“Wouldn’t that attract attention?”
“Not really. The newest and largest preserve is the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument south of Midway. It now covers an area that is three-quarters of a million square miles. We would only need a tiny fraction of that near Trinidad.”
The president shook his head. “And what exactly would we be protecting?”
“Turtles,” Miller answered.
“Turtles?”
“Several species of turtles are endangered in the Caribbean Sea. Loggerheads and Hawksbills primarily.”
“And these turtles are in the same location as our ship?”
“No.”
“No?”
Langford shrugged. “We don’t need them to be. We merely need to claim that they are.”
Carr thought it over, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms. “Well, it’s damn big ocean. I’m sure there’s got to be a few turtles somewhere in the area.”
“How much money?” the chief of staff asked.
“Not much. Maybe fifty million. Enough to make it appear legitimate.”
“And you think this will keep everyone away?”
“We think it will attract the least amount of attention,” Miller replied. “It will also make the environmentalists happy and allow them to focus their energy elsewhere. While we continue our work.”
President Carr exhaled. “This is the best idea we have?”
“This is the only idea,” Langford said. “The ship cannot be moved, at least not now. We need more time to get attention away from the area. It would also provide a logical reason for us to have a research vessel permanently located there.”
Mason shook his head. “I don’t like it. Those are international waters. We don’t have the authority to commandeer that area. It’s likely to start a political fight that we don’t need right now.”
Langford stared at the chief of staff. “Well, we’re all ears for your idea.”
Mason did not answer.
“Look,” Langford turned back to the president. “These are small islands we’re talking about. If we must incentivize a few countries, then we incentivize them. We can more than make it worth their while.”
“And Venezuela?”
“They need help more than anyone right now. From anyone. If we make the offer attractive enough, they should jump at it.”
The president pressed his fingers together in front of himself, thinking. He looked at Mason. “It may not be the worst idea.”
Mason merely shrugged.
“Okay,” Carr said to them both. “Make it happen. But your job is to keep this operation as small as humanly possible, without raising suspicion. Understood?”
Both Langford and Miller answered together. “Yes, sir.”
“And we’ll need to be ready for the Russians wanting to know what the hell happened to their new submarine. But for now, your first order of business is to come up with an explanation of why we have an oil rig burning in the middle of our new marine preserve.” Carr looked at his watch. “You have thirty minutes.”
119
Raindrops began forming dots on DeeAnn Draper’s shirt as she sat on the ground, watching Dulce play in the tall grass. She looked completely at home, running and tumbling with the other young gorillas.
Accompanying the early hints of rain was a cool breeze continuing to strengthen across the top of Mount Bisoke.
DeeAnn’s tan shirt rippled gently, and the tall grass around them rippled in waves across the clearing. Of course, none of the gorillas seemed to notice the weather changes.
Behind her, Ronin stood solemnly, looking on and admiring the green hills which stretched in every direction. They exhibited a vast lushness that he had never seen on his own planet.
At least not yet.
After searching the second vault, they had also found and stopped the leak. The same seepage which had been providing the former warlord Ngeze with enriched water for his prized opium fields, would now be removed. The vault itself had been well-camouflaged, hidden from view, by Ronin’s people. It would remain that way until Clay or his team returned.
The visiting soldier, standing motionless, moved only his eyes when he noted DeeAnn raising her arm to check her watch. It was almost time.
DeeAnn took a deep breath and rose onto one knee. She faced the vest toward Dulce and called to her.
The young gorilla paused in her playing and stood up to peer over the grass. Her dark fur blew softly in the wind. She abruptly turned and knuckle-ran a dozen yards back to DeeAnn.
DeeAnn’s eyes were red with tears.
“Dulce, it’s time for me to go.”
The small gorilla studied her sadly.
Go now?
“I’m afraid so.”
Come back?
DeeAnn frowned and slowly shook her head.
Dulce turned and looked at the rest of the gorillas — children and mothers. The larger males sat further out, protecting the band.
“Dulce,” DeeAnn said. The lump in her throat suddenly grew, and she struggled to speak. “I have to go. But you don’t. You can stay. If you like.”
Dulce turned back around. Me stay?
DeeAnn pursed her lips and simply nodded.
You no stay?
She shook her head. “I can’t. I have to go home.”
This home.
DeeAnn’s voice began to waver. “This isn’t my home. It’s your home.”
Without a word, Dulce raised her hands and wrapped them around DeeAnn’s. After a long silence, she let go and stepped backward in the grass.
DeeAnn began to cry. She watched in silence as Dulce made a very slow turn and proceeded to walk back toward the others. One of the mothers opened her arms and welcomed Dulce in closer to her. All the while, Dulce kept peering across the grass at DeeAnn, sadly.
DeeAnn immediately raised her hands and covered her face. She wept into them, unable to contain her emotion, her shoulders shuddering as she cried.
She turned away, not wanting Dulce to see her like that. She wanted Dulce’s last memory of her to be a happy one. But nor could she bear to see Dulce happy without her, knowing she’d never see her baby again.
With her back turned, DeeAnn’s vest could not translate anything more. Still sobbing, she reached down to pick up her bag. She prayed Dulce would be happy. The little gorilla had given DeeAnn so much. Much more than she knew. And helped her heal in ways she would never understand.
Now Dulce was free. Back where she belonged. And with a new family that would take care of her.
Now she had to leave. And be strong. It was not the goodbye she wanted. But it was probably easier. For her and for Dulce.
She kept her back turned and began walking toward Ronin. Neither she nor her vest could see Dulce, or the female gorilla, or their exchange. Nor did she see when Dulce turned and came bounding back through the grass.
It was only Dulce’s enthusiastic grunts that allowed her to turn in time for the small gorilla to jump up and into DeeAnn’s arms. Where she wrapped her long arms tightly around and squeezed.
When Dulce leaned back and peered up at DeeAnn, IMIS translated every word.
You me mommy. You me home.
120
It was pitch black. No light at all. And no sound.
The only sensation Tay had when he opened his eyes was touch and the hard surface beneath him. It was so dark, he could not even be completely sure his eyes were open.
Tay moved his right arm across the smooth, cold metal and nearly screamed in pain. But he could at least move it. He then tried his left, followed by both legs. All excruciating, but functional.