by JC Ryan
Theo and his student wished them farewell and good luck, but from the corner of his eye as they walked away, Carter saw them shaking their heads.
“Sean, you won’t be the one to go in. They’re my kids.”
“That’s exactly why I am going in. That and the fact that I’ve got a better chance than you. At least if I don’t make it, the kids will still have a father.”
Carter’s voice broke as he answered. “But will the father still have any kids?”
“We’ll get them, if I have to blow up that tunnel to get to them.”
Carter’s hope flared, and then died again. “You can’t do that. Even if it were successful, that would cause an international incident. And you couldn’t be sure you wouldn’t collapse it instead of widening it. We have to get to the dolphins again and see what they can do to help. And I need to talk to Mackenzie. There’s a chance she can help.”
“Carter, what are you thinking? You can’t mean…”
“They’ve had some success with rats. Maybe it’s time for a human subject.”
Sean shook his head. “Mackenzie will never go for it.”
On the way back to the boat, they passed the place where they’d had coffee, reminding Carter of the man who’d been staring at him.
“I can’t tell you why, but I know I’ve seen that guy before,” Carter said. He gestured at the table where they’d been sitting.
“Probably just someone you’ve seen around here,” Sean answered. “Maybe he waited on you at a restaurant or store?”
“No. To be honest, I wouldn’t remember those faces. I’ve been too distracted.”
“That will get you killed, my friend. You must notice and remember every face.”
“Sean, I wasn’t trained like you. And don’t change the subject. I know that guy. And if I know him, then he knows me. Why would he recognize me and not approach?”
“Could be he was just intimidated by that look on your face, buddy.” Sean said. “You’ve been pretty intense since I got here.” He put his hands up and stepped back as Carter turned a fierce grimace on him. “With good reason! Or,” he mused, “you said he’s an archaeologist, one that the Brit authorities are looking for. Maybe he’s worked for you. But he looked like a native of this region, didn’t he?”
Carter shook his head slowly. “No. He looked Middle Eastern! The Nabateans?” A jolt of fear went through him at the thought that a member of the Nabatean conspiracy might have escaped the net and might have his kids. Then a worse thought bubbled up, as his brain found the last piece of the puzzle.
A crude four-letter word burst from his lips. “Sean, he’s the murderer! The Brits sent me the picture because he’s a murder suspect, and I’d bet my last dollar that he’s the one!” Carter bent over and moaned. “Oh, God! Let me be wrong!” But he knew he wasn’t.
However, one piece of the puzzle didn’t fit well. He pulled out his cell phone and redialed the last call. Without greeting the man who answered or identifying himself, he asked with frantic urgency, “Have the victims’ families ever received a ransom demand?”
His eyes met Sean’s as he listened to the answer. Then he said, “I need to know everything Ahab Bashar’s professors and fellow students know about him.” He paused for a response. “No, I haven’t interviewed him, but he’s here, and it’s a long story, but he emailed me this morning that he’s not here. He lied for a reason, and I think the reason is my kids. I’ll have to fill you in later. Meanwhile, please, get me that intel.”
Without taking another step, he ended that call and dialed Mackenzie. The call went to voice mail. He couldn’t leave news like that on voice mail. After a moment, he knew the call was ill-advised anyway. He couldn’t tell his beloved wife that a monster had their children, and that even if he did as the bastard wanted, Ahab would probably kill them in horrific ways.
But the only way for Carter to draw him out was to do as he wanted anyway. And the dolphins must be convinced to cooperate.
36
ONE OF MERRYBETH’S sons was with the boat all the time, now. It was a more efficient way of communicating than meeting her at the entrance to the cave system where they’d already determined they couldn’t get through. But Carter wanted to talk to Merrybeth personally, not have the message relayed through the dolphin’s ansible method, which he still didn’t entirely understand. Did they actually repeat what was said, or was it pictures? He thought the latter. The pictures in his mind were too gruesome to broadcast to dolphins world-wide. They didn’t need the trauma his own brain was experiencing.
