His brow furrows as he studies me before pacing the viewport. Does he trust anyone?
I run through my options; this is where a submersible is so much more advantageous. You can’t just swiftly rocket, nosedive, or backflip a submarine out of danger.
I instruct the Navigator, “Switch to infrared, ensure our defenses remain running. Don’t dip, there’ll be far more of them below. This height is challenging for them. We should rise another fifty feet, but then we might be spotted by patrols. Press on, full speed ahead.”
The submarine pushes onward. Lasers ricochet off the vessel’s body as it weaves around the crafts attacking one another. I jump when the sub lurches and summon Oscar.
“There is nothing of concern to report, my dear lady. The vessel is absolutely fine.”
I bite my nails. “Still, rise a little higher, Oscar. Just twenty feet.”
Shrubs are big business. And illegal. The demand for them outweighs the supply. The plantlike reeds grow randomly on higher ground, and everyone wants to claim the slimy flora. Dried out and smoked, it helps you forget to be afraid. For a while. But they’ve contributed to our numbers falling, as overdoses are fatal—and common.
Climbing works, and we leave the battle behind. Oscar confirms the sub is undamaged.
We cross the Thames by Thamesmead, almost back where we started. I swallow my disappointment. If I’m to get to the forest by midnight, I have to remain positive. We could never have anticipated the attack at Belvedere. We press on. Somewhere beneath us now is the Farm, one of the Campbells’ most successful hotels, offering realistic mock earth, grass, fences, fields, and “outdoor” activities. You have to be quick to secure a place at the hotel. I always mean to visit it, just to see what it’s like. Maybe once Papa is free and his name cleared, inshallah.
Soon the water turns greener and choppier, the churning caused by both a protein plant and power farm below, adding froth and increased buoyancy to the current.
The submarine plows on above the city, speeding over the once ancient site of the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium. Very few Old Worlders remain in their resting places.
Oscar appears. “My dear lady, Epping Forest is upon us.”
I brace myself.
We’ll maintain height for as long as we can, only diving close to the forest at the first sign of border police. Despite patrol being thinner here than at any other point of the M25, not many leaving or entering London do so via Epping Forest. The place is a law unto itself.
Drifting branches and twigs hint at the location. Something moves on the edge of my vision. I gulp; border police, already? It isn’t them, though. It’s the most unexpected and welcome sight. I have to catch my breath. Wow . . .
It’s a pyrosome; the largest I’ve ever seen. It floats in the water beside us. The cylindrical creature must be at least ten meters long. It swerves its gelatinous body as it moves alongside the sub, its pinkish-white color giving it an ethereal appearance in the vessel’s light. It’s like a water deity. A group of eco-bots keeps the creature in sight. It moves away in dance-like slow motion. As soon as it’s drifted far enough from the vessel’s glare, its own blue-green light is visible; bewitching flecks in the darkness. I stare after it, mouth open.
And I only now notice the vague shape in the far distance. Border patrol!
I grab the binoculars and race up into the little platform at the very top of the sub. Yes, most definitely a patrol car. It hovers some distance above us. It’s a matter of seconds before it spots us, if it hasn’t already. It’s time to descend.
The submarine is somewhere above the center of the forest as it dives. I confer with Oscar over the best sensory system to use to negotiate the dreaded woodlands.
Ari stands, staring into the water, his expression dark and distant as he spies the odd fishing net on our way down. “We should stay as high above the forest as possible.”
The more frustrated or agitated he becomes, the lower his voice drops.
“I know, but we have to descend because of the border patrol. If we stay close to the forest we can move forward without the threat of security stops. They aren’t likely to wander that low. It’s better than being an open target in the clearer waters above.”
He takes in my decision and nods, but the hesitant expression remains.
I suddenly brighten. I totally forgot the submarine has the latest interactive mapping system! “Wait—I can just show you.”
I activate the simulated sea chart. The room turns translucent blue as water ripples everywhere around us. Jojo stares, transfixed. It’s as if we’re in the water, a part of the ocean.
We see crevices, ridges, jutting ranges, earthquake zones, the marked habitats of deadly creatures, and even animals. I use my hands to zoom in and out of the different areas.
Ari turns in every direction, taking it all in.
“So we’re right here.” I guide him through the area, explaining all the obstacles.
He watches me closely. Through the now marine tones of the room, his gaze is more intense than ever. I tear my eyes away.
I bring up all the creatures hidden in the depths. The sea’s wildlife fills the space. The deeper I go the more breathtaking the animals, totally outrageous life-forms. Everything from opaque shapes and transparent anatomies to bioluminescent beings swim around us, showering us. I laugh and reach out. I meet his gaze and it’s relaxed, his eyes bright. I stare back. Wow.
He looks totally different when he drops his guard. . . . He remains mystifying. Unfathomable, yes. But so much softer, kinder. My insides flutter.
Heat floods my cheeks. I swallow, straightening immediately, and turn away. Only to let out a loud gasp when a gigantic creature surfaces on the map, its dark eyes empty as it swims toward me. A red warning sign follows the animal around. What is it? I’ve never seen it before. I rack my brains for the menacing creature’s identity, but nothing comes to mind. Quivering, I inhale loudly and wave both arms out beside me. The sea chart vanishes, taking the water and creatures with it.
There’s just so much I don’t know. So many terrors lurk in the depths.
Ari moves over to the viewport, where I join him to check the view.
“It’s not as scary as you think,” he says, his voice subdued as he rubs the back of his neck. “The world—it’s not as terrifying as you believe. It was just a sea creature.”
Just a sea creature? “Have you never watched Today’s Terrors of the Deep? There are some truly terrifying things hiding out in the water, you know.”
“Then it is a good job you have regular reminders,” he says, sounding reluctantly resigned. “Imagine if you forgot for a moment.”
“And why on earth would we want to forget? That would leave us vulnerable.”
“And you believe living in fear of everything helps you?”
“Who lives in fear? Being aware of the dangers keeps us alert. Always better to know.”
He presses his lips into a straight line, and we stare out into the water.
I recall his words to me earlier. What was that all about? What did he mean about us always believing everything we’re told? I sigh; once I get to King’s Lynn, I’ll make sure I get some answers.
The darkness has intensified outside. Is that even possible? I order the sub to stop diving and for full lighting capacity to highlight our surroundings. Yikes. I wrap my arms around myself as we take in the sight.