Chris scanned the computer screen and then the equipment around him, raising his hands helplessly. “How?”
“Where is everybody?”
Before Chris could reply, the door opened and Ensign Evred Smith, known to the crew as Smitty, rushed in. Another of the ship’s engineers, Smitty moved to the communication console behind Chris, immediately grabbing the microphone and calling to the divers.
“Beene, Corbin. You there?”
“Affirmative.”
“How are things looking?”
“Good,” replied Corbin. Beene spoke up next. “No problems, we’re heading down.”
“Hey, hey,” Chris said, gesturing urgently back to his own monitor. “We have to tie them in with Alison!”
Smitty’s expression seemed to indicate he’d only just become aware that Chris was in the room. “Sorry. Unfortunately, the systems aren’t connected. I’d need more time to do that. Where is she now?”
Chris returned to his microphone. “Alison. Where are you?” He reached forward and pulled his headphones out of the jack, simultaneously turning up the speaker’s volume.
“I’m near the bow. I just saw the other two go in.” After a pause, she continued. “I’m watching them now. Tell them to look up!”
“Beene, Corbin. Look up. Do you see Dr. Shaw?”
There was another pause before Beene’s voice replied. “Affirmative. She’s about fifteen feet above us. Tell her to lead the way.”
Smitty nodded and motioned to Chris, who relayed the message.
Below the surface, Alison nodded and quickly swam to Sally, gripping her dorsal fin as firmly as she could. “Take us to the noise, Sally. Quickly!”
Sally instantly surged forward, darting straight down through the water. She took only seconds to pass Beene and Corbin.
“Jesus!” cried Beene over the speaker. “Tell her to slow down.”
“Ali, you gotta slow down. You’re going to lose them.”
Alison looked up to see both men quickly shrinking in size behind her. “Slower, Sally. Slow. Men must follow.”
Sally eased up in response, coasting to a stop until they caught up. When they did, Sally surged forward, almost losing them again.
Sally continued downward along with dozens of other dolphins, all mingling back and forth on either side of her. The sunlight from above was quickly beginning to fade, eliminating most other colors around them and leaving a deep rich blue.
Alison, like Beene and Corbin, repeatedly equalized the pressure in her ears as they continued downward. They finally reached the nearest exposed section of the alien ship at about seventy feet.
When Sally did not slow, Chris called out to Alison.
“You got to slow down, Ali! Smitty says Beene and Corbin are wearing standard SCUBA gear, so their air is going to get used up fast.”
“How far can they go?”
After a pause, Chris responded. “He says probably not more than a hundred feet. Otherwise, they won’t have enough in their tanks to verify anything.”
She nodded. “Sally, not too much deeper.”
Okay, Alison.
She studied her dive watch and pulled back gently on Sally’s dorsal fin at ninety feet. She turned to search for the men and was nearly blinded when Beene turned on a giant light he held in both hands. Behind him, Corbin’s silhouette seemed to be carrying something smaller and heavier.
“Ali, they want to know how close we are to the sounds the dolphins heard.”
“Okay. Sally, how close are we to the sounds?”
Sally drifted in place, listening again. Sounds gone, Alison. They below. Three clicks.
Alison tried to remember how far the dolphins explained a click to be. Chris was trying to remember the same thing and replied first. “I think that’s about a hundred feet deeper. Maybe more.”
“Right. Tell the guys and let them know the dolphins aren’t hearing the sounds anymore.”
“Okay. Stand by.”
Through her headphones, Alison could detect pieces of the exchange between Smitty and the two men now passing her on her left. Both stopped at the wall at which point Beene directed his underwater light. Beside him, Corbin continued a few feet further down before halting his descent.
“Alison,” Chris said, “ask the dolphins to listen for the sounds again. There’s a good chance you three still aren’t deep enough to hear it. We’re going to need them to relay the patterns back to us.”
She nodded. “Sally, please tell the others to listen for the sounds. We need to know if you hear it again.”
We listen, Alison. With that, Sally spoke a long unintelligible sequence that IMIS could not understand.
In the glow of the bright lamp, Corbin nodded to Beene and held up a large, heavy pipe. Grasping it with both hands, he swung it hard, slamming one end against the wall. After a few moments, he did it again.
He waited several long seconds before he resumed pounding, this time faster and in a pattern. Morse Code.
T-A-Y T-A-Y P-A-T-H-F-I-N-D-E-R R-E-S-P-O-N-D
Tay was well over a hundred feet below but heard the pounding on the wall immediately. Echoing down from above.
He suddenly scrambled to his feet in the darkness, almost slipping off the side of the ledge, and listened intently. When the pattern ended, he felt excitedly around his feet for the log and picked it up. His exhaustion was no match for the adrenaline now coursing through his body.
Whoever was talking to him was at a much higher level than he was, so he pounded with everything he had.
T-A-Y A-L-I-V-E I-N-S-I-D-E S-H-I-P
Tay waited several minutes for a reply but heard nothing. Only silence. He hefted the log again and was ready to repeat the message when he heard more pounding overhead.