As soon as they returned and boarded, Carter went to the translation device, heedless that he was about to reveal to anyone near enough to hear their semi-secret method of communicating with dolphins. Naturally, it was an open secret on the Alboran dig, and it was too naïve to assume that some of the employees hadn’t talked out of turn on their leaves at home. But it was technically still top secret. If anyone heard and the media got more than they already knew, Carter could be in real trouble with A-Echelon. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but getting his kids back. He’d give his life for them if necessary. His freedom was nothing compared to that.
“Jasper,” he called. “Are you there?”
Seconds later, the young male breached and hailed him. “I am here, Carter.”
“I need your mother. Is she nearby?”
“I will call her. She will be here soon.”
The answer wasn’t responsive, but not all the dolphins understood relative terms like nearby. ‘Soon’ might also mean something different to a dolphin than it did to a land-human. Even then, it depended on context. Carter spoke to a crew member about dinner for the crew, Sean, and himself while he waited for Merrybeth. It was too early by Greek standards, but by the standards of cops, spies, and scientists on the trail of answers, you ate when you had the chance. He might very well be diving tonight despite the hour, and he’d need his energy if so.
Merrybeth’s unique whistle called him back to the rail. “Merrybeth, I have news, and it is not good.”
The dolphin’s pleasant facial expression never changed as Carter told her his conclusions about the kidnapper. She could not show anything but the apparent smile on her curved mouth, but her keening whistles told the story. She was grief-stricken – for him.
“Carter, we haven’t heard from my daughter for two suns. I believe she is dead. You must do whatever will save your children, and we will help if we can. I do not blame you for Carmen’s death.”
“Don’t give up hope, Merrybeth. If you’re right, I’m so sorry we weren’t in time. But I won’t give up without confirmation.”
He then told her they were going to take the boat to the other spot where the underground river came out to the sea. “I will try to swim in and find them,” he concluded.
“I agree we must explore that,” she responded. “But my sons will go first. If they can’t make it, you can’t make it.”
“I won’t have you sacrifice another child, Merrybeth. The man who told us about this says there is no room to turn around. Your sons could be swimming into a death trap.”
“I will tell them to be careful. We must go now, Carter. This bad man may hurt your children soon.”
“If I’m right, he’ll deliver another ransom demand. Merrybeth, this is very important. You must believe that we are better able to take care of ourselves now. If you know where the Minotaur may be found, you must agree to lead him there.”
“We thought the Minotaurs were in the cave where we took you,” she answered. “If they are not there, then perhaps deeper in the caves, where you could not get through. Or perhaps they have all died.”
“Can you lie to him, Merrybeth?”
“What is lie, Carter?”
Carter gave only a moment’s thought to the ethical dilemma. Was it right to introduce a vice among an innocent race? Did it matter, when his children’s lives were at stake? Could he even explain it to a race that didn’t know its meaning already?
�
��I will show you, Merrybeth.” He thought desperately for an example that would be meaningful to her. He seized a bucket and held it up. “If I tell you there are fish in this bucket, do you believe me?”
“If you tell me there are fish in the bucket, then there are fish in the bucket.”
“All right. There are fish in this bucket. Here, I’ll give them to you.” He tipped the bucket, which was empty, and pretended to throw them toward Merrybeth. “Catch!”
Merrybeth jerked backward, prepared to dive for the fish. Her ‘smile’ never wavered as she swam back to the boat. “Where are the fish, Carter?”
“There were no fish. That was a lie.”
“That was not nice.”
“No, a lie isn’t nice. But sometimes we must do it. It would be a lie if you told the bad man you would lead him to the Minotaur, when you don’t know where it is. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I lead him away, while you rescue your children. That is a necessary lie. I will do it.”
Carter wondered if he’d opened Pandora’s box for the dolphins, but Merrybeth had it right. It was necessary, for the greater good. He hoped his plan would not get Merrybeth killed as well.
