The Atlantis Stone

CHAPTER 41

Nick stopped the bleeding with a temporary dressing.

"Hang in there. We're almost back to the ship."

"Heath is dead." Lamont said. "The Russians shot him. A shark got the bastard."

"Yeah."

They reached the ship and got Lamont on board. The Dolphins had followed the zodiac back to the ship. Now they circled once around Sexton's Dream and disappeared.

Nick paced the deck.

"We didn't need this." He looked at the Tolstoy.

"I don't know who's running things over there, but they're nuts to try a stunt like this," Ronnie said

"What are we going to do about it?" Selena asked.

"There isn't much we can do," Nick said, "short of starting a war."

"Another minor incident? Is that how we're going to treat it? First they trash our rover. Now one of Jeff's crew is dead."

"What would you have me do? Tell your pal to ram them? Plant explosives and blow them out of the water?"

"That sounds like a good idea."

"You used to have second thoughts about what we do. When did you get so blood thirsty?"

"You have to agree it has a certain appeal."

"Yes, but you know I can't do that."

"I know you can't sink them. Besides, Valentina is on that boat. How about something less extreme? Something to disable them, like a small explosion."

Ronnie said, "We need to stop them messing with us."

"I can't ask Sexton to put another one of his crew in harm's way. Lamont's out of commission."

Selena raised her hand. "I can do it."

"You're not trained in underwater demolition. It has to be me or Ronnie. Besides, Harker would never authorize it."

"She doesn't have to know about it. How hard can it be to plant something on the hull that goes boom?"

"You're serious."

"Damn right I am. These people think they can get away with anything. We have to respond and I'm the best one to do it. We can't get near on the surface without being spotted and that means going deep. Neither one of you has the experience I do when it comes to diving."

"Ronnie and I both have underwater training."

"I want to do this. Those people over there tried to kidnap me. I was tasered."

"This isn't about getting even," Nick said.

"No? Then think of it as a preemptive move to prevent further interference with the mission."

In spite of himself, Nick smiled. "A small explosion, you said."

"That's right." Selena nodded. "Enough to give them something to think about. To keep them busy while we finish up."

"I can show her what to do," Ronnie said.

"You think this is a good idea, Lamont?"

"I almost bought it down there. Yeah, I think it's a good idea. It'll teach them a lesson."

"Harker will have a cow when she finds out."

Selena smiled at him. "Like I said, she doesn't have to know about it. Remember that old saying about forgiveness and permission?"

"You know they're going to keep screwing things up," Ronnie said. "I've got C4 and detonators in our kit. It won't take long to make up a charge."

Nick was quiet for a few seconds. "All right, Ronnie, go ahead."

"Right away, Kemo Sabe."

"I still don't know what that means."

"And you still don't want to know."

"I hope I don't regret this," Nick said.

Ronnie put together a charge and scrounged a magnet from the ship's stores. He taped it to the package. Once Selena got close enough to place the charge, the magnet would hold it on the hull of the Russian ship.

Two hours later she was getting ready to go in. Sexton came over to the group. He seemed angry.

"Going for a swim?" he said to her. "In a rebreather?"

"Only for a short reconnaissance. To make sure they don't have anyone in the water."

"Sam was a friend of mine. If I'd known you were going to put my crew at risk, I never would've agreed to do this. What the hell are you people up to? I never wanted to deal with this crap again, that's why I got out."

Nick said, "We didn't know the Russians would show up. I'm sorry about Sam, I really am. He seemed like a nice guy. But it's done."

"You're sorry. So am I. We're heading back to port."

"Look, I understand you're pissed off. Hold off and I'll fill you in on the mission. If you still want to leave after that, that's your option."

"Fair enough. But if I don't like what I hear, we're leaving."

He stalked away.

"Harker won't like telling him why we're here," Ronnie said.

"You heard what he said. If I don't tell him, he's pulling the plug. We don't have a choice."

"I need to go," Selena said. "While there's still light."

"Make sure you set that timer right," Ronnie said. "If it goes off and you're nearby in the water…" He left the sentence unfinished.

"Don't worry."

She slipped into the water on the far side of the ship, out of sight of the Russians. The afternoon light still gave some visibility below the surface. She dropped down to sixty feet, checking her dive calculator, tracking her time and depth.

She neared the Tolstoy, watching for divers. There was no one about. The sharks were gone. There was no sign of the bloody events of the morning.

Selena came up under the vessel and made her way aft. The tether to the Russian ROV formed a dark line disappearing into the depths below. Two enormous, silent propellers protruded into the water. She placed the charge and set the timer for forty minutes. It would give her more than enough time to return to the boat. There was no rush. The Russians had no idea she was there.

"Where'd you put the charge?" Ronnie asked when she was back on board.

"Right where the props come out of the hull. It should damage the shafts. Might even blow the tether on their robot."

Sexton passed by and came back to them. "Why are you all standing here?"

"We're waiting for the sunset," Ronnie said. "I was kind of hoping for the green flash."

"It's half an hour till the sun goes down."

No one said anything. Sexton shook his head.

"Meet me in the wardroom in fifteen minutes."

"Hey, Skipper," a crewman called.

"Coming." Sexton walked away.

Nick looked at his watch. "Any time now. You're sure you set the detonator the right way?"

"It's not rocket science, Nick. Yes, I'm sure."

The explosion, when it came, sent a tall fountain of water into the air. The sound echoed across the flat sea separating the two ships. The Tolstoy shuddered in the water.

"I might've used a little too much C4," Ronnie said.