Deluge: The Conqueror Worms II

CHAPTER 85

Novak frowned. “The hell is that?”

Six female figures broke the surface, surrounding the ship as they bobbed up and down in time with the waves. Sultry, full-lipped and full-bodied, their naked breasts seeming to float just above the water. Their blonde, brunette, and red hair was plastered to their shoulders and backs, dripping seaweed. Although they were only visible from the waist up, Sarah caught a shadowed glimpse of their fish tails thrashing beneath the water. Their mouths were open in song.

“Sirens,” Simon shouted. “The brides of Leviathan! Mister Novak, find something to stuff in your ears and block them right now. Have the crew muster inside the bridge. We’ll need them armed with every weapon you have on board this vessel. We have a fight on our hands.”

Novak nodded slowly, but didn’t speak. His eyes remained fix on the churning ocean. His expression went slack. Sarah recognized the signs. She’d seen them before, during the siege in Baltimore. Even as the thought crossed her mind, she felt the familiar stirrings. Unable to help herself, Sarah turned toward the sea. The feminine voice and melody were beautiful. She didn’t understand the words, but she felt them deep down inside. The song was calming and hypnotic. As she listened, Sarah forgot all about Kevin and Teddy and Carl. Her grief was washed away in the rain. She tried to fight it, but the melody was too strong. From the corner of her eye, she saw Novak shuffling toward the rail, arms outstretched, as if greeting the new arrivals. Sarah tried to resist, but the song overwhelmed her, promising an end to sadness and exhaustion.

“Simon,” Sarah grunted. “You… have to… get us both… inside.”

“It’s so beautiful,” Novak said. “Listen. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”

Simon swept forward, rushing to the rail. The ship tilted and he almost went over the side. Clinging to the rail, he chanted in a strong, loud voice, overpowering the siren song.

“CLEOTE! Innammanna vishnatu. Ia, Cthonical. Ia, Pshtari.”

The song continued, growing louder. Novak stopped at the rail next to Simon. Sarah approached from behind. Even as she saw Novak turn to look at the Black Lodge operative, she had the sudden, uncontrollable urge to push Simon into the water. She raised her hands and crept toward him.

“Ut nemo in sense tenant,” Simon yelled. “Descendere nemo. At precedenti spectator mantica tergo.”

As one, the sirens fell silent. Then they began to shriek as they slipped back beneath the waves. Sarah jerked as the spell was broken. Spasms jolted through her arms and legs. She saw that Novak was jittering, too.

“Inside,” Simon said, turning to them. “Hurry! I wasn’t able to banish them. The spell only bound them temporarily. They’ll be back with reinforcements.”

“What kind of reinforcements?” Sarah asked. “The worms?”

“No. That’s the one thing we won’t have to deal with any longer.”

“Then what?”

“Everything. Every denizen of the Great Deep. Every spawn of Leviathan. The sirens. The shark-men and starfish-men. The giant crabs. The flying piranha-like fish. And a host of others. Every terror we’ve been exposed to since the rain started is now descending on our location. Not to mention Leviathan himself is coming, and the hull of our vessel is weakened by the White Fuzz growing on it.”

“Sounds like one hell of a party,” Novak muttered.

They lurched into the bridge. Panting, Novak stumbled over to the intercom and grabbed the microphone. He took a deep breath and then keyed the microphone. When he spoke, his voice was stern and powerful, barking commands with authority.

“This is not a drill. This is not a drill. General quarters. General quarters. All hands arm yourselves and muster in the bridge on the double! I repeat, this is not a drill.”

He hung the microphone back up and his shoulders sagged. Obviously exhausted, he turned to Sarah and Simon, and grinned.

“So, what now?”

“We are directly over LeHorn’s Hollow,” Simon said. “Keep us anchored here.”

“But won’t that make it easier for them to attack us?” Novak asked.

Simon nodded. “Yes. It will. But I have to open the door into the Labyrinth. I’ll be focusing all of my concentration on that task.”

“What about us?” Sarah asked. “What do we do while you’re opening the door?”

“You fight. You defend us. You hold them off long enough for me to do it.”

“But that’s impossible!”

“You’d better hope not,” Simon said, lowering his voice. “For all of our sakes. This is the final battle.”