Vengeance from the Deep - Book Two: Blood of the Necala

by Russ Elliott

  Lightly, he ran the tips of his fingers across the scabbed-over X carved on his chest. It would soon all be over. He only waited for Kota to give him the signal to step from behind the wall and fulfill his vow. He glanced down at his machete, tempted to sneak up to the front of the strange craft, and kill the white devil now. But he knew he must wait. He knew Kota was right, insisting that they avenge the chief’s death at just the right moment. Once they saw the shadow of Kuta-keb-la and John stepped in front of the doorway, he’d get the signal.

  The placement of the wound was critical. The machete blow couldn’t be lethal. No. the evil one must be alive, able to swim when he hit the water, so the attack would take place on the surface in plain view. Then the chief’s death will have been avenged in the noblest of ways—by killing his murderer in the same manner in which he was killed. Once accomplished, they would force the woman to take them back to the island, leaving Kuta-keb-lay to fulfill his destiny.

  Vengeance. Kolegwa smiled.

  ~~~

  A glance through the side window and Admiral Henderson saw the three helicopters flying in formation, following his command without question. Fighting the growing doubt about the direction of their current mission, he looked behind his seat and into the cargo bay. He studied the four men wearing chest protectors and helmets seated around the crates of depth charges. Through the clear shields on their helmets he saw the anticipation in their eyes. Afraid they would sense his uncertainty, he turned back around. The call with John wouldn’t stop playing in his mind.

  He looked down at his watch. They were still at least forty minutes away from Hout Bay. Since they’d lifted off there hadn’t been another call from the alleged fishing boat in distress. Every attempt he’d made thus far to contact the vessel went unanswered. Maybe they were too late . . . or just maybe that cursed Paxton was right.

  Although he hated to admit it, he knew John’s argument made sense. Still, could the guy be trusted? Had he started the fire, killed the guard? Who knows what length such a person would go to in order to protect this valuable find—a living dinosaur! Then there was the transmitter allegedly inside the beast. If there was any truth to that, the pliosaur was definitely at the cruise ship, and the admiral was taking his team in the opposite direction. Although he was a proud man, he knew there was more at stake than his ego.

  He mulled things over some more. He recalled what Tom Hayman had pointed out to him: if he’d listened to John last night, he would have never gone out to search for the carcass. And three of his men would still be alive.

  Suddenly, he was struck with the realization—without a doubt in his mind.

  I am wrong. We’ve got to turn back.

  He glanced through the window at the squadron. But I can’t just ignore the fishing boat call. He pondered his options and decided to send one chopper to Hout Bay and the rest of the crew to the cruise ship’s locale. The second he motioned the pilot, a frantic voice came over the radio. “Mayday, mayday. Navy, do you copy? This is Captain Porter from the Indian Princess. Where are you?”

  “We read you, Captain. This is Admiral Henderson. Over.”

  “Where are you blokes? We’re only six miles off the coast. What’s taking so long? The ship’s heavily damaged . . . we’re taking on water steadily. She won’t stay afloat much longer!”

  “Is the beast still in the vicinity?”

  “Yes. It’s still circling the ship. It’s so enormous . . . the lifeboats . . . they’re useless.” The captain’s voice then lowered, weary with burden. “Admiral, I have over four hundred passengers on board, actually some of them no longer—” He choked and took a breath. “You’ve got to get here before everyone . . .”

  “We’re on our way, Captain. Hold on,” the admiral said, trying to exude some sense of comfort. “Out.”

  Quickly, Admiral Henderson motioned the pilot to turn around, his finger whirling in the air.

  ~~~

  Less than a mile from the sinking cruise ship, a naval patrol vessel that was on maneuvers off Betty’s Bay altered its course southwest. Responding to the latest distress call, Chief Petty Officer Greg Benson knew they could reach the sinking ship long before the fleet of helicopters or any rescue vessel dispatched from Simon’s Town.

