Both Liger and Yamamoto uttered a combination of shrieks and curses as the Deep Dog was nearly upended. Just as the colossal organism wrapped a mantis-like claw around the side of the submersible’s hull, it suddenly began to thrash around as if wounded.
Liger shouted in dismay as the Deep Dog collided with the writhing creature’s left side, the impact tossing the submersible away and nearly smashing her against one of the support struts. Yamamoto fell out of his chair and landed on top of the other man.
With Yamamoto’s thigh pressed against his face, Liger only had a partial view of the controls as he pushed down on the throttle, allowing the Deep Dog to slip away from the gigantic marine predator still squirming on the surface of the sea.
SANDOR COULD HARDLY believe what he was seeing on the monitor screens. They did it.
Pressing the transmit button once more, he spoke into the microphone. “Harpoons, fire when you have a clear shot.”
The harpoon cannons were manned by experienced whalers from Norway and Iceland, but they were completely overwhelmed by what they saw. All four teams hesitated as the creature began to blow gusts of air from the massive hollow spines along its back.
Sandor grimaced. He was flabbergasted the harpoon crews hadn’t fired yet. “Shoot, you fools! Shoot it now before it sinks and gets away again!”
One of the men manning the harpoon cannon on the northern end of the gangway finally did as he was told and fired the weapon. The large, serrated spear struck the creature just behind its massive head and embedded its tip more than two meters into translucent flesh. Unlike standard commercial whaling harpoons, these did not have explosives, and were designed to restrain the target instead.
When the other three teams had seen the results of the first shot, they fired their harpoons almost simultaneously. In less than ten seconds all four harpoons and their trailing cables were firmly implanted in the creature. In a matter of minutes the churning waters began to smooth out as the organism’s struggling slowed, and it soon went limp. A cheer came up from one of the harpoon teams, quickly followed by another, until everyone started laughing and congratulating each other.
“GET OFF ME,” LIGER growled as he used one brawny arm to shove the disheveled Japanese scientist away from him.
Yamamoto landed on the floor of the Deep Dog’s bubble cockpit. He quickly got back into a crouch before reseating himself. “I am sorry.”
Liger didn’t answer as he checked the submersible’s control and life support systems. So far there wasn’t any damage, and the manipulator claw holding the egg canister was still intact. After all the adversity they had gone through, a part of him couldn’t believe they had actually succeeded.
Sandor’s voice came over their radio. “We’ve got it harpooned. So now what?”
Yamamoto stabbed the reply button with his finger. “Wait there, we’re coming up.”
Liger once again drained the ballast tanks of seawater as the Deep Dog rose to the surface, right beside the now stunned creature. It looks like a giant, transparent lobster, he thought.
Yamamoto fumbled to get the top hatch open. After a few precious minutes, he finally unlatched it, and pushed it up before poking his head out of the cockpit. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he began shouting at the crews above. “Lower the intravenous tube!”
A winch was activated, and what looked like a giant needle attached to the end of a thick hose was extended slowly from the top platform until it hung just above the creature’s back, swaying slowly back and forth in the slight breeze.
Yamamoto bent down and grabbed a pair of high plastic boots he had stashed underneath his chair and began putting them on. “Get us closer. I will need to climb onto the kaiju’s back to place the intravenous needle properly onto the right part of its body.”
Liger let out a deep breath as he maneuvered the Deep Dog using minimal thrust, until her starboard hull bumped gently against the side of the floating creature. He could now taste the luxuries that were coming to him. The job is done, and I’m still alive. Pity about Pete and the others, but that’s life.
It took Yamamoto a few more minutes to climb out from the submersible’s bubble canopy and slowly make his way onto the side of the hull. After putting on a pair of thick rubber gloves, he grabbed hold of one of the creature’s jutting spines and began to clamber onto its back, only to nearly slip off and fall into the water as his boots failed to find any traction on the bulbous, slippery skin.
Liger started laughing. “If you get wet, mate, don’t expect me to come rescue you.”
INSIDE THE FLOATING barge’s control room, Sandor pulled out a handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped his sweaty brow. It had all happened so fast, yet he felt a huge sense of relief now that they had succeeded. Everything hinged on this operation, and it looked like they had finally done it.
One of the technicians turned towards him. “Sir, I’m picking something up on radar.”
Sandor gave him an irritated look. “What is it now?”
“Another vessel, sir. She’s a few klicks out and approaching the barge.”
Sandor was flabbergasted. Of all the things that could happen now, why this? “Identify her.”
The radar technician pored over his console for a minute before he turned to face the corporate executive once more. “Sir, I think she’s the Wanderer.”
Sandor made a low, angry hiss. “Where’s the Queequeg?”
“Captain Rudenkov’s boat is just to the north of us, sir.”
“Any other ships in the area?”
“Nothing else on radar, sir.”
We’re in international waters, he thought. If the Wanderer is stupid enough to interfere once more, this time the gloves come off. “Tell Rudenkov to intercept, and sink her. I don’t care how he does it. No survivors.”
51
INSIDE THE Queequeg’s wheelhouse, Rudenkov stood by the helmsman as the ship’s engines went to flank speed. He could see the Wanderer out in the distance, just beyond the range of his crew’s rifles.
She isn’t doing full speed anymore, so we can catch up, he thought. They must think we’re not serious, but this time we are.
A part of him began to wonder if the crew of the opposing ship had something insidious planned, but he quickly dismissed the suspicions from his mind. They’re an unarmed research vessel, what could they possibly do to us?
One of the crewmen stationed near the vessel’s prow used his walkie-talkie to get on the intercom circuit. “Captain, I think there’s something in the water up ahead of us.”
Eyebrows raised, Rudenkov leaned sideways and grabbed the radio microphone before activating it. “Sonar room, do you see anything in front of us?”
A crewman stationed below answered him. “One moment while I activate the device, sir.”
“Hurry up!”
“Sir, it is a large floating object just beneath the surface. I think it’s the diving bell from the Skandi Aurora. We might hit it if we continue at our present speed and course, sir.”
Rudenkov tapped the helmsman’s left shoulder. “Slow us down to five knots and turn thirty degrees to port!”