Valhalla Rising (Dirk Pitt 16)

"I've carried on the lie that help is just around the corner," Baldwin said in obvious anguish, "but the truth is coming home to them now. The only thing that keeps us from a nasty confrontation is they're too weak to do much of anything."

Pitt rubbed his reddened eyes, took a swallow of cold coffee and studied the builder's plans for what seemed like the hundredth time. "There has to be a key," he said in a low voice. "There must be a way to attach a hose and pump purified air into the boat."

Baldwin took out a handkerchief and wiped his brow. "Not with the hatch and air connector destroyed. And any attempt to punch a hole in the hull would end up flooding the rest of the ship. We must face the sad but fundamental fact. By the time the Navy can repair the damage, make an airtight seal and penetrate the hull so we can all be evacuated, our air will be used up."

"We can stop the generators. That would give us a few more hours."

Baldwin wearily shook his head. "Better keep the power on and let these poor people live as normally as possible until the end. Besides, the pumps have to stay ahead of the overflow from the flooded compartments."

Dr. John Ringer stepped into the control room. The ship's doctor, Ringer was swamped by passengers coming to the hospital and complaining of headaches, light-headedness and nausea. He did his best to provide them with whatever care was at his command without elaborating on the ultimate state of their tribulation.

Pitt stared at the doctor, who was obviously exhausted and on the verge of collapse. "Do I look as bad as you, Doc?"

Ringer forced a smile. "Worse, if you can believe it."

"I do."

Ringer dropped into a chair heavily. "What we're faced with is asphyxia. Insufficient breathing caused by an insufficient intake of oxygen and insufficient exhalation of carbon dioxide."

"What are the acceptable levels?" asked Pitt.

"Oxygen, twenty percent. Carbon dioxide, three tenths of one percent."

"How do we stand at the moment?"

"Eighteen percent oxygen," Ringer answered. "Slightly over four percent of carbon dioxide."

"And the danger limits?" Baldwin put to him stonily.

"Sixteen percent and five percent, respectively. After that the concentrations become extremely dangerous."

"Dangerous, like in deadly," said Pitt.

Baldwin asked Ringer the question none of them wanted to face. "How much longer do we have?"

"You can feel the lack of oxygen the same as I," said Ringer quietly. "Two hours, maybe two hours and thirty minutes, certainly no more."

"Thank you for your candid opinion, Doctor," Baldwin said honestly. "Can you keep some of them alive a little longer with the fire crew's respirators?"

"There are about ten young people under the age of twenty. I'll provide them with oxygen until it runs out." Ringer came to his feet. "I'd better get back to the hospital. I suspect I have a line down there."

After the doctor had left, Pitt went back to scrutinizing the boat builder's plans. "For every complex problem, there is a simple solution," he said philosophically.

"When you find it," said Baldwin, with a show of humor, "let me know." He rose to his feet and started for the door. "Time for me to put in an appearance in the dining room. Good luck."

Pitt merely gave a brief nod and said nothing.

Slowly, a numbing fear seeped into his mind, not a fear for his life, but a fear that he might fail with so many people's lives hanging on his finding a solution. But for a few moments, it also sharpened his senses and flooded him with extraordinary clarity. This was followed by a revelation that struck with such force, it stunned him momentarily. The solution was simple. It came suddenly, with appalling ease. As with so many inspirations that struck men, he could only wonder why he hadn't seen it much earlier.

He jumped up so quickly he knocked over the stool in his rush to get to the phone attached to the line running up to the buoy. He shouted into the receiver. "Al! Are you there?"

"I'm here," Giordino's voice replied gravely.

"I think I have the answer! No, I'm positive I have the answer."

Giordino was stunned at Pitt's eagerness. "One moment, I'll put you on the bridge speaker so Captain Turner and the rest of his crew can listen." A moment's pause, and then, "Okay, go ahead."

"How long will it take you to set up the air hose and get it down here?"