The Rising Sea (NUMA Files 15)

“We could contact the authorities,” Akiko said.

Kurt shook his head. “A dead end. Han has friends in high places around here or he wouldn’t have gotten the island closed in the first place. All we’d accomplish is tipping our hand. They’d hide whatever they’re up to and feed Nagano to the sharks. We’re the superintendent’s only hope for rescue and that means we have to get ourselves onto that island and fast.”

42

NAGASAKI BAY

TWO HOURS LATER, Kurt, Joe and Akiko were moving across Nagasaki Bay in a thirty-foot bowrider with a powerful inboard engine. The V-shaped hull cut through the swells as they followed a heading that took them out to sea and away from the darkened island.

There had been no time to order up the usual high-tech gear from NUMA’s quartermaster so Kurt had “borrowed” the powerboat and a modicum of diving gear and other equipment from a rental outfit. All of which would be returned in one piece or paid for by a disgruntled NUMA accountant.

Akiko was at the wheel while Kurt checked the wind and Joe prepped the diving gear.

“Turn to the northwest,” Kurt said. “Take us out a couple miles and then turn back to the island.”

Akiko turned the wheel to the right and the boat leaned into the turn. As it straightened up once again, Joe arrived from the stern.

“I’m sure you know what you’re doing, amigo, but the island is thataway.” Using his thumb, he pointed over his shoulder. “That’s going to make for a long swim.”

“Observant as usual,” Kurt said, “but having studied satellite images and a hundred other pictures, I can tell you swimming is not the way to go here.”

He pulled out the laptop and showed Joe a high-resolution aerial photo. “There’s a forty-foot seawall encasing the entire island, complete with waves breaking against it and tricky currents sweeping past. If we didn’t get battered to death against the rocks and the foundation of the wall, we’d be quickly dragged past and dumped back in the bay.”

Joe nodded. “There’s a dock here and pilings on the far end. Stairways in three different places. We could use those.”

“The dock is concrete and designed for a larger boat,” Kurt said. “The pilings are a concrete jumble at the far point of the island. You know what the surfers say: points draw the waves. We’d be fighting the current and the breakers. As for the stairs, those are the most obvious points of access on the entire island. Unless Han is a fool, they’ll be monitored and guarded.”

“So why bring all the diving gear?”

“We need a way off the island when we’re finished,” Kurt said. “If we can find Nagano and get him out before the tide changes, we’ll have an easy ride into the bay.”

“I’m glad we have an exit strategy,” Joe said. “Thinking ahead. I consider that growth. But how do we get on the island in the first place?”

“Did you wonder why I took this particular boat?”

“It has nice lines.”

“It also has a lot of torque and towing power, which they use for the adrenaline junkies and their new sport, wingboarding.”

Joe cut his eyes at Kurt. “Wingboarding?”

“It’s like parasailing, only you have a chute above your head and a wing beneath your feet.”

“We’re going to fly onto the island?”

“Glide onto it,” Kurt said. “Akiko will pilot the boat as we get up to altitude and then tow us in. We cut the cord about a mile out and ride the sea breeze toward the island. Instead of crawling out of the water like a couple of amphibians, we’ll drop in from the sky like a pair of owls.”

“What if they have radar?”

“Doubtful,” Kurt said. “That island is supposed to be abandoned and off-limits. They won’t have a radar installation, searchlights or anything else large or obvious. Nothing out in the open that would give them away. At best, they’d have a surveillance system of hidden cameras and motion detectors. But they’ll be outward-looking, watching the perimeter for intruders approaching from the sea. Not inward and monitoring the deserted center of the island.”

“So fly in over the top of their perimeter and what?”

Pulling out a pair of goggles with large, oddly shaped lenses, Kurt said, “These have infrared sensors built in. By approaching from the sky, we’ll get a full view of the island. Whatever Han’s people are doing, they’ll need lights, power and equipment. All those things produce heat. Heat that will be easy to see on an otherwise cold and deserted island.”

Joe understood perfectly. “We’ll scan the island as we descend and then follow the heat trail like it’s the Yellow Brick Road.”

“I’ll scan,” Kurt said. “You’re the pilot. I’m counting on you to do the flying. And the landing. On the roof of one of those buildings.”