Deep Wild Blue

by Michael Maguire

  With a gentle touch of the brake, Kristo slowed and came to a halt where Lucy was waiting. Archie opened the gill slits so they could talk.

  ‘All okay,’ Archie told her. ‘Open the rear hatch and climb in.’

  Lucy was wearing distressed denim shorts and a cropped t-shirt. She looked and felt cool as she slid into the opening and settled into her seat.

  Archie waited for Lucy to get comfortable in her safety harness and then he increased speed.

  Lucy kept an eye on the plasma screens as Archie dropped Kristo into a dive and pushed the speed indicator to the half-way point.

  ‘Let’s go to the Marina,’ Archie suggested. ‘We can see if any new yachts have arrived.’

  ‘Are you hoping to catch a glimpse of Troy?’

  ‘It would be fun. If he’s on the deck of Cornish Destiny we could watch him for a bit.’

  ‘We’ll have to keep way back and use the zoom on the dorsal fin camera.’

  ‘We mustn’t be seen,’ Archie agreed. ‘He’d go ballistic if he knew we were out in Kristo.’

  ‘Head for the mooring bay used by Cornish Destiny.’

  Archie nodded and jiggled his feet on the rudder pedals. He swung the shark out to deeper water but kept low to avoid the sea currents.

  ‘If we surface now we’re far enough away not to be seen.’

  ‘There’s Cornish Destiny!’ Lucy whooped and pointed to the plasma screen. ‘The yacht is backing out of the Marina.’

  ‘We’ll get some distance between us and then we’ll follow,’ Archie said.

  ‘Troy won’t be happy about us using Kristo without his permission.’

  ‘It’s only a bit of fun. Our holiday is nearly at an end so this will probably be the last ride in Kristo.’

  ‘I can see Troy.’ Lucy’s face brightened as she studied the plasma screens. ‘He’s looking over the stern of Cornish Destiny.’

  ‘Is Scarlett with him?’

  ‘No sign of her. I can see Lord Braxton and a couple of crew members.’

  Archie nudged the power and swung Kristo round so they could get a clear view of both sides of Cornish Destiny.

  Scarlett could now be seen. A stainless steel boarding ladder had been hooked over the side and she was making her way down to where the Jet Ski was attached.

  ‘Wow, she really loves that thing,’ Archie said. ‘I think she’s a bit of a speed freak.’

  ‘She’s not wearing a life jacket,’ Lucy pointed out. ‘This is dangerous. The sea looks very angry today, so that’s being really stupid.’

  Cornish Destiny navigated away from the Marina and headed for deep water. The Jet Ski followed, with Scarlett waving at Troy as she steered past the yacht and pushed the ski to go faster.

  ‘I think they’re going to have a race,’ Lucy whispered almost to herself. She looked both excited and frightened at the same time.

  ‘I told you she was an air-head,’ Archie tut-tutted. ‘Nobody races in a choppy sea without a lifejacket.’

  ‘How fast is Lord Braxton’s Yacht?’

  ‘Very fast. Troy told me he’d been shown the engine room. Cornish Destiny can easily do 30 knots which is about 35mph.’

  Scarlett whizzed ahead using all of the Jet Ski’s power. There was now a big gap between her and Cornish Destiny.

  The Jet Ski was much faster than Kristo, but the wind and choppiness of the sea was causing Archie to have problems keeping Scarlett in sight. Lucy was watching the image on the dorsal camera with the zoom feature set to maximum.

  ‘Oh no!’ Lucy struggled to take a breath. She watched as the front of the Jet Ski seemed to lift by itself.

  Suddenly a huge wall of water hit it head on. It lifted the craft high into the air, spinning it and turning it upside down. Scarlett was thrown clear and the Jet Ski nose-dived, disappearing briefly under the waves before sending a huge spiral of water upwards. Only the rear end of the craft was visible as it battled to stay afloat.

  ‘Hellfire!’ Archie gasped. ‘We’ll have to surface otherwise Scarlett might drown.’

  Lucy could see from the plasma pictures that Scarlett was bobbing about, trying to get nearer to the floating section of the Jet Ski. She was thrashing her arms and in a huge effort managed to reach it and cling on.

  Archie had increased Kristo’s power to maximum and used the rudder pedals to set a course for Scarlett and the upturned Jet Ski.

