John Avery - Black Cobra

Through the rain they saw that the big plastic tarpaulin had already been completed and that it covered the entire sub. The gangway was gone, replaced by a simple temporary wooden gangplank that led through a narrow opening in the tarp.

“I wonder why they had to do that?” Aaron said as they ducked inside.

All of the tourist handrails and walkways were missing. And as they walked up on deck they saw that the bow and stern stairways leading down into the submarine were gone as well, and the openings welded shut.

Aaron figured it was all part of the restoration project and decided not to dwell on it.

They entered the submarine through the fin hatch and climbed down the ladder to an empty Control Room.

Just as she stepped off the ladder, Katya remembered that she had forgotten to lock up the gift shop.

“I’m such a space head,” she said. “I think I forgot to lock up.”

“Two days on the job and you’re the one who locks up?”

She held the key up like a trophy. “My father had to pull some strings to get me this job, and I don’t want to screw it up.”

“While you’re gone I think I’ll check out the Captain’s Cabin. Can you find your own way out?”

“Of course, silly,” Katya said. “I’m not incompetent .”

Aaron laughed. “Go on then,” he said. “I’ll be in Compartment Two, right through there.” He pointed to one of the two watertight hatches leading out of the Control Room, the one near the helm controls. “Last door on the left, I think. You can’t miss it.”

“I’ll find it,” Katya said. “Back in a flash.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and then climbed back up the ladder exiting the submarine.

The Captain’s Cabin was a tiny room, the width of the bunk against the back wall, with a small writing desk on the left. The Maritime Museum had outfitted the room with period pieces for the benefit of the tourists: a Soviet Captain’s jacket, some playing cards, and an old, framed photograph of Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Some of the playing cards had spilled on the floor, and Aaron considered picking them up; then he figured the museum had placed them there to add authenticity, so he left them alone.

Katya returned from the gift shop and made her way back down the ladder to the Control Room.

She ducked through the hatch leading to Compartment Two, looking for the Captain’s Cabin, but there was no Captain’s Cabin…

In her confusion, Katya had gotten completely turned around, and instead of Compartment Two, she was in Compartment Four, and she had run out of cabins. The only room left in the compartment was the galley, and beyond that a dark space that led to the Engine Room.

She tried calling Aaron on her cell phone, but there was no service, so she turned and headed back down the corridor toward the Control Room.

When she came to the door with the small sign that read MIDSHIPMEN’S CABIN, she stopped, thinking maybe Aaron had gotten the cabin name wrong. But as she went to knock, she overheard two men talking inside — and neither of them sounded like Aaron.

Either he’s being really quiet, or he’s not in there , she thought. Then she held her head up to the door and listened…

“I met with Commander Fagan and Captain Zaane today,” Jason said. “The President’s VIP cruise is all set. The USS Hampton will head out at 9:00 p.m. tonight as scheduled. The Neau Islander will depart the dock at 8:15, and hit the main channel by 8:30. By 8:35 Cobra should be beneath her wake as she escorts us to Ballast Point before heading out to sea.”

“That’s great news,” Uri said. “We should be hiding under the bait barges no later than 8:55.”

“Fagan told me you were in charge of Cobra’s weaponry,” Jason said. “Can you tell me what type of bomb we’re packing?”

“I’ve armed Cobra with a conventional, high-explosive torpedo with enough fire power to cut the Hampton in half,” Uri said. “The President will never know what hit him.”

Katya clutched the front of her dress. Oh my God, she thought. She had heard rumors of a Presidential visit to San Diego, but this plot to assassinate him sounded too absurd to be true.

“I wish we could nuke the bastards,” Jason said. “Just to be sure. But I suppose the collateral damage would be unacceptable — not to mention suicidal.”

“You’re right,” Uri said. “It would be suicidal.”

Katya suddenly felt an urgent need to find Aaron. She headed back to the Control Room to try again.

Katya managed to find her way back to the Control Room, but as she looked around at the confusing array of hardware, she feared that she may still be lost.

Just then a woman with long red hair appeared in the hatch Katya had just come through. The woman was clutching a paper cup in each hand, spilling most of their contents while ducking through the low opening.

“Oh, hi,” the woman said, seeing Katya. “Who are you?”

“Uh — my name is Ekatarina,” Katya said, a little off guard. The woman was very pretty. “Who are you?”

“I’m Brandy,” she said, glancing down at her alcohol soaked fingers. “I’d shake your hand, but —”

“That’s okay,” Katya said quickly. “I was looking for my date. His name is Aaron and I really need to find him.”

“Aaron Quinn?” Brandy said, surprised.

“You know him?” Katya said.

“We’ve met,” Brandy said curtly, still harboring a grudge for what happened in Panama. “But I haven’t seen him.” She gave Katya a quick look up and down, as if to determine whether or not she was worthy of him.

“I’m here with Jason Beckham,” she boasted, as if he were a famous celebrity. “He’s currently in a meeting, but I expect him back soon.”

“You’ll have to excuse me, Brandy, but I —”

“ Looking for me? ” a man’s voice said from behind.

Katya whirled around and swallowed hard, certain she was facing one of the men plotting the assassination.

“Oh, hi, Jason,” Brandy said. “We were just talking about you.” She handed him the remains of one of the paper-cup cocktails and gestured toward Katya. “This is Ekatarina. She’s looking for Aaron.”

Jason was struck by Katya’s rare beauty. “Jason Beckham,” he said, offering her his hand. “You must be Captain Pankov’s daughter.”

Katya hesitated, and then shook Jason’s hand quickly, as if he were a leper. There was no doubt he was one of them. I can’t believe I’m touching one of the men plotting to kill the President of the United States! She shuddered and glanced around for a good place to throw up.

Jason was accustomed to women being uncomfortable in his presence, and normally it was due to his irresistible charm and powerful, animal magnetism. However, Ekatarina clearly found him repulsive, and this was new to him, and he didn’t appreciate it.

Suddenly Katya spotted the hatch near the helm controls, and kicked herself, thinking, That’s that hatch leading to the Captain’s Cabin, you idiot! Not the other one! If only she hadn’t blundered into Compartment Four. Life would have been a whole lot simpler!

She looked at Jason and Brandy and forced herself to be polite. “I-it was nice meeting you,” she said. “But if you will excuse me, I have to go find my date. Maybe we’ll see you at the party.”

“What party?” Brandy said sarcastically, gesturing to the vacant space surrounding them.