Vengeance from the Deep - Book One: Pliosaur

by Russ Elliott

  “Couldn’t get any worse,” muttered Nemo as he watched the female reporter step into the helicopter. He gave her a forced smile and waved.

  ~~~

  The small airport office was silent as John sat riveted to the news. His troubled mind wouldn’t let him sleep. Kate remained snuggled up beside him on the couch, while the monkey snored lightly at his feet. Stirring, Kate stretched her arms and squinted up at him. “Turn that back off and get some rest. Remember, if anyone’s to blame for this mess, it’s my mother, and you can bet she’s not missing sleep over it.” With that, she rolled over and closed her eyes.

  ~~~

  At two-thirty a.m., Professor Atkins’ jeep rolled into the Dyer Channel parking lot. She weaved through a myriad of military vehicles until she found an out-of-the way spot in a corner of the lot. Popping the door, she slid from the driver’s seat and into utter chaos. The parking lot was alive with flashing lights as men in Navy attire gathered near the docks. Thumping rotors echoed above while spotlights shot down from the sky, playing over the numerous patrol boats searching the channel.

  Near a shack-like office at the edge of the docks, she saw a naval Hummer parked beside a red Porsche. The entire area around the vehicles was taped off like a crime scene. She proceeded toward the docks, for the most part unnoticed, with the exception of an occasional nod from a man in uniform. Every face she passed bore the same expression: confusion.

  Chapter 27

  NAUTICUS II

  Thirty-five miles off Quoin Point, the Nauticus II lay at anchor. Captain Nemo stood alone at the side rail, gazing across a moonlit sea. His purple squid tie lifted with the night’s breeze. Normally at three a.m., he would have been sleeping in his cabin. But tonight, he didn’t bother to try to sleep, as thoughts of the expedition weighed heavily on his mind. He wondered if the Austins—a husband-and-wife marine biology team—really had good reason to leave the ship two weeks ago. Or was the alleged illness in the family just an excuse to get out of a hopeless expedition?

  He looked down at the water. No longer did he see its glimmering surface as a source of wonder. Now it served as a cruel curtain that offered him only glimpses of something it would never truly reveal. Maybe his colleagues were right—he was attempting the impossible.

  He closed his eyes and listened to the waves crashing against the ship’s steel hull, a soothing sound that always calmed him. A familiar series of clanks echoed behind him, interrupting his quiet moment. A tall, thin figure emerged from the shadows of the stairwell and walked up to join him: Nathan. . .

  “Who’s watching the monitors?” the captain snapped.

  “Freddie is.” Nathan’s tone was defensive. “I just came up to give my eyes a break. You can only look at those screens for so long.”

  The captain turned back around to face the water, his forearms resting on the side rail. “Well, don’t leave him down there too long. Night before last I walked by and saw him slumped over the console, sound asleep. All four whales could have been in a death lock with a giant squid, and he would have slept right through it!” He lowered his head and gazed down the side of the ship. “But I guess with the way things have been going, he probably didn’t miss much.”

  Nathan leaned against the rail. As always, his tone was upbeat. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll have better luck now that we’re in the Indian Ocean.”

  “I sure hope so,” replied Nemo, his frustration obvious in his voice. “We’ve crossed two oceans, gone through nearly four million dollars, and only have the footage of that one squid from our fifth day back in New Zealand to show for it. And that squid was far from the giant we’re looking for.”

  Nathan was quick to defend the project. “True, but the footage proved that the whales can find the squid! And now we’ve got another whale hooked up as of this morning. . . I know it’s only a matter of time.” Nathan looked across the shimmering waters. “Any sign of that dolphin that’s been following the ship?”

  “Saw it a few minutes ago,” grumbled Nemo.

  “There it is,” said Nathan as a glistening gray back broke the surface and disappeared. “See, that’s a sign of good luck.”

  “I hope so. On top of everything else, I have the school representatives calling every day asking when I’ll have something to show the kids. Like I can predict the future! All the money spent on that satellite and nothing to transmit.”

