Randy never got the chance.
As if it had heard their conversation, the sea scorpion changed course and headed straight for Big Boy, rising from the water like a nightmare, teeth chomping on water, claws and pincers snapping together with such force the sound carried over the surging water.
“Ram the thing,” Tanner told Jansen.
“What?” She looked scared and no longer wore her superior smirk.
“I said ram it. Now!”
Jansen eased the throttle down and Big Boy’s engines moaned and coughed as the forty-two-foot aluminum boat drove through the water. They were playing chicken again, but this time Tanner was prepared, and if the beast changed course, he would match it. Pain cramped his neck, his side hurt worse than any injury he’d ever had, his heart pounded, and soon he’d fall down from exhaustion and lack of food. Tanner’s day had started fourteen hours ago, and he was losing steam faster than he could produce it.
The beast was twenty yards out and closing, and Tanner leaned past Jansen and pressed Big Boy’s throttle all the way down. The boat plowed forward at full speed.
The impact was bone rattling, but little happened. A sharp scraping sound filled the cabin as the sea scorpion’s shell rubbed against the metal hull, but there was no tearing or crunching sounds of destruction. Big Boy had taken the hit with no major damage, and the creature passed on the port side and stabbed at the boat with its spike, but missed because of the angle. The spike kept pulling back and striking, over and over, but hitting nothing because it wasn’t lined up correctly. The beast’s forward claws were also useless because of its position as it swam alongside the boat.
Tanner jumped from the bridge onto the deck. He’d remembered the grenades. They sat on deck in a wooden crate and he fetched two and ran to the stern. The creature was just past them. Tanner pulled the pin from one of the grenades and tossed it after the beast. It hit the water directly behind the sea scorpion and the explosion sent a geyser of water shooting into the air behind the beast. Tanner pulled another pin and threw the grenade, but the leviathan dove and the grenade blew on the surface.
“Shiiiiiiiiiiiit,” Tanner yelled.
The creature circled them again, but this time further off.
“Damn thing’s smart for a living fossil,” Tanner said.
“Wha?” Randy said.
“Horseshoe crabs have been around so long they’re classified as living fossils,” Jansen said.
“Aren’t we an encyclopedia today,” Randy said.
“Don’t know about it being smart, but it’s definitely an apex predator,” Tanner said. “I’m gonna kill that fucking thing if it’s the last thing I do. Randy, did you call Jefferson and the others during the confusion?”
“On the way.” Randy looked at the deck. Silence fell as the fist of water circled Big Boy. Randy looked sheepish, then said, “Hey, listen, since you’re already pissed, I might as well heap some more bad news on those narrow shoulders.”
Tanner watched the beast as it circled Big Boy. “What now, you gonna tell me you’re gay and you’ve been in love with me all these years?”
“Audrey has a boyfriend,” Randy said.
Tanner jerked back like he’d been punched. “What? Who? When?” He’d known this would happen, just not so fast. Audrey was a beautiful woman, and she could have any man she wanted. They were done, and he had no hold over her any longer.
“Names Fred Jasper. He’s a fireman in Rescue One in the city,” Randy said.
“You’ve met him?” Tanner said. “Nice timing, dipshit.” He couldn’t believe they were having this conversation with a man-eating prehistoric animal tracking them and circling their boat.
“Tina and Audrey are friends, you know that. We went out to dinner a couple of times. He’s not a bad guy.”
“Dinner a couple of times? When the hell were you going to tell me?”
“When you were really pissed-off already about something else, like now. I know this isn’t a great time, but you’re already—”
“Screw you,” Tanner said. He left the wheelhouse and slammed the bulkhead door behind him.
“Come on, man—”
The door cut Randy off and Tanner felt guilty. His friend was trying to tell him what no one else could, and he’d just torn him down. Frustration got the better of him and he’d lashed out at someone close to him. It had been an issue with Audrey as well, and it was the main reason she’d suggested he seek professional help to work through his issues. This just made him angrier, which she said proved her point, and around and around they went.
