فصل 22

22

Hunted

“We’re almost to Fiji,” Welch said to Jack. “Wake everyone. Tell them to prepare to disembark. We don’t have much time onshore, and they’ll want to get some real air.” “Yes, sir.”

“Wait,” Welch said. “I’ll do it myself. I’m going to take a shower. You and Zeus have the Conn.” “Yes, sir.”

About twenty minutes after Welch left, Jack pointed to the panel. “What’s that?” “We’re approaching vessels,” the COB said. “And they’re approaching us.” “Commercial or military?”

“I can’t tell.” He turned to a crewman. “Rig for silent running.” “Secure for silent running.”

“Start evasive maneuvering. Back out to sea, two knots.” A few minutes later the COB said, “They’re definitely following us. How are they following us? Rise to periscope level.” “If we do that, won’t they see us?” Jack asked.

“They’ve already seen us,” the COB replied. “I want a better look at who’s hunting us.” “Rising two meters,” a crewman said.

The Joule rose to periscope depth as the COB walked to the periscope. He looked out, then said, “They’re military.” “Should we go to full submerge?” the crewman asked.

“No. They have depth charges. And somehow they’re tracking us.” The COB breathed out. “Turn the radio back on. They may be hailing us. Someone better get Captain Welch. Fast.” “I’ll get him,” Jack said. He quickly left the Conn. A few minutes later both men returned. Welch’s hair was wet. “What is it?” “We’re being hunted by military vessels.” “How many?”

“Three. One’s a battleship.”

“Can we outmaneuver them?”

“No.”

“Then we’ll submerge.”

“They have depth charges.”

“They can’t hit what they can’t see.” “That’s the problem. They’re tracking us, sir. It’s as if they have our GPS.” Welch gritted his teeth. “Hatch.” He walked over to the periscope and looked out. “Who are they?” “I don’t know.”

“Get everyone to the Conn,” Welch said to Jack. “Now.” Jack hurried off to the bunks. Ostin was the first to emerge from the bunk room. He was followed by Jack and the others.

“What’s going on?” Ostin asked.

“We’re being hunted,” Welch said.

“By who?”

“We’re not sure yet,” the COB said. “But their flag has a Morse.” “What’s a Morse?” Jack asked.

“It’s a lion with a fish body,” Ostin said. “It’s also the symbol of the Philippine Navy.” “How do you know that?” Welch asked.

“He knows everything,” Jack said.

“He’s right,” the COB said, turning away from the periscope. “I recognize the number sequence on the boat. They are Filipino.” Just then the Joule’s radio snapped with crisp static, followed by a voice with a heavy accent. “Mutineers of the Joule vessel, on behalf of the Philippine government we order you to surface immediately and surrender yourselves. If there is any resistance, we have been given orders to sink your vessel.” “Will they really do it?” Tessa asked.

“Do you want to find out?” Zeus asked.

“They’ll do it,” Welch said.

“I say we surface,” Zeus said. “When they try to take us, we attack. They don’t know what we can do.” “Since when does Hatch have control of the Philippine Navy?” Quentin asked.

“He has control of their country’s electricity. Ergo, he has their navy as well,” Welch said.

“This is sounding a lot like Peru,” Zeus said.

“Soon the whole world will be like Peru,” Welch said. “Everyone beholden to the Elgen for their energy.” He turned to the COB. “Tell him we’re surfacing.” The COB lifted the microphone. “This is COB Quinn of the ES Joule. We are following your orders. We will surface where we are.” There was a pause; then the voice returned. “You have five minutes.” “Copy that.” He set down the mic. “We’ve got five minutes. What do you want to do?” Welch looked around at the anxious faces of the teens. “We don’t know how deep their loyalties are, but we must assume they are working for Hatch. Prepare for the worst.” “If we’re preparing for the worst,” Nichelle said, “I’d rather die by explosion than be eaten alive by rats.” “Except we don’t know if they’ll turn us over to Hatch,” Jack said.

“There are maritime laws,” Ostin said. “They should take us to the Philippines.” “Governments break international laws all the time when their national security is threatened,” Welch said.

“We can take them,” Zeus said.

“What do we do?” Jack asked Welch.

“I think Zeus is right. We take the chance,” Welch said. “Otherwise we’re dead right here.” He turned to the COB. “Surface.” “Surfacing,” the COB said.

“They’re filling the deck with armed sailors,” Ian said.

“How many?”

“Maybe a hundred.”

Welch looked around at the group. “This is it. Don’t move until everyone is up top and I give the command—then let loose on them with everything.

“Quentin, I want their ships blacked out—communications, cameras, everything. Taylor and Tara, I want complete confusion. Tara, make everyone look the same, so they don’t know who to shoot at.” “Who do you want everyone to look like?” “Their commanding officer,” Welch said. “Whoever is calling the shots. That will really mess with their minds.” He turned back. “Zeus, Torstyn, hit those soldiers with guns first. Jack and Ostin, grab their guns and return fire. McKenna, I want your brightest flash; blind them if you can.” He turned to Cassy and Tessa. “Tessa, I want you with Cassy. I want you two to freeze everyone—just like you did when you rescued us at the school in Taiwan.” “I can do that,” Cassy said.

Welch put his hands behind his back. “We’ll hit them so fast, they won’t know what’s happening to them.” “Then what?” Ostin asked.

“We disable their ships. Then we’ll fuel the Joule and sail for Australia.” He looked around. “Any questions?” No one responded.

“All right, then. Wait until my command. Good luck.”