Read Online Hungry Darkness: A Deep Sea Thriller by Gabino Iglesias - Free Book Online Page B

plan, so we’re back to square one. Square one is my plan. You’re good at dissecting fish and all that, but don’t forget I’m the one who gets out there and catches and kills them for a living. I’m telling you my shotgun idea is the way to go. Octopodes don’t have bones, man. I’m sure those tentacles are powerful enough to destroy us, but muscle isn’t that tough when you compare it to bullets. Plus, I think there are a few shotguns that pack a punch that’s meant to put down more than small birds. As for the movement, listen, shotguns are not too hard to handle. Plus, you already mentioned the close quarters. Sounds bad, but in close quarters it’ll be easy to get shots off near that thing’s head and…”
    “Gabe, my man, maybe you’ve seen too many movies, but bullets don’t really work that well underwater. You can probably aim and get some shots off, but the second those bullets hit the water, all that damage you were planning on doing just disappears. You don’t see folks using guns to fish no matter how clear the water is, do you? There’s a reason for that.”
    Emanuel was not saying the shotgun idea was bad because he really doubted three men could kill or at least seriously injure the giant octopus with shotguns; he was being negative because he was scared. Gabe hadn’t realized it because he had been taking everything the man was saying as the word of a connoisseur, the informed opinion of someone who, unlike him, had gone to college, read a ton of books on the subject, and actually become a certified expert on everything living under the waves. However, Emanuel was now fidgeting with his hands, running his fingers through his unruly curls every minute or so, and not looking at Gabe while he talked. He had turned into the quintessential excuser.
    “Listen, smartass, you’re just rambling on and on because I invited you to go with me and try to kill this thing. Face it, you’re scared. That’s fine with me. Don’t come. I’ll find someone else. I just invited you because I thought you’d be interested in seeing this thing up close before it disappears.”
    “How in the hell are you going to get your hands on three shotguns?”
    The question surprised Gabe. Emanuel was going on as if he had said nothing about not going.
    “Never mind that. I know someone. Are you coming or not?”
    Emanuel looked at him. His brows pushed against each other the way most people’s did when tackling a math problem. The marine biologist inhaled and then released the air in his lungs through his mouth, letting his lips flap like a horse.
    “Your plan is shit, but I’m coming. There’s no way I’m gonna sit here and let you turn that unique specimen into a carcass without getting a good look at it first. I’m taking my camera and…”
    “No camera. You can come with me, but you can’t take any pictures. The people paying me to take care of this don’t want folks to know what’s out there. Those are the rules. Take them or stay on shore.”  
    “Aha! So first you show up here knowing a hell of a lot more than you should know, and then you ask me about the best way to kill a gigantic octopus. Now, finally, you’re telling me the truth, that there is someone giving you money for this. Who the hell are you working for? Am I gonna get a piece of the action if I partake in your harebrained plan which, if I may repeat myself, doesn’t even deserve to be called a plan?”
    Gabe had said too much. It wasn’t the first time his big mouth had gotten him into trouble. He knew it wouldn’t be the last. Thankfully, he knew Emanuel wouldn’t say a word if he was honest with him.
    “The answer to your first question is that’s none of your goddamn business. The answer to your second question is, hell no. I’m putting my boat on the line, buying the guns, and using my gas to get us out there. I’ll be lucky if I can cover everything with the pittance I’m getting paid.”
    “Come one, Gabe, you can