Megalodon - Rookie Burwick (book recommendations for young adults TXT) 📗

back to the lab to begin recovering there crumbled papers, samples, and everything else that had just hit the floor when the shark hit the ship. Their footsteps echoed off the now very empty hallway. Marlin wore a scowl on his face as they walked. Something was really bugging him, but he had no idea what.

He had a strange feeling Ian knew about the shark that lurked in the waters outside, but only asking a question would find out for sure.

"Ian, is there something you're not telling me?" he asked suddenly, disturbing the peace.

"What about?" Ian asked in reply.

"About the shark."

"I'm positive, Marlin."

"Oh really? I hate to be nasty, but I have my suspicions."

Ian spun around and faced him.

"Now Marlin, I caught that Megalodon with a heavy fishing equipment. I didn't create it."

"And your point is?"

"If I had created that monster out there, it wouldn't even be out there. It would be in a large glass tank, like the other one."

"I see. That is a good excuse..."
"Excuse? My word no!"

They were both interrupted by the sudden blow to the bottom of the ship. They went flying to the floor, and one of them let out a scream. For a second or two, Marlin thought it was his scream, but then he looked up, and realized it had been Ian's scream. He saw the old scientist lying on the floor with a pool of blood surrounding his left leg.

"Ian! Are you alright?"

The man didn't respond for quite some time. The same look of pain and misery was stuck on his face for a few minutes.

"Ian! Can you hear me!" Marlin cried louder.

"Y-y-yes. . .I-i-i can. . . . ."

"Answer me then! Are you alright. . ."

The ship was hit again, but with less force.

"Y-y-yes! I-I'm f-f-fine!"

Marlin didn't respond to Ian's last sentence. His mind was focused on a different topic; getting Ian to safety, and medical care. He quickly jumped to his feet, and made his way towards Ian, who lay bleeding to death just nine feet away. The pool of blood was spreading very quickly, fear was sunk deeply in his eyes. Marlin ran over to him, an kneelt down next to him.

"Ian! I'm going to get you to help!" he yelled over the blaring sirens and alarms.

He shoved his two arms underneath Ian, and heaved upward. The weight was almost too over-barring, but Ian managed. He carried his friend slowly down the corridor, and around another corner, keeping his eyes to the ceiling, searching for an attic-like door. He took step after agonizing step, with Ian seemingly taking advantage of his carrier. He rounded another corner, and at last found it. A short, whit string with a plastic ring attached to the end of it hung down from the lock, which, as luck would have it, was unlocked.

He reached up and grabbed the ring, still keeping Ian's back up straight. As the door came unfolded, he backed up a few steps, and then hurried up the steps. He knew this wasn't the best place to keep Ian while trying to find help, but he was panicking slightly. When he was panicky, like anyone else, he didn't think. He took it slow as he climbed the rickety ladder, and up into the damp storage compartment. As he finally slammed his body down onto the creaky floor, he couldn't help but look around. The place may have been dark, but he could tell it was a dump. Lots of suitcases, briefcases, and other modern necessities that naval personnel require. He shifted Ian into a fairly comfortable position against a large suitcase, and carefully tore a strip of cloth from his dark blue jacket, and wrapped it around Ian's leg.

Hopefully that'll hold, he thought to himself. He took one last look at Ian's pale face before scampering back down to the floor below.

"I'll be back soon, Ian," he called up as he shut the small door. Then, he took off down the hallway.

                                      

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Liam wiped sweat from his forehead, and let his soaked arm drop to his side. The alarms themselves had stopped, but the blaring red lights hadn't. That as a sign there was still danger near-by. The shark had disappeared from the area, or so it seemed. He didn't think it was gone though, it was just messing with them.

No one had said a word or made a sound since the last attack, and the room was filled with an odd and eerie silence. They all stared down at the sonar screen, gritting their teeth tightly. Liam was gipping the back of Jane's chair, expecting almost anything. What he didn't expect was Marlin blasting through the door. He jump two feet in the air, and glared at the scientist for just a moment before realizing who it was and what was happening.

"Captain. . ." Marlin was out of breath, and panicking. "Ian. . .needs medical. . .help. . ."

"What do you mean? What happened?"

"Out in the hallway, when the shark hit. . .he was wounded very badly. . ."

"Right, I'll get the doc."

Liam turned to the radio, and picked it up, and then pressed the button.

"Dr. Mirdick, Dr. Mirdick, please report to the control room."

He let the radio slide out of his hands, and hit the metal. He turned back to Marlin, and nodded. His face was beginning to show anger.

