Deep Storm by Child, Lincoln (2008) Mass Market Paperback by Child Lincoln

Author:Child, Lincoln [Child, Lincoln]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, Science Fiction, Mystery, Adventure, Suspense, Horror
Amazon: B00ZATN990
Goodreads: 135391703
Publisher: Anchor
Published: 2007-03-15T07:00:00+00:00

29

Crane trotted along the labyrinthine corridors of deck 3, accompanied by a young marine with close-cropped blond hair.

“What is it?” Crane asked. “What’s happened?”

“I don’t know, sir,” the marine said. “My orders were to escort you to the Drilling Complex. On the double.”

The marine stopped to open an unmarked door, which gave onto a narrow service stairwell. They took the metal steps downward, two at a time, until they reached deck 1. The marine threw open another door, and they ran through another warren of passageways. As he ran, Crane noticed that the walls of this—the lowest level of the Facility—were painted a dull red.

Ahead now lay a large set of double doors. As Crane approached, the marines stationed outside pulled the doors open for him. Beyond lay the Drilling Complex, the large equipment hanger he had seen from above the day before. Equipment bulkheads and racks of instrumentation lined three of the walls. Numerous open hatchways led to labs, equipment bays, monitoring stations, and breakout rooms. The ceiling—two levels high in this space—was festooned with cranes, gantries, heavy chains, and hydraulic equipment. Technicians hurried here and there, speaking in low tones, their faces drawn and worried. Somewhere in the distance, an alarm was sounding.

In the center of the hanger, people stood clustered around what was clearly the upper seal of a water lock. Among them was Admiral Spartan. Crane walked quickly over to them.

“What’s going on?” he asked Spartan.

The admiral glanced at him for a moment before returning his gaze to the water lock. “There’s been some kind of accident with Marble One.”

“What kind of accident?”

“We’ve lost communication with the crew inside, there’s no way to know for sure. Apparently, the robotic mechanism that pulls the Marble down the dig shaft malfunctioned. Rammed the Marble. And now, Marble One is rising out of control.”

“Oh, Jesus. Did they lose pressure?”

“Exceedingly unlikely. Any injuries are more likely to result from…impact.”

“Blunt trauma,” Crane muttered. He glanced around, thinking quickly. “You said the Marble has a crew complement of three?”

“Correct.”

“I don’t have any medical equipment on hand.”

“Emergency field kits are being brought as we speak.”

A loudspeaker rasped, “Estimated time until impact, two minutes.”

“A field kit’s not enough, Admiral,” Crane said. “I’m going to need to prep the site for emergency treatment. And I’ll need Dr. Bishop to assist. Especially if there’s triage to be done.”

Spartan turned to look at him again. “Not in the Drilling Complex.”

“But—” Crane began.

“You can use the temporary infirmary on deck four. I’ll have Dr. Bishop brought there.” Spartan beckoned to one of the numerous marines stationed nearby. “Locate Dr. Bishop and escort her to deck four,” he ordered.

The marine saluted, then moved briskly away.

“What if there are neck injuries?” Crane demanded. “We can’t just move those crewmen…” He fell silent when he saw the expression on the admiral’s face.

A lab technician looked up from the nearby control console. “Admiral,” he said. “Marble One’s rate of ascent is slowing slightly.”

“What’s the current rate?”

“Thirty-four feet per second, sir.”

“Equilibrium’s off,” said Spartan.

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