“Mr. Reilly, are you trying to tell me, while I’m dealing with the political fallout of the impending environmental disaster at the Hanford Site, you’re exploring some shipwreck that washed up on the beach?”
“Not exactly, ma’am.”
“Get to the point.”
“I believe the vessel was carrying some sort of creature. The Japanese call it a Nue, a type of mythical chimera involving the face of a monkey, the legs of a tiger, and the body of a tanuki…”
“I know what a Nue is!”
“Really? I didn’t. Someone had to explain it to me.”
The Secretary said, “What are you trying to tell me, Mr. Reilly?”
“I don’t know if I believe in a Japanese Nue, but whatever monster has escaped from its drifting barge across the Pacific, has now been released on the Oregon Coast, and it’s wreaking havoc. I know personally that it killed a mechanic last night in the Tillamook State Forest.”
The Secretary was silent, taking it in, waiting for him to reveal anything else that he might know.
When she didn’t respond, Sam said, “I’m hoping a search of the shipwreck might reveal something that will give insight into what it is we’re dealing with here, and possibly how we can defeat it. I have reason to believe that whatever it was, it was originally built as a military weapon.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I met someone else. She told me her brother was on board the Hoshi Maru.” Sam held his breath, wondering how the Secretary would take his absurd theory. “He was with the British Intelligence Service, MI-6. He was involved in a secret operation. Whatever that was, this monster has gone about killing every member of his elite team. And now it’s in the Tillamook State Forest.”
“Mr. Reilly, I need you to investigate the wreckage. See what you can find about this monster. We have teams searching for it in the Tillamook State Forest, but so far, it seems to be outwitting them.”
A wry and incredulous grin formed on Sam’s lips. “So you think my theory about a monster from Japan is right?”
“I hope for God’s sake that it is, because the more likely alternative is much more dangerous.”
“What’s the alternative?”
“I’m afraid I can’t say.”
Sam took a deep breath. “Ma’am, did we make this creature?”
“No. But there’s a chance, we might have funded its development.” The Secretary said, “Look. I need you to concentrate on finding out as much as you can about this monster. Contact me alone. Needless to say, this could be PR disaster, let alone a deadly accident rampaging its way across the countryside.”
“What about the Hanford Site?”
“Forget it. As you said, Tom Bower can deal with it. I need you to work out what’s coming after us.”
Sam squinted against the bright sunlight that now permeated the mist. “I don’t understand, ma’am… if this is just some sort of animal, or beast, surely a team of Rangers could take it out easily enough?”
“If I’m right, this monster was a weapon forged from the finest minds in the defense industry, and I’m not so sure this weapon can be destroyed.”
“All right. I’ll do my best. One more thing, ma’am… the Hoshi Maru is currently under quarantine by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.”
“No, it isn’t,” the Secretary replied. “I’ll make some calls. But, as of this moment, you’re taking the lead over its investigation. That ship’s in your custody.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Chapter Nineteen
Sam looked at the Fish and Wildlife Services Officer. “I think you’ll be getting a phone call any minute notifying you of a change of plans.”
“What’s the change of plans?”
“I’ll be taking over the investigation of this ship.”
“You?” The Officer asked, his face set with incredulity. “Who are you?”
“My name’s Sam Reilly. I work in maritime salvage around the world, but sometimes I consult to the US government.”
The Officer shook his head. “And who’s supposed to be calling to tell me you’re now in charge?”
“I don’t know. She just said she’d make some phone calls.”
“Who’s she?”
Sam grinned. “Margaret Walsh, Secretary of Defense.”
The Officer laughed. “You expect me to believe that the Secretary of Defense just told you on a whim that this is now your investigation?”
Sam made a half-shrug. “I don’t expect anything. She told me she’d sort out the authority on her end, and I’m going to wait until she’s done that.”
A moment later, the Officer’s cell phone started to buzz. His eyes darted between Sam and the cell phone. His face plastered with disbelief. He picked up the phone. “Yes?”
Sam watched, as the man listened.
After about a minute, the Officer said, “Are you for real, sir?”
Sam waited until the man ended his call.
The Officer made a big conciliatory sigh. “Mr. Reilly?”
“Yes, sir?”
“That was my boss. The director of the FBI just called him personally to inform him that you’re taking over the lead responsibility in the investigation.”
Sam grinned. “Is that so?”
“Yes, sir. There’s a boarding ladder we’ve attached amidships.”
“Thank you,” Sam replied. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name…”
“Scott Meyers.”
“Thank you, Scott. You look like you’ve been up all night. When does your counterpart take over?”
“In an hour.”
“Okay, make sure you get some sleep. When you get back, I want your department to continue its investigation into any pest-like marine creatures, and also I’ll need someone to organize the logistics of removing this ship off the beach before it becomes a permanent blemish on your otherwise pristine shoreline.”
“Understood, sir.”
Sam gave a sharp whistle. “Caliburn. It’s time for you to get to work.”
The dog barked at the shallow wave and ran toward the shipwreck.
Guinevere laughed. “You’re inviting the dog into the investigation?”
“Sure, why not?” Sam asked. “Did you know dogs have three hundred million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about six million in humans, making their sense of smell about fifty times as good as ours. Even the part of a dog's brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is, proportionally speaking, forty times greater than ours.”
“I get it. Dog’s have a good sense of smell. And you want that, why?”
“Because only Caliburn here can tell us without a doubt whether or not whatever evil creature we found in the Tillamook State Forest originated on this ship.”
Guinevere nodded. “That makes sense.”
Leveling his eyes at her, Sam said, “Are you ready for this?”
Her face was set with determination. “I’m ready to find out what happened to my brother. I’ve known he was dead for the past seven years. This is all about finding closure, not hope.”
“All right. You go up first and I’ll help Caliburn on board.”
“Agreed.”
Sam watched as Guinevere climbed up the Fish and Wildlife Services’ boarding ladder. Afterward, he lifted Caliburn up onto the deck. The dog was roughly seventy pounds. It wasn’t just the weight, but the shape of lifting a dog that made it so awkward. On the deck, Guinevere grabbed Caliburn by his torso and helped pull him on board.
On the stable steel deck, Caliburn wagged his tail wildly and licked Guinevere.
She said, “You’re welcome.”
Officer Myers said to Sam, “Be careful up there. A thing like that can be hard to ever get out of your mind.”