Michael Vey 3 ~ Battle of the Ampere (32 page)

Ostin asked, “Can the detonators be set off by impact or heat?”

“It would have to be intense heat,” he said. “Like in an open fire. Why?”

“Just in case the timer malfunctions,” Ostin said.

“That won’t be a problem,” Dodds said. He glanced out the side window. “Okay, we are just about there. When we reach the fishing boat, you’ll change into your Elgen uniforms, then cover them with the cloaks and stocking caps. You’ll be completely concealed. I brought gloves for the three of you who glow. I don’t know if you’ll be able to use them as you climb, Michael, you’ll just have to test them.

“When the boat passes behind the
Ampere,
we’ll throw the raft out and stop the boat. Jack will climb in first so he can help the others on. You’ll have just a few seconds to get into the raft. Then the boat will move on, leaving you behind. We’ll come in as close to the
Ampere
’s stern as we can, but you’ll still probably have to paddle about thirty yards.

“As I said, the raft has a motor and will do about ten knots, but do not use it until after you’ve set the bomb and gotten off the ship.
Once you reach the
Ampere
, there are magnets to anchor the raft to the hull. They’re very strong magnets, so when it’s time to leave, don’t try to pull them off, just release or cut the line.”

Jack patted his knife. “Got it.”

“Remember, stay quiet, low, and covered. In this darkness you’ll be almost invisible. You know the rest of the plan. Don’t forget to capture a key. I doubt they’ll leave any doors unlocked. Any questions?”

None of us had any.

“Then good luck and Godspeed,” he said. “Let’s hope we catch Hatch sleeping.”

F
ive minutes later Jaime stopped the van in front of a small, lantern-lit shack with a hand-painted sign:
JORGE’S CHARTER FISHING TOURS.

In spite of the hour, an older man walked out of the building to greet us. He and Jaime spoke a bit in Spanish, then Jaime turned to us.

“Everything is ready. Follow me.”

All of us except Dodds walked past the shack and down a wood-planked dock to where an old fishing boat was moored. The boat was beige and turquoise. It had an upper platform enclosed in canvas and its fishing lines were still in place. There was a black raft tied to the port side of the boat.

“Isn’t that the wrong side for the raft?” Ostin asked Jaime. “The
Ampere
is south of us.”

“Yes, but we will first go far out to sea, then turn back and come
in from the other direction as if we are just returning from fishing, so we will pass the boat on the starboard side.”

“Clever,” Ostin said.

We climbed on board and walked through the cabin to the open back of the boat. It smelled of saltwater and fish. On the floor were canvas bags with our initials marked in pen.

“Your uniforms,” Jaime said. “Get dressed.”

We all put on the sailor uniforms, which fit perfectly.

“They did a good job,” Taylor said. “We look like Elgen sailors.” Then she added, “Actually, I’ve never seen one.”

Jaime said, “Put on the cloaks.”

I pulled the cloak from the bottom of the bag and slid my arms through it. The fabric was black and lightweight, like vinyl, though softer and more opaque. I looked up at everyone else. We looked like we were wearing Halloween witch costumes.

“Michael, check this out,” Ostin said, leaning over the back of the boat. I walked back to see what he was looking at. Painted on the boat’s stern was the name:
Fishin’ Impossible.

“Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence,” I said.

Dodds walked up to the side of the boat carrying a large black vinyl backpack. “Jack,” he said.

“Yes, sir,” Jack said.

“Your explosives,” Dodds said, handing the pack over the side of the boat.

“How sensitive are they?” Jack asked.

“These are pretty stable,” he said. “But don’t push your luck.”

Jack slid the pack over his shoulders just to get a sense of its weight. “About fifty pounds,” he said. “No problem.” He set the pack on the ground and unzipped the top flap, exposing the detonator. The digital screen glowed light green.

“What’s the code?” Dodds quizzed.

“Seventeen, seventeen,” Jack replied. He looked up. “That’s how old Wade would be today.”

The boat’s engine started, and the air smelled of gasoline and exhaust as the propeller churned and gurgled beneath us.

“It is time to go,” Jaime said. He began untying the rope holding us to the dock.

“Aren’t you coming?” I asked Dodds, who was still on the dock.

“No. We can’t put all our eggs in one basket, and I believe I am close to reestablishing radio contact with the resistance.” He pushed the boat away from the dock with his foot. “But I will see you all shortly.”

For just a moment his words hung in the air like a promise. The fishing boat sputtered in its own veil of exhaust as it slowly pulled away from the dock. Then it rotated until we were facing the sea. The old man pushed down on the throttle and we lurched forward, headed out into the cold darkness.

I
t started raining as the old boat chugged out to sea. Taylor slid up next to me and took my hand in hers. “I’m cold,” she said.

I put my arm around her.

“You know, when we attacked the Starxource plant we weren’t together,” she said. “This time we’re together.”

I looked at her. “Our first date,” I said.

She grinned.

“Are you scared?” I asked.

“Terrified.”

“Me too.”

“Do you think we’ll make it back?”

“Of course we will.”

“Really?”

“I can’t afford to doubt,” I said. “My mom used to say that faith
and fear can’t exist simultaneously in the mind any more than light and dark can exist simultaneously in the same room.”

“Your mom is smart.”

“I know. I wished I could have spoken to her once more. . . .” I stopped myself.

Taylor squeezed my hand. “You’ll get the chance,” she said.

A moment later Taylor looked over at Jack. “How are you feeling?”

“Wet,” he said.

*

Suddenly the whining of the engine stopped and the boat slowed and pitched forward until the surging of the waves almost rocked us out of our seats. Jaime came out of the cab with a large coil of black rope over his shoulder. “We are turning back now. It is time to put on your masks and gloves.” As we donned our coverings, Jaime walked over and inspected the ropes on the raft, then turned back to us. “Remember you must go fast. Jack first, then Taylor, Michael, Ostin, and McKenna. When you are all in I will hand down the pack and rope. If we get near the boat and are discovered, we will about.”

“About?” Taylor said.

“I think he means abort,” I said.

Jaime went back to the cabin. The boat turned around and headed back toward the lights of the shore. I stood and walked up to the front of the boat.

“Jaime.”

“
Sí,
Mr. Michael.”

“I need to ask you a favor.”

He looked at me seriously. “Anything.”

“If we don’t make it, I want you to tell my mother what we were trying to do.”

“
Sí
. Of course.”

“Also Ostin’s and Taylor’s families. Taