“We need to recharge.” Dmitry sighed and sat back. “We need time.”

“Time, yes, but I’m afraid that’s something that might be in short supply for the Prusalka.” Mironov continued to gaze out through the curved glass. He had paid a fortune to perhaps catch a glimpse of a legendary and fantastic creature. Don’t wish too hard for what you want, or then you might get it. He smiled, dreamily at the thought. He looked down at the depth gauge. They were still descending.

Perhaps the Megalodon had been taking them to its home in the pitiless void of the cave depths. Perhaps it still would; if it attacked again their defenses were now exhausted. It didn’t matter now. They were still safely within the crush tolerance of the submersible, except for one thing. He looked up towards Dmitry and the front window – sure enough, with a plinking and popping sound, the crack in the curved glass was growing longer. When its two ends touched, top to bottom, it would fail.

Dmitry gave up trying to draw some sort of response from the flattened batteries. He turned slowly. “I’m so sorry, Mr Mironov.”

“Valery.” Mironov nodded. “And I forgive you.”

The Megalodon passed by the window once again.

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 19

Chief Engineer Olaf Kozlov aboard the Viktor Dubynin grimaced at the computer screen. The new seismic numbers coming from the seabed stability sensors were telling him the sea floor, or rather the skin over the huge bed of liquid, was shuddering and complaining as if it had growing pains. And it rose like a blister.

He’d told Captain Gorkin he had successfully capped it, but for how long he had no real idea. If the seawater he detected was only a few million gallons and could be siphoned off easily and allow the pressure to ease, then all would be good. But if not, and there was a lot more water under pressure than he expected, then the entire capping seal could give way. And as the subterranean bed was under colossal force, the seabed would not collapse down, but explode upwards.

Kozlov glanced surreptitiously over his shoulder before looking back at the continuous data feed. He knew he certainly did not have the necessary equipment he needed to cap hundreds of feet of sea bottom if that occurred.

“Please hold, please hold,” he whispered. At least until I’m a long way away… and paid.

*   *   *

“Nobody… move,” Jack whispered.

The raft glided now, all four of its occupants sitting stone still and eyes wide. Cate and Abby had their flashlights trained on the open water behind them, and the cold gray mountain that rose from the misted surface, fell back again into its inky depths.

The thing came up again, this time closer, and rolled. One huge, almost human-like eye swiveled to stare up from the water. A geyser spouted in the air, and the drops rained back down on them.