Deep Wild Blue

by Michael Maguire

  Archie had deliberately slowed Kristo to a crawl, allowing Lucy to get clear. He knew he only had a few seconds to react before the Stinger smashed into Kristo’s side.

  The Dorsal fin camera was beaming pictures of Len and Joe Riddle grinning through the windscreen-bubble, waiting for the huge collision to happen.

  But it didn’t…

  Archie had hit the speed generator icon and Kristo lurched forward displaying massive power. Archie knew he’d avoided being side-swiped by the Stinger and a plan was forming in his mind that would put the Stinger out of action.

  ‘What the heck are you doing, Archie?’ Troy’s voice boomed from the loudspeakers. ‘Slow down… Slow down!’

  Archie didn’t bother to reply. He was using the rudder pedals to swing Kristo full circle until he was behind the Stinger.

  The HD cameras showed Lucy bobbing up and down in her lifejacket – well enough away to be clear of any danger.

  He headed for the rear of the Stinger dropping Kristo about two meters below the surface and out of view. Archie, using both hands, had his fingers poised over the “thrusters” and both “left” and “right gill” icons. All three had never been activated at the same time before.

  ‘I don’t know why you’re messing about, Archie, but come back NOW!’ Troy’s voice sounded furious through the cockpit loudspeakers.

  Archie’s throat was dry as once again he ignored his brother’s instructions. He wanted to say: “Chill out, Troy, I have things under control,” but he was busy lining Kristo up behind the Stinger’s rear and judging the distance he’d need for a full-power run and leap.

  With a tremble in his fingers he increased Kristo’s speed to thirty and within a second the Stinger’s yellow image filled the plasma screens. Archie pushed down hard on the rudder pedals and his fingertips hit the “thrusters” and both “gill” icons together.

  Compressed air gushed loudly from Kristo as his body bent and lifted in a huge leap. He sailed over the Riddles’ machine letting the Stinger feel the full force of the movement. The pressure of the gushing air crashing down on the top of the Stinger forced it to drop lower into the sea and spin over.

  ‘Geez, that was hardcore,’ Archie congratulated himself.

  He had his hands and feet busy as he dropped Kristo to a level glide on the sea surface. He cut the speed right back and switched off the “thrusters” and “gill” icons. The noise of the gushing air ceased and he could hear Oscar breathing behind him.

  ‘Sorry, boy,’ Archie said, as the little Jack Russell jumped onto Lucy’s empty seat. ‘I was so busy I forgot all about you.’

  Oscar seemed none the worse for wear and Archie reasoned that the cushioning in his box had held him firm and protected him during Kristo’s leap.

  ‘Right, let’s pick up Lucy,’ he said, turning the angle on the dorsal fin camera.

  He gave a sigh of relief as he spotted the orange lifejacket bobbing about in the sea and saw she was waving a hand.

  Slowly, very slowly, he eased Kristo towards his sister. The plasma screens showed the Stinger limping its way home. It was still upside down and belching out a plume of choking black smoke.

  Joe Riddle was in a twisted bent up position, his face pressed against the windscreen-bubble. Len was upside down and had fallen on top of him in an untidy heap.

  ‘Get off me!’ Joe croaked. ‘Switch the stabilisers on. They must have switched off when that damn shark jumped us.’

  Len struggled to shift his position, his hand reaching towards the Stinger’s control panel. He hit the stabiliser switch and the craft groaned, lifted and splashed down in the correct upright position. Len pushed and pulled at the throttle trying to recover speed but this only resulted in even more black smoke.

  ‘One of the motors must have burned out,’ Len grunted. ‘Probably happened when I used full power to try to ram Kristo and tip little Blondie off.’

  ‘Can we get back to Valentine Cove?’

  ‘Just about… maybe.’

  ‘Then we can drag the Stinger along the beach to the old workshop. We can make repairs there.’

  ‘Yeah, maybe.’

  ‘Think of that gold, Len.’

  Len was thinking. Thinking about the gold and nodding. He showed his yellowed teeth in a sickly smile.

  Lucy was now level with Kristo and holding onto one of the neoprene ropes. She was coughing slightly because the air around her was filled with the Stinger’s smoke. She pulled herself up and swung her legs onto Kristo’s back. Ditching her lifejacket she wiggled and turned her body towards the hatches.

