“I know you have no reason to do it. I also know that it’s not Hawkins, or Will. I wanted to ask you about Shawn.”
Kelsey takes a step away from Luke. She does not know whether to be surprised or outraged at Luke’s accusation that Shawn may be the traitor. “Is that why you asked me why I am dating Shawn?”
I guess she is not aware about the way that I feel about her. But maybe she can help me figure out if Shawn is the traitor. Luke nods as he says, “Has he said anything suspicious lately?”
Kelsey shakes her head. “Not really.” She thinks for a few minutes. “Actually… yes. He said that he feels that killing the Liopleurodon is a waste of the Navy’s resources. Shawn had said that it will soon die on its own, and that since it is the last of its kind, it is not a big deal. He said that one animal can’t make a huge impact on the ecosystem, and that it won’t be able to adapt.”
“He’s wrong about that. Reptiles are very good at adapting. It would have died by now if it was going to.”
“That’s what I said,” Kelsey tells him.
“Did he say anything else?” Luke asks.
“Not really. After he said that, we had an argument, but he admitted that he was wrong. You don’t think there is a reason why he would betray us, right?”
“I’m not sure. Just give me a second to think about this.” Luke turns slightly away from her. Could not wanting to waste resources really be a reason to sabotage our equipment? Something doesn’t add up. I mean, we would just take more resources to replace what he ruins. And another thing, if he was trying to save the Liopleurodon, why would he tell Kelsey everything?
“What are you thinking?” Kelsey asks.
Luke turns back to her and says, “The motive doesn’t fit the crime. I doubt that the traitor is Shawn. But please, Kelsey, keep your eyes open, and watch him.”
“Of course, I will. But would you mind if we talked about something else?”
…
Shawn sits up in bed. He yawns as he gets up to go the bathroom. He doesn’t even notice that Kelsey is no longer next to him. While he is walking towards the bathroom door, he sees Luke and Kelsey standing on the balcony, talking and laughing hysterically. He feels as if something is burning inside of him.
I wish I could put a bullet in his head. Shawn is furious as he watches Kelsey laugh at what Luke is saying. I despise you, Jones. Ever since you reentered my life, you have slowly tried to destroy it. You are my rival in every way. I try to save my pet, while you try to kill it. I propose to Kelsey, you try to take her away from me. I am going to fight you. I am simply going to take everything back. Kelsey will be my wife, and my pet will rule the seas once again. Things will turn out my way! I swear to God… I will win! I will kill you…
Chapter 27
Fishing Boat
Few professional fishing boats have had the luck of the SS Animo. That is because the captain, Trent Owens, is one of the best. Owens knows where the best spots are no matter what time of day or year. His loyal crew: the brothers Logan and Steven Wade, and the newer, younger deckhand, Eddie Green, always follow orders. The SS Animo is out to sea three weeks out of the month. It specializes in catching tuna and selling it to the local fish market.
Captain Owens takes a break at the helm to join his crew on deck. He first looks at the crashing waves, then gazes at the sun for a few seconds. He takes in a deep breath, and smiles. He truly loves the smell of the sea. “Have we found a school of tuna yet, Steven?”
“Not yet, sir,” Steven says. Steven checks again for signs of a school. They are difficult to spot, but a large school is very rewarding.
“I’m not surprised; they rarely come here this time of year. Turn the ship starboard.” Steven nods as he makes his way to the helm.
Eddie walks over to the side of the ship. He looks at the ocean and shivers. He is only nineteen years old, which is young for working on a professional fishing boat. Suddenly, Logan comes up behind Eddie and taps him on the back of the neck. Eddie spins around instantly, sweat pouring down his face.
“Don’t do that!” Eddie exclaims.
Logan laughs. “I don’t think that someone who’s afraid of the ocean should have this occupation. We spend a lot of time
at sea.”
“I’m not afraid of the sea! I’m afraid of…” Eddie stops talking.
“Afraid of what?” Logan asks, pushing Eddie for the answers.
“Sharks. I’m afraid of sharks.”
