by S. L. Menear
Derek tapped Mike’s shoulder. “I suggest we look over there.” He pointed at a spot in the middle of the mesa where vultures circled overhead.
Just then, the massive C-17 roared past and dropped several pallets near the spot where the birds had been circling.
“Alright, let’s get to it.” Ross jogged toward the pallets as the sun edged above the mesa.
Underground City
Ear shattering screams jolted me. They seemed to come from the lakeshore. Lance and I raced to the beach with Lisa and Barbi. We found Tiesha standing beside an empty raft.
I glanced around. “Carlene!”
No answer.
Tiesha sputtered and pointed, “It…it swallowed her!”
“What swallowed her? Where is it?” I asked, scanning the lake.
She pointed at a track in the sand—one that could only have been left by a massive snake. It led to the water. “A…a giant snake…ate her and disappeared in there!”
Lisa shook her head. “How could this happen? She was armed.”
“It snuck up behind her when she stepped out of the raft. It all happened so fast.” Tiesha sobbed. “Carlene is so tiny, it swallowed her in an instant.”
I scanned the lake as Dragon Master’s words replayed in my head. “All sea creatures are yours to command.”
The lake was like an underground sea, and the snake swam in it. Did that make the snake a sea creature? Or could it be that all creatures, land and sea, were susceptible to my commands? I stared at the water and concentrated on contacting the anaconda telepathically.
Would my fear of snakes prevent me from saving Carlene?
Was the anaconda’s brain big enough to understand me?
And could I really face that monster?
I racked the slide on my Glock and released the safety on my MP7.
Seconds ticked by.
Barbi screamed. An enormous snake raised its head above the water like a mythical sea serpent. A large bulge protruded in the neck area below its head.
“Don’t shoot!” I yelled. “You’ll hit Carlene!”
The monster reared up in front of Tiesha, who stood there, stunned, with her feet glued to the shore.
The anaconda had to be at least forty-five feet long. It opened its mouth, unhinged its jaw, and vomited its prey onto the sand at Tiesha’s feet.
Everyone froze at the sight of Carlene covered in slime. The snake dived into the dark lake and vanished in a circle of ripples.
“Quick, rinse her off in the water and start CPR!” I leaped into the raft and grabbed the first-aid kit.
Lance scooped her up and dunked her in the lake to rinse off the corrosive digestive acid. He laid her on the beach and breathed air into her lungs between Barbi’s chest compressions. Thirty seconds into the CPR, Carlene gasped and opened her eyes.
Lance helped her sit up. “Can you breathe okay now?”
“My chest hurts.” She gasped. “My whole body feels like it’s been crushed.”
“You were crushed.” I checked her for broken bones. “Do you remember being swallowed?”
Her eyes widened and she glanced around. “The snake! Where is it?”
“It dove back into the lake after it spit you up.” I looked at her delicate, fine-boned body. Her face and exposed skin were inflamed similar to a bad sunburn. “I guess you were too big for it.”
Barbi held a can of Coke to her lips. “Drink this. The sugar and caffeine will help revive you.”
Carlene took a drink and moaned. “Swallowing hurts too.”
I glanced at Lance. “Get her inside the raft and cover her with a blanket.”
“I’ll put moisturizer on her skin.” Barbi followed Lance into the raft.
While I waited for them to come out, I wondered if the snake had followed my commands or if Carlene really had been too big for it. This was all new to me. My only personal experience with animal telepathy had been commanding an enormous kraken. I’d seen the triplets command orcas, but killer whales were known to be intelligent.
Lance and Barbi emerged from the raft.
“She’s resting now,” Barbi said. “Probably has some cracked ribs.”
Tiesha regained her voice, albeit in a higher pitch. “What are we going to do about the snake?”
I paused. “There’s six of us, but Carlene’s in no condition to help. That leaves five people for now. We can group together and take turns standing guard.”
Barbi and Tiesha each grabbed one of Lance’s arms. “We’re with Lance,” they said in unison.