  ‘I can see you,’ Archie’s voice came from the gill slits as he watched Lucy from the dorsal fin camera. ‘I’ll open your hatch so you can slide in.’

  ‘I’m very wet,’ she breathed, sounding tired.

  ‘Squeeze in and rest up,’ Archie said, guiding Oscar back to his box.

  The second hatch was opened and Lucy wiggled her way into the seat.

  ‘It’s very short of space,’ Archie continued. ‘But can you slide out of your wetsuit?’

  ‘I’ve only got my bikini on.’

  ‘That will be bone dry under the wetsuit. I don’t want you getting a chill.’

  Lucy tugged and twisted and pulled the two-piece wetsuit off.

  Archie had a beach towel under his seat. He handed it to Lucy telling her to dry her hair and wipe away whatever sea water remained.

  ‘Calling Kristo… Calling Kristo…’ Troy’s voice was almost calm. ‘I couldn’t hear most of what went on through my tiny transceiver. There was a signal break early on… and I’m sorry I was ratty… I knew the Stinger was out there but I didn’t know Lucy was in danger.’

  ‘Do you want Kristo to come back now?’ Archie asked him, turning his head to the built-in microphone.

  ‘Any idea which part of the coast the Riddles are using to launch the Stinger?’

  ‘I can soon find out. They’ve got engine trouble and they’re limping ahead of us.’

  Archie, keeping his distance, submerged Kristo out of view by two meters and followed the black smoke which was still belching from the Riddles’ craft. He watched it turn into Valentine Cove and scrape itself to a halt at the beach edge.

  Lucy pointed to the tipper truck and the old workshop and Archie nodded in agreement as she told him that this was probably the Stinger’s new home.

  ‘They won’t have to keep travelling from the scrap yard,’ she added, ‘and they’re only a couple of kilometres from us.’

  ‘Fleabags,’ Archie murmured, using his favourite word. ‘We’ll never be free of the Riddles.’

  ‘Make your way back when you can,’ Troy’s voice came through the cockpit speakers. ‘Uncle’s got coffee and cake for you.’

  Archie grinned and immediately tapped the “shore” and “artificial intelligence” icons.

  ‘Kristo’s on automatic,’ he told Lucy. ‘So sit back and enjoy the ride.’

  *

  The Riddles’ truck had been used to tow the Stinger into the deserted beach-side workshop at Valentine Cove.

  ‘One of the engines has burnt out,’ Len told his brother after a brief inspection of the Stinger. ‘I’ll get parts; it’ll take a day, maybe two.’

  ‘That Kristo shark is a heck of a machine,’ Joe grunted his frustration. ‘That old Uncle has built every hi-tech electronic device into its system. We won’t ever come close to equalling it.’

  ‘We gotta stop it somehow, Joe. We failed by stealin’ the dog… but there’s gotta be some other way.’

  ‘Tell me what other way?’

  ‘Kidnap one of the kids.’

  ‘And face a jail sentence?’

  ‘Put Kristo out of action.’

  ‘That’s like farting in the wind. We can’t get near it.’

  Joe scratched his chin. The
unshaven grey bristles crackled under his nails. ‘Tell me about the new fitted locks.’

  Len explained that Gull Cottage and the boathouse worked by identifying who was trying to enter. Uncle Jacob had built in a programme that could recognise Troy and the twins. A tiny camera in the locks would match the faces that were held in a database, and if correct the door would automatically open.

  ‘He’s a crafty old devil,’ Joe grunted and gave a sickly grin. ‘But nobody beats the Riddles. I’ve got a plan Len, and it’s a good one.’

  *

  Archie was making his way down the cliff path. He was wearing his favourite camouflage-style shorts that had lots of pockets and a T-shirt with an American logo on it. Troy had asked him to re-grease the rails that carried Kristo’s cradle to the sea edge.

  He put on some rubber gloves, opened the tin of grease, and took out a slippery lump. He bent and began smearing it on both metal rails.

  The sun was behind Archie and when a large shadow fell over him he thought it was Troy. He was totally unaware that it was Len Riddle who had crept up behind him. The first thing he felt was Len’s bony hands grabbing and squeezing his neck.

