Deception Point Page 104

Wheres Michael? She didnt see him. Her panic lowested single an instant as a new aid descended. Overhead, the Tritons shredded winch cable let verboten an ominous whipping noise as the braids unraveled. Then, there was a moth-eaten snap, and Rachel felt the cable give way.Momentarily weightless, Rachel hoered above her seat within the cockpit as the sub hurtled downward. The deck disappeared overhead, and the catwalks under the Goya raced by. The soldier trapped in the claws went white with fear, staring at Rachel as the sub accelerated downward.The cliff seemed endless.When the sub crashed into the sea beneath the Goya, it plunged solid under the surf, ramming Rachel down delicate into her seat. Her spine compressed as the illuminated ocean raced up over the dome. She felt a suffocating drag as the sub slowed to a stop under water and then raced cover toward the surface, bobbing up like a cork.The sharks hit instantly. From her calculate-row seat, Rachel sat frozen in plac e as the spectacle unfolded only a few feet away.Delta-Two felt the sharks oblong head crash into him with unsufferable force. A razor sharp clamp tightened on his upper arm, disappearance to the b cardinal and only(a) and locking on. A flash of white-hot pain blow up as the shark torqued its powerful body and shook its head violently, wild Delta-Twos arm off his body. Others sharks moved in. Knives stabbing at his legs. Torso. Neck. Delta-Two had no soupcon to scream in agony as the sharks ripped huge chunks of his body away. The last thing he saw was a crescent-shaped mouth, tilting sideways, a gormandise of teeth clamping down crossways his face.The world went black.Inside the Triton, the thudding of sullen cartilaginous heads ramming into the dome finally subsided. Rachel opened her eyes. The man was g nonpareil. The water slipstream against the window was crimson.Badly battered, Rachel huddled in her chair, knees pulled to her chest. She could obtain the sub moving. It was adrift(p) on the current, scraping along the length of the Goyas lower dive deck. She could feel it moving in another direction as well. Down.Outside, the distinctive gurgling of water into the ballast tanks grew louder. The ocean inched higher on the glass in front of her.Im sinkingA jolt of terror shot through Rachel, and she was unawares scrambling to her feet. Reaching overhead, she grabbed the hatch mechanism. If she could climb up on top of the sub, she soundless had time to jump onto the Goyas dive deck. It was only a few feet away.Ive got to force back outThe hatch mechanism was clearly marked which way to invert it to open. She heaved. The hatch did not budge. She tried again. Nothing. The portal was jammed shut. Bent. As the fear rose in her blood like the sea around her, Rachel heaved one last time.The hatch did not move.The Triton sank a few inches deeper, bumping the Goya one last time before drifting out from underneath the mangled hull and into the open s ea.126Dont do this, Gabrielle begged the senator as he finished at the copy machine. Youre risking your daughters life sexton occlude out her voice, moving back to his desk flat with ten identical stacks of photocopies. individually stack contained copies of the pages Rachel had faxed him, including her written note claiming the meteorite was a fake and accusing NASA and the White House of essay to kill her.The most shocking media kits ever assembled, Sexton thought, as he began carefully inserting each stack into its own large, white linen envelope. Each envelope bore his name, accountability address, and senatorial seal. There would be no doubt where this incredible information had originated. The political scandal of the century, Sexton thought, and I will be the one to reveal itGabrielle was still pleading for Rachels safety, that Sexton heard only silence. As he assembled the envelopes, he was in his own private world. Every political career has a specify moment. This i s mine.William Pickerings phone message had warned that if Sexton went public, Rachels life would be in danger. unfortunately for Rachel, Sexton also knew if he went public with proof of NASAs fraud, that single toy of boldness would land him in the White House with more decision and political drama than ever before witnessed in American politics. life history is filled with difficult decisions, he thought. And winners are those who make them.Gabrielle Ashe had seen this look in Sextons eyes before. Blind ambition. She feared it. And with good reason, she now realized. Sexton was obviously hustling to risk his daughter in order to be the first to call the NASA fraud.Dont you see youve already won? Gabrielle demanded. Theres no way Zach Herney and NASA will get in this scandal. No matter who makes it public No matter when it comes out reside until you know Rachel is safe. Wait until you talk to PickeringSexton was clearly no thirster listening to her. Opening his desk drawer, he pulled out a foil winding-clothes on which were stick on dozens of nickel-sized, self-adhesive prove seals with his initials on them. Gabrielle knew he unremarkably used these for formal invitations, but he apparently thought a crimson wax seal would give each envelope an extra touch of drama. Peeling the circular seals off the foil, Sexton pressed one onto the pleat of each envelope, sealing it like a monogrammed epistle.Gabrielles heart pulsed now with a new anger. She thought of the digitized images of illegal checks in his computer. If she said anything, she knew he would just delete the evidence. Dont do this, she said, or Ill go public rough our affair.Sexton laughed out loud as he affixed the wax seals. Really? And you think theyll believe you-a power-hungry aide denied a post in my administration and looking for r so farge at any cost? I denied our involvement once, and the world believed me. Ill simply deny it again.The White House has photos, Gabrielle declared.Se xton did not even look up. They dont have photos. And even if they did, theyre meaningless. He affixed the final wax seal. I have immunity. These envelopes out-trump anything anyone could possibly throw at me.Gabrielle knew he was right. She felt utterly helpless as Sexton esteem his handiwork. On his desk sat ten elegant, white linen envelopes, each raised(a) with his name and address and secured with a crimson wax seal billing his scripted initials. They looked like royal letters. Certainly kings had been crowned on report card of less potent information.Sexton picked up the envelopes and prepared to leave. Gabrielle stepped over and blocked his way. Youre making a mistake. This can wait.Sextons eyes bored into her. I make you, Gabrielle, and now Ive unmade you.That fax from Rachel will give you the presidency. You owe her.Ive accustomed her plenty.What if something happens to herThen shell cement my sympathy vote.Gabrielle could not believe the thought had even crossed his m ind, much less his lips. Disgusted, she reached for the phone. Im calling the White-Sexton spun and slapped her hard across the face.Gabrielle staggered back, feeling her lip split open. She caught herself, grabbing on to the desk, staring up in astonishment at the man she had once worshiped.Sexton gave her a long, hard look. If you so much as think of crossing me on this, I will make you regret it for the rest of your life. He stood unflinching, clutching the stack of sure envelopes under his arm. A harsh danger burned in his eyes.When Gabrielle exited the office building into the cold night air, her lip was still bleeding. She hailed a go and climbed in. Then, for the first time since she had come to Washington, Gabrielle Ashe broke down and cried.