There was silence for a moment, and then Jack came on the air. “She’d be down there too, handing me the tools under the water, that’s what.”

“That’s what I thought, Jack.” She laughed then.

“Regina, you’re doing a great job. You’ve got the Megalodon well away from us… from Vincent. But be aware, it’s tracking you, about a hundred and fifty feet back, and probably that again below the surface.

“Good; long as its eyes are on me, then they aren’t on you guys.” She swallowed dryly.

“Okay, but be ready to drop the cable when we say. You’re out there to lure it away not do a spot of night fishing.”

Regina smiled. “Now wouldn’t that get me few hits on YouTube? A chick in a helicopter flying home with a sixty-five-foot shark hanging off a line.” She briefly looked down at her controls, seeing the winch button release. “And don’t worry, my finger is ready to go.”

“How’s the fuel?” Jack asked.

She tapped a dial and grimaced. “Not great, but enough to keep me in the air, lugging this big bag of meat for another fifteen minutes, easy – longer, once I drop it.”

“That’s good. Hopefully fifteen is more than we need.” Jack exhaled. “Okay Regina, good luck, over and—”

“Wait, wait. Uh, can you guys stay on the line? Let me know what that thing is doing?” Regina licked her lips. For some reason, just hearing their voices made her feel a little safer.

“You got it, babe,” said Cate. “We’re right here for you, and not going anywhere.”

Minutes ticked by, and Regina grimaced as she looked out of the bubble-shaped cockpit window. There was nothing but an oil-flat dark ocean below her. She turned back and forth, looking over her shoulder – the cable stretched away behind and below, ending at the whale’s fluke.

“Jesus.” The radio crackling to life made her jump and whip her head back around.

“Regina, don’t want to worry you, but its closing on your position. Can you pump the gas a little?” Jack’s voice was calm, but she sensed a new the note of urgency.

Regina looked down at the controls – she was at maximum power now – the small chopper had no more to give.

“No can do, Jack. I’m giving this baby a whoopin’ as it is.” She looked back over her shoulder again, feeling her stomach do a little flip, and the hair prickle all over her scalp.

“Ah, guys, I can’t see a thing down there.” Looking up, she saw the Slava was now just a dot of light on the horizon – it made her feel a long way from home. “Jack, how’s my Vince doing with the prop?”

There was silence and then muffled speaking for a while as a she assumed he and Cate conferred. Jack came back on, calm as ever.