The Final Spark Page 10

Enele walked back upstairs with the rest of the men. He turned to his fifth-in-command, a short, muscular man named Satini. “Go tell Raphe to radio Nazil and tell him we’re in. Start transporting the weapons and supplies. I want this place locked down before the sun comes up. Then relieve Raphe up front, lock the gates, and have him report to me immediately.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Enele turned to Oliver. “As soon as my men get here, I’m going to have you give us a look around.”

  * * *

  Oliver took Enele, Raphe, Adam, and three other soldiers around the building, first to the vaults, then up the stairs to the third floor. The third floor was complete, though without tile flooring or windows, and the plumbing and wiring were still visible.

  “This is where they stopped work when the battle started,” Oliver said. “This room is secure.”

  “What’s above us?”

  “The fourth floor. It’s still open.”

  “What do you mean, open?”

  “It’s not finished. I’ll show you.” They walked up a flight of stairs to the next floor. Oliver unlocked then opened a door, and a rush of moist air enveloped them. The walls and beams of the building were mostly up but there was no roof; the sky visible above them. “Like I said, it’s still open.”

  Enele went to one side and looked out a ten-inch opening. He could see all around the island for miles as the moon rippled off the dark waters below them. Then he went up to the north wall and looked out. He could see the Proton flanked by several rafts, making its way toward the compound. He turned back to Adam. “We’ll put our machine guns up here.” Then he added, “Too bad we didn’t have a place like this in Hades. We might still be fighting.” He turned back to Oliver. “Where is our electric power coming from?”

  “There’s a mini Starxource plant in the basement. The power is self-contained.”

  “Where do we stand on water and food?”

  “This place was designed to withstand a siege. There’s no natural springs in the Hatch islands, so our water comes from rainwater. We have a five-thousand-gallon tank and rainwater catchment on the roof. Also, a three-thousand-gallon storage tank on the second floor. How many men do you have?”

  “A little more than five hundred.”

  “Even if they take out the water tank on top, we’ll still have enough water for a month. Maybe more.”

  “What about food?”

  “There’s a café and a huge pantry on the main floor. It’s practically a supermarket. There’s additional food storage in the basement. Nothing you’ll grow fat on, mostly dry foods and rations.”

  “We can hunker down,” Enele said. He stifled a yawn.

  “You need to get some sleep,” Adam said.

  “We all need sleep, but not until we’re locked up,” Enele replied. “Raphe, I want you to pick twenty-five soldiers and have them sleep for the next four hours.”

  “Four hours?”

  “That’s about how long it’s going to take us to unload the boats.”

  “Yes, sir.” Raphe hurried off. Enele turned to Oliver. “Where do you bring in shipments?”

  “Around the east side.”

  “Are there any trucks or vehicles we can use to transport things inside?”

  “Around the side are cargo doors. There are two flatbed trucks.”

  “Keys?”

  “We usually just leave them in the ignition.”

  “Take us there.” He turned to Adam. “The Proton just arrived. Let’s help them unload.”

  21

  A New Day

  Oliver led Enele and his men back down to the main floor, then down a side corridor to the east of the compound, where the loading gates were located. As he’d said, there were two trucks.

  “Let’s drive them around front,” Enele said to Adam. “Oliver, Temo, and I will take this truck. You guys take the other.”

  “You’ll have to go around the side,” Oliver said. “There are puncture spikes all through that section.”

  Enele leaned out the window. “Follow me.”

  They took a circuitous route that led them out near the second checkpoint. Ahead of them the Proton had just docked, and men were walking up to the front gate. Enele and Adam drove the trucks forward to the first checkpoint. “Satini,” Enele said.

  “Hey, boss.”

  “Open the gate.”

  “You got it, boss.”

  They drove past the walking men, all of whom were carrying weapons or food.

  “They’re exhausted,” Temo said.

  “But still alive,” Enele replied. “Let’s keep them that way.”

  Enele and Adam backed the trucks up to the boat, and men climbed up on top of each flatbed while others started handing things up to them.

  A soldier walked up to Enele’s window. “Is everything going to the same place?”

  “For now, yes. We’ll take everything through the side doors. Is this everything?”

  “No. We’ve got another boatload.”

  “Then have them take everything off the boat before carrying them to the trucks.”

  “Aye, sir.” He walked away. A moment later Jimi Laafai, the Proton’s captain, climbed down to talk to Enele. One of the soldiers pointed the way to Enele, and Jimi walked up to him. “Enele.” He leaned up against the truck.

  Enele shook his hand. “What’s the situation on the Pulse and Regulator?”

  “Bad and good. The Pulse lost half her munitions in the water. She had already broken in half when she hit shore. When the battleship exploded, the waves pulled the back section into the sea and we lost her. We salvaged everything we could out of her. That’s what the men are unloading now, along with our payload.”

  “And the Regulator?”

  “She’s a tough old ship. I think we can salvage just about everything, some water damage, but minimal. We have about a hundred and fifty men with her right now carrying everything out. After I finish unloading, I’ll sail back and pick up the rest of the supplies, then bring everyone back with me. We’ll have twice the men unloading, so we’ll make quick work of it.”