“Okay, Lisa and I’ll take the first watch.” I grabbed a raft strap. “Let’s drag this raft a little farther from the lake.”
Where’s the monster now? Will it glow in the dark if it eats a big bioluminescent fish?
Just thinking about it made me shiver. Goosebumps creeped over my skin. Then an even worse thought invaded my brain.
I whispered a private prayer, “Please, God—no giant spiders.”
We had to find a way out of this nightmare.
Special Ops Team
Ross circled the helicopter wreckage and paused. “Looks like the pilot lost control, and the rotor blades hit the ground, causing the chopper to crash and explode.”
“That’s not the only thing the blades hit.” Mike held up Renaldo’s gory, severed head. Birds had already eaten the eyes.
“Five charred bodies in a helicopter with a five-person capacity.” Derek toed Renaldo’s headless corpse. “He must’ve been the Brazilian passenger from Flight 515. I wonder where the other passengers and crew went.”
Oz picked through the debris. “The chopper had a .50-cal machine gun mounted in the nose, and the men inside were armed with automatic weapons. No room to take on passengers. This wasn’t a rescue mission.”
Mike touched the wreckage. “None of it feels warm. The crash and fire must’ve happened last night.”
“Aye, Sam’s crew and passengers probably ran and hid from the hit team. We’d best find them before more shooters arrive. We’ll take the ATVs.” Ross disconnected a crate housing one of the all-terrain vehicles.
Mike uncrated the other one. “Oz and I’ll search the east side. You guys start at the north end on the west side, and then we’ll meet in the middle about five miles south.”
Ross glanced at his watch. “We have plenty of daylight. Should be easy to spot them.” He started the engine and Derek climbed aboard, his binoculars ready.
The men roared away, searching the mesa. After four hours, they met halfway across the southern end of the plateau.
Ross jumped out and approached Mike.
“I think we must’ve missed something back where the helicopter crashed,” Ross said. “What if this is another Petra situation?”
Mike stiffened his stance. “Are you thinking they may have found a way inside?”
“It’s worth considering. Sam led her people into the mountain in Petra to escape armed killers. Your sister is full of surprises.”
Mike pulled out a satellite phone. “She was on Max Rowlin’s ship a few days ago. Some top-secret mission. Then Chinese secret agents targeted her in Palm Beach. Could be connected. I think we should call Max.”
Ross nodded. “Make the call.”
Mike dialed Max’s cell. He answered on the first ring.
“Rowlin here, who’s calling?”
“Max, it’s Mike Starr. I’m in South America looking for Sam and her people. They seem to have vanished on top of an isolated mesa after a hit team in a helicopter tried to take them out.”
“A hit team? What the hell’s going on down there?”
“We’re not sure. Do you know anything that could help us find Sam?”
“There’s a Chinese guy named Dragon Master who might be able to help you. He advised Sam how to use one of her abilities to save my Hardsuit divers. He’s still here. I can send him with one of my SEALs if you like.”
“I’m sending you our coordinates. How fast can you get them here?”
Max paused a moment. “I can have them on a C-17 out of NAS JAX in thirty minutes. My SEAL, Banger, can do a tandem jump with the old Chinese guy. Expect them in about five hours.”
“Thanks, Max. We’re pretty sure Sam’s alive. We just have to find her before another hit team arrives. This Dragon Master guy may be the key.”
“Happy to help. Of course, you understand our military needs her in Atlantis, which is how I’m able to do this. Keep me in the loop, Mike.”
“I’ll call as soon as we know something.” Mike switched off the SATCOM and told Ross about the men Max was sending. “They’ll arrive by parachute in five hours.”
“We’ll pitch the tent and set up a defensive perimeter in case another hit team flies in. Everything will be ready by the time Max’s men arrive.” Ross strode back to his ATV.
They returned to where vultures circled overhead.
