Page 67 of Clive Cussler Desolation Code

“Not if they were burrowing into the animals’ skin by the hundreds.”

Kurt focused on another detail. “Genetically modified.”

“Yep.”

The connection was obvious.

“We have no idea what Vaughn is up to,” Rudi added. “But these organisms are across the Indian Ocean in various directions, leaving a path of destruction that can be viewed from space.”

Kurt could see Rudi tapping away on the keyboard. Seconds later a new image appeared on the screen. It was one of the GeneSat photos Gamay had sent. The one with the blue swaths cutting across the greenish sea.

There was no sharp relief showing where the newfound organisms had begun their lives, but the asterisk-like shape of their paths was obvious at a single glance. And lying roughly in the center of that pattern were the Seychelle islands.

The overall reality was clear: somewhere in that area these creatureswere beginning their lives. And from there they marched outward, like Sherman crossing the state of Georgia to the sea.

“There are a hundred and fifteen islands in the Seychelles,” Rudi said. “And I’d be lying if I said the blue lines point directly at Vaughn’s, but they don’t point away from it, either.”

A connection between the two things was impossible to make, but one had to exist. “Okay,” Kurt said with grim determination. “We’ll take care of business here. Next time you hear from us, we’ll be calling from Vaughn’s place.”

Chapter 40

Île de l’Est

Joe gazed through a set of night vision goggles as he piloted the helicopter across the water just ten feet above the tips of the passing waves. He was locked in and focused. He made sure to keep his eyes moving and not get hypnotized by the continuous rush of wave tops rushing by.

Out in the distance he could see the outline of East Island jutting up from the sea. It was a black curtain against a backdrop of a sky filled with stars.

Kurt was in the back of the helicopter, riding with the door open while looking through a similar set of goggles. He leaned down and checked a pair of heavy-duty straps that ran across the inside of the helicopter and out through both side doors. The belts were straining under the load they carried, a ribbed inflatable raft strapped to the bottom of the helicopter that was being pulled and buffeted by the wind.

With no way to land on the island and escape detection, the plan was to get within two miles of the shore, drop the boat in the water,and then ditch the helicopter beside it. Once they were in the boat, they could paddle their way in.

As he moved about the cabin, Kurt was careful not to trip over the quick-release buckles that would jettison the sturdy little craft. Two miles of rowing wouldn’t be that bad. Ten would be a marathon.

Kurt stepped to the open door, leaned his head out, and looked toward the island just as Joe was doing up front. The two men, who usually joked and laughed as they approached danger, were quiet and serious tonight. The disappearance of theIsabellaweighed on both of their minds. Kurt figured they needed to break that up.

“How’re you feeling up there?” Kurt asked over the intercom.

“Like ‘Flight of the Valkyries’ is blasting over the headset,” Joe replied. “How about you?”

“Ready to find this guy Vaughn and sort him out,” Kurt said. “What’s our ETA?”

“We’re ten miles out,” Joe called over the intercom. “Might want to start stretching your legs.”

“Did I miss the in-flight meal?”

“It was that granola bar I gave you before we took off,” Joe said.

“That’s what I was afraid of.”

“You think Five is going to be all right back on the ship?” Joe asked.

“Are you kidding me?” Kurt replied. “He has two mother bear/she-wolves protecting him. By the time we get back, he’ll be spoiled rotten.”

They couldn’t have gotten luckier than to have Captain Livorno and Dr. Pascal close by. Both women had taken a protective interest in their new charge, with Captain Livorno extending an official ruling of sanctuary over him in the logbook and Dr. Pascal searching for any and all laws she could find that might protect the rights of clones. They promised Kurt they would not leave international waters until they’d figured out how best to safeguard his rights.

“I hope you’re right,” Joe said.

“And I hope we’re in that coverage gap,” Kurt said. “I’d hate to find out this was the one time Max was wrong.”

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