He breathed deep, sucking in the foul sea air. A boyfriend. Goddamn. What did he have to say about it? Since they’d broken up, he’d dated several women, so why he thought that was OK and Audrey dating wasn’t was crazy. He knew he was wrong, but that didn’t stop the deep burn in his stomach that told him he still cared for her, deeply, and maybe the time had come to tell her so. That is, if he made it through the night.
Tanner rolled his shoulders and cracked his back. He felt clammy, his wet clothes sticking to his skin, the salt water drying on his face making his skin tight at the edges, like it might rip if he moved too fast. He had fresh clothes in his locker below, and he had just decided to go change when he realized he no longer saw the sea scorpion circling Big Boy. It had changed course, and was moving around the edges of the marina as if searching for an outlet.
Tanner bolted back into the pilothouse. “How far out are reinforcements?”
“Sixty seconds,” Jansen said.
“Cut the thing off and don’t let it out of the marina.”
“But how—?”
Tanner stepped to the controls and motioned for Jansen to step aside. He took the controls and spun Big Boy’s wheel as fast as he could. The boat turned in a tight arc, putting it on an intercept course with the sea scorpion. The beast didn’t appear to notice and continued its search around the edges of the marina. It made no sound, and its claws were hidden by the water and its spike was bent vertically in swim position.
“I think it’s trying to escape,” Tanner said.
The screaming of outboard motors running at full tilt filled the air. Two coastie boats and two PD SAFE boats raced up the main canal toward them. All Tanner had to do was block the creature until they arrived. Like a defensive back closing in on a receiver, he adjusted his angle to intercept the sea scorpion.
The creature disappeared beneath the water, and all that remained was a swirling vortex of water. Tanner eased back on the throttle and Big Boy slowed to a crawl. He picked up binoculars and searched the horizon. There was no sign of the sea scorpion. The wind eased, and the rank stench of the beast cut through the sea air.
“There,” Randy said.
Aft, past their wake, the creature swam in the opposite direction.
“It played possum,” Tanner said. “Full stop.”
“You don’t want to chase it?” Jansen asked.
Tanner said nothing. He watched the sea scorpion cross the marina and when it hit the opposite side, it turned left and traced the edges of the quay again. A bruised sky stretched to the horizon as the sun disappeared below the rim of the world. Twilight hid the desolation, and Tanner could barely see the creature in the dying light.
It was 8:19PM.
22
Tanner ordered all Big Boy’s exterior floodlights turned on, but the glare of the lights made it harder to see in the growing darkness, not easier, so he had them shut down. The sea scorpion waited across the marina, bubbles streaming to the surface marking its location. Stars shone overhead, and the temperature had already gone down a little, but the humidity was still brutal.
Jefferson’s SAFE boat had joined Big Boy at the entrance to Fireplace Neck’s marina, followed by two PD boats and the second Coast Guard boat. Jefferson’s orange gunnels and the white Coast Guard logo stood out in the dark. Outboard motors wound down and Jefferson’s boat bumped Big Boy’s aft dive platform. She stepped off her boat and Tan
ner watched her make her way up to the bridge.
“Sorry we took so long,” she said as she entered. When she saw Tanner’s clothes and his mud-streaked face, she added, “What the hell happened to you? You OK?”
“Fine,” he said. Randy snorted and Jansen made no sound.
“You don’t look fine. What happened?”
She wasn’t her normal beautiful self. The long hours without sleep and the lack of food had taken its toll. Black bags hung beneath her eyes and her face was haggard. She’d been worrying. About him? He doubted it, yet he had that familiar warm feeling in his stomach as he looked at her and there was heat between them. But hadn’t he just decided he needed to make things right with Audrey?
“The beast and I had a…a tussle,” he said.
“The thing came after him and kicked his ass,” Randy said. “Almost killed him. I found him hiding in a tree.”
Tanner shot him a glare but said nothing.
“Where is the thing? Did you get it?” Jefferson was excited. She had the wrong impression.
Tanner said nothing, but instead pointed out the port window.
Jefferson followed his finger and peered through the darkness.
“It’s sitting on the opposite side of the marina. What’s it waiting for is the real question. I think we spooked it.”