Twenty-One
Underground City
Carlene slept curled up in Lance’s lap. She’d insisted she needed him to hold her or she’d be too scared to sleep. He took the first rest period with Tiesha and Barbi. That left Lisa and me on guard duty outside the raft. We sat back-to-back on the beach with our submachine guns on our laps.
“This may sound weird, but ever since we landed inside here, I’ve felt like we were being watched.” I glanced around. “And I don’t mean the anaconda. Do you feel it?”
“After plenty of close calls during missions with MI6, I’ve developed a sort of inner radar,” Lisa said. “My alarm bells haven’t stopped ringing since that helicopter landed. I’m not sure what to think now.”
“My inner voice is telling me the snake is the least of our worries.” I glanced around. “Hard to imagine something worse than that monster.”
“How often is your inner voice right?”
“So far, it’s batting a thousand.”
“You Yanks and your baseball references—does that mean it’s never wrong?”
“One hundred percent accuracy, always.”
“Bugger! Can you ask your inner voice to be more specific about the danger?”
“I wish. All I know is something is lurking out there in the shadows, and it’s way worse than the anaconda.” I rechecked the magazine on my MP7.
“That does it,” Lisa said. “No danger of me falling asleep on guard duty.”
“I’ve heard that singing can tame a savage beast. Do you know any soothing songs?”
“I guess it’s worth a go.” Lisa began singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Her voice had a lovely, lilting tone that echoed off the granite.
The ominous sense of dread that had been hanging over me lifted and floated away.
After six hours of listening to the sounds of rushing water, I could barely keep my eyes open. It was time for us to be relieved from guard duty.
Lisa and I walked to the raft, and I lifted the entrance flap. I said over my shoulder, “I guess they weren’t too scared. They’re all sound asleep.”
“See if you can wake them without rousing Carlene.” Lisa stood watch while I tried to gently wake Tiesha, Barbi, and Lance.
I whispered their names and held my finger to my mouth when they opened their eyes. “Wake up. It’s your turn for guard duty. Try not to wake Carlene.”
Barbi yawned and stretched. “I need caffeine.” She grabbed a can of cola.
Tiesha squeezed my arm and whispered, “Did you see the snake?”
“No, it never came back. Maybe it’s out in the jungle now.” I gave her a reassuring smile.
“Give me a minute,” Tiesha said. “As soon as Lance leaves, I’ll change into my comfortable jeans.”
I gave Lance a soft kiss on his cheek. “Wake up, handsome.”
He opened his eyes and whispered, “How do I get up without waking Carlene?”
“Lay her down beside you, and I’ll snuggle against her. She just needs a warm body next to her to feel safe.”
He did as I instructed, and Carlene continued sleeping. When he stepped out, Lisa entered and settled on the other side of Carlene.
Tiesha opened her suitcase and pulled out her jeans. I closed my eyes and was almost asleep when I heard Lance yell, “Everyone come outside nice and slow. Do it now!”
Lisa and I sprang awake and woke Carlene. We crawled through the door flap while Tiesha finished changing clothes.
I stood still while my eyes adjusted to the dim light. It took a moment to realize we were surrounded by muscular, half-naked people with pitch-black skin. They were armed with spears and blowguns.
The weapons were aimed at us.
USS LEVIATHAN
Max finished briefing Banger and Dragon Master about their mission to South America. He squeezed the old man’s shoulder and toed a duffel bag. “We scrounged some extra clothes from one of our crewmen. Should have everything you need in here.”
Dragon Master bowed his head. “Many thanks, Captain. May I use toilet before we depart?”
“There’s one down that corridor to the right.” Max pointed. “We’ll wait for you here by the helipad.”
The elderly Chinese man strode briskly down the dim corridor and ducked into the head. He pressed a button on his watch. Moments later, the call connected.
“Queen stranded in South America. It five-hour flight in C-17 from NAS JAX. You depart now. I’ll send signal over crash site. Bring enough men to defeat five Special Operators.” He waited for confirmation and ended the call.