  “You can carry everyone back?”

  “Yes. I mean, we’ll look like a train in India with people riding on the roofs, but she’ll sail.”

  “How many did we lose?”

  “Twelve. Twenty-six injured. I brought them with me. The injured ones.”

  “Who’s taking care of them?”

  “We’ve got a doctor from Vaitupu.”

  “How about the dead?”

  “We’ve put them aside for now. You want me to bring them?”

  Enele thought. “Yes. I don’t like the message it sends to our soldiers by leaving them.”

  “You got it.”

  “Do you have any blankets?”

  “A few dozen.”

  “Wrap them up and bring them back. We’ll leave them on the boat.” Enele looked back at the Proton. “Looks like they’re about done clearing her out.”

  “All right,” Jimi said. “Back to work. See you in a couple.”

  Jimi ran back to his boat while the men began filling the trucks.

  “It’s going to take a couple of loads,” Temo said.

  “Tell them to fill the trucks, then jump on. We need men to unload.”

  Temo nodded and climbed out.

  “Where’d you get all your men?” Oliver asked.

  “Some from Vaitupu. Some from Demeter. Some from Hades.”

  “No one leaves Hades,” he said.

  Enele looked at him. “I did.”

  “You came from Hades?”

  “Sure did, mate.”

  “Crikey,” he said. “No wonder you’re so tough.”

  Adam’s truck started and pulled out ahead of them, the headlights illuminating the way. The truck was piled high with munitions, and men were balanced on top of the cargo and the truck’s cab itself. Temo jumped back into Enele’s truck. “We’re loaded.”

  Enele started up the truck and followed
Adam.

  * * *

  The trucks made two more trips before they had transported everything inside.

  “You need to get some sleep,” Adam said to Enele as they walked back into the building. “The Proton will be another hour. We can handle this.”

  “I’m not going to sleep while my men work,” Enele said sternly. “And we won’t sleep until we have fortified ourselves.”

  Just then Nazil ran in the front door of the compound. “Enele! Enele!”

  “What is it, Nazil?”

  Nazil had a large smile on his face. “Look who has come!”

  In through the door walked a soaked Captain Pio.

  “Pio!” Enele shouted. He ran to him, and they embraced. Everyone turned and looked. They spontaneously broke out in applause. “How are you here?”

  “Once I knew my path was set, I jumped off the back of the boat and swam for the bottom of the sea.”

  “But the blast . . .”

  “Yes, it tumbled me into the reef,” he said, lifting his arm to reveal the ragged, cut flesh. “But I’m here.”

  “Yes, you are.” Enele turned toward the rest of his men. “Behold the hero!”

  Everyone clapped again.

  “This is a good omen,” Adam said.

  “Yes,” Enele agreed. “It is indeed. Now let’s get the boats emptied and these doors locked.”

  * * *

  In spite of their exhaustion, the Tuvaluans finished transporting all the munitions and supplies into the depository, finishing just an hour before sunrise. Enele had them place the machine guns up on the fourth floor, then met with his war council: Nazil, Zeel, and Adam, who were going through their inventory of weapons and distributing them around the compound.

  “We have everything salvageable inside,” Adam said.

  “All right. Let’s lock the place down. Have Raphe rouse his soldiers and tell them they’re on guard now.”

  Before going to sleep, Enele climbed back up to the fourth level and looked out over the ocean between Plutus and Nike. The rising sun cast a beautiful, rose-gold glow over the water as the sun rose from the sea. In other circumstances it was his favorite time of day—the promise of a new beginning. But now it seemed to hold only the promise of doom.

  PART ELEVEN

  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.”

  23

  War Criminals

  Welch was the first to climb up the tower to the Joule’s deck. He was greeted by more than seventy guns, every one of them pointing at him. He was followed by Ian, Jack, Quentin, and Torstyn. Then Tara and Taylor, Nichelle, Abigail, McKenna, Ostin, Zeus, Tessa, and Cassy.

  Before Welch could shout out the command, all the electric youths fell to the deck, frozen with pain.

  “RESATs,” Quentin groaned to Ian. “You didn’t see them?”

  “No, man. They were disguised.”

  Everyone had fallen to their knees or stomachs except the Nonels—Ostin, Jack, Welch, and the Elgen crew. Suddenly Ostin dropped to his knees, then his stomach, groaning out loudly in pain as he rolled closer to the side of the deck.

  Jack looked at him with a perplexed expression.

  “Fall down,” Ostin shouted as loud as he dared. “Near the edge.”

  Jack also dropped to his knees, groaning loudly as he held his side, grimacing as if in pain.

  Ostin continued to roll over until he was about a yard from the far edge of the boat. Jack rolled up next to him.

  “When I say ‘now,’ ” Ostin said, “we’re going to roll off the side. Got it?”

  Jack nodded. “Got it.”

  Ostin looked at Taylor, who was on the opposite side of the boat. She suddenly looked over at him. Even though she was in pain, she could still hear his thoughts, carried to her by the wet steel deck. Ostin looked around, then thought, Now, Taylor.