Deluge: The Conqueror Worms II

CHAPTER 83

“But why?” Novak asked. “It doesn’t make any sense. Unless you…”

One by one, they stared at Simon as the truth dawned on them.

“A sacrifice,” Gail gasped. “You want to use them as a sacrifice? As bait!”

Nodding, Simon stared at his feet, unable to look them in the eyes.

Gail stormed across the rolling deck. “How is that any different than what your captor did to you, Simon?”

“Because,” he said, still not looking up, “this is to save our lives. Leviathan’s monsters are converging on LeHorn’s Hollow, and any other point in this region where we might effect an escape. Leviathan himself can sense my presence. His intelligence is far vaster than our own, but the same can’t be said of his children. Some, like the mermaids or the starfish-men, are quite smart, in their own fashion. But most of them are mere predators, driven by hunger and a need to destroy, than by anything resembling real craft or cunning. Their master has driven them forward. They understand they’re supposed to be hunting a large group of humans in a boat. But they have no way of determining which boat. Mr. Locke’s ark will serve as a distraction.”

“It doesn’t bother you that there are children on board?” Mylon asked.

“Of course it bothers me.” Simon glanced up. “I feel for everyone on that vessel. But I cannot save them. None of us can. Soon, what remains of this Earth will be completely absorbed into the Great Deep. That includes anyone left alive. They will never reach us in time, and I cannot open a door at their location. I can’t save them, but I can save us.”

The group fell silent. A burst of static came from the speakers.

“Novak?” Locke’s voice sounded faint and distorted. “You still there?”

Frowning, Novak keyed the microphone. “I’m still here. Sorry. Just spotted something starboard. Give me a minute.” He released the microphone again and stared sullenly at the others. “I’m tired of being in charge. Hell, I’m just tired in general.”

“We all are,” Gail said. “We’ve been—”

Novak held up a finger, interrupting her. “I’m tired of everything depending on my decision. I can’t make this one by myself. What do you guys think?”

“It ain’t right,” Henry insisted. “What if it was us out there? How would y’all feel then? Them folks ain’t done nothing wrong. They don’t deserve this.”

“And we don’t deserve to die, kid,” Caterina said. She stood in the hatchway. Water dripped from her yellow raincoat. They’d been so intent on the discussion that they hadn’t heard her come in. “I vote to go with Simon’s plan.”

“We should at least tell them the risks,” Gail said. “Rather than just sending them to their fucking doom!”

“If we did,” Sarah said, “then the people on that ship would turn right around. I vote yes.”

Henry glanced at her, his expression wounded.

“You’re a hard one, aren’t you?” Gail’s tone thick with contempt.

“Let me tell you something.” Sarah’s voice was low and dangerous. “I killed my best friend to survive. He was infected with the fuzz, so I shot him. I’ve done a lot of other things, too, since the rain started. I’m not proud of them, but I’m alive. Do not judge me, and do not cast dispersions at me. From where I stand, you were pretty worried about your own fucking skin when you and Novak first met me and Henry in the tower.”

“That’s not true!”

“Isn’t it?” Sarah balled her hands into fists. “Want me to refresh your memory?”

“Enough.” Simon didn’t raise his voice. He merely gestured. “This bickering is pointless. The matter isn’t up for a vote. If you want to live, then do as I say.”

Gail glanced around the bridge, studying each of the crew members. All of them refused to meet her gaze.

“Mylon? You’re okay with this, too?”

He shrugged, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “I don’t want to die, Gail.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised, I guess. You sold us out easy enough during the mutiny.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“That’s not how it looked to Novak and me.”

“Gail…” Novak held up a hand. “Stop. What’s done is done.”

“The hell with the monsters out in the water. The real monsters are in here.”

She strode out of the cabin. The steel hatch clanged shut behind her. After a moment, Henry followed. The rest of them turned to Simon, who nodded at Novak.

“Go ahead.”

“God forgive me,” Novak whispered. Then he keyed the microphone. “Hey, Kevin. Sorry about the delay. Everything’s cool, now. Listen, how fast can you go in that thing?”

“A good eighty knots when we’ve got a strong wind. And we’ve had a lot of those since the rain started.”

“Okay,” Novak said. “I’m gonna give you some coordinates and I want you to head there fast as you can. We’ve found a safe place.”

Watching the tears stream down Novak’s cheeks as he spoke, Sarah wondered if Locke could hear that he was crying.