  “Well, hopefully the footage from the smaller squid we shot in New Zealand will keep the kids entertained for a while longer.” Nemo slammed his fist against the rail. “But it’s not an Architeuthis dux! Nothing less than a giant squid will—”

  Wham! The captain was hit from behind, his right leg collapsing as he grabbed the side rail to keep from falling. Over his shoulder, he saw a taupe-colored dog streak by, chasing a chew toy. Sliding to a stop, the seventy-five-pound Weimaraner picked up the toy and vigorously shook it, as if killing its captured prey.

  “Bad dog! Bad dog!” A voice echoed from the opposite side of the ship. A lanky thirteen-year-old boy with dark hair stepped out from behind a long stack of crates and approached them. “I’m sorry, Captain Nemo, it’s really my fault. I didn’t mean to throw it so close to you. I’ll be more careful next time.”

  “Next time!” growled Nemo, his face turning a deeper shade of red. “I’m gonna give that dog swimming lessons if I see him on deck again, understand? Now get him out of my sight! And what are you doing up at this ungodly hour?”

  Erick looked up through his thick glasses. “Okay, okay! I said I was sorry . . . I just took him out to pee. Come on Rex, let’s go.” As Erick walked away, Nemo grumbled to Nathan. “I can’t believe he snuck that dog on board. I’ve been putting up with that beast for more than two months now. Last night I didn’t think I was ever gonna go to sleep . . . cursed fleabag barked for hours.”

  “It’s a big ship, Captain,” replied Nathan. “Certainly there’s enough room for the dog. And I really appreciate you letting Erick help out on the ship like this. He’s always been fascinated with the ocean, and he’s really a good little worker.”

  Rubbing the side of his thigh, Nemo looked over the rail. “Well, the boy spilled my supper all over the cabin last night as he was bringing it to me. But other than that, he does seem to try hard . . . that is, when I can find him.”

  “Well, thanks again. He’s my only nephew, and my brother has been asking if I could bring Erick on an expedition with me as long as I can remember.”

  “All right,” grumbled Nemo. “But that beast wasn’t part of the deal.”

  “Why don’t you turn in for the night? Some sleep will do you good,” said Nathan, stepping away from the rail. “I’m going back to cover the monitors for a few more hours. I’ll let you know if the whales find anything.”

  Nemo leaned back against the rail. “You go ahead. I’m going to stay on deck for a while, then I might call it a night.”

  After a nod, Nathan checked his watch and muttered on his way back to the stairwell, “Guess it’s about time to go wake up Freddie!”

  “What was that?” asked Nemo.

