Frank Schatzing - The Swarm

'It's up to you now, Jude,' said Crowe. 'You know what we think, but it's for you to pass that on. Or to put it into action.'

All eyes were fixed on Li.

She nodded. 'I think you're right,' she said. 'But we shouldn't rush into anything. If we want to pull out of the seas, we need to send them a message to convey that exactly and convincingly.' She looked at the faces turned towards her. 'I want you all working on this together. And I don't want anyone rushing or panicking. We mustn't be too hasty. A few days here or there won't make any difference. What really matters is that you get the tone right. The yrr are more alien to us than anything we'd ever imagined. If there's the smallest chance of coming to a peaceful solution, we have to seize it. So, do your best.'

'Thanks, Jude,' smiled Crowe. 'Wise words from the American military.'

LI LEFT THE ROOM, followed by Peak and Vanderbilt. 'Has Rubin been able to synthesise enough of that stuff?' she muttered.

'Yep,' said Vanderbilt.

'Good. I want him to get one of the Deepflights ready. In two or three hours we can start to get this over with.'

'Why the hurry?' asked Peak.

'Johanson. He looks as though he's about to have a revelation. I'm not in the mood for discussion.'

'And we're one hundred per cent ready to go?'

Li looked at him. 'Sal, I've told the President we're ready. And if the President thinks we're ready, we're ready.'

WELL DECK

'Hey, Jack.'

Anawak headed towards the dolphin tank. Greywolf glanced up, then turned back to the miniature video camera he was disassembling. As the newcomer drew closer, two dolphins stuck their heads out of the water and greeted him with whistles and chatter. They swam over to claim their share of affection. 'I'm not interrupting anything, am I?' asked Anawak, as he patted the dolphins.

'Uh-uh.'

It wasn't the first time that Anawak had been down to the well deck since the attack. On each occasion he'd tried to get Greywolf to talk to him, but to no avail. His friend seemed to have retreated inside himself He hadn't attended any of the meetings and had taken to merely summarising the dolphin footage in handwritten notes. The pictures didn't show much anyway. The images of the jelly approaching the ship were disappointing: a blue glow that faded into the depths, then shadowy glimpses of orcas. After that the dolphins had taken fright and huddled under the keel, filming the expanse of steel. Greywolf had put forward the case for the remainder of the fleet to keep up their role as the vessel's early-warning system and resume their patrol of the boat. Anawak no longer believed that the dolphins could help them, but he was careful not to voice his doubts. Secretly he suspected that all Greywolf wanted was to carry on as usual.

They stood in silence for a while. A group of soldiers and technicians emerged from the bottom of the basin, where they'd finished dismantling the shattered glass hatch. One of the technicians went up to the control desk on the jetty. The pumps kicked into action.

'Time for us to leave,' said Greywolf.

They made their way up the embankment. Anawak watched as the basin filled with water. 'They're flooding it again,' he said.

'Yeah, well, it's easier to release the dolphins when the basin's full.'

'You're letting them out?'

Greywolf nodded.

I'll help,' said Anawak. 'If you like.'

'Sure.' Greywolf opened the back of the camera and inserted a miniature screwdriver.

'Right away?'

'I've got to get this working first.'

'Why don't you take a break? We could get something to drink. We all need a rest from time to time.'

'It's not like I'm busy, Leon. All I do is mess around with the equipment and make sure the dolphins are OK. I'm on one perpetual break already.'

'You should come to the meetings, then.'

Greywolf carried on working in silence. The conversation dried up.

'Jack,' said Anawak, 'you can't hide yourself away forever.'

'Who said anything about forever?'

'What do you call this, then?'

'I'm just doing my job.' Greywolf shrugged. 'I listen to what the dolphins report, monitor the video footage, and if anyone needs me, I'm here.'

'But you're not here, really. You don't know anything about what's happened over the past twenty-four hours.'

'I do.'

'How?'

'Sue's been to see me a few times. Even Peak was down here earlier to check things out. They all tell me stuff I don't even have to ask.'

Anawak stared straight ahead. Suddenly he was furious. 'Well, I guess you don't need me, then,' he snapped.

Greywolf didn't respond.

'You've decided to rot down here by yourself.'

'I prefer the company of animals.'

Licia was killed by one, Anawak felt like saying. He stopped himself just in time.

'I lost Licia too, you know,' he said finally.

Briefly Greywolf froze. Then he carried on poking the screwdriver inside the camera. 'That's not what this is about.'

'Then what is it about?'

'What do you want from me, Leon?'

'You know what, Jack? I don't know. To be honest, I'm beginning to wonder.'

He'd almost reached the tunnel when he heard Greywolf say in a low voice, 'Leon! Don't go.'

MEMORIES

Johanson couldn't keep his eyes open. The late-night session in the lab had taken its toll. He was stationed in front of the monitors at the control desk, while Oliviera synthesised batches of yrr-pheromone in the containment facility. They were planning to release some of the chemical into the tank. There wasn't much sign of the collective, just swarms of amoebas clouding the water. The jelly seemed to have disaggregated and the glow had gone. By adding the synthesised pheromone, they were hoping to induce the yrr to aggregate so that they could carry out more tests.

Maybe, thought Johanson, we should experiment with one of Crowe's messages to see if the collective responds.

His head was throbbing and he knew what was causing it. It wasn't a question of working too hard or sleeping too little. His brain was aching from the memories trapped inside.

Ever since the meeting that morning the pain had got worse. His internal slide projector was back in action, triggered by a remark Li had made. The short sequence of words had expanded to occupy his mind and prevent him focusing. Johanson's head lolled back as he slipped into a doze, caught in a perpetual loop of Li's words.

We mustn't be too hasty. Mustn't be too hasty. Mustn't. . .

He heard noises and woke briefly, blinked in the lights of the lab, then closed his eyes again.

Mustn't be too hasty.

DARKNESS.

The hangar deck.

A sound like grating metal. He jolts awake. For a fleeting moment he can't remember where he is. Then he feels the steel side of the vessel in the small of his back. The sky is brightening above the sea. He sits up, and glances at the bulkhead.

A door stands wide open, luminous in the gloom, spilling light into the hangar. Johanson stands up. He must have been sitting there for hours – or so his aching joints tell him. He moves slowly towards the rectangle of light. He can see now that it's a passageway with plain walls on either side and neon lights above. It extends a few metres, then stops and turns right.

Johanson peers through the door and listens.

Voices and noises. He takes a step back.

Indecision.

Mustn't be too hasty. Don't be hasty.

He hesitates. Then a barrier bursts open.

He enters. Nothing but plain walls, then the change in direction. He follows the passageway round to the right. It turns again, this time to the left. It's spacious in here – wide enough to drive a car. The voices and noises return, this time more loudly. They must be close, just round the second bend. He draws nearer, then a sharp left turn, and…