CHAPTER 52
She entered her father’s cabin to find that Chiffrey was also there. She just came out with it before anyone else had a chance to speak. “We need to send the Bluedrop down again.”
“And why do you think that?” her father asked, seemingly not surprised.
“To provoke whatever’s down there, of course.”
“Am I missing something?” Chiffrey asked.
“We only have twenty hours now,” she replied. “Unless we make contact, the military will make their move with everything they have. Even nukes, right?”
“Not really,” her father said calmly. “They have missiles that can take out an enemy sub, and they include nuclear-tipped missiles, but we can assume they will start with conventional armaments first.”
Chiffrey shook his head. “I’m afraid I have to inform you that they will use any means necessary. ‘Any’ means any.”
“Are you insane!” her father yelled. “I realize the situation is critical, but have they lost their minds?”
“I’m sorry, Doctor. It’s not my decision or recommendation. The President herself authorized it, although they won’t take that step easily. The loss of the subs changed everything.”
Her father sighed deeply and looked at each of them one by one. “I had no idea we might get into anything like this.”
“It’s not your fault,” Chiffrey said.
“Not so sure about that, but Pen’s right. Let’s go down again and knock on the devil’s door. We have nothing to lose.”
“Your lives, perhaps,” Chiffrey said.
“Anyone who wishes, with your help, can leave the Valentina, and no blame. Offer’s still open, I assume? Good enough?”
“If we do send the Bluedrop down,” Chiffrey said, “there is every reason to believe that the same thing—or worse—will happen again.”
“I will be counting on it,” her father said. “That’s what you were thinking, Pen. Yes?”
“Something like that.”
“And she’s right. It’s clear to me now. This may be the only way we have at the moment to establish a line of communication. Risky, no doubt, and that is why I’ll be going down solo.”
“I knew you'd say that,” she said. “No, full stop, to you going alone.”
“Doctor Bell, I understand you feel responsible,” Chiffrey said, “but are you absolutely sure?
“I am. This is long past being an interesting phenomenon. It’s clear to me that whatever we have stumbled upon could be one of the most significant events in human history. We can’t let that turn to hell.”
Her father turned his gaze toward her for a long moment. The trace of a smile was on his lips as he said, “That is the big picture, but my personal reason for going is Matthew. Deep down, my bones tell me there is no real malevolence here. We have to demonstrate that to those with their finger on the button. As long as the power possessors involved don’t know what they are in front of, they have no way to determine whether there is a real threat and they will do what they must. The risk is acceptable, given what’s at stake.”
Penny had listened quietly, having already prepared for his response. When she finally spoke, she did so as calmly as she could. “If we agree to send you down to act as a lure, you will not be going alone.”
“I’m certainly capable of handling the Bluedrop solo.”
“This has to include me,” she said.
“And why, exactly, is that?”
“There were four people on the Bluedrop, but only Matthew was taken. Why?”
No one said anything, so she went on. “Matthew had more contact with the lead whale we were tracking than anyone else. Even before coming onboard the Valentina. It was contact of a special kind, and I believe that is why he was taken. Or maybe chosen. Later, most of the others here were touched somehow on the day the whales vanished, but not me. If I’m right, I am one of the few people on this ship who was unaffected by whatever happened that day. Maybe the only one.”
“Hmm,” was all her father said, while glancing at her with his “let’s-discuss-this-later” look.
In spite of that, she continued. “Ask the people who were there. When the whales disappeared, it didn’t even cause me a flutter. I looked around and everyone else was strewn about like so much wet laundry.” She glanced at Chiffrey. “Even you didn’t look so good.”
“Little motion sickness was all.”
“While I was in great shape. Listen, if whatever occurred the last time down there happens again, I might be the only one who could remain conscious.” She leaned a little closer to her father. “You couldn’t remember a thing, after all.”
Her father frowned. “Are you saying you have your own private immunity?”
“You cannot count on a repeat performance,” Chiffrey said to her. “If I were you—”
“But you’re not me, are you? You can save your concern for someone else. Becka, perhaps.” She looked her father straight in the eyes and said, “I’m going with you.”
“Penelope, of course I can’t let you,” he said, but she could tell he was softening.
“Why not?”
“For one thing,” he said, “you are my daughter.”
“Dad…”
“Yes, I know, I know. Some things I can’t outgrow. If anything should happen…how can I allow you to take such a risk?”
“You mean like the ones you always seem overjoyed to take on a regular basis? You’re on the thin edge there, not me. In addition, I have a connection with Matthew. I need to be there. You have the final say, but I am definitely going with you.”
Her father, exasperated, looked at Chiffrey. “This is our family’s version of ‘being reasonable,’ in case you’re wondering.”
Chiffrey came close to smiling, but seemed a little disappointed. “Okay, supposing you both go down, and one or both of you go missing like Matthew. Then what? Aren’t we right back where we started? I mean, we could try putting a tracer on you, I guess,”
Penny glanced at her father who shook his head and said, “We’ve already seen how easily communications can be lost. Matthew’s clothes were left behind, so I wouldn’t give any kind of radio tag much of a chance.”
“But that doesn’t matter,” Penny said. “If we make it there and back, then it’s likely we’ll have something new to report. If one or both of us go missing, that will give us a better chance of making some kind of contact. And that is what we need. We all know that.”
Chiffrey looked weary. “This is nothing more than a shot in the dark.”
“You’ve grown surprisingly cautious lately,” she said, narrowing her eyes as she stared at him. She didn’t want to talk about her dream and the drawing, so just added, “I assumed you’d think this was a great idea.”
“I don’t want to lose anyone else.”
Her father looked at her and said, “Your mother will not be happy, but your company will be welcome. And at least I’ll be able to keep my eye on you.” He smiled at Chiffrey. “It is our decision, Lieutenant. We have our course set.”
Chiffrey still appeared doubtful. “This is not really a plan.” To Penny he added, “It’s worse than what you were accusing me of not so long ago. Being chum in the water just to see what bites.”
Before she could reply, her father said, “‘Change changes everything.’ It’s what we have. Get the warships to move back. I’m convinced it will increase our chances of success. Put it to them that way.”
“I’ll put in the strongest request I can. The fact that you are going down again will put some weight behind it. How about forty klicks from the center? All except the ships searching for the missing subs, and only as long as we remain unprovoked. Is that sufficient?”
“Of course, we don’t know. And I appreciate even that, but must there always be a loophole, Lieutenant?”
Chiffrey seemed almost sad. “Whatever you may believe, no one is looking for a fight. A decision to use force will not be taken lightly, I assure you. When can you go?”
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“If the crew gets to work now, the Bluedrop can launch at five tomorrow morning.” Her father scowled. “And that means getting up at four. Though it may not be easy, get some sleep, everyone.”