The helmsman got on the radio and reported to the command center.
"Doesn't make sense," the radar man said. "That thing was moving on a straight-line course when I picked it up on the radar."
"You been drinking?"
"Of course I've been drinking."
The shore patrol had been celebrating after hearing scuttlebutt from the guards at the complex that they might be closing down the island's operation.
"That explains it."
"But "
"Currents are strong around the bloody island. She could have been caught up."
"I guess so," Max said.
"Can't help you there, mate. She's deep-sixed. We're coming in."
The voice from the command center said, "Watch out for Gertrude. She's in the area."
Seconds later, the huge fin cut the water near the boat. The men on the patrol boat were used to seeing Gertrude, but they had never felt comfortable when the AUV was in the area. They were nervous about its destructive potential and the fact that it operated largely on its own. The AUV stopped fifty feet away. It was matching the sound profile of the patrol boat with the information stored in its database. "Make damned sure she's not armed." Laughter. "I'll have the fish check around." "You do that. We're getting the hell out of here." The diesel engines rumbled, and the boat did a banking turn and headed back to its dock.
The fin went back and forth for several minutes, following parallel lines in a mow-the-lawn search pattern. The probing sonar picked up the fishing boat now lying on the bottom and transmitted a picture. The radar man watched the screen for several minutes and then commanded the AUV to resume its normal patrol.
Moments after the AUV moved off, two figures emerged from the cabin' of the sunken boat. With strong rhythmic kicks that ate up the distance, they began to swim in theA direction of the island.
TROUT HAD MASHED the accelerator to the floor after he blasted Strega's Mercedes through the compound gate. MacLean who was in the passenger's seat with Gamay between them, had been staring at the speedometer as the car hurtled through the pass.
"Dr. Trout!" he said in a voice that was calm but assertive. "There's a sharp turn in the road ahead. If you don't slow down, we'll have to sprout wings."
Gamay put a hand on her husband's arm.
Trout glanced at the speedometer. They were doing more than seventy miles per hour. He pumped the brakes and switched the headlights on in time to see that the turn was more than sharp; it was angular. Off to the right was a drop-off with no guardrail.
The tires skidded close to the ragged edge of the cliff, but the Mercedes stayed on the road, which straightened and began a gradual descent. Trout let out the breath he'd been holding and relaxed his death grip on the steering wheel one finger at a time.
"Thanks for the warning, Mac."
MacLean compressed his lips in a tight smile. "I wouldn't want us to get stopped for speeding."
Trout glanced over his shoulder at the tangle of arms and legs in the backseat.
"Is everyone still with us?" he asked.
"We're not going anywhere unless you pry us out with a crowbar," Sandy said.
Trout allowed himself the luxury of a hearty laugh. In spite of his outer calm, he was wound as tight as a clock spring. MacLean composed demeanor brought Trout back down to earth. The adrenaline pumping through his veins had helped him pull off the escape from the compound, but if they were to survive, he needed to be cool and deliberate. The road continued to descend until it was at sea level and ended at a junction with two roads.
Trout brought the Mercedes to a halt and pointed to the road on the left. "Is this the way we came in?"
"That's right," MacLean said. "The road runs along the edge of the inlet to the submarine pen. There's a garrison and guards' quarters there. If we turn right, we'll come to the mouth of the harbor. There's a command center and a dock there for the boat patrols."
Trout said, "You've done your homework."
"You're not the only one who's tried to figure out how to get off this blasted rock."
"Seems like a pretty clear choice. The patrol boat could be our ticket off the island."