But still, why did Gramps have to ask a total stranger to accompany me? And such an infuriating one . . . Oh my God, the twins—they knew! That’s why they were so awkward when I entered the vessel, hardly meeting my gaze. I think Theo was about to tell me when Tabby stopped him. I groan. Grandpa must’ve just told them what he’d done. They should have warned me!
He saunters around the room, his movements fluid and easy. Everything about him is strong. His build, his shoulders and arms, his hands. His eyes are something else. Mesmerizingly bright and permanently suspicious. Oh my God, stop staring at him!
I straighten. “There’s no need for you to do that,” I say, as he reads a dial.
“I’m just checking engine status. I can’t command the sub, so there’s no need to be afraid. Gideon could only ensure security clearance for access.”
Afraid? Is he for real? This stranger should not be here; it’s my sub. “I have no reason to be afraid; it’s not me hiding on board someone else’s vessel.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Hiding? You would have discovered me sooner if you had been more alert.”
Argh. Oscar appears. Ari stiffens and his hand moves faster than a sailfish for the knife around his waist, before it falls away.
The Navigator tilts his head in my direction. “We are approaching the resort, my lady.”
I turn to the maddening one. “Gramps told me you don’t have much choice, that you’re just doing this for your dad. But the second we get to King’s Lynn, you leave my sub.”
“That’s fine by me. This is the very last place I want to be. My family needs me, too.”
“I don’t need you. I can take care of myself. Anyone tries to stop me from finding my papa, they’ll be sorry they crossed my path. I haven’t just left without a sodding clue, you know. I can jolly well look after myself.”
His face tightens. “You have no idea.”
“Then tell me!”
“I know what people are capable of. You can’t beat them.” His voice is low and resolute.
“Beat who? You mean the Anthropoids?”
He holds my gaze.
“I might never encounter them,” I continue. “Anyway, I’m stronger than I look.”
He’s about to say something but seems to change his mind and shakes his head. “They are without a single cell of humanity. I’ve seen what they’re capable of; you don’t want to know. You can’t reason with them.” His expression darkens as he pauses. His hands curl into fists, his bronze skin flushing. The briefest hint of fury glimmers in his eyes, like the simmer of magma in the volcanoes along ocean ridges. He takes a breath before continuing. “I’ve left my family for this. Do you understand that? My family. Nothing in my existence is of more importance to me than them. I have been given no choice in the matter, though; I must do this for my father. I’m here until you reach your grandfather’s place, and then I am done.”
He turns his back on me and busies himself as the vessel starts descending.
Grabbing Jojo, I only now notice the target board propped above some lockers. Several knives are embedded in its center. What the hell? I hasten out of the control room. Even if Grandpa does trust him completely, it’s seriously weird to have to share my space with someone I don’t even bloody know. I could just scream.
The submarine gradually drops. Whoa. I rush back up to the viewport, gulping air to combat the slight heaving sensation. It’s very different to the diving motions of a submersible.
Soon the vast white dome-shaped structure of Brighton Pier is visible. Lights pulse and beam, and shadows reign in the surrounding depths—security subs patrolling the area. The resort is always a popular New Year’s Eve destination for families and therefore a prime Anthropoid target.
Ignoring the usual car parks, I find a submarine hatch on the side of the building; the Kabul’s bridge extends a few meters, docking at the resort. I’m used to submersibles connecting directly, and the bridge between the submarine and the building sends a tremor down my spine. Imagine passing through and something goes wrong?
Security beams flash away outside. If the anti-tracking device weren’t so important, I wouldn’t have stopped at all.
But with the threat of Captain Sebastian discovering my departure any moment, I need to ensure I remain as invisible as possible out here.
Theo’s friend, Sam, is already waiting for me in the parking area. She’s wearing the resort’s familiar white T-shirt with Brighton Pier blazoned in blue across the image of an Old World pier. She holds her wrist up and her Bracelet confirms her identity.
Her freckled face beams as she hoists a rucksack onto her back and chats away without pausing. “Is it true you’re going traveling? Theo said. You’ll never catch me going out there, far too dangerous with those beasts around. And— Oh, helloooooo.”
I follow her gaze and frown. Ari’s left the sub to come and check on me, argh. I give him a dismissive wave. He scowls and stays hovering.
“Phwoar. Who is he?”
“What, nobody! I don’t even know him!”
“Erm, he just exited your sub?”
“Whatever. I honestly don’t even know him!”
“Okaaaaay, then. Oh, congrats on the marathon! You rocked it! Oh my God I hate Paul Martin so much—didn’t even deserve his second place, really. He could’ve hurt you real bad if you’d not risen out of his way! Total shit.”
“The biggest.” I grin. “Thanks. Hope you haven’t been waiting too long.” I brush past Ari, and he follows us inside the craft.
“Just got off my shift actually—perfect timing!” Sam launches into questions about the vessel as she takes in her surroundings. “I’ll need the control room mostly, and then a few minutes in the engine room after. Whole thing shouldn’t take more than an hour. Can’t believe you have one of the old seventies Wrights.” Her face lights up on sighting the interior of the sub and she whistles. “She’s magnificent. German engineering, Japanese tech on all Wrights—nice.”
My grin widens. It may as well be Theo standing before me. We make our way to the control room and Sam gets to work. Ari seems to have disappeared, thank God.
I pace the room. I should just do it. I’m wasting time thinking about it. I have a whole hour. Why wait here when I could be at the beach? I needn’t be long—in and out.
Sam is engrossed in her work. “Navigator was right. It’s definitely the magnetic storm, messed with the tech. But I’ll have it fixed in no time.”
Great, a quick visit and then I’ll be out of here. I inform Oscar and Sam, change, and exit the vessel for the beach.
As I make my way to the center of the resort, there’s notice of another earthquake; Richmond Park in southwest London was hit this time. Hopefully nobody was caught up in it.
The noise and music grow louder as I get closer to the resort itself. A quick ticket to the beach, and soon I’m gazing on the place where I spent several amazing days with Papa when he surprised me for my fourteenth birthday. Warmth spreads in my chest. I stand there a moment, taking it all in. It’s beyond fab.
The largest leisure space in London, it’s as if the outdoor landscape goes on forever in every direction. You can’t tell where the distant scenery ends and the projections begin. I remove my shoes, digging my feet into the sand, and make my way along the beach. A little boy flashes me a toothless grin before returning to his sandcastle. I squint in the bright glare of the “sun.”