  “Oh nothing,” replied Nathan. “I just said it was time to relieve Freddie.”

  ~~~

  The small fishing boat pressed on through the night, plowing through the waves. Silently, Kota peered ahead through the windshield. His burning eyes locked on the endless sea. Beside him, Kolegwa again stood and stared off port. He nervously turned and examined their wake.

  Kota knew what was on his mind. “You looking for Kuta-ke-blay?” he said in their native tongue.

  Kolegwa nodded with one eye on the water.

  “Do not fear,” Kota pointed to the white tooth painted on his face. “As long as we bear Kuta-ke-blay’s mark, we possess his power: the power to kill and never be destroyed.”

  Kolegwa felt the paint on his face. He looked at his white fingertips and nodded, reassured. After returning to his seat, he spoke up. “But how do we find evil one, the white devil who kille
d chief?”

  “Worry not,” replied Kota. “For the prophecy foretold that all who interfere will be delivered into our hands.” The powerful tribesman glanced at the compass and held his course due north, in the direction of land.

  A new predator had entered these waters.

  Chapter 28

  EVIDENCE

  The early morning sun glared into the small airport office as John sat on the corner of the couch, a Navy business card between his fingers, cell phone at his ear. Kate waited in the kitchenette, listening anxiously.

  He glanced at a wall clock. It’s past nine o’ clock. He couldn’t believe the Navy hadn’t already called him about the tooth.

  Finally there was an answer on the line. “Officer Branson.” The male voice was authoritative.

  “Yes. This is John Paxton. You questioned me at the hospital last night, after the Dyer Channel incident. I wanted to discuss the tooth . . . the one in Lieutenant Greeman’s Hummer.”

  “Oh yes, the giant pliosaur tooth!” said the officer loudly.

  All right! John thought. Now we’re getting somewhere. We’ll see who’s crazy.

  “Yes . . . the giant pliosaur tooth,” John repeated eagerly, but his heart sank at the officer’s next words.

  “What tooth?” Branson said flatly. “I had two of my men scour every inch of that vehicle, and they found nothing of the sort. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but you’ll have to take it up with Admiral Henderson. He has taken over the investigation. Hold, and I’ll have the dispatcher connect you.”

  Click. John hung up the phone.

  Kate said, “Something tells me that didn’t go so well.”

  He stared at the phone in disbelief. “He said there’s no tooth. His men searched the Hummer and didn’t find anything. He was transferring me to the admiral, but I hung up. I have no idea what to tell him.”

  Kate stood and turned to the window. When she turned back around, the look of confusion left her face. “Mother!”

  “What?”

  “She’s got it. I know it. Last night I thought she was rather inquisitive about the tooth. She knew we flew straight to the office after leaving the hospital. She knew that tooth was still at Dyer Channel!”

  “Oh come on,” John said doubtfully. “I think the Navy just doesn’t want to admit it, like some kind of cover up. You know, to keep this out of the media.”

  Kate shook her head.

  “Really?” John laughed. “So you think she would drive through the night, all the way to Dyer Channel, and steal the tooth from a military vehicle that’s involved in an investigation?”

  “Apparently you don’t know my mother that well.” Kate picked up the phone on a table beside the kitchenette.

  ~~~

  Nathan sat alone in the surveillance cabin of the Nauticus II, staring at the monitors. It was early morning, and every passing minute made it harder to stay awake. Slowly his heavy eyelids won, closing completely, and he dozed. Moments later, a muscle spasm made him jump, causing him to wake. He rubbed his tired eyes. As his vision cleared, he looked along the four monitors, showing the whales’ perspectives as they swam through the depths.

  He heard footsteps. In the monitors’ reflections, he saw the captain appear in the doorway. “Just checking to make sure you were awake.”

  “No worries, Captain. Bright-eyed as always!”

  “How much time do we have until we transmit to the classrooms?”

  Nathan glanced at his watch. “About three hours still.”

  After the captain disappeared through the doorway, Nathan turned back to the monitors. His eyes were drawn to monitor one. The water seemed lighter than the others. All of a sudden, the seafloor appeared on the screen, glimmering in the sunlight, growing brighter as the seabed slowly rose closer to the whale. This whale was heading for the shallows.