"What about the shark?"

"It has disappeared, Dr. Jacobs."

"Alright. Please keep watch. . ."

"We are! What do you think we're doing!" Liam interrupted in a slight rage.

"No need to get huffy! I'm just afraid. I'm fearful."

"We all are, Dr. Jacobs!"

Marlin shut up, at last. Liam turned his back to the scientist, and listened until the door was slammed shut.

"Jane, glue your eyes to that screen. We haven't seen the last of that shark."

 

 

Chapter Eight

Marlin wasn't sure what to do or where to go. He had to wait for the doctor to get here, and wondering around in that maze of hallways sure wasn't gonna help that in any way. He finally decided to stay put, and lean against the wall opposite the control room entrance.

He let out a sigh of grief, and impatience. He was so worried about Ian. Maybe he really didn't know what this shark menace was about. Maybe all of Marlin's suspicions were wrong. Or maybe not. He just didn't know. There was so much that they didn't know about this whole thing that confused him. He kept his eyes and ears open for any sounds. All he hear was muffled talking in the room in front of him, and the eerie silence of the hallway beyond. The problem was, he couldn't handle that silence. He wanted desperately to hear the doctor's footsteps begin to inch close.

But no sound came, except the sudden rumble of metal breaking. . . .

                                        

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 Liam stared out the window. His expression full of horror and shock. The shark was back, and it had just hit them hard. His eyes darted down to the sonar screen. The gigantic beast was right beneath them, and threatening to hit again.

"Jane! Send more missiles into that thing!" he cried.

She said nothing, but went right to work, and momentarily sent three large missiles into the creature's tough frame. But it didn't faze it. A look of terror swept over Liam's face as the shark hulled forward and smashed into the bottom of the ship. They all went  flying to the floor as he shut his eyes tight, trying to think despite his panic.

It was only seconds before an idea hit him. His eyes flew open, and darted around until they found Jane. He sat up and crawled toward her. Once he reached her, he helped her up from the hard, metal flooring.

"Jane, wake up!" he yelled.

"What. . .What is it?. . ." she asked.

"We need to get over to the opposite side of the bridge. There's a station there that holds the ability to fire larger missiles!"

"Let's go, then."

They both turned, and hurried toward the door.

 

 

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Marlin jumped when Dob and Jane burst through the door and nearly fell to the hallway floor. He himself had hit the red carpet when the shark had hit previously.

"Why are you out here? You need to be trying to stop that thing!" he cried.

"We've sent all our Scud-B missiles. We need to get to the Taepo-doing-1 Station!" came the reply.

Marlin said nothing further, but followed them as they rushed down the first hallway. They all rounded the first corner, Liam in the lead. The man was sweating worse than a farmer that had been driving a tractor all day in the blistering heat. He stared straight ahead, determined to get to his destination. A vein on the right side of his forehead was inflamed with stress and worry.

Their footsteps echoed as they rounded another corner, started down another hallway. Marlin's eyes were glued to the floor. He was deep in thought over the situation. As he stared, he saw broken pieces of wall. . . . torn strips of carpet. . . the dead, lifeless body of the ship's doctor. . . He jumped back, and ended up landing on his back. Both Jane and Liam spun around, and let out gasps.

"What the. . .That's the doctor!" Liam screamed as he bent down and examined the body.

Jane couldn't speak. Her pale hand covered her mouth in shock. Liam checked the man's pulse, and moments later shook his head. Marlin hung his head in sorrow. The doc's lifeless eyes wondered off into nothing, but seemed to stare at the ceiling. Marlin only shot glances at them. He just couldn't bare to look.

"There was nothing we could do," Liam said softly, grabbing Jane's shoulder. "Come on, we can't let this slow us down."

They all said nothing further, but pushed on. They rounded almost eight more corners and hurried own seven more hallways before at last arriving at the door to the opposite control room. Liam swung open the door, and immediately peered out the window. That's when he saw it. The horrid dorsal fin was rising up again, and headed straight for the dock. There was only moments before it would smash into the dock, and finish them off. Liam jumped to the controls and began hitting buttons. Marlin couldn't tell what buttons they were, but he imagined they were important.

A loud boom thundered over the waves, and a gigantic burst of sea water erupted in an explosion. The dorsal fin disappeared. On the radar, they saw the shark veer away, and lowered down towards the depths. They all smiled wide, and let out a sigh of relief. But that was short-lived. The shark rose straight up, and smashed into them. A loud creaking noise sounded. The ship began to roll onto its side. . .