seaQuest DSV: The Ancient by David Bischoff

Author:David Bischoff
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Published: 1994-03-27T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

The sonar indicated that the blip bearing down upon the three dolphins was not only solid, but large.

However, Westphalen calculated its dimension quickly with the telemetry and computer, and the result was a length of thirty-five feet, a width of perhaps eight.

Not the sea monster that had been described in the reports.

However, that did not mean it was not dangerous to the dolphins.

"Damn. Looks like a great white," said Lieutenant Johnson.

"A shark?" Jennifer gasped.

"That's what we're talking about, honey," said Lieutenant Johnson. She did things to the controls, and Lucas felt a lurching that swayed them all in their seats as the minisub picked up a charge of speed. "Doctor, if you'd be so kind," said the pilot.

After regaining her balance, Dr. Westphalen pushed herself up from her seat and headed to another control panel. "Certainly, Lieutenant. A little mechanical ability always comes in handy."

Fear sat like a ball of lead in Lucas's stomach. The ocean was filled with danger, and he well knew that Darwin faced it every day. But a great white shark?

"Thing's a little far north," he said. "Maybe it's a whale."

"I hope so, but I fear the worst," said Lieutenant Johnson. "And I'm not taking any chances."

"What's going on?" asked Jennifer.

"Dr. Westphalen's manning the torps."

"Torps?"

"Torpedoes."

"You really think we're going to have to help Darwin?"

"I hope not, but we have to be ready to."

Jennifer tried to maintain her cool, aloof countenance but was not completely successful. "I thought dolphins could swim faster than sharks."

"Sometimes," said Lucas. "Dolphins also have a pretty hard beak. They can dodge a shark and ram up in its soft underbelly and rupture the shark's liver. Fatal blow."

"However," added Johnson grimly, "this is one big great white."

"I didn't know they got that big."

"In the Pacific, they do." said Johnson. "Five hundred yards and closing. We're almost there."

Complete silence for several long moments. Lucas could hear the hammer of his own heart.

"What's going on?" demanded Jennifer.

Lucas didn't answer. He was concentrating on that sonar image.

What was going on was a dance.

A dance of death. This was a great white, all right, and it meant to have those dolphins for lunch. The smaller blips scattered. The shark pursued one in particular. Darwin? Lucas couldn't tell. The suspense was a killer.

"Can we get something on the TV monitors?" said Jennifer, echoing his own thoughts.

"Lucas, you've got free hands," said Johnson. "We're in pretty clear water. You want to give it a try?"

The pilot had given him permission. Lucas unbuckled himself, went over, and switched on the monitors. They came to life. At first, the water seemed murky. But they were nearing the surface, and with his expert tuning Lucas managed to focus up a decent picture. Sheets of light from the surface broke through a panorama of blue-green and nothing more. Then suddenly: a streak.

"Magnification," called Johnson, but she needn't have. Lucas was already working at the dials. Under his command, a closer picture snapped into view. A dolphin cut through the water, ramming ahead at full speed.

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