Sahara (Dirk Pitt 11)

"A shame," Gunn said briefly. "Especially when you consider that changes in coral can be an accurate barometer of future trends in sea and weather conditions."

"All right, so the polyps spit out the algae," Pitt prodded. "Then what?"

"Because algae is the nutrient that feeds the polyps and gives them vibrant colors," Gunn went on, "its loss starves the coral, leaving it white and lifeless, a phenomenon known as bleaching."

"Which seldom occurs when the waters are cool."

Gunn looked at Pitt. "Why am I telling you this if you already know it all?"

"I'm waiting for you to get to the good part."

"Let me drink my coffee before it gets cold."

There was a silence. Gunn wasn't really in the mood for coffee, but he sipped away until Pitt became impatient.

"Okay," Pitt said. "Coral reefs are dying around the world. So what's the second factor in their extinction?"

Gunn idly stirred his coffee with a plastic spoon. "A new threat, and a critical one, is the sudden abundance of thick, green algae and seaweed that is blanketing the reefs like an out-of-control plague."

"Hold on. You say the coral is starving because it's spitting out the algae even though it's smothered in the stuff?"

"The warmer water gives and takes. It acts to destroy the reefs while it aids in the growth of algae that can prevent nutrients and sunlight from reaching the coral. Somewhat like smothering it to death."

Pitt ran a hand through his black hair. "Hopefully the situation will be corrected when the water turns cooler."

"Hasn't happened," said Gunn. "Not in the Southern Hemisphere. Nor is a temperature drop in the water predicted in the next decade."

"You think it's a natural phenomenon or fallout from the greenhouse effect?"

"A possibility, along with the usual indications of pollution."

"But you have no solid evidence?" Pitt put to him.

"Neither I nor our NUMA ocean scientists have all the answers."

"I never heard of a test tube junkie who didn't have a theory," Pitt grinned.

Gunn smiled back. "I've never looked at myself in that light."

"Or those terms."

"You love to stick it to people, don't you."

"Only opinionated academics."

"Well," Gunn began, "King Solomon, I ain't. But since you asked for it. My theory on the proliferation of the algae, as any school child can tell you, is that after generations of dumping untreated sewage, garbage, and toxic chemicals in the oceans, the saturation point has finally been reached. The delicate chemical balance of the seas is irretrievably lost. They're heating up, and we're all, particularly our grandchildren, going to pay a heavy price."

Pitt had never seen Gunn so solemn. "That bad."

"I believe we've crossed the point of no return."

"You're not optimistic for a turnaround?"

"No," Gunn said sadly. "The disastrous effects of bad water quality have been ignored too long."

Pitt stared at Gunn, mildly surprised that the second-in-command of NUMA was prey to his own thoughts of doom and gloom. Gunn had painted a dire picture. Pitt did not share Gunn's total pessimism. The oceans might be sick, but they were far from terminal.

"Loosen up, Rudi," Pitt said cheerfully. "Whatever assignment the Admiral has up his sleeve, he's not about to expect the three of us to sally forth and save the seas of the world."