Amber Read Online Free PDF Page B

been a smooth sea only minutes earlier. The boat traveled fast, bouncing from wave crest to crest, Jiminez’ eyes darting from time to time to the GPS unit mounted on the steering console. The wreck site was off the Polish coast, not far from the Russian outpost of Kaliningrad. By the time the SEALs had settled into a bounce and salt spray induced stupor, sort of like riding a low grade, wet roller coaster that had no end, Yu was tapping Maddock on the shoulder and pointing to the eleven O’clock position off the bow. He raised his voice to be heard over the thrum of the outboards.
    “See all the activity?”
    Maddock nodded. Several boats were clustered over a small area perhaps a mile distant, and a helicopter circled the airspace. “Part of the BALTOPS exercise?”
    “Negative! This is unsanctioned Russian naval activity. They just showed up last couple of days. Requests for clarification of intent have been sent to Russian commanders participating in the exercises, but so far no reply has been received.”
    “Wonder what they’re up to?” Maddock watched the helo circle around overhead.
    Yu shrugged. “Same thing you’re up to? They’re definitely on the wreck site.”
    Yu and Jiminez now knew that Maddock and company were looking for the Amber Room. Even though their primary job would be to drive the SDVs while the SEAL team explored the wreck site, Maddock wanted them to know what to look for. Two extra pairs of eyes could sight something they otherwise might miss, and they did have the clearance to enlist some help, so they might as well use it. Get in, get it done, get out.
    The whine of the racing outboards decreased in pitch as Jiminez slowed the boat. They were still a half a mile from the wreck site, but the SDVs would get them there from here and they wanted their diving activities to go unobserved. Jiminez cut the engines and left the wheel to help Yu prepare the SDVs for deployment. The SEAL team were already suited up in full dive kit, but they performed final safety checks on each other’s gear, including testing the communications system.
    All six of the divers would be wearing full face masks with embedded microphone and speakers to permit two-way communication, meaning they would be able to talk to one another while underwater. With the equipment checks completed satisfactorily, it was Professor who gave voice to a problem that had begun to nag at Maddock’s conscience.
    “After all of us are in the water and the boat’s been sitting here for a while, they’ll probably scope it out with binoculars and see that there’s no one aboard. Should we leave somebody on the boat?” He looked around at the others. By somebody , they all knew he was referring to either Yu or Jiminez.
    Yu held a finger in the air and moved to a storage locker. He lifted its lid and removed from it a life-sized dummy doll, complete with fishing hat and sunglasses. He sat the figure in the pilot’s seat and took a step back. “Not as good looking as me, right, but he’ll have to do!”
    This had the effect of breaking the ice a little bit as the divers eyed the SDVs now floating in the water alongside the boat, on the side facing away from the Russian activity. The mood had been somber as they all reflected on the fact that, mission duties aside, they were going to a very spooky place, a watery tomb that had been the final setting on this Earth for thousands upon thousands of people, including many children.
    Even Bones had not been his usual wisecracking self, but he grinned broadly at someone else taking up that role in the face of their grim duties.
    Willis strapped on his swim fins. “Let’s get to work. Even this far away, man, those Ruskies make me nervous.”
    Maddock and Bones climbed onto the back of one of the SDVs. The vehicle was about the size of a rollercoaster car, with a highly tapered front end. Each SEAL occupied one of the side runners, basically hanging onto the side of the vehicle, with Jiminez