  A quick sip from his water bottle, and Nathan scooted closer to the monitor. On screen, the waterline dropped below the camera, and he could see the distant shoreline. “Incredible,” Nathan said, dumbfounded. “The whale’s trying to beach itself.”

  ~~~

  Kate shook her head while dialing her mother from the phone on her desk. She pushed the button for speakerphone. “I can’t believe she just took the tooth like that. What was she thinking?”

  John leaned against the side of the desk. “You sure you don’t want me to talk to her? Just stay calm. Try to reason with her . . . calmly.”

  The look in Kate’s eyes told John she could handle it.

  Two rings later, there was an answer. The steady hum of road noise in the background told them the professor was still in her jeep.

  “Do you have the tooth?” Kate asked pointedly.

  “Indeed I do.”

  “Mother! How dare you . . . you know it’s the only hard evidence we have!”

  “How’s John doing? Is he feeling better?”

  “He’s doing fine other than the aneurism he had this morning when he found out the Navy didn’t have the tooth. Mom, you can’t just steal like that.”

  “Steal! I have every right to the tooth,” said the professor in her usual unruffled tone. “I funded the expedition; therefore, everything acquired on that expedition is my property. And I’m taking it to be carbon tested.” She chuckled. “Besides, you can’t be naive enough to think the military would actually return it to you.”

  “I’m not arguing your rights to the tooth,” pleaded Kate. “I’m only asking that you bring it back so we can use it as evidence when we talk to the Navy. After that, you can do all the bloody testing you want. So, for now, please return it, Mom, please. Lives are at stake!”

  “No one is going to believe the authenticity of the tooth until it’s properly tested,” countered the professor. “If you show it to them now, they aren’t going to take you seriously, not until they have it tested themselves. And I’d rather keep it in my possession and oversee the testing. Wouldn’t you? Once this is completed, I’ll be glad to bring it back, and you will have all the evidence you need. Indisputable evidence!”

  “Indisputable evidence,” John laughed, shaking his head. “That tooth’s as white as mine—it still has gum tissue attached. Its owner is swimming off the coast as we speak!”

  “I believe you, John, and Kate believes you, but no one else is going to believe you until we get it tested. Trust me, the South African military is not an open-minded lot. They’ll most likely say the gum tissue is some concoction you put on there yourself. But once tested, they’ll be forced to listen to you.”

  “How long will this take?” Kate asked.

  “Normally, a few weeks. But I have some connections and can probably have it done in a week.”

  “A week!” John slapped the table. “We don’t have an hour. It’s already killed! Do you know what kind of damage that thing could do in a week?”

  “Look, I’m trying to help you two. I’m speeding up the process of confirming your evidence.” The professor’s voice began to break up from bad transmission. “I just can’t risk having the . . . Navy or any . . . take it.” The phone crackled more. “I have to go now, the phone’s . . . signal. I’ll contact . . . as . . . know something.” The line went dead.

  Clicking off the speakerphone, Kate looked at John with disbelief in her eyes. “She’s the most stubborn woman! I was going to ask if she could just take a small section of the tooth for testing, but she hung up before I had the chance.”

  John picked up the receiver. “Let me try to call her back.”

  He dialed once, then again. After a few seconds, he slammed the receiver back down. “That’s it. Now she’s turned her phone off.” He took a long breath and looked down at the phone. “Well, I guess I’d better call Admiral Henderson. But I have no idea what I’m gonna tell him.”

  ~~~

  While looking across the debris scattered along the coast of Geyser Rock, Admiral Henderson tried to piece things together. His stern, deep-set, gray eyes and tall stature made for an
intimidating presence as he watched a pair of patrol boats dredge the Dyer Channel. In the distance, a dozen or so of his men scoured the waterline. He waded through the thousands of Cape fur seals crowding the rocky banks, their gurgling barks making it impossible to think.

  The debris covered a half mile offshore, where most of it still lingered. The pieces were small, too small and too scattered. And that’s what bothered him the most. Now that he was there, he could see clearly this was much more than a boating collision. The two vessels involved were virtually disintegrated.

  Stepping closer to the water, he took his cell phone from his pocket. He pushed a button to take a call dispatched to him from his Simons Town office. “Admiral Henderson,” he announced in a gravelly voice.

  “Admiral, this is John Paxton.”

  The admiral cupped his right hand over his ear, trying to block out the barking of the seals. “Yes.”

  “I was the one who went out with Vic Greeman in the Dyer Channel last night after he closed the Shark Tours.”

  “Did you call in earlier yesterday from a fishing boat?” asked the Admiral. “Do you know a man named Libby Watson?”

  “I do. What’s he got to do with this?”

  The admiral perked up. “That’s what I thought. Now that you mention it, I think we did get a report on your creature earlier this morning on a beach near Natal.”

  “You did?” replied John in amazement.

  “Yeah. It was chasing a bloody brontosaurus out of the water. Or was it a T-rex?”

  “This isn’t a joke!” pleaded John. “You have to believe me. A lot of lives depend on this.”

  “Look.” Admiral Henderson gave a slight laugh. “I read the statement you gave the officers last night. And I heard you gave them quite the runaround this morning looking for some giant tooth.” His voice grew stern. “Sir, I’m afraid the Navy doesn’t have time for your games, and with all that happened yesterday, I think your joke is certainly in bad taste. Good day, sir.”