Read Online DoG by Unknown - Free Book Online

good luck charm.”
    “You’re damn right it is,” Frank said. “That’s why it brought you here. The cannonball led you to the most amazing find in the history of the world. You give us the cannonball, we’ll give you the Atlantis orb.”
    “I get to keep it?”
    “Absolutely,” Culann said. “If you provide the financing for this venture, you reap the profits.”
    “I thought you were going to try to sell it to make up for the money we’re losing.”
    “That’s still on option,” Culann said. “But it will be your decision. I don’t really care about the money. The mission itself is all I care about.”
    “So what’s in it for me?” McGillicuddy asked.
    “Come on,” Frank said. “You heard the plan. You know damn well that you can’t resist playing a prank this big – this is worth at least ten greenhorn fishslaps.”
    “Fair enough,” McGillicuddy said with a smile. “I’m in if Worner is.”
    “Okay,” Worner said after a moment’s reflection. “What else you need?”
    “We’re going to need a diversion,” Culann said.
    McGillicuddy’s blue eyes sparkled. “You leave that up to me.”
    46

    11
    They finalized the plan and then assumed their positions. They were about ninety minutes out of port and could see the craggy coastline climbing out of the black water ahead. They were hoping the Captain would go for one last cigar before docking; if he didn’t, the whole plan went out the porthole. They’d have about five minutes to grab the orb while the Captain strolled around the deck a couple of times. Frank and Culann stood by the rail on the starboard side, about twenty feet from the door to the bridge. They wanted to keep within eyeshot without being too conspicuous.
    Forty-five minutes later, the plan unfolded. The Captain stepped onto the deck, paused to light his cigar, and then ambled away. He walked with measured steps and he paused often to lean against the rail and look up at the heavy clouds above. Culann hoped the rain would hold off until they were done, lest it force the Captain to cut his stroll short.
    With the Captain out of the way, that just left Gus. Culann and Frank couldn’t move until McGillicuddy completed his diversion. The cousins stood at the rail, muscles tensed, just waiting for Worner’s signal. The seconds felt like hours, and Culann began to doubt the reliability of the two rednecks who were so vital to the success of the mission.
    And then they heard Worner’s weathered voice call out from the deck: “Man
    overboard!”
    The engines shut down, causing Culann to lurch forward as the ship slowed.
    Frank caught him. The door to the bridge flew open, and Gus charged out onto the deck.
    “Jesus Christ,” he muttered, “I thought I was done babysitting these little faggots.”
    When Gus had gone far enough away, Frank darted to the bridge, and Culann
    followed as quickly as he could with a cannonball jammed in his jockeys. Culann was expecting to see a large wooden wheel like in pirate movies, but the bridge looked more like the cockpit of a passenger jet. The wheel itself was indistinguishable from the steering wheel on a car, but it was surrounded by high-tech equipment with digital displays and an array of switches, buttons and dials.
    “Over there,” Frank whispered, pointing to a small door at the back of the bridge.
    The Captain’s quarters were small and Spartan, although far more luxurious than the cramped berths the crew members wedged themselves into each night. Shelves built into the wall held the Captain’s clothes, a few books on weather and navigation, and a pair of expensive-looking binoculars. A twin bed on a metal frame that was bolted to the floor took up most of the room. The bed was made, the blanket stretched so tight that no creases could be seen. Underneath were two black suitcases and an army-green knapsack.
    “That’s gotta be it,” Frank said.
    Culann bent down and pulled the bag out from under the bed. It was heavy. He