Leviathan by Sandman Jared

Author:Sandman, Jared [Sandman, Jared]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-08-17T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

KELLY STORMED ACROSS the gangway and disengaged the boardwalk after her group boarded the Aurora. None of the men spoke, for fear of drawing her ire. “I cannot believe the nerve of that man. ‘I’m so rich I can get away with anything.’ How narcissistic is that?”

“Calm down,” Evan told her. “Push Oscar Wright out of your head.”

“Did you hear what he said?”

“I heard, I heard. There’s no excuse for his etiquette.”

“That animal is the most significant biological discovery of our time — and he wants to kill it.”

“I don’t see what’s wrong,” Edgar said. “He offered to donate the body. You can still get a lot of information from that.”

The marine biologist glared at the lawyer. “Of course you’d agree with him,” she said. The venom in her voice could’ve poisoned a pit viper.

“What’s that mean?”

“It’s fascinating how well you two got along. Especially since Wright apparently has a mole working at the Institute.”

“What are you implying, that I’m a spy?”

“Not implying,” she said, “I’m outright saying it.”

Edgar took offense to the accusation. “I never met Wright before tonight.”

“People don’t have to meet these days. A simple phone call, an innocent email — ”

“Mister Hamilton would love to hear about this.”

“Sure, run to Daddy and tattle on me. He should write you up for being a total — ”

“You best watch your words,” Edgar cautioned. “It’s a slippery slope between anger and slander.”

Evan intervened before passions spun out of control. “There’s no need for name calling or lawsuits,” he said. Then to the attorney: “You don’t want to be here right now.”

Edgar nodded and took Rafe with him as they retired to their shared sleeping quarters.

“Don’t start with me,” Kelly said once they were alone. “I don’t need lectured.”

Bart started the ship’s engines, and the research vessel pulled away from the yacht.

Evan said, “I’m not here to lecture, but you’re out of line. Get your emotions in check. If you wanna beat Oscar Wright, you need to be as detached and calculated as he is.” The advice was solid, and the ranger knew he too should heed it. “Let your feelings get in the way, and he’ll steal the Leviathan from us.”

* * * * *

Night on the open ocean reminded Kelly of the dark vacuum of space. She sat on a lawn chair atop the Aurora’s weather deck, an ice chest filled with chilled beer cans between her feet. She had one beverage in hand now, two crushed empties beside the lounger. It was after one in the morning, and she’d come outside for fresh air after being unable to sleep.

The lack of moonlight brought total darkness to the sea, cast it in impenetrable blackness. Even the stars hid behind a thick layer of clouds. The deck lights above her were the sole source of illumination; beyond the bulwark was abject nothingness. She couldn’t differentiate between the black water and the sable sky. Out here she felt like the only person in the universe.

“Penny for your thoughts,” a voice said.

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