  ‘Stay quiet you short-assed brat,’ Riddle hissed. ‘Or I’ll break your blasted neck.’

  Archie turned his shoulders and smacked the lump of grease he had in his hand against Len’s face. It landed on Riddles’ mouth and he grunted as he wiped it away with his tattooed forearm.

  ‘Keep still,’ Len said. ‘Or your sister will be thrown off the cliff.’

  ‘L-Lucy?’

  ‘Yes, Lucy. My brother’s got her. One word from me and she’ll be tossed over.’

  Archie had stopped struggling. He watched as Len Riddle pulled a mobile phone from his pocket and tapped it, bluffing that he was in contact with Joe.

  ‘You can wave to her,’ Len grinned. ‘Give my brother a few seconds to push her and you’ll hear the splash.’

  ‘Leave Lucy alone, you fleabag!’

  ‘No chance… Unless…’

  ‘Unless what?’

  ‘Unless you do exactly as I say.’

  ‘And Lucy?’

  ‘She’ll be unharmed.’

  Len Riddle grabbed Archie’s arm and dragged him towards the boathouse. He held the boy still by holding his shoulders and forcing him to face the photo recognition lock.

  ‘Now press the little button,’ Riddle said.

  ‘And if I don’t?’

  ‘Then it’s bye-bye sister.’

  Archie took a deep breath and pressed it. There was a brief buzz and the boathouse door opened.

  ‘Don’t make a sound and don’t think about escaping,’ Riddle warned, holding his mobile phone. ‘One squeak outa you and Joe will push Lovely Lucy over the cliff… and you know what people will say?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Oh dear, oh dear, poor little girl. She must’ve been walkin’ too close to the edge when she slipped.’

  Len shoved Archie into the boathouse. Fear showed in Riddle’s eyes as he stared at Kristo. Troy had turned the shark around in his cradle so his head faced the rear doors, ready for his next mission.

  ‘Okay kid, switch off his artificial intelligence circuit,’ Riddle gritted. ‘I know Kristo’s the wrong way round to see me, but your old Uncle can be very tricky with his gadgets.’

  Archie opened the front hatch which displayed a mass of glowing icons. He glanced at Riddle who sniggered as he pointed to his mobile phone. Archie, thinking only of Lucy, switched off Kristo’s artificial intelligence. Although short in height, Archie could be a tough little cookie when the mood took him.

  Riddle sniggered. ‘Good boy. Now you’re being friendly to Len.’

  ‘So release Lucy!’

  ‘You ain’t finished here yet.’

  ‘What now?’

  ‘I want the central processing unit removed.’

  Archie knew that the CPU was the heart of Kristo. Uncle Jacob had spent many weeks programming it to process instructions. It could decode the information sent to it and was Kristo’s brain. In terms of power it was the most important piece of the shark’s computer system.

  ‘Release the CPU cover plate.’ Riddle reached for a screwdriver and a pair of snips that lay on a work bench, and tossed the screwdriver to Archie. ‘Kristo is about to lose all his brain-power.’

  Once again Len showed how smug he was by turning the mobile phone over and over in his hand.

  Archie knew that Kristo had many panels covering hi-tech pieces of equipment so he reasoned that Riddle would have a hard job finding the CPU without his help. He hated himself for making it easy, but thoughts of his sister being held by Joe Riddle cleared everything from his mind.

  Archie went to the panel just behind Kristo’s head. He removed four watertight screws and prised the lips of the panel away from the strips of sealant that held it firmly in place.

  Len Riddle could barely wait to get the snips cutting at the wires that controlled the shark. Sweat was dripping over his lips as he yanked the small box-like CPU free from Kristo.

  ‘Satisfied?’ Archie asked. ‘Now let me go to wherever you’ve got Lucy.’

  ‘Quit with the attitude, boy,’ Riddle tightened his grip on Archie’s T-shirt and pushed him towards the door. ‘Both of you will be released when I get clear.’

  Someone was walking towards the boathouse. There were two voices, both men, and they were getting closer. Archie looked at Len Riddle, but even he seemed confused by whoever was making their way towards the open door.

  ‘Get outside, and keep your blow-hole shut,’ Len breathed. ‘You expectin’ visitors?’

  ‘No.’

  Riddle gripped the mobile phone in one hand and the CPU in the other. He nudged Archie clear of the door and closed it behind him.