  Minutes later, the patrol boat approached the cruise ship’s starboard. Officer Benson could tell by the way the ship was listing port that she’d soon be underwater. He pulled alongside the vast hull, looking up as passengers frantically waved to him from behind the rail. Now that he was closer, their behavior seemed odd. Hysteria? he wondered. Almost like they’re trying to wave me away from the ship. Benson knew he couldn’t do much with just one boat, but at least he could offer them hope until the helicopters and larger vessels arrived. He recalled hearing something about a dangerous marine reptile in the area. If there were passengers overboard, at least he’d be able to get them safely out of the water.

  Cruising alongside the ship’s hull, Officer Benson picked up the mike with a glance at the officer beside him. “I’m going to notify the admiral. This looks bad. These folks don’t have much time.”

  ~~~

  Inside the lead helicopter, Admiral Henderson listened to his headset.

  “Admiral, this is Petty Officer Greg Benson. We’re approaching the Indian Princess. She’s listing port pretty hard—we’d better get some help out here quickly!”

  “How close are you to the ship?” the admiral demanded.

  “We’re cruising alongside the hull as we speak.”

  “Get outta there!” shouted the admiral. “Get outta there now!”

  ~~~

  At the cruise ship’s starboard rail, some passengers turned away from the sea, burying their faces in their hands, screaming. Others couldn’t look away as the giant maw rose beneath the capsized patrol boat. Slowly, the spinning props dropped below the surface, spitting bloody water into the air like a grotesque fountain.

  The sinking patrol boat rolled, sliding down the side of the monster’s head. The white hull quickly faded as the spinning props drove the unmanned vessel to the depths of the sea.

  A pump of its massive forefins, and the pliosaur moved on from the bloody waters. Eventually, the creature arced back around and continued to circle the sinking cruise ship like a wolf guarding a fresh kill.

  ~~~

  Staring blankly at the console, Admiral Henderson continued to listen to his headset long after the call had turned to static. Enraged, he looked over at the pilot. “I want a call dispatched to every boat we’ve got! No one—absolutely no one—goes near that cruise ship until we get there!”

  Chapter 15

  RISING WATERS

  Captain Porter watched from the leaning bridge as the nightmare continued to unfold before his eyes. With the deck now too tilted to stand on, passengers and crewmembers alike had crawled up to the starboard side rail where they clung for life. How long can they hang on? From bow to stern, the rail was lined with orange life jackets. Like various colored flags, long gowns blew out beyond the rail, waving in the wind. Some passengers stood with their elbows locked behind the top rail. Others, showing fatigue, sat on the deck hugging the bottom rail. In spite of their various postures, they all stared in the same direction.

  The captain turned his binoculars and followed the sloping deck to where the portside rail now rested a frightening two feet above the waterline.

  Beyond the sinking rail, numerous red stains served as hideous markers showing where some had taken their chances with the lifeboats. Here and there, a few bodies remained afloat without movement. Already ravenous seagulls were starting to break free of the enormous flock, swooping down at random to pick flesh from the floating corpses. One by one, other seagulls soared down to join the feast.

  Suddenly, a wave of fear flowed over everyone on the starboard rail. A mere ripple divided, and the frill rose from the sea. The surrounding water turned black with the creature’s shadow as it glided alongside the ship, rising higher and higher un
til several feet of its gray back was visible above the sinking rail. Tilting its head to the side, a hideous red eye appeared just above the waterline, peering up at the rail.

  “Why doesn’t it just attack and get it over with?” screamed a man from the starboard rail, his torn shirt exposing his left shoulder. “It just keeps circling closer and closer. I can’t take this anymore!”

  Beside him, a female steward with one arm around a young girl, said, “Sir, please calm down. You heard the captain’s announcement. The Navy’s on the way!”

  “Oh yeah . . . like that patrol boat that just helped us out?” bellowed the man. “What are they gonna do? If they were here right now, there’s no way they could get everyone off the ship in time! Look at the port rail. It’s practically touching the water. Another couple feet, that thing’ll be able to reach—”

  “Shut up! Enough!” shouted a burly man, clinging to the rail. “Keep flapping that trap, and you won’t have to wait! I’ll throw you in there myself, right now!”