P-A-T-I-E-N-T D-O-L-P-H-I-N-S R-E-P-E-A-T-I-N-G
It was when he’d heard the last letter that Tay screamed excitedly in the darkness. It was the dolphins that heard him! The dolphins heard him!
He almost laughed. Man, did he love those dolphins!
U-N-D-E-R-S-T-A-N-D
After another long pause, a new message sounded above him.
G-I-V-E C-O-N-D-I-T-I-O-N
Tay began replying immediately.
F-U-N-C-T-I-O-N-A-L S-O-M-E W-A-T-E-R N-O F-O-O-D
U-N-D-E-R-S-T-O-O-D R-E-P-A-I-R-I-N-G D-R-I-L-L A-S-A-P
Tay’s reply was short.
H-U-R-R-Y
R-E-S-T B-A-C-K S-O-O-N
O-K
With that, Tay lowered the log and slid down against the wall. All sound had disappeared except for the gentle lapping of water around him, unseen in the darkness.
He couldn’t believe it. He now had a fighting chance. No, better than a fighting chance. He’d been part of Captain Emerson’s crew for several years now, and one thing he knew about the old sea dog was that if Emerson knew he was alive, the man would do absolutely anything he could to rescue one of his own.
27
Tay could not have been more right about Emerson, his determination reflected at that moment in the Captain’s steely eyes. Eyes that were carefully scrutinizing the three men standing in front of him.
All three were engineers from one of the nearby destroyer ships. They had been assigned to help the Pathfinder in any way they could, without asking too many questions. Each now faced Captain Emerson with a look of curiosity that was quickly turning into concern.
Emerson frowned thoughtfully through a typically gruff exterior, with hands behind his back. His lean frame was dressed neatly in his pressed Navy whites. The ocean swells outside caused the bridge of the ship to sway slightly, while large droplets of rain peppered the large clear windows behind him.
The tallest of the engineers, a man called Odonnell, glanced at Emerson’s Executive Officer, standing next to the captain, and noticed his sidearm.
“Gentlemen,” Emerson began. “I’ve been given the option of reassigning you to the Pathfinder’s crew. Which I am now activating. Your things will be sent over shortly, and quarte
rs will be assigned personally by my XO, Mr. Harris here. I probably don’t need to tell you that my ship and crew are part of a highly classified mission that will require an upgrade in your security clearance. You’ll be briefed shortly. But before that, I need to make something exceedingly clear. We have a man trapped below the surface. So as of this moment, you—as well as this ship—have one priority and one priority only. You will fix that drill as fast as humanly possible, and then assist in an underwater rescue for which we have very little time.”
“Yes, sir.” All three men nodded in unison.
“There are certain things,” Emerson continued, “you will learn about this mission that will test not only your minds and your grit, but the very foundation of what you thought you knew. To repeat any of what you see or hear beyond this ship will not only result in you being court-martialed, it will border on treason. A charge that the U.S. government and I take very seriously. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Do each of you understand what I have just told you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do I appear to be in a joking mood?”
“No, sir.”
“Good,” Emerson replied dryly. “Because I trust that none of you are interested in spending the rest of your lives in prison. Something I have absolutely no qualms about making happen.”
Silence.
“Now before you get too nervous, let me assure you that, as engineers, the Pathfinder is the best ship any of you could ever hope to be on. That’s a fact.” The captain’s eyes became even sterner. “And as your new captain, believe me when I tell you that I can be goddam delightful!”
The men remained like stone. Not one cracked as much as a smile.
“That is all. Now fall out. And get that drill repaired.”
“Yes, sir!” Each of the men immediately fell in behind Harris as he moved quickly to lead them out through the door.
Emerson watched them go and reflected on their situation. Each engineer had come highly recommended by their previous commanders. All of whom were noticeably irritated at the loss from their own crew. But there was absolutely nothing to be done. The men’s skills were essential, and Emerson had the authority to take whomever he needed. Permanently. Because the risk of them leaking information after returning to their own ships was, frankly, too great.
They were now part of the conspiracy. And Emerson still needed to commandeer two more.
28
Li Na’s eyes fluttered open slowly. Blurry and sore, she turned them away from the overhead light and repeatedly blinked, attempting to focus on her surroundings.
The room, painted light beige, appeared to be clean and… nearly empty, except for a few monitoring devices next to her bed. She glanced at the IV and followed the blurry tube down to her left arm where a needle was secured in place.
Hearing her name, Li Na realized she wasn’t alone and turned her head to find two women standing over her, one with dark hair and the other blonde. Although their faces were still blurry, she could see them both glance past her at one of the machines when it started beeping.
The dark-haired woman leaned down, close to her. “It’s okay, Li Na,” she said softly. “We’re friends. And you’re safe.”
The teenager struggled to first remember the language and then the words. It seemed harder than before. Her mind felt groggy, and some of her thoughts seemed to be slipping away as quickly as they had come. The loud beeping began to increase in speed. And felt like a siren in her brain.
She didn’t know who these people were. Or if they were really friends. Nor could she recall anything at all. She tried to concentrate, forcing herself until scattered images finally began to emerge. She remembered…another hospital bed. And a train. And then being in the woods. Running.