  One man, very smartly dressed and carrying a bundle of files and papers immediately saw Len Riddle and crossed towards him.

  ‘Mr Riddle?’ His smile was almost too big for his face. ‘I can see that you don’t recognise me. We met briefly six months ago in the Milford Estate Agency. My name’s Richard Mason.’

  ‘Oh yeah, yeah,’ Riddle returned a weak smile. ‘You flog houses. I sorta remember you.’

  ‘And this is Jeff,’ Mason indicated a young scruffy man with three cameras round his neck. ‘He comes with me to take photographs when I’m checking a property.’

  ‘What are you checking Gull Cottage for?’ Archie piped up.

  ‘It’s falling into the sea, young man.’

  ‘We know that. We’re going to fix it.’

  ‘Are you related to Mr Jacob Scott?’

  ‘He’s my Uncle… he needs a bit of time for the repairs, that’s all.’

  Mason Laughed. ‘He needs a miracle, sonny. Because of chronic coastal erosion the Council will be issuing a compulsory purchase order… unless…’

  ‘Unless what?’

  ‘Unless you let Mr Riddle buy it. He has plans to flatten Gull Cottage and use the land to build a holiday caravan park. I think visitors will enjoy the views and the path that leads to the private beach.’

  ‘No!’ Archie shouted the word. ‘The Riddles are thieves and bullies!’

  Len made an attempt to put a matey arm around Archie. ‘Take no notice, Mr Mason,’ Riddle cut in, ‘my little friend can be a bit hot-headed at times.’

  ‘His brother has captured my sister Lucy!’ Archie burst out. ‘And I’m not his friend… He’s a creep.’

  ‘You have a very rude mouth.’ Mason said, ‘Now apologise to Mr Riddle.’

  ‘Never! I’d rather eat Oscar’s poop.’

  ‘Is Lucy wearing far-out clothes and has blonde streaky hair?’ Jeff, the photographer asked.

  ‘Y-yes. You’ve seen her?’

  ‘She’s with your Uncle. I’ve been chatting with her.’<
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  All eyes were on the cliff path as footsteps got closer. Troy and Lucy were making their way down to the beach with Oscar running ahead. The little dog stopped as his gaze settled on Riddle.

  Len wasted no time in making his escape. It was a desperate dash but Oscar headed him off. There was a scream as the little Jack Russell sunk his teeth into Riddles’ left ankle. Oscar clung on as Len tried to shake the dog off, but he lost his balance as he tried to kick Oscar with his right foot. The movement caused Riddle to spin round and fall heavily to the ground.

  The CPU shot out of his hand and Oscar dived for it, caught it, and held it firmly in his mouth. As Riddle climbed clumsily to his feet he realised he’d never catch the dog. He staggered away, getting clear of the boathouse.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Troy looked at Archie, who in turn looked at Lucy.

  ‘You’re safe,’ Archie said.

  ‘Of course I’m safe.’

  ‘That creep Riddle told me…’ He sighed. ‘Oh it doesn’t matter. Tell you later, it’s complicated.’

  Richard Mason and the photographer both looked slightly shaken by what had happened. They said their hasty goodbyes and headed quickly for Milford village by using the narrow track.

  Uncle Jacob had followed Troy and Lucy. He looked rather splendid wearing a long below-the-knee jacket with tight fitting pyjama-like pants called churidars.

  He stood for a moment stroking his beard and examining the CPU which Oscar had dropped at his feet.

  ‘I have a gift,’ he smiled and picked it up. ‘It looks very much like Kristo’s brain.’

  ‘It is,’ Archie chimed in. ‘It’s his CPU. Len Riddle snipped it out.’

  Jacob handed it to Troy. ‘Will it still work, my boy?’

  ‘It should work Uncle. Apart from a couple of Oscar’s tooth marks it looks undamaged.’

  ‘Can you try and replace it? I was hoping to get Kristo on a trial run to take a close look at the treasure ship.’

  Lucy and Archie exchanged brilliant smiles. They both looked at Troy.

  ‘I reckon I can get the CPU back in position in a few hours,’ he said. ‘If you’re going deep to the treasure ship I’ll also have to fit two Halogen spotlights to Kristo. It’s very dark down there, Uncle.’