Deluge: The Conqueror Worms II

CHAPTER 64

As they crept down the passageway, Gail tried to remember if she’d racked another shotgun shell. She’d shot the starfish man twice, but had she readied the weapon after the second shot? It wouldn’t do to come across another of those creatures and not be ready. That split second could make all the difference between life and death. She was reluctant to pump the shotgun now, because the noise could give away their location if one of the beasts was lurking around the next corner.

Indeed, that was the problem. The multi-hulled, one-hundred and twenty five foot long Catamaran was a labyrinth of passageways, hatches and ladders. Most of them had only the red emergency lights for illumination. Some didn’t even have that. She moved as quietly as possible, but that meant going slowly. Occasionally, when she slowed her pace too much, Novak bumped into her from behind.

They reached a ladder leading down to the lower level. Pausing, Gail glanced back at the others.

“What now?” she whispered.

“We go down,” Novak said.

Gail glanced at the others for confirmation, and noticed that Simon was admiring the trident he’d taken from the dead creature. “Everything okay?”

He didn’t answer. The others turned to look at him, as well. McCann tapped him on the shoulder and Simon finally stirred.

“Hmm? Oh, my apologies. I was transfixed by this relic. If I’m not mistaken, it dates back to before the Great Flood. These markings are distinctly Atlantean.”

“That’s impossible,” Novak said. “It looks brand new!”

“Craftsmen in Atlantis knew how to make things last. That’s why the city itself is still mostly intact, albeit at the bottom of the ocean.” Simon smiled sadly, and then added, “How ironic is that, given our current situation?”

“Atlantis,” Caterina said. “Are you serious?”

“Oh, he’s full of surprises like that,” Novak said, and then nodded at Gail and the open hatch. “Let’s go.”

Gail descended the ladder to the lower deck, followed by Novak, Simon, McCann and then Caterina. When they reached the bottom, Novak pointed aft. Holding her weapon at the ready, Gail led them forward. They’d gone through two compartments when they found what was left of Ben. Like Paris, the top of his head was missing, and his gray matter had been sucked out. The corpse of a starfish creature lay across him, and lumps of Ben’s half-devoured brain leaked from its gaping mouth. A fire ax jutted from the monster’s back. The head of the weapon had been buried so deeply into the beast’s flesh, that the only part visible was the axe handle.

“Somebody took this one out,” McCann said.

“Yeah,” Novak whispered. “Too bad they didn’t kill it in time to save Ben.”

“Don’t feel too bad for him” Caterina said. “He was in on the mutiny with Morgan.”

“Fuck him, then. Good riddance.”

“My thought exactly,” said a voice from behind them. It was punctuated by the sound of a shotgun being racked.

“Shit,” Gail said.

“Didn’t expect to see you guys again,” Morgan said. “Now drop your weapons… nice and slow.”