Heirthall ignored Compton, keeping her eyes on Tyler until the large man nodded his head just once. Alexandria released him and then took a hesitant step back.
"What is going on here?" Dr. Trevor demanded as he stepped from his sickbay. Then he saw the condition of the captain and quickly stepped forward.
"Sergeant, do as you were ordered," Heirthall said as she allowed the doctor to take her by the arm. "Dr. Compton, Colonel Farbeaux will no longer be tolerated. As soon as the doctor finishes with him and we come close to shore, he will be released."
"Released or thrown into the sea?" Niles asked.
Alexandria wiped some of the blood from the side of her face and then turned to Compton. She looked as if she wanted to say something but only frowned, then left the waiting room with the assistance of the doctor.
Sergeant Tyler looked at the gathered group and with his cold gray eyes gave an unvoiced command. The six security men led the group out of sickbay.
"That man not only means us harm, but anyone with eyes can see he has an agenda," Alice said.
Before they could file out of the waiting area, Dr. Trevor turned and called out. "Your friend--he will recover nicely. I removed the bullet and he's resting comfortably," the doctor said in his soft English accent. "Very little damage, no muscle or bone was struck."
"Thank you--Doctor--?" Niles heard but could not say anything as a security man shoved him through the hatch.
Farbeaux looked up at Sarah and a thin smile crossed his lips. He swallowed and grimaced in pain. An hour before, Tyler had entered the observation lounge, taken Sarah by the arm, and without explanation brought her here to sickbay, telling her she had an hour with Farbeaux to explain to him his predicament. He warned that if the Frenchman gave them any more trouble, Sarah would be the one to reap the punishment. With a cold stare and menacing smile, Tyler had left her alone in sickbay with Farbeaux.
"You are one strange and confusing man, Colonel."
"An enigma, wrapped in a puzzle," he whispered, and smiled. "One that has very many missing pieces, eh?"
"Yeah ... but listen, if you want to commit suicide, there are a lot less painful ways of going about it, so knock it off."
"Such harsh ... words for a man who is just learning to be ... a hero," Farbeaux said haltingly as his eyes closed.
"Better than a swift kick in the ass--" Sarah started, but saw that Farbeaux was sleeping.
"He's quite tired," Trevor said, checking the monitor at the bedside. "When I examined him, he showed acute exhaustion. I doubt he slept more than a few hours in the last month or two."
"He's had a rough go lately," Sarah said looking at the Frenchman's softened features.
"Well, he needs his rest now, Miss ...?"
"Just Sarah, that's good enough," she said, patting Farbeaux's hand.
"Sarah ... Sarah," the doctor mumbled twice. "That name has been muttered more than just a few times in this sickbay."
Sarah looked up from the bed with a questioning look.
"As a matter of fact, the last man to occupy this very bed was also a colonel--an American, though."
Sarah didn't respond. She only waited out of politeness.
"This one called out for Sarah over and over again. In addition, a funny little name ... what was it? Oh, yes ... ' Short Stuff.' He would call out 'Short Stuff' in his sleep. It was--"
Sarah had turned completely white. The words had slammed into her like a punch to her stomach. Her voice was caught somewhere between her esophagus and her lips.
"The Mediterranean?" It came out as a whisper.
"Excuse me, young lady?"
"Was Leviathanin the Med lately?" she said, her voice cracking.
"Why ... yes, the captain was studying a recent disturbance in the sea there and we were attempting to save ... well, the event was seismic in nature, I believe. That was where we recovered my most recent patient, the American colonel."
Sarah leaned over and was suddenly short of breath. "Is ... is ... he here ... alive?"
"Very much alive ... at least upon his release. I can't say beyond--" The doctor suddenly realized to whom he was speaking. "Oh, my ... you are thatSarah? ... Colonel Collins's Sarah?"
Sarah didn't hear the question. She lost her balance and almost fell.
"Here, here, are you all right?" the doctor asked as he helped Sarah regain her balance.
"Where is he?" she asked as she was led to a chair in the corner.
"Why, the captain released him. I imagine he is wherever your people are."
Sarah closed her eyes. She didn't know what to do; she looked around like she was trapped in a place with no exit. She started to stand, then she sat back heavily into the chair. She wanted to laugh, to cry, to jump up. She wanted all of these things until she saw Farbeaux looking at her. He had awakened and their eyes locked, and Sarah saw the Frenchman for who he had become. The man was now renewed and his sense of purpose had returned, just as surely as Sarah's life had just been returned to her.
"I am happy for you, Sarah McIntire. Very happy."
The smile never reached Henri's eyes.
EVENT GROUP COMPLEX,
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NEVADA
With a real-time projection of Saboo Island on the main viewing screen in the director's office, Pete, Jack, Everett, and Dr. Robbins sat and listened to the phone briefing on Saboo's present condition by one of Pete's computer techs.
"There are several structures on the atoll, Colonel, but upon examination, they look as if they have been abandoned since the end of World War Two. No indigenous animal life and no fresh water. It's basically a coral rock sitting at the end of the island chain."
"Thank you," Pete said, and terminated the call with the comp center. He looked from the map to Collins, who waited for Pete to give him his cue. The temporary director nodded, then stood up and walked toward the large monitor and pretended to study the map.
"You think Charlie Ellenshaw's theory about this being the original Heirthall's home is viable?" Pete asked without turning. "It's a large gamble, Colonel. We could be sending the only asset we have in the area to the wrong spot. They could lose the only advantage they have--that submarine may be anywhere butSaboo."
"Since the president informed us of the report received from Missouri, if Saboo is friendly turf for these people, the possibility of them going there for repairs, while a long shot, is the only chance we have."
Everett pushed his chair back and stood. He paced around the table and came to the chair where Gene Robbins was sitting. He stood still, then placed both hands on the computer man's shoulders.
"What are your thoughts, Doctor?" he asked.
Robbins moved his shoulders until Everett released his hold. He half-turned and looked at the captain.
"You already know my opinion on Professor Ellenshaw's theory. Unlike most of you in this complex, I refuse to take at face value a theory concocted by a man who believes in Nessie and the Abominable Snowman."
Pete turned away from the map and looked at his young protege.
"You know, Gene, Charlie Ellenshaw advanced more than one theory during his time in the Leviathanvault. I don't know if you heard that one. Well, my apologies, it was he, the Colonel, and Captain Everett here who thought it up."