Max looked up from his phone when Dragon Master returned. “The Seahawk will fly you to a nearby Naval Air Station where you’ll take a C-17 to the crash site and parachute in like we briefed. Any questions?”
“I am ready.” The old man gave a quick bow.
“Thanks for helping out.” Max shook his hand.
Dragon Master climbed aboard the helicopter with Banger.
A little over five hours later, Dragon Master pressed a signal button on his watch seconds before he made the tandem jump with Banger. They landed near a large tent in the center of the mesa.
The Chinese elder was surprisingly fit for his age. With Banger’s help, he released his harness and helped roll up the billowing chute.
Mike offered his hand. “Gentlemen, welcome to the jungle. Good to see you again, Banger.”
Banger grinned and slapped Mike’s back as the rest of the men gathered around them.
“Allow me to introduce Dragon Master, and that’s Banger. He’s on the SEAL team assigned to Leviathan,” Mike said.
Ross, Derek, and Oz greeted them.
“Thanks for coming on short notice,” Ross said. “Dragon Master, we’re hoping you can help us find the crew and passengers from LIA flight 515. The woman you refer to as Golden Twin was the pilot.”
“She was Golden Twin. Now she Queen of Atlantis.” Dragon Master bowed. “I will find her.”
“Great.” Mike rolled his eyes at the “queen” comment. “Where should we look?”
The elder cocked his head, turned, and scanned the area. His eyes focused on a large pallet of supplies. “Search under there.” He pointed at the pallet.
“Under that? Really?” Mike shook his head. “He makes no sense.”
“Powerful dragon currents intersect here.” The old man put his hand on the pallet.
Underground City
“Drop your weapons,” I said to my people. “We don’t want to provoke them. Looks like they outnumber us by about fifty to one.”
We laid our weapons on the sand and placed our hands on our heads. The natives gathered the Glocks and MP7s and tossed them into the lake. They bound our hands behind us with strong narrow vines and lined us up single-file facing the city.
Then something unexpected happened.
Our captors gasped, dropped to their knees, and bowed their heads.
I turned, expecting to see the giant snake. Instead, Tiesha stood on the beach wearing fancy jeans embellished with gold snakes curling around the pant legs and a matching T-shirt with two gol
d snakes forming a wide heart shape on her ample chest.
She took in the scene and glanced at me. “What the hell?”
“They seem to think you’re a goddess or something. Maybe they saw the snake spit Carlene at your feet. Play along.” I nodded to my right. “That one seems to be their chief. Give him your best smile and offer him your gold bracelet.”
Tiesha’s bracelet was an eighteen-carat gold snake with ruby eyes and its tail in its mouth. I had no idea just how appropriate that gift was.
The tribal chief looked at Tiesha with awestruck eyes when she presented him with the bracelet. She raised her hands, motioning his people to stand.
He shouted instructions in their tribal language.
Our bonds were cut, but they kept us surrounded by guards.
Tiesha’s Glock remained strapped to her thigh as the tribe led us into their city.
I glanced sideways at Lance as we passed a crystal embedded in the rock.
He mouthed, “No.”
The city was enormous. We weaved through narrow stone pathways bordered by terraced structures carved into the mesa. After an hour of steady walking, we reached the central square. An elaborate throne adorned with snake carvings dominated the open courtyard. It faced an altar encircled with an open-topped cage with nine-foot-high wooden side bars.
The sound of water rushing through open aqueducts echoed in the square, masking murmurs from the crowd and the noise of anything that might be sneaking up on us.
Opposite the throne on the far side of the altar stood a partially coiled stone snake with its upper body reared up as if ready to strike. The statue’s head loomed thirty feet above the courtyard.
Could this be where the tribe sacrificed animals or people to the giant anaconda?
Tiesha was led to the throne. Once she was seated, a native arrived carrying a sack made from jaguar skin. He handed it to the chief, who pulled out a spectacular gold crown adorned with gold snakes and too many emeralds to count. He handed the jaguar skin and the crown to Tiesha.