“Follow the boat, Merrybeth. I have a feeling we’ll find this guy at the other entrance.”
Carter didn’t know why he thought that, unless the guy had been following him earlier rather than just stumbling across him. He also realized he was pinning all his hopes and perhaps risking his life on a series of guesses. He’d found the library of the Giants and the Alboran Codex on less. Besides, he had no other leads.
The other entrance was inside a bay, perhaps twenty miles from the harbor where they were now. It would take about an hour to get there. Carter asked the crew to serve the light dinner he’d arranged for, and then checked his phone. He saw he’d missed a return call from Mackenzie and decided he must talk to her before going into the water, even if he had to break bad news. He hit the keys to return her call.
“Carter! We’ve been playing phone tag,” she said by way of a greeting.
“We have, Mackie. I’m sorry.”
“Any news?”
He searched for the words to tell her. “There’s news, Mackie. I’m not sure it’s good news.”
He pictured her suddenly clutching the phone. “Mackie, hang up. I’m going to call back with video.”
“Carter, don’t you dare dis…”
He didn’t give her time to finish the word. He hit the end call icon, waited thirty seconds, an eternity, and called back. Her face filled his screen, and she looked angry.
“Mackie, please. I had to look you in the face when I tell you this. First, know that I love you with all my heart.”
Her expression turned to concern in the heartbeat before he went on, telling her in a rush that left no room for a response. “There’s no way to soften this blow. I believe our children are being held by the same man who’s wanted for murder in London. I know it’s a huge coincidence, but I have a gut feeling, and some evidence. The other bad news is that he’s somehow gotten them into a cave system that’s said to be unreachable. We were blocked at one end, but we’re going now to the other end, and I’m going to do my damnedest to get to them and get them out. The dolphins are going to help.”
“Carter, what in the world are you telling me?”
“Local geologists tell me the way in is blocked on this end by flooded tunnels, that the distance is too great for an unassisted dive, and that a normal-sized man with tanks won’t fit through. But if I’m right, the kidnapper found a way. Merrybeth is going to lead the guy away if he’s where we think he is and wants what we think he wants. While he’s gone, I’ll go in and get the kids, and Carmen if she’s still alive. Merrybeth thinks she’s dead already.”
“Oh, no!”
“Try not to worry, Mackie. This guy wants something, and until he gets it, I don’t think he’d deliberately harm the kids. He may have just miscalculated with Carmen. He’s got her in water, but Merrybeth says it’s fresh water, and that’s bad for their skin. I don’t know if it’s fatal right away. Merrybeth says Carmen hasn’t communicated in two days.”
“Carter, I may know something. The wolves were acting strangely earlier. Keeva’s pup, the one Beth named Akela? She climbed right into my lap, and she licked my face. I think she knows Beth is alive but in trouble.”
“How sure are you?” Carter didn’t question his wife’s bond with the wolves, so it wasn’t a stretch to believe Beth could have the same bond. The question had to do with Mackenzie’s interpretation of the wolves’ behavior. No matter what, he wouldn’t take that hope away from her. “Anything about Liam?”
“No,” she said, her face falling again. “I don’t think the mental bond is there with Liam. But Beth would have been even more frightened if Liam isn’t with her, wouldn’t she? I didn’t get that much fright from Akela. Just a longing to be with me. With us,” she corrected.
“That jibes with my logic,” he said. “They’re alive, and I’m going in for them. I have to go get ready for the dive.”
“Wait, Carter. I have an idea. It’s risky. Maybe too risky. No, let me think about it. Don’t take unnecessary chances unless this guy threatens to kill the children. Then do what you must.”
“Mackie, you’re not making sense. Back up and start over.”
“The respirocytes, Carter. They work. There’s a problem, but I need to talk to my team to see if it can be overcome, if it’s even feasible to get them to you. It would be a desperate measure, though. We haven’t tested them on anything but rats.”
Carter grasped the implications at once. “I’ll take them if it means I can save the kids. The risk to me doesn’t matter. Can you get here with them?”