  ~~~

  Farther down the rail near the stern, Joyce and Thelma held on tightly to the two girls. Joyce didn’t know how much longer she could hold on. Her right arm was numb from being looped around the rail while her left arm ached from holding Trish. Thirty feet below was the ship’s swimming pool, its water collected on one side with the leaning deck. Every inch the ship moved deeper into the sea, the pool’s heated water spilled over the coping, sending a waterfall down the deck until it disappeared through a pile of pool chairs collected against the portside rail.

  “Mommy, why are those two men shouting?” asked little Trish.

  Joyce turned her daughter’s attention from the arguing men. “Don’t you mind them, baby. Just bow your head and close your eyes.” She led the two little girls in prayer, keeping one eye on the water.

  The massive shadow moved away from the ship, and out to sea. Joyce knew it would be back. They all did.

  After a long slow turn about forty yards off port, the monster veered toward the ship and faded below the surface. Seagulls lifted from floating bodies as the massive shadow passed below.

  “Mommy, what’s it doing?”

  Joyce pulled her daughter closer. “Just hold on, baby.”

  The leviathan launched upward with the force of all four paddle fins. The enormous shadow blurred with speed.

  Screams echoed from the rail as everyone’s fear was realized.

  All at once, the pliosaur’s terrible head lunged from the water, jaws tightly clenched. Water spewed over the rail as the enormous head and underbelly slid onto the deck beside the pool. The portside rail collapsed like a pipe cleaner, folding beneath gray flesh.

  On either side of the enormous body, waves broke over the railing and washed up onto the deck. Instantly, Joyce and everyone along the starboard rail rose higher as the tremendous bulk pressed the port side of the ship farther beneath the surface. Planks moaned from the creature’s weight.

  A paddle fin hit the deck, ripping up planks as it thrust for traction. It slipped into the pool, spraying pool water out across the sea. Slowly the creature forced more of its body onto the deck, inching its gaping jaws upward toward the starboard rail.

  The horrified passengers held on with all their strength, staring down at the colossal head. More of the tremendous back emerged from the water, sliding onto the deck. The tip of the nose moved to within twenty feet of the rail.

  As the portside sank, the passengers climbed over the starboard side rail, a pitiful barrier between them and the monster. Others, unable to make the transition, struggled to hold on to the railing from below, their feet searching for traction on the wet deck. A deafening roar from the creature shook the entire ship as it held down the port side. The colossal head thrashed, the underside of its jaw crashing through a skylight that protruded from the deck. Slowly, hundreds of silver balloons rose through the opening and floated around the monster’s head as if in macabre celebration. Again, the creature thrashed, trying to force more of itself onto the ship. A wave shot out from beneath the jaws, showering those above. Directly above the creature, drenched passengers cowered behind the rail, looking occasionally behind them at the thirty-five-foot drop into the open sea. The back arced. The jaws rose high, exposing the white underside of its throat. The head slammed down hard against the deck. The enormous thud resonated through the deck and shook the rail violently.

  The ship shuddered and listed farther into the sea.

  ~~~

  Inside the bridge, Captain Porter and the first mate were flung against the portside wall. Another crewmember soared through the window in a shower of glass. The captain scrambled to his knees and watched in horror as the seaman fell forty feet, stopping suddenly when he met the sunken port side rails.

  ~~~

  Leaning into the starboard rail, Joyce held on with all her strength—one hand gripping the rail and the other holding Trish between her chest and the rail. Every muscle screamed for her to let go. Trish whimpered, trembling at the sight of the nightmare below them.

  “No, baby. Don’t look at it,” Joyce said through strained lips.

  The creature had begun to slowly slip backward now, the ship’s remaining buoyancy hindering its progress. It thrashed harder, as if in a final attempt to loosen its prey. With a roar of inconceivable magnitude, its head slammed against the deck. Grips broken, a flurry of passengers tumbled down the deck, sliding past the creature and into the sea.

