Daniel coming the other way.
“Found some duct tape. Every engine room has some!”
“Perfect.” Jake took the tape and unrolled a length. He placed the radio he was still holding onto the top of the raft capsule, and stuck it down in such a way that the controls were accessible. With both hands now free, he peeled off more of the tape and wound a full length all around the capsule. Finally, he pulled on the radio to check it was secure.
“Daniel, thank you.” He stuck out a hand. Daniel shook it uncertainly. “You’ve been a great help and it’s been an honour. Now, please get to the stern with the others. If need be, launch the lifeboat and get out of here. Don’t wait for me.”
“How will I know if we have to launch the boat?”
“You’ll know.”
Daniel patted Jake on the shoulder. “Good luck, man. Whatever it is you’re planning.” With that, he was gone.
Alone at last, Jake turned back to the strange raft assembly. He switched on the radio and set the frequency from memory. He found the delayed transmission function, and set it to fifteen seconds, the highest it could go. He silently thanked Lucya, his chief radio officer and his beloved partner, for her insistence on keeping all bridge officers up to date on the workings of the radio equipment.