  Lucy was biting her lip. ‘If we surface we’ll be giving away all of Kristo’s secrets,’ she said.

  Archie was well aware of this. ‘We have no choice,’ he replied, swallowing a lump in his throat. ‘The waves are hitting her hard so there’s no way she can cling on.’

  Archie tapped the “thrusters” icon letting compressed air gush through a vent under Kristo’s chin and lifting his head skywards. The shark broke water only a few meters from the Jet Ski’s rear end.

  Scarlett immediately screamed.

  Archie opened the gill slits so they could talk and listen to her.

  ‘It’s us,’ Lucy voiced. ‘We’re inside the shark. It’s Lucy and Archie.’

  ‘I’m going mad!’ Scarlett’s words were high pitched. ‘None of this is real!’

  The HD cameras that were linked to Kristo’s eyes showed ultra-sharp pictures of Scarlett clinging desperately to the rear end of the Jet Ski. Her mouth was wide but her breathing was very weak.

  ‘I’ll have to open my hatch to convince her it’s really us,’ Lucy declared. ‘That’s the only way she’ll believe us.’

  ‘A strong wave could flood the cockpit.’

  ‘I’ve got to risk it…’

  There was the usual hiss as Lucy pushed her palms against the inside of the hatch. Archie did his best, battling the stabiliser in an attempt to keep Kristo level.

  ‘Slide onto the shark’s back!’ Lucy shouted the instruction as loud as she could.

  Scarlett’s body jumped when she heard the voice. She took a tighter grip on the rear section of the Jet Ski and turned her head.

  ‘So-so… you really are h-here…’ Her eyes were wide at what she was seeing. She had difficulty squeezing the words past the lump in her throat.

  Lucy spat away blonde hair which the wind and sea spray had glued to her face. She pointed to the gill slits and said: ‘Archie and I can talk through these. Just do everything that we tell you and we’ll get you to dry land.’

  Lucy slid into her seat and closed the hatch. She reached for the cockpit towel and began drying her face and hair.

  ‘I’m glad you’re back,’ Archie said. ‘We were in danger of losing oxygen and taking on water.’

  He didn’t say anymore.

  The throbbing sound of a boat’s engines echoed from the gill slits… and the noise was getting louder and closer.

  ‘Cornish Destiny,’ Lucy said looking at Archie and pointing to the dorsal fin screen.

  Two shots rang out.

  The screen went blank.

  ‘Someone’s trying to kill Kristo!’ Archie gasped as the impact of the shots sent tremors along the cockpit. He heard the sound of breaking glass. ‘They’ve hit the dorsal fin!’

  Chapter Ten

  ‘Whoa! Whoa!’ There was panic in Troy’s voice as he dashed up the steps to Cornish Destiny’s top level.

  He immediately saw a crew member known as Craig standing beside Lord Braxton holding a double-barrelled shotgun and who had ejected two used cartridges.

  ‘Fire two more,’ Braxton ordered, rattling a box of ammunition. ‘Kill that damn shark before it kills my daughter!’

  ‘Kristo is trying to save your daughter,’ Troy blurted out. ‘He’s electronic – one of Jacob’s inventions.’

  ‘Kristo? Is that a name? What is this nonsense?’

  Troy hardly heard the question. He grabbed the box of cartridges from Braxton an
d hurled them over the safety rail and into the sea.

  ‘Damn fool!’ Braxton snapped. ‘Why throw away our chance to save Scarlett?’

  ‘The shark has moved closer to your daughter, sir,’ crew member Craig said, looking through binoculars. ‘She’s managed to kick clear of the water and appears to be sliding onto the shark’s back.’

  ‘Are you crazy, Craig?’ Braxton responded, snatching at the binoculars. ‘That shark will savage Scarlett.’

  ‘Kristo will take her away from deep water,’ Troy asserted. ‘Archie or Lucy or both are inside, and they will be giving instructions to your daughter through the speakers in the gill slits.’

  Lord Braxton’s hands were shaking as he lifted the binoculars to his eyes. ‘I can’t believe what I’m seeing,’ he said. ‘Scarlett has moved closer to the shark’s gill slits and does appear to be listening.’

  ‘Archie will be giving her guidelines,’ Troy stated. ‘Kristo will save her – not savage her. Without a lifejacket she would have drowned when that Ski turned over.’