Logan breaks out into laughter again. “You have to be kidding me. There is no shark in the ocean that can attack a boat this big. In all my years working on this boat, I’ve seen a number of sharks, and they always swim away! Even the big ones will avoid us.”
Eddie nods, “I know…but still. Sharks, they just creep me out.”
“Whatever, just know that you have nothing to worry about.”
Steven looks down from the helm and says, “Actually, I saw this thing on the news…it was this giant sea monster. They said that it wasn’t a fish…but an amphibian…or something. I don’t know. Anyways, the thing’s like a hundred feet long and has been killing everything: sharks, whales, even a few boats. That’s what you should be worried about… not sharks.”
Eddie stares at Steven and says, “You’re so full of crap. You’re just trying to freak me out.”
“No man, I swear. The thing’s killed like ten people.”
“Okay, sure. Whatever you say, jerk.”
Captain Owens then turns to Eddie and says, “He’s telling the truth, kid. There have been reports of a giant sea creature attacking people. But I wouldn’t worry… it’s a big ocean, and its only one animal. Besides, with all of the people who are scared of the monster, there is almost no competition! We’ve been doing better than we have in years!”
Eddie can barely breathe. “Well, what if we do get attacked, Captain? What then?”
Captain Owens sighs as he says, “Then we’d get to the highest possible point on the ship. We’d also send a distress signal as soon as possible. Don’t worry, kid, I know what
I’m doing.”
Eddie nods. Steven breaks the silence by shouting, “Captain I’ve spotted a school, fifty feet off port.”
“Take us closer!” Captain Owens exclaims. “Logan, ready the net!”
…
Underneath the ship, dozens of tuna swim around each other. They are swimming in every direction, when a large, grey net penetrates the water. The net surrounds the fish. They struggle to escape, but the net is too strong. Over forty fish are trapped.
Near the seabed, the Liopleurodon rises. It has been following the school, and it will not allow its meal to be stolen by the fishing boat. With one thrust of its immensely powerful flippers, it comes much closer. The net begins to be pulled back to the boat.
The Liopleurodon lunges forward, and grabs the net full of tuna in its enormous jaws. Many are crushed instantly under the pressure. The boat keeps pulling the net closer, but with one powerful thrash of its neck, the Liopleurodon rips the net loose. Then, it swallows the net, and fish, in one enormous gulp.
…
“What happened?!” Captain Owens shouts.
“I don’t know!” Eddie exclaims. He rushes across the deck. He looks at where the rope was torn from the mast. “Something must have torn the net off.”
“Are you honestly telling me that we caught a tuna so big that it was able to pull the entire net free of steel clamps?”
Eddie sees a small metal object lying on deck. He walks to it and picks it up in his hand. He instantly recognizes it as a steel clamp that was holding the rope to the mast, only it is now bent. “I guess so.”
Suddenly, the ship shakes. Captain Owens falls to his knees, and Eddie must grab onto the mast to avoid toppling over. After the boat rights itself, he sprints to help the captain up.
“Thank you, kid,” Captain Owens says.
Eddie nods. The ship is struck once again, and Eddie struggles to get Captain Owens higher. �
��Get to the helm,” Captain Owens orders.
Eddie grits his teeth. Captain Owens is having a difficult time balancing, and Eddie is trying to get them both to a higher point on the boat. The Liopleurodon hits the boat again, and Eddie loses his grip on the captain.
Captain Owens collapses and rolls to the center of the deck. As the ship is hit once more, the mast breaks loose and plunges. Captain Owens looks up and screams. He lunges away from the falling mast, but is not fast enough.
There is a blood-curdling scream throughout the boat. Eddie rushes to see what has happened to the captain. It is a horrible sight. Captain Owens was able to save his chest, but his legs were crushed. The bones were shattered. Eddie turns to Logan and shouts, “Come on, help me!”
Logan rushes over to Eddie. “How are we going to get the mast off of him?”
“I don’t know,” Eddie says, “can we roll it off?”
“No, but the mast is designed to be light yet strong. I may be able to lift it for just long enough for you to pull him out.”
Eddie nods. Logan, who is a very muscular man, grabs the mast and with all of his strength and lifts it up. “Hurry!” Logan exclaims. The mast is several hundred pounds and he can only lift it for a few seconds.
