Read Online Gargantua by K. Robert Andreassi - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: K. Robert Andreassi
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tie the boat down, Paul asked, “Did you see anything?”
Jack shook his head and he climbed out of the dinghy onto the wooden pier. “Nothing unusual—at least, nothing near the surface.”
Hale jumped out behind Jack. Sounding completely undaunted, in direct contrast to Jack, he said, “Sonar would give us a better idea. My institute has a ship that’s equipped with—”
“Oh, for God’s sake.” That, of course, was Derek, who looked at the president. “You see, Manny, it’s all nonsense. Lift the ban right now, this minute.”
What a selfish bastard, Jack thought. Three people had been killed, and all this idiot could think about were his lousy fishing revenues. Forcing himself to remain calm, he said, “I think it should remain. Just another couple of days, till—”
Derek whirled around to face Jack, looking furious. “You think? You think! Who the hell are you, ordering everyone about?”
Stay calm, Jack, don’t let him get to you. Speaking very slowly, he replied, “I’m just trying to help.”
Derek made a dismissive noise and said, “Yeah, help yourself. Big-shot scientist struttin’ around here like you own the place. You and your smartass kid, goin’—”
That did it. Jack grabbed Derek by his T-shirt and said, “Watch your mouth, pal!”
Derek shoved Jack, forcing Jack to let go of the shirt and also stumble backward a step. “I’m not your ‘pal,’ pal!”
Hale and Paul each grabbed Jack by one arm, not enough to restrain him if Jack made an effort, but enough to tell him that they would tighten their grip if it got out of hand.
“Please, this is improper.” The voice was quiet and even-toned, but carried the weight of authority. It was, of course, President Moki’s voice, and it had the desired effect: both Derek and Jack calmed down. Behind Derek, Jack noticed that Derek’s two flunkies were releasing clenched fists.
The president continued: “These scientists have generously tried to help us. Regrettably, their effort was without result.” He turned to Jack and Hale. “Fishing is the lifeblood of this island. I mustn’t inflict unnecessary hardship on my people. And there simply isn’t enough evidence for me to be absolutely certain that there is truly a danger in the waters. Unless and until such proof arrives, I shall lift the ban.”
Derek’s smile reminded Jack of the wolf in old cartoons that had just come up with a foolproof plan to trap the cartoon’s hero. Sadly, Jack didn’t have an anvil to drop on the fisherman’s head as he said, “That’s the spirit, Manny!”
Before Jack could say anything, Hale once again put his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “C’mon, Jack, I’ll buy you a drink.”
Jack didn’t want a drink. Jack wanted to beat Derek Lawson to within an inch of his life. It was an odd feeling for a mild-mannered marine biologist who had harbored very few violent thoughts in his thirty-four years of life. But something about the New Zealander’s smug arrogance brought out the worst in Jack.
It’s not just that, though, he thought as he allowed Hale to steer him away from the pier and Derek’s sneering face. I had to stand by and watch while Diane died. I’ll be damned if I’ll let that happen again when it’s something I can actually help with. Some kind of marine life killed Dak and those two women, I know it. And whatever it is will kill someone else unless we find out what it is.
“Dad!” a voice cried.
Jack looked up to see Brandon running toward him. The boy was a mess, smeared with mud and dirt. For a brief instant, he saw Derek’s face so covered in mud. I should be so lucky, Jack thought.
“I thought you’d never get here.”
The last thing Jack needed right now was to listen to his son talk about what a great day he had exploring the island. “Not now, Brandon,” he said through clenched teeth.
“You won’t believe what I saw today!”
“I said, not now!” Jack snapped.
He and Hale continued into town.
Jack shook his head and he climbed out of the dinghy onto the wooden pier. “Nothing unusual—at least, nothing near the surface.”
Hale jumped out behind Jack. Sounding completely undaunted, in direct contrast to Jack, he said, “Sonar would give us a better idea. My institute has a ship that’s equipped with—”
“Oh, for God’s sake.” That, of course, was Derek, who looked at the president. “You see, Manny, it’s all nonsense. Lift the ban right now, this minute.”
What a selfish bastard, Jack thought. Three people had been killed, and all this idiot could think about were his lousy fishing revenues. Forcing himself to remain calm, he said, “I think it should remain. Just another couple of days, till—”
Derek whirled around to face Jack, looking furious. “You think? You think! Who the hell are you, ordering everyone about?”
Stay calm, Jack, don’t let him get to you. Speaking very slowly, he replied, “I’m just trying to help.”
Derek made a dismissive noise and said, “Yeah, help yourself. Big-shot scientist struttin’ around here like you own the place. You and your smartass kid, goin’—”
That did it. Jack grabbed Derek by his T-shirt and said, “Watch your mouth, pal!”
Derek shoved Jack, forcing Jack to let go of the shirt and also stumble backward a step. “I’m not your ‘pal,’ pal!”
Hale and Paul each grabbed Jack by one arm, not enough to restrain him if Jack made an effort, but enough to tell him that they would tighten their grip if it got out of hand.
“Please, this is improper.” The voice was quiet and even-toned, but carried the weight of authority. It was, of course, President Moki’s voice, and it had the desired effect: both Derek and Jack calmed down. Behind Derek, Jack noticed that Derek’s two flunkies were releasing clenched fists.
The president continued: “These scientists have generously tried to help us. Regrettably, their effort was without result.” He turned to Jack and Hale. “Fishing is the lifeblood of this island. I mustn’t inflict unnecessary hardship on my people. And there simply isn’t enough evidence for me to be absolutely certain that there is truly a danger in the waters. Unless and until such proof arrives, I shall lift the ban.”
Derek’s smile reminded Jack of the wolf in old cartoons that had just come up with a foolproof plan to trap the cartoon’s hero. Sadly, Jack didn’t have an anvil to drop on the fisherman’s head as he said, “That’s the spirit, Manny!”
Before Jack could say anything, Hale once again put his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “C’mon, Jack, I’ll buy you a drink.”
Jack didn’t want a drink. Jack wanted to beat Derek Lawson to within an inch of his life. It was an odd feeling for a mild-mannered marine biologist who had harbored very few violent thoughts in his thirty-four years of life. But something about the New Zealander’s smug arrogance brought out the worst in Jack.
It’s not just that, though, he thought as he allowed Hale to steer him away from the pier and Derek’s sneering face. I had to stand by and watch while Diane died. I’ll be damned if I’ll let that happen again when it’s something I can actually help with. Some kind of marine life killed Dak and those two women, I know it. And whatever it is will kill someone else unless we find out what it is.
“Dad!” a voice cried.
Jack looked up to see Brandon running toward him. The boy was a mess, smeared with mud and dirt. For a brief instant, he saw Derek’s face so covered in mud. I should be so lucky, Jack thought.
“I thought you’d never get here.”
The last thing Jack needed right now was to listen to his son talk about what a great day he had exploring the island. “Not now, Brandon,” he said through clenched teeth.
“You won’t believe what I saw today!”
“I said, not now!” Jack snapped.
He and Hale continued into town.
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