  Beside Joyce, Thelma lost her grip on her daughter Charmaine, who rolled under the rail and down the deck, disappearing over the edge of the swimming pool. All around them were hellish sounds of wailing and screaming. . . Joyce was certain her voice was in there somewhere.

  Now she felt her own grip loosening, and her feet slipped under the rail until her hips were on the wet deck. Trish rolled off her chest, and Joyce caught her by the right hand. Joyce’s body slid farther down the vibrating deck, one hand clutching Trish’s hand, the other on the bottom rail.

  The ship jarred again. Trish’s small fingers were slipping from her hand.

  “Hold on!” Thelma screamed from above.

  Just short of dropping her daughter, Joyce released the rail. Rolling over one another, they slid down the deck until it suddenly dropped from beneath them. A weightless moment . . . then Joyce splashed into the tilted swimming pool, Trish landing beside her. Surfacing, Joyce grabbed Trish, and then she saw Charmaine. All three swam forward and quickly grabbed onto the side of the tilted pool.

  Her arms stretched over the coping, Joyce looked down the sloping deck just as the seawater shot up, crashing into her face. Sputtering, she looked around her, finding an enormous paddle fin to her right and more spewing water in her face.

  “That’s it, girls! Hold on!” yelled Joyce above the sound of the creature’s skin scraping against the deck.

  There was a loud splash from behind. Joyce turned and saw a woman wearing only a bra and panties swimming toward an orange raft in the pool.

  The deck quaked. More planks buckled and snapped beneath the creature’s underbelly. A wide crack spread to the coping of the pool. An enormous bubble rose behind Joyce, releasing a great belch of air. The woman in the center of the pool grabbed the raft, looking around in confusion as the water level dropped. Joyce looked down and saw the bottom of the pool splitting wider like a gaping mouth. More bubbles rose through the opening. “Girls, hold on!”

  Joyce held on tighter to the edge of the pool. The water level dropped below her hips, then her feet.

  “Mommy! What’s going on?” screamed Trish.

  “I don’t know, baby. Just hold on to the side!” Looking over her shoulder, she saw the blond hair of the woman with the raft disappear through the bottom of the pool.

  No sooner had Joyce looked back up, a wave crashed over the coping, hurling her and the girls backward. Falling twelve feet, Joyce landed back-first in several feet of water collected in the side of the pool, her daughters splashing down beside her.
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  The ship moaned and rocked again.

  Joyce looked up at the towering walls of the pool and knew there was no way they were getting out. But that wasn’t her only problem–another huge swell shot over the top of the pool. She grabbed her two daughters just as the wall of water crashed down across her chest, washing them back through the enormous crack in the bottom of the pool. Splashing into the cabin below, Joyce frantically surfaced, yelling for her daughters. But her cries were unanswered.

  ~~~

  With its upper body strewn across the deck up to its fore paddle fins, the pliosaur continued to thrash, pushing the vessel farther beneath the surface. Beneath the port side rail near the creature’s underbelly, an explosion of bubbles shot out from the hull.

  The stern dropped deeper, sending more water racing up the deck and throughout the lower cabins.

  The Indian Ocean was claiming the ship.

  The pliosaur began to tire, lying still for a moment with the upper third of its body sprawled on deck. Unblinking red eyes stared up at the people clinging to the rail, its giant, tooth-studded jaws slightly agape. Fifty feet beneath the surface, the rear paddle fins swept just enough to keep the monster’s head and neck on the ship, while just above the water an enormous front paddle fin curled into the empty swimming pool in a final attempt to hang on.

  Finally, the ship’s buoyancy won out, causing the creature to slide sideways from the ship with a tremendous splash. The ship’s port side quickly rose above the waterline, revealing the bent side rail pressed down against the deck. Slowly, a thin sheet of water flowed from the side of the ship, exposing a massive section of deck deeply scarred by the creature’s ragged skin.

  The beast rose beside the mangled port rail and turned its attention to the screaming in the water.