“Don’t worry, Captain, everything will be fine,” Eddie says as he drags Captain Owens out from underneath the mast.
“Let’s drop a five hundred pound weight on your legs and see what you say then,” Captain Owens says in a weak voice.
Eddie carries the captain to bridge. There, Steven is sending a distress signal. “Mayday! Mayday! This is the SS Animo. We struck something and we are sinking!” The ship shakes again, ending Steven’s message.
“I hope someone heard that,” Eddie says as he places the captain down.
“I wouldn’t worry; we are safer here.”
Then, the Liopleurodon makes a massive strike to the port side. The entire boat tips to that side. Eddie grabs the captain with one hand, and grabs the boat with the other.
Steven falls. He grabs the boat, his body dangling above the water. Logan jumps to him and grabs his brother’s hand.
“Don’t let go!” Steven exclaims.
“I won’t!” Logan assures him. Steven nods.
Steven attempts to pull himself up, but then an enormous pair of crocodilian jaws bites down on Steven’s waist.
Steven screams in agony. His internal organs are crushed. Logan can only watch as blood pours from his brother’s mouth. Bones crack, and then the Liopleurodon pulls Steven free.
“No!” Logan exclaims as he watches the monster pull his brother’s body into the ocean. “No.”
Logan climbs higher up. He does not want to share his brother’s fate. Captain Owens coughs as he says, “I… am so sorry.”
Logan does not acknowledge the captain. He knows that if the captain didn’t ignore the news his brother would still be alive.
“What do we do now?” Eddie asks.
Captain Owens says softly, “We wait to see what gets to us first, rescuers… or the monster.”
Chapter 28
Zodiac Battle
Luke walks quickly to the bridge aboard the USS Jupiter. When Hawkins called him and told him that it was urgent, Luke left his hotel room right away. What could be so important? Luke finally reaches the bridge. Captain Hawkins is waiting for him.
“Good, Luke, you’re here.”
“What do you need? Did you find out who the traitor is?” Luke asks.
“No,” Hawkins says as he and Luke begin walking side by side. “The Coast Guard just received a distress signal from a fishing boat. They are headed there to rescue it, but it is not far from here. Plus, the call said something about a large sea creature. Guess who that is?”
“The Liopleurodon,” Luke replies.
“Correct. The ship is sinking and we know that one man is dead and the lives of three more hang in the balance. The plan is for both of us to get into a Zodiac, get to the fishing boat, assist with the rescue of the remaining crew and learn what we can about the Liopleurodon.
Luke nods before asking, “Why do you want me to be the one to go with you?”
“Because you are the only one that I know I can trust. I know that you think that there is no chance that Kelsey or Will are undermining us, but you can’t be too careful.” Hawkins leads Luke to the rubber Zodiac which is attached to the side of the USS Jupiter by two thick ropes.
They both climb aboard and Hawkins cuts the ropes. The Zodiac falls. Luke closes his eyes and reopens them once they have safely landed in the water. “Are you telling me that you weren’t afraid to attach a tracking device to the back of the Liopleurodon’s neck, but you’re scared of falling from a raft?”
“I study ancient marine animals. I don’t like heights!” Luke exclaims.
“Shut up, you baby!” Hawkins jokes as he turns the rudder on the motor until they are out of the USS Jupiter’s wake. Once they are free, Hawkins puts the motor in the water and starts it up. Within seconds, they are moving at a fast speed.
…
Eddie is barely able to keep his grip on the USS Animo’s railing. It has been over two hours since the Liopleurodon killed Steven, and for some reason, it has yet to finish them off. The boat is not sinking as quickly. Next to Eddie’s foot, Logan is holding on to the railing. He has barely spoken a word since his brother was killed.
Eddie can’t help it as tears once again form in his eyes. I didn’t sign on for this! I’m going to die. That monster is going to come back and… wait… what’s that sound? Eddie sees Luke and Captain Hawkins on the Zodiac, coming towards the boat. Hawkins turns off the motor, and the Zodiac drifts for the final few feet. “Oh, thank God!” Eddie exclaims.
