“Only that it was a German sub base in World War One,” Hooker told her. “Was there more to it?”
The girl shrugged. “Historically, it’s a question mark. Submarine warfare was in its infancy at that time, but the German government realized its potential. Unfortunately for them, their technology was limited and their production capabilities didn’t measure up to their plans.”
“How did they pick this place?” Watts queried.
“Probably through information gathered from their shipping trade. Most likely the subs were towed as far as they could be. In some instances the records show they were towed all the way. Incidentally, did you see those low spots in back of the buildings?”
Mako said, “I saw them through the office windows. They sure weren’t foundation excavations.”
“They were blowout holes,” Kim told them. “Originally, huge steel tanks were buried there. Fuel cells, loaded with oil for the subs.”
“What happened to them, Kim?” Judy asked.
“The operation ceased,” the diver told her. “The war ended. They had used up all the oil anyway and when a hurricane hit here and flooded the island, those big, empty drums just burst through the sand and floated away. Apparently the vents were left open, because they were never seen again.”
Hooker finished off his beer and wiped his mouth. “You trying to locate them?”
“No way.” Kim laughed. “They were made of thin metal that has long since been eroded away. No, I’ve been checking out the odd currents in the area. The way everything gets dumped on Scara Island, for one thing.”
“Those mines that drifted there were a surprise.”
“Not really. All sorts of odd things wind up on that beach. There are parts of old ships from the eighteen hundreds, wreckage from torpedoed boats during World War Two. There were even two houses that drifted down from Florida during a hurricane. They didn’t last long, though. Whatever hits the sun and the sand doesn’t last long.”
Hooker said, “You’d think the kids with metal detectors would be scouring the area.”
“Why, metal doesn’t float. Buoyancy and a strange tidal current keep the junk on Scara Island.”
“Too bad.”
“Except for a float sent up from a sunken submarine.”
“A float?”
“Yeah. Apparently one of the subs assigned to the base here submerged and couldn’t blow its tanks to come up. When they had tried everything the captain shot the float up through one of the torpedo tubes.”
“You’re a real seagoing encyclopedia, lady.”
Kim gave him a small laugh. “You know what the Kingston valve is?”
“Tell me.”
“It’s the valve that controls the flow of compressed air. When the sub was submerged the air was compacted into high-pressure containers while seawater flooded chambers that gave the sub negative buoyancy to take it down. To go up, the compressed air was released, blew out the seawater and the sub rose to the top. Only in this case, the valve stuck.”
“Who’s got the float now?”
“It’s in the Naval Academy at Annapolis.”
“How’d you wind up here?”
“Magazine assignment. Our bunch at Woods Hole get some beauties since we work closely with government projects.”
“They sent you out by yourself?”
Kim shook her head at Hooker. “I’m not alone. There are four of us on the dive and we’re well equipped.”
For the first time Chana spoke up, the tone of her voice tinged with a note of superiority. “You’re not afraid of the eater, I take it.”
Kim laughed again. “Lady, I’m afraid of everything I’m not prepared for.”
“Then how do you prepare for an eater?”
A casual shrug touched the girl’s shoulders. “Hell,” she said, “I’m not a boat.” She turned her head abruptly and grinned at Judy and Hooker. “Either of you two divers?”
“I’ve got a ticket,” Mako told her.
When Judy said she was certified too, Mako gave her a curious glance. “You get around, kiddo.”
“Daddy let me dive for three seasons with the sponge fleet. We were using hard hats then.”
Hooker said to Kim, “You need some extra hands on your project?”
“Two of our divers have head colds you wouldn’t believe. They take a shallow dive off the boat and it’s like eating a cold ice cream cone and having that hammer hit you in the forehead.”
“I remember the feeling,” Hooker said. He nudged Judy and asked, “You want to lend a helping hand?”
“Sure, but I’m not an oceanographer.”
“No sweat,” Kim told her. “All you have to do is stick plastic pennants on wire rods into the sand. We’ll be at fifty feet to seventy feet with hundred-foot clear visibility. Nothing dangerous down there we can’t handle, and when we’re done we can drop on down to the wreck of an old submarine. It’s been there since 1918.”
“Interesting,” Judy said. “What about the diving gear?”
Hooker said, “I have equipment for four on board the Clamdip.”
“Tanks?” Kim asked.
“Eight fully filled,” Mako told her. “There’s a four-stage compressor on board if we need to recharge.”
Chana’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Why would you carry all that equipment for, Hooker?”
“I’m a sports fan,” he told her. Then, “Why don’t you come along, Chana. Diving is one of your specialties, isn’t it?”
There was more in his tone than an invitation. This time it was a direct order given so that no one would suspect he had the commanding position. Chana’s hands tightened involuntarily, then she gave a small smile of pleasure and nodded her acceptance.
Hooker grinned back and squeezed Judy’s hand. “What time do we leave, Kim? We’d better take the Clamdip instead of your little boat. We’re up to our ears in supplies and the Tellig will be staying on station with the Sentilla, right?”
Lee Colbert was pleased with the idea. He could get the official business done with Captain Watts without Chana looking over his shoulder, and Chana would have a good opportunity to find out just what role Hooker had in this game.
Kim said, “We’ll leave at six A.M. It’s about a forty-minute ride to the dive site, so we should be in the water at seven-thirty. That sound okay?”
“Suits me,” Hooker said for Judy and himself. “Where are you tied up?”
“On the other side of the Sentilla at the floating dock.”
“Good, I’ll pick you up there.” To Chana he said, “You staying on board your boat tonight?”
“Where else?”
“Then I’ll pick you up after I get Kim and her partner.”
“I’ll be ready,” Chana said, then looked at Judy. “Thanks for inviting us to the beach party.”
“My pleasure,” Judy told her. “It was fun.”
When Lee and Chana walked away Captain Watts eased up from his cross-legged position in the sand and brushed his pants off. Down by the water’s edge the last of the cruise ship’s passengers were boarding the boats to get back to the main ship. A handful of sailors were packing away the picnic equipment and when they were ready the captain said, “I suppose you two are going to get in on the cruise ship’s festivities, right?” He gave them a wry grin. “I understand they have two major shows, two lounge shows and a fully equipped gaming section.”
“They have everything on that ship,” Judy reminded him.
“Except spare quarters,” Captain Watts laughed. “I hear they are completely sold out.”
“For three years in advance.” Judy smiled back. “Even being a part owner doesn’t mean a thing.”
Watts gave her back a broad smile. “Just think of the money you’re making.”