  ‘She was very foolish,’ Braxton said, looking at Troy. ‘I want to believe that the shark is an electronic invention created by your Uncle, but it’s hard to accept your version of the truth.’

  ‘There are no real Great White Sharks in these waters, sir,’ Craig pointed out. ‘The sea is too cold.’

  ‘Yes I am aware of that, Craig!’ Braxton retorted sharply.

  ‘Kristo is backing away,’ Troy said. ‘All Scarlett’s got to do is hang on for the journey home.’

  ‘Won’t the shark bring her back to Cornish Destiny?’

  ‘Doubtful,’ Troy replied. ‘If Archie’s in the cockpit he won’t want to risk being shot at again. He’ll set Kristo on automatic and use the guidance system to get back to Gull Cottage.’

  Lord Braxton turned to Craig. ‘Can you get the speedboat lowered? I’ll stop the yacht so you get a clean drop.’

  ‘Kristo’s moving off,’ Troy stated, cupping a hand to his forehead to shade the sun. ‘All Scarlett’s got to do is hang on.’

  *

  Archie and Lucy could hear Scarlett’s heavy breathing echoing through the gill slits.

  ‘Scarlett, listen to me…’ Lucy ordered, raising her voice. ‘You must follow these instructions.’

  ‘O-Okay.’ It was a shaky reply.

  The twins had no way of seeing Scarlett now that the dorsal fin camera had been blown to bits. They were operating blind.

  ‘There’s a flap on the shark’s back – just behind his head,’ Lucy explained. ‘Now open the flap and reach in. Pull out the two shiny lengths of rope stuff.’

  There was a bit of shifting above Archie’s head then Scarlett’s voice said shakily, ‘I-I’ve got the two pieces. T-They’ve got s-spring clips at one end and what look like h-hand grips on the other.’

  ‘Well done… you’re doing great. Now slide towards the shark’s head and attach each clip to the side of his mouth.’

  Archie was concentrating on keeping Kristo level and he’d nudged the speed icon as low as possible.

  ‘Both attached…’ Scarlett was saying. ‘Do you want my wrists through the loops?’

  Lucy was trying to keep her voice as calm as possible. ‘No, just grip the loops. They will help you keep your balance.’

  ‘Okay, done that.’

  ‘Now, if you’ve got a good hand-grip slide yourself towards the shark’s rear and clasp your thighs and ankles around his tummy.’

  Above her head Lucy could hear Scarlett settling herself into position. She knew it was now or never but was worried about the force of the wind.

  ‘Keep your head bent and low,’ she instructed. ‘You’ll need all of your strength to keep your balance.’

  Archie looked at his wristwatch. ‘We’ve only got ten minutes before the lunch bus returns,’ he urged Lucy. ‘We’ve got to move off now.’

  Lucy quickly nodded and shouted to Scarlett to hold tight. Archie activated the guidance system but kept the turbine engines low. He knew that any real speed and a lack of concentration would surely flip a weakened Scarlett off Kristo’s back.

  Archie was glued to the screen that was transmitting pictures from the cameras in Kristo’s eyes. The sea was calmer now and he could glimpse the cliffs in the distance.

  ‘I’m soooo cold…’ Scarlett’s voice echoed weakly through the gill slits and into the cockpit.

  ‘Not long now,’ Archie said. ‘Maybe a couple of minutes.’

  ‘The shark will take us over the beach and into the boathouse,’ Lucy explained. ‘So don’t panic if you hear a rumbling noise. Just release your leg grip on the shark and stretch out on his back.’

  Two minutes passed…

  There was a jolt as Kristo made contact with the running rails and slid into the cradle. Within seconds it had crossed the strip of beach and had entered the boathouse.

  Lucy was out of her safety harness and through the hatch in record time. She knew Archie would complete Kristo’s shutdown procedure so the only thought in her mind was to help Scarlett to get her bearings and then to get her warm and dry.

  Lucy heard the lunchtime mini-bus arriving back. She released her breath slowly, grateful that Kristo had arrived home with only a whisker of time to spare.

  ‘I’m feeling dizzy,’ Scarlett said, lifting herself into a sitting position. ‘What is this place?’

  ‘Put your arm around my neck and ease yourself to the floor. You’re in the boathouse at Gull Cottage. This is Kristo’s home.’

  ‘Is Kristo the shark’s name?’

  Lucy nodded.