Luke smiles as he reaches his hand out to Eddie. Eddie takes it and Luke helps Eddie board the Zodiac. They then carefully place Captain Owens, who is unconscious near Hawkins. After they help Logan to board, Luke asks, “Are you guys okay?”
Eddie sees that the SS Animo is almost completely submerged. He says, “We were attacked by some kind of animal. It crippled our captain!” He nods in Logan’s direction and says, “It killed his brother, too.”
“Where did it go?” Luke asks.
Eddie shrugs. “I’m not sure.”
…
One hundred and fifty feet below the Zodiac, the Liopleurodon lies in wait. Reptiles tire easily and the Liopleurodon is exhausted from its attacks on the SS Animo. The fishing boat is sinking three hundred feet away. The Liopleurodon detects the presence of another creature on the surface, this one far smaller than its previous enemy. It begins to ascend vertically, to attack.
…
Suddenly, Luke realizes what is happening. “Hawkins, we need to move, now!”
Hawkins turns to Luke and says, “Hold on, let the men catch their breath.”
“I said now!” Luke shouts. Hawkins turns and powers the motor back on and the Zodiac bolts forward. A moment later, the Liopleurodon’s massive jaws explode out of the ocean, snapping shut where its victim had been. Realizing that its prey is moving very fast, the pliosaur quickly submerges.
“It’s back!” Eddie exclaims.
“I know!” Hawkins spits back.
Luke looks at the water. The Liopleurodon may be big… but it’s also fast. Its powerful flippers and reinforced ribcage make it so it should be able to keep pace with the Zodiac. Why hasn’t it attacked again? Unless it will attack from below… Remembering the video of how Cody dodged the Liopleurodon’s attacks by turning on his Jet Ski quickly, Luke decides that the same strategy should work for the Zodiac.
“Hawkins, turn left… now!” Luke orders.
Hawkins nods and turns the Zodiac sharply to the left – just barely dodging another Liopleurodon attack as its jaws explode through the surface.
The Liopleurodon submerges again, and Hawkins turns to Luke. Luke nods and says, “Turn right… now!” Hawkins does so, but is too slow. The Liopleurodon lifts the Zodiac into the air as it h
its it from below. The Zodiac lands on the surface, having barely survived. He can’t do this fast enough. “Move!” Luke orders as he pushes Hawkins aside and grabs a hold of the rudder.
Luke has been studying the Liopleurodon his entire life. He knows every instinct, he knows how it behaves, and he knows how it hunts. That is why he knew to turn left again as the Liopleurodon attempts to clamp its jaws on the Zodiac. Luke knows that if he can dodge the Liopleurodon just a few more times that it will tire and they will escape.
This time, however, the Liopleurodon goes for a different approach. It attacks from behind, biting down on the Zodiac’s rear. As the pliosaur’s foot-long steak-knife-like teeth sink into the rubber raft, it pops, and air pushes it forward. Crap.
With no more air, the raft only floats on the surface. Panicking, Eddie puts his head in his arms as the Liopleurodon lunges towards them. Hawkins pulls a gun out from his holster and fires at the Liopleurodon. The first bullet misses, but the second hits its head. But the bullet is like a flea bite to the pliosaur, and nothing can stop it as is opens its jaws and bites down on Logan’s arm! Logan screams as he is lifted into the air. Eddie lunges for him but misses.
His arm impaled by the giant teeth, Logan can feel it break before the Liopleurodon releases him…only to find himself falling into the monster’s throat! Hawkins shoots the Liopleurodon twice in the throat. The monster submerges. Logan splashes into the sea. Quickly, Luke grabs Logan and pulls him aboard the Zodiac. The fisherman lost his arm, but, like Captain Owens, is alive.
Crying into his hands, Eddie whales, “We are all going to die! We are all going to die!” Luke wants to try to help him calm down, but how can he?
Luke waits for the final attack, but it never comes. He turns to Hawkins and shrugs. “Well,” says Ryan Hawkins as he pulls out his radio. “If the Liopleurodon is too much of a wimp to finish us off, I don’t plan to drown.” He begins to call the
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