“I’ll call Irene right now. Please, Carter, I can’t lose the kids and you, too.”
“I know, Mackie, and you won’t. I promise.”
Carter ended the call. He looked up from the screen to find Sean staring at him. “How can you make a promise like that?” he asked.
Carter answered, “I’ve never broken a promise to her. I won’t break this one. If it’s the last thing I do in this life, I’ll at least give her back our children.”
37
ONCE THEY’D STEERED the boat into the bay where the other entrance was said to be located, Merrybeth and her sons took point on finding it. By then it was too dark for Carter, Sean, or the crew to see the tell-tale ripples where the karst spring exited underwater. But the dolphins would sense it if they got close enough but didn’t see the entrance.
While Merrybeth, Jasper, and his brother explored the shoreline underwater, Carter and the other land-humans searched visually and electronically for another boat nearby where Bashar might be hiding. However, because of the sun setting beyond the horizon or the boat being too far away, they saw nothing. That didn’t mean he wasn’t out there. He could even be patrolling with the individual vessel Merrybeth had described. Nevertheless, they kept watch to avoid being surprised.
After about an hour, Merrybeth appeared at the side of the boat. “We have found the entrance. My son ‘unknown whistle’ is exploring. Jasper is trying to find the bad man’s boat.”
Carter made the adjustments to the translator to assign the name Franklin to the whistle Merrybeth had used. Odd they’d never heard that one before. He assumed it was because Jasper had never referred to him by ‘name’.
“Did you tell Franklin to turn back when the passage gets too narrow to turn around?”
“He will be careful.”
Carter let it go, although that was not a responsive answer, either. He was beginning to believe that the dolphins didn’t always listen to land-human advice, especially when it came to their realm underwater. He only hoped Franklin wouldn’t go too far and lose his life also. The geologists had been clear about the dangers.
Another shape joined Merrybeth, and they dived without speaking to Carter again. In a few minutes, though, Merrybeth came up again. “Jasper has
found the boat. The bad man wants me to come to him. I will be back soon.”
“Merrybeth, wait!” Carter called, but it was too late. She’d disappeared under the waves, and they couldn’t follow her in the dark if she didn’t want them to. He spent the next half-hour worrying about his friends. Sean tried to distract him, but it did no good. He was not in the mood for jokes, and there was no point in speculating about what was going on.
At last, Merrybeth returned. Once again, she had something in her mouth, and Carter extended a pole with a net on the end, normally used for pulling in a catch of fish, so she could drop it in.
The plastic bag contained a note and a flash drive. The note said, “The dolphin must lead me to the Minotaur.” Nothing was said about the flash drive, but Carter knew the drill. He inserted it into his laptop and watched, certain he knew what was coming.
Knowing he’d see his children in captivity and vulnerable to the monster who’d butchered other children was nothing compared to the reality. He was proud of Liam for his defiance, but the video went black for a moment. When it began again, Liam’s expression had changed, and now the children were tied up. Carter clenched his jaw to keep from screaming his frustration. His hands curled into fists, and a fierce desire to put them around Bashar’s neck and squeeze the life out of him momentarily blinded Carter.
He fought to regain control of his emotions, and then backed up the video to the beginning, determined to miss nothing, no clue. He listened closely to Liam’s words, also.
“Dad, this person says you have to do as he says, or he’ll hurt us. He just hit Beth. I’m sorry I made him mad.”
Bashar had made a mistake by leaving in Liam’s first version of the threat. That meant the children must have rattled him. Liam’s next sentence was delivered in a flat tone.
“He says you have to sacrifice the dolphins. There’s one here with us. She doesn’t look good, Dad. He gave her a few fish, but I think she’s hungry. We’re hungry, too. He’s given us water and some energy bars, but Beth doesn’t like energy bars, so she won’t eat them. She’s scared, Dad, he said it’s your fault we’re in this position, but I know you’ll be here soo...”
