The Dragon in the Sea Read Online Free PDF

inspection’s completed. Spare gear checked out. But there’s a bit of a delay. Heppner’s replacement hasn’t reported.”
    Sparrow cursed inwardly, felt a stomach-gripping surge of frustration-anger. “Where is he?”
    Bonnett shrugged. “All I know is that Security called and said there might be some delay. I told them—”
    â€œSecurity?”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œSuffering Jesus!” barked Sparrow. “Do they always have to wait until the last minute? They had me—” He broke off. That was classified.
    â€œThey said they’d do their best,” said Bonnett.
    Sparrow pictured the complicated arrangements which would pass the Fenian Ram through their own defense network outward bound.
    â€œIt could take another day to set up a new passage time.”
    Bonnett glanced at his wrist watch, took a deep breath. “I told them 0800 was the latest. They wouldn’t answer a damned one of my—” He fell silent as the ramp beside them rattled to descending footsteps.
    Both men looked up, saw three figures coming down: two ratings carrying heavy-duty electronics detection gear, followed by a short, wiry man with dark Latin features. He wore stained service fatigues, carried a small electronic search box under his right arm.
    â€œDon José Garcia,” said Sparrow.
    Garcia shifted the search box to his left arm, stepped down to the dockside. “Skipper! Am I glad to see you!”
    Sparrow moved back to permit the ratings to pass with
their load, looked questioningly at the search box under Garcia’s arm.
    Garcia shook his head. “For God and Country,” he said. “But sometimes I think I overdraw my account with God.” He crossed himself. “The Security chaps have had us at this floating sewer pipe half the night. We’ve been over it from stem to stern four distinct times. Not a blip. Now, I say to you: they want me to make another search after we get underway down tunnel!” He raised his eyebrows. “I ask you!”
    â€œWe’ll have to do it,” said Sparrow. “I’ve allowed time before our first contact point for total deep-dive inspection.”
    â€œI say,” said Garcia. He grinned. “You know, I’ve already gone and rigged for it.”
    Sparrow answered the grin, felt some of the tensions inside him begin to unknot.
    Bonnett glanced significantly at his watch. “Twelve min—”
    The whine of a command jitney’s electric motor intruded upon him. All three men turned toward the sound. It came down the dark line of mooring slots, its single light casting an erratic Cyclops gleam upon the damp concrete. The jitney swerved up to the ramp, jerked to a stop. A redheaded man with round, innocent face sat beside the driver, clutching his uniform cap in his hands.
    Sparrow saw ensign’s bars on the man’s collar, thought: That will be my new E-officer. Sparrow grinned at the man’s obvious relief up on a safe arrival. The recklessness of the base jitney drivers was a standard service joke.
    The new man put his cap over his red hair, stepped out of the jitney. The machine rebounded from his weight. The driver whirled the jitney back the way they had come.

    The ensign stepped up to Sparrow, saluted, said, “I’m Ramsey.”
    Sparrow returned the salute, said, “Glad to have you aboard.”
    Ramsey handed his service record to Sparrow, said, “No time to send these through channels.”
    Sparrow passed the papers to Bonnett, said, “This is Mr. Bonnett, first officer.” He turned to Garcia. “Mr. Garcia, engineer.”
    â€œGood to meet you,” said Ramsey.
    â€œWe’ll soon dissuade you of that illusion,” said Garcia.
    Sparrow smiled, offered his hand to Ramsey, was surprised to feel strong muscle in the new man’s grip. The fellow just looked soft. Bonnett and Garcia also shook hands.
    Ramsey