Polar Melt_A Novel by MARTIN ROY HILL

Author:MARTIN ROY HILL [HILL, MARTIN ROY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 32-32 North
Published: 2018-12-30T00:00:00+00:00

☼

When they finished videotaping the wreck, Sandford resumed their original course to the Vilanovsky. Her demeanor had changed. She no longer lectured Gates or teased him. A tight grimace replaced the seductive smile. Her eyes glistened with tears she refused to cry. When she did talk, it was simply to acknowledge Gates' questions with a quiet, "Yes, sir" or "No, sir."

Gates understood the change. He had seen it before. Faced with the sudden reality of the situation, she was falling back on her military training, focusing on her duties, and trying not to think too much beyond those duties. For the next hour, they traveled in silence.

"There it is," Sandford said, pointing to the forward-looking sonar screen. The Vilanovsky's large concrete caisson appeared on the display. With each minute of approach, it loomed larger, until it filled the screen. Sandford touched a button, and the side-scan image disappeared, allowing the caisson image to dominated the entire screen.

"What's that?" Gates asked, pointing to a darker area on one side of the caisson.

"It looks like . . ." Sandford studied the image before continuing. "Like an opening."

"Into the caisson?"

"It sure looks it, commander." Sandford reached for the twin joysticks. "I'll get us closer."

"No, no," Gates said. "Let's sit here and watch for a while. I don't want to stumble blindly into anything."

"Aye," Sandford said. "I'll settle her onto the floor."

They watched. At this distanced and depth, they could not see much through the viewing bubble. Yet a strange glow leaked out of the opening.

"What's that light?" Sandford asked.

"Work lights," Gates said. "They have several DSVs and deep-diving suits. My guess is they're working on whatever they have under the platform."

"They have something under the Vilanovsky?"

"When we were aboard, Dr. Baby Face saw notes on a lab whiteboard. It mentioned energy emissions coming from an object beneath the platform. He also overheard a couple workers talking about what they called 'that thing below.'"

Sandford chuckled. Gates looked her, puzzled.

"You call him Dr. Baby Face," she said.

Gates grinned. "I told you I'd remember that name."

They waited ten more minutes and then, spotting nothing unusual, Gates patted Sandford's shoulder.

"All right," he said, "let's go."

Sandford took the controls, and Chip lifted off the ocean floor, its horizontal thrusters creating small tornadoes of sea mud. She eased the sub forward, but it was sluggish to the command. She applied more power, but the DSV acted as if it were dragging an anchor.

"What the hell?" she muttered.

"What is it, Sarah?" Gates asked.

"I . . . I think we're stuck on something. Maybe a cable?"

Sandford's fingers stabbed at the video controls. The displayed screen switched to video feeds from cameras forward and aft, and port and starboard. This deep, three segments of the screen were dark. But the fourth, from the aft-mounted camera showed two light sources and, behind those, a metallic glint. Sandford switched on the stern light, revealing a man in a deep-diving suit, the articulated torso and extremities resembling a modern rendition of the venerable Robbie the Robot, including the pincer-like hands.

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