Then came her last memory.
Oh, God! They were behind her in the forest! And there were headlights. Did they catch her?! Her eyes instantly searched for her hands and feet to see if she was restrained.
Both Tricia and Neely could see the fear emerge abruptly in Li Na’s dark, almond-shaped eyes. Eyes that darted back and forth between her bed and the women, before searching the room as if looking for a way out. She was trying desperately to move her feet and legs.
But she could hardly move. Her muscles did not just feel weak, they almost felt like they weren’t there. They were not responding to her attempts to move them. She was paralyzed! Had she been in an accident…or had they drugged her?
Suddenly, the blonde woman standing behind the first turned and called something in English. Something Li Na had heard before but couldn’t remember what it meant. Her eyes watched fearfully as the woman turned, until finally stepping to one side and allowing someone else in.
The figure was tall, with dark hair. His strong tan jawline looked familiar. But when Li Na saw his blue eyes, she nearly gasped. She remembered.
All at once she relaxed and dropped her head back onto the pillow. Her eyes softened, and her bottom lip began to quiver. It was him. It was the American! It was the man who had saved her.
Tears welled in her eyes before bursting down each of her soft cheeks. He had survived! And he had come back for her!
Clay took Li Na’s hand in his and held it gently. “Hello again, Li Na.”
She was crying now, her entire chin trembling, making it difficult to speak. When she did, it was a single word. “John.”
He smiled warmly. “That’s right. John Clay. Do you remember me?”
She blinked through her tears and nodded her head.
Clay reached out and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Don’t cry. You’re safe now. I promise.”
It was all she needed to hear. The images came flooding back. Running. Being chased by those men. And her father. Her father was dead. She was all alone. Alone and afraid. She began sobbing.
Her tears came like a flood, and her hand gripped Clay’s like a vice.
Clay said nothing. He simply lowered himself onto a knee and reached out with his free hand to drop the side rail of her bed. Once down, he leaned in and put a reassuring arm around her shoulder.
He held her, unmoving, and let her cry.
29
It was a release that Li Na badly needed.
All that time. All the grief, fear, and the exhaustion had taken a heavy emotional toll that few girls her age could have endured. Let alone survived.
And she was alive. First because of her father. Then because of John Clay, followed by herself––and finally Neely, although Li Na didn’t realize it yet.
The young girl finally managed to calm herself, attempting to speak in English through wet, glistening eyes.
“You saved me.”
Clay grinned. “Well, it wasn’t all me. I had help.”
Her expression became troubled. “Why would you do that for me?”
“Because you’re a very impressive young lady.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re very strong.”
She frowned and shook her head. “I wasn’t strong. I was afraid.”
Clay’s grin faded, but his eyes remained warm. “Fear and strength are not enemies of one another, Li Na.”
She breathed in, accepting his answer. Then the girl turned to look around the room again before finally looking back up at the women.
“Li Na, I’d like you to meet Dr. Tricia Rhoades and Dr. Neely Lawton. They’ve been helping take care of you.”
The teenager smiled in embarrassment. “I thought maybe…”
“We know,” Neely smiled before the teenager could finish her sentence. “We don’t blame you.”
“Where…did you find me?”
“That’s a complicated answer,” said Clay. “But I’ll explain everything when you’re stronger.”
Her eyes searched the room again, more calmly this time. “Where am I?”
“Near South America. On an island named Trinidad. But you’re safe. No one knows yo
u’re here, except us.”
She thought to herself, trying to remember where South America was on the map. “They’ll find me.”
Clay stood up, towering over her. “Not a chance.”
Tricia smiled at him and turned to the girl. “Li Na, you’ve been asleep for a long time. Healing. So I’d like to ask you some questions to see how you’re feeling. Is that okay?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Tricia rolled a small stool closer to the bed and sat on it, holding up a chart. She began writing. “How old are you, Li Na?”
She had to think. “Seventeen.”
“Where were you born?”
“Beijing.”
“What day is your birthday?”
“July sixteenth.”
Tricia nodded. “Do you feel pain anywhere?”
Li Na blinked, thinking. “My throat hurts.”
“We’ll get you something for that. Is that all?”
“I think so.”
Tricia continued writing. “Very good.” After a moment, she lowered the clipboard. “Now I’m going to ask you to try to remember a few things, okay?”
“Okay.”
30
The first thing to stand out when entering the office of the Secretary of Defense was a giant, dark walnut desk, sitting precisely in the middle of the room. Ornate rectangular etchings covered the desk’s front and sides. The room’s rich royal-blue carpet beneath it projected a powerful and unmistakable feeling of authority.
A matching round table sat to the side, with four empty chairs tucked in neatly. The opposite side of the room hosted a gold and blue striped couch, sitting off by itself––and facing the desk together with the large dual windows behind it.
It was the expansiveness of not just the desk but the entire room which gave the illusion of Merl Miller being shorter than he really was. It was also the reason Admiral Langford had replaced the desk in his own office, but the illusion never failed to amuse him when entering Miller’s office.
Mosaic (Breakthrough Book 5) Page 11