“I can’t see it,” Jefferson said. She stood inches from the bridge window, squinting, and Tanner watched the frustration grow on her face.
“Its shell is black. Good camouflage at night,” Randy said.
“So, what? You’re just waiting for it to come and invite you to tea?” Jefferson said.
“Not exactly,” Tanner told her. “Are your guys up to attacking this thing? I think we’ve got it cornered in here, and the water isn’t deep, only twelve feet at the center.”
“Yeah, we’re up for it, but you better make it fast. The USS Gridley has arrived, and it’s anchored out by the Vigilant, so it won’t be long before we’re not calling the shots.”
Tanner grunted.
“It’s not so bad. They can help us.”
“We’ll see,” Randy said.
Jansen, an ex-Navy helmsmen, said, “They’re more qualified to handle this than we are. Why aren’t we pulling out? Letting them take care of this?”
“We can handle it ourselves,” Tanner said. His voice was laced with anger, and he ground his teeth in frustration.
“Evidence to the contrary proves otherwise,” Jansen said.
“You want off the boat?” Randy asked her. “I can have one of the SAFE boats take you out, Sal also if that’s what he wants, and anyone else that feels the way you do.”
Jansen said nothing, but returned to monitoring her command console.
“Speaking of Sal, where the hell has he been?” Tanner asked.
“He’s down in the hold,” Randy said. “We sustained minor damage in the attack and he’s attending to it.”
“So are we’re going to stand around and argue about nothing? Or do you have a plan?” Jefferson’s frustration showed via red blotches forming on her perfect brown skin.
“I propose we leave two PD boats at the mouth of the marina, backed up by a coastie boat. Then Randy in a twenty-two, and you in your rig, and me in Big Boy, ride down this thing’s throat and blow it to hell.”
“You still have the rocket launcher?” Jefferson asked.
“Nope. Fired one at the thing and missed. I lost it when…when I ran into trouble.” The house collapse story would have to wait for another time.
“So we’ve got two heavy machine guns, a box of grenades, and small arms. That going to be enough?”
“Hasn’t been so far,” Jansen said.
“Should we bring in air support?” Randy said.
“Coast Guard and PD units are standing by,” Jefferson told him.
“I don’t want to spook the thing before we get a shot at it. We’ll bring in air support as needed. As to will it be enough, you’ve forgotten our most powerful weapons; the boats, specifically Big Boy. When I tried to ram the thing, it fled.”
“Sounds a little too Captain Nemo for me,” Jefferson said. “I think you’re a bit obsessed.”
“The thing has killed our friends, Kim. You want out?”
She said nothing.
“Let’s get to it then,” Tanner said.
Jefferson paused a moment, looking at Randy as if she expected a counter-proposal, or other suggestions, but Randy focused on the deck and added nothing.
Jefferson headed back to her boat and within moments, all the vessels were shifting positions and preparing to fight. The machine guns were checked, and Sal came above deck carrying an armload of guns and ammo. Sal piloted Little Boy and took Randy to his twenty-two and transferred him and his weapons to the PD boat.
When Jefferson flanked Big Boy on the port side, and Randy had the starboard side, Tanner gave the order to move ahead slow. The small vanguard slipped across the surface of the water, the sound of motors rumbling in the stillness. When they were a hundred yards from the creature, Tanner ordered a halt. A cluster of bubbles fought to the surface, but the sea scorpion was submerged and only the rounded shell of its back and its spike tail could be seen.
Tanner opened a comm channel. “All units keep this channel open for the duration and limit chatter to necessary communication. Copy?”
“Aye,” came Randy’s voice first, followed by Jefferson and the others.
“OK. Let’s do this,” Tanner said. He took a deep breath. “All exterior lights on.”
The night was drenched in white light, creating a pocket of luminescence in the blackness. The bubbles ceased at once, and the beast’s humming sound started.
“Hold,” Tanner said. Then he turned to Jansen. “I’ll man the main gun.” He walked to one of the bridge side windows and slid it open a crack. “Keep an ear out for me. I may need you to move.”
“Aye,” she said. The young marine cop’s face was drawn, her brow furrowed and her usually full lips drawn into a thin line.
