Warmth streamed into the sac of jelly that was wrapped round the boat.
The white lumps reacted immediately. In a matter of seconds the frozen cages trapping the gas had melted. The compressed methane expanded to 164 times its former volume, filling the Deepflight with gas and inflating the sack of jelly until it was taut and swollen. It detached from the tube and sealed itself off Unable to escape, the gas rose upwards, slowly at first, but then, as the pressure around it decreased, picking up speed. The gas, the cocoon, and the submersible shot towards the surface.
LAB
With one arm clamped round Rubin and the other hand holding the scalpel to his throat, Weaver shuffled forward. She didn't get far. The door to the lab slid open. Three heavily armed soldiers stormed inside and took aim. She heard Oliviera cry out in horror. Weaver stopped in her tracks, but held on to Rubin.
Li walked into the lab, followed by Peak. 'You're not going anywhere, Karen.'
'Jude,' croaked Rubin, 'about time too. Get this lunatic off me.'
'Quiet,' Peak barked at him. 'We wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for you.'
Li smiled. 'Karen,' she said, 'don't you think you're taking this a little too far?'
'Given what Mick has been saying… No.'
'And what has he been saying?'
'Oh, he was very helpful. Weren't you, Mick? Told us everything we need to know.'
'She's lying,' hissed Rubin.
'Hmm… Chain reactions, torpedoes full of toxins and Deepflight 3. Oh, and he mentioned that the two of you were planning an excursion – in the next few hours.'
'Tsk.' Li took a step forward. Weaver grabbed Rubin and pulled him back towards Oliviera, who was standing motionless beside the bench. She still had the test-tube rack containing the pheromone samples in her hand.
'Mick Rubin is probably one of the best biologists in the world,' said Li. 'The trouble is, he always has to prove himself. He'd give anything to be famous. That's why he finds it so hard to keep his mouth shut. You'll have to excuse him. Mick would sell his own grandmother for a taste of fame.' She came to a halt. 'But no matter. You know what we're planning so you'll understand our reasons. I've done my best to stop the situation escalating, but now everyone seems to know the secret, so you've left me no choice.'
'Don't do anything stupid, Karen,' Peak implored her. 'Let him go.'
'I'll do no such thing.'
'He's still got work to do. If you let him go, we'll talk later.'
'There's been more than enough talking already.' Li pulled out her pistol and took aim at Weaver. 'Let go of him, Karen, or I'll shoot. I'm not going to warn you again.'
Weaver looked into the small round barrel of the gun. 'You wouldn't,' she said.
'Really?'
'There's no need.'
'You're making a mistake, Jude,' Oliviera said hoarsely. 'You can't use the toxin. I was just telling Mick how…'
Li wheeled around, took aim at Oliviera and pulled the trigger. The scientist was tossed back against the bench and slid slowly to the floor. The case of test-tubes dropped from her hand. For a second she looked, surprised, at the first-sized hole in her chest, then her eyes glazed.
'What the hell are you playing at?' shrieked Peak.
The gun was pointing at Weaver. 'Now let him go,' said Li.
DECK ELEVATOR
'Dr Johanson!'
Johanson swivelled. Vanderbilt and Anderson were heading towards him across the platform. Anderson looked impassive and detached. His black button eyes were fixed on something in the distance.
Vanderbilt was beaming. 'I guess you're pretty pissed at us,' he said.
There was something chummy and casual about his demeanour. Johanson frowned as he watched them approach. He was standing at the far end of the platform, only metres from the edge. Hefty gusts of wind buffeted his face. The waves were crashing beneath him. He'd been thinking about going inside. 'What brings you here, Jack?'
'Nothing in particular.' Vanderbilt made an apologetic gesture. 'I just wanted to say I'm sorry. It's all so unnecessary. We shouldn't be arguing. The whole darned thing is ridiculous.'
Johanson didn't reply. Vanderbilt and Anderson were getting closer. He took a step to the side. They stopped.
'Is there something you wanted to discuss?' asked Johanson.
'I was rude to you earlier,' said Vanderbilt. 'I apologise.'
Johanson raised his eyebrows.
'That's very noble of you, Jack. Apology accepted. Can I help you with anything else?'
Vanderbilt faced into the gale. His thinning pale blond hair quivered in the wind like beach grass. 'Pretty darned cold out here,' he said, moving forward. Anderson followed his lead. A distance opened between them. It looked as though they were trying to close in on Johanson. There was no longer any room for him to slip between them or dodge to either side.
What they were intending was so obvious that he didn't even feel surprised. He was gripped by fear, – fear, mixed with desperate fury. Without thinking he took a step backwards, and knew he had made a mistake. He was very close to the edge now. Their job was almost done for them. A sudden gust could knock him into the nets or over the top and into the water. Jack,' he said slowly, 'you wouldn't be planning to kill me, would you?'
'Whatever gave you that idea?' Vanderbilt assumed a look of mock-amazement. 'I only want to talk.'
'Then why bring Anderson?'
'Oh, he was just passing. Pure coincidence. We thought-'
Johanson rushed towards Vanderbilt, ducked and darted to the right. He was away from the edge. Anderson leaped towards him. For a moment it looked as though the improvised tactic had worked, then Johanson felt himself grabbed and dragged backwards. Anderson's fist flew towards him and landed in his face.
He fell and skidded across the platform.
The first officer moved towards him without any urgency. His powerful hands disappeared beneath Johanson's armpits and hauled him up. Johanson tried to prise his fingers under Anderson's grip and loosen it, but it was like grappling with concrete. His feet left the ground. He kicked out wildly as Anderson carried him towards the edge where Vanderbilt was waiting, peering down at the sea.
'Quite a swell today,' said the CIA agent. 'I hope you won't mind if we cast you off now, Dr Johanson. I'm afraid you'll have to swim.' His teeth flashed. 'But don't worry, you won't be going any great distance. The water's pretty chilly – two degrees at most. It will be quite relaxing. The body just slows down, the senses go numb, the heart packs up, and-'
Johanson started to shout. 'Help!' he screamed. 'Help!'
His feet were dangling over the side. The net was beneath him. It only extended two metres beyond the platform. Not far enough. Anderson could easily throw him over the top.
'Help!'
He heard Anderson groan as suddenly he was yanked towards the safety of the platform. The sky came into view as Anderson thudded on to his back, pulling Johanson with him, then letting go. Johanson rolled to the side and jumped up. 'Leon!' he gasped.
A grotesque scene was unfolding before him. Anderson was trying to clamber to his feet. Anawak had fastened himself on to him from behind and was clutching his jacket. They'd fallen to the ground together. Now Anawak was attempting to free himself from the man's weight without releasing his grip.
Johanson was about to intervene.
'Stop!'
Vanderbilt barred his path. He was holding a gun. Slowly he walked round the bodies on the floor until he was standing with his back to the exit.