  Archie pushed his body out of the front hatch and crossed to the boathouse rear doors. He released the chain mechanism and closed them. He spotted Troy’s old anorak and a towel hanging by the door and yanked them off the hook, handing them to Lucy.

  ‘Get this coat on for now,’ Lucy told Scarlett. ‘We’ll get you to the cottage for a hot shower and a change of clothes… Are you feeling all right?’

  Scarlett nodded. She finger-combed her hair away from her eyes. ‘Y-Yes, I’m just cold and confused,’ she murmured.

  Archie looked the other way as Scarlett stripped off her T-shirt. Lucy helped dry her body and lifted the anorak through her wrists and over her shoulders. She fastened it with the zipper.

  ‘Can you make it up the cliff path to the cottage?’ Archie asked.

  ‘I think so… with help.’

  ‘We’ll be with you every step of the way,’ Lucy promised.

  The twins took an arm each and guided Scarlett to the front door of the boathouse.

  A couple of the engineers had arrived late and were making their way towards the rest of the workforce. One lifted a hand to wave as Archie secured the door.

  ‘The cliff path can be a bit tricky,’ Lucy pointed out. ‘Just hang on tightly to us.’

  Most of Scarlett’s energy had been drained. With the help from the twins she managed to stumble upwards, stopping many times on the way. As Gull Cottage came into view the sharp sound of a horn echoed from the sea below.

  ‘I think it’s Daddy’s speedboat,’ Scarlett hesitated, her chin jerking up as she focussed her eyes.

  ‘Yes it is,’ Lucy said, turning her head. ‘I can see Lord Braxton and Troy.’

  They all watched as the speedboat entered shallow water and cut a path from the sea into the rim of soft sand at the beach edge. The motor cut out as the propellers jammed against the layer of sand and both Braxton and Troy jumped from the craft.

  ‘They’ll follow us up the cliff path,’ Archie said to Scarlett. ‘Let’s get you inside the cottage… you’re shivering.’

  Oscar dashed out to greet them as Uncle Jacob appeared at the door. There was no time for explanations and Jacob didn’t ask for any. He took hold of Scarlett and led her along the hall to the shower room. He left
her in Lucy’s care and joined Archie and Oscar in the living room.

  ‘I’ll find you some dry clothes,’ Lucy stated, adjusting the shower spray. ‘Can you undress okay?’

  She handed Lucy the anorak belonging to Troy and stripped off her soaked jeans and underwear. ‘I’m so grateful to you and Archie for saving me,’ she said softly, letting the warm water drench every part of her body. ‘I’ll be fine… I’m feeling better already.’

  ‘You’ll need a towelling robe and some dry briefs,’ Lucy said, knowing exactly what girls required. ‘I have them in my bedroom. I’ll leave both outside the shower.’

  Jacob was getting the full chain of events from Archie. He listened intently as all the details of the rescue were explained.

  ‘By surfacing I’ve given Kristo’s secrets away,’ Archie confessed looking sheepish. ‘But as Scarlett wasn’t wearing a lifejacket I reckoned the currents would drag her under.’

  Jacob put a comforting arm around Archie’s shoulder. ‘The sea was very fierce today. You did exactly the right thing, my boy.’

  There was a tap on the living room door causing Oscar to jump off the settee and greet Troy and Lord Braxton. Their faces were anxious and they both looked windswept.

  ‘Is Scarlett…?’ Troy began.

  ‘She’s safe,’ Jacob said. ‘Lucy’s looking after her.’

  ‘In the shower,’ Archie added.

  ‘And it’s all thanks to your wonderful invention,’ Braxton remarked, his worried expression softening as he crossed to Jacob and warmly shook his hand.

  ‘Don’t forget Archie and Lucy, Daddy.’

  Lord Braxton turned quickly as Scarlett’s voice echoed from the doorway. He pulled her close and planted several kisses on her forehead.

  ‘I’ve been so worried, darling. When I saw what happened to the Jet Ski I thought I’d lost you.’

  ‘I was so stupid not to wear a lifejacket… Lucy won’t let me forget that mistake in a hurry.’

  ‘You would have drowned within seconds.’

  ‘I know.’

  Troy felt Scarlett’s eyes holding his. He moved forward pulling her towards him, then hugging her close.

  ‘Mmm, you smell gorgeous,’ he said, pressing his nose against the soft fluffy fabric of the towelling robe.