Tanner exited the pilothouse and made his way to the bow, where the Browning rested on its tripod. He moved in behind it and aimed the heavy-duty machine gun at the swirling water where the bubbles had been.
There was nothing else to do, so he ordered Sal to toss a grenade and wake the thing up. Sal, moving as slowly as Tanner had ever seen him move, inched across the deck and retrieved two hand grenades. “I can’t reach from here. I’m not Aaron Rodgers for shit’s sake.”
“Bring us in closer,” Tanner yelled.
Big Boy’s engines cycled up and the boat slid forward. When they were thirty yards out, Jansen stopped the vessel. “Kim, be ready to back away as soon as Sal tosses his surprise.”
“10-4,” she said.
Sal wedged himself into the bow and pulled both grenade pins at once and tossed the explosive devices into the swirling water.
“Now!” Tanner yelled.
Big Boy jumped backward, and the water before them geysered as the grenades detonated and displaced hundreds of gallons of water. A great cry rose above the tumult and the sea scorpion surfaced, flailing wildly, its spike stabbing empty air as its claws snapped closed in search of prey.
“Fire!” Tanner yelled.
The rattle of machine gun fire and the boom of shotgun blasts growled like thunder. Smoke filled the air and Tanner coughed, but he didn’t pause. The Browning rattled as it cycled through its bullets, Tanner’s eyeballs shaking in his head.
The creature vaulted from the water directly at the forward coastie boat. The beast’s spike came down, piercing the Coast Guard vessel and sending its crew running for cover. The spike lifted and came down, again and again, and some of the coasties, including Jefferson, were forced to jump into the water.
Sal ran to the gunnel with two more grenades, but stopped when he heard Tanner yelling.
“Cease fire! Cease fire! You’ll hit them!”
To starboard, Jefferson’s SAFE boat was broken in
two and going down. Indecision gripped Tanner and fear crippled him. The coasties yelled for help as the scorpion pounded the sinking ship. Sal acted without orders. He ran aft and jumped in Little Boy, started the engine, and tore off toward the coasties in the drink.
“No. Sal, I order you to return to the ship,” yelled Tanner, but it was too late.
Little Boy raced across the water toward the chaos, but didn’t make it. One of the monster’s claws speared from the water, and before Sal could react, he was caught in the giant claw. It cleaved him in two and his broken body fell into the water, his legs disappearing beneath the sea. His torso floated on the surface, his blue inflatable PFD deployed.
“You fucker!” Tanner opened up with the machine gun again, firing indiscriminately into the mass of water that hid the creature. A coastie floated in the water face down, but it wasn’t Jefferson. The sea scorpion rolled toward Big Boy, and Tanner screamed, “Full ahead!”
The floodlights cast the scene in black and white, and time slowed. Water gushed over Big Boy’s gunnel as the beast used its shell to crush the PD patrol boat and everyone on it. Big Boy’s forward momentum pushed the aluminum bow into the creature’s underside and drove it back. Tanner fired, the machine gun popping like synchronized fireworks, a smile creeping across his mud-streaked face.
23
The sea scorpion rolled, and the ensuing splash knocked Tanner across the deck. The machine gun went silent, and the wail of the beast sounded over the water. The railing around the bow was splattered with blue blood, as was the deck and gunnel. It looked greasy and slippery, and reminded Tanner of a chum slick.
He got to his feet and drew down. The Glock barked, and blue blood gushed from the creature’s face cavity as it lunged forward and bit the boat. Then Big Boy was past the creature and Tanner jogged aft, emptying the Glock as he ran. He dropped the empty clip, snapped home a new one, and sighted the creature as it disappeared outside their sphere of light.
“Bring her about and get on the bastard’s tail!” he shouted.
Jansen turned the ship’s wheel and Big Boy spun in place as the starboard maneuvering props churned the water. Randy had picked up Jefferson, and they flanked Big Boy in a twenty-two. Pieces of Jefferson’s boat bobbed on the boat churned water, and Tanner didn’t see the guardsman’s body floating amongst the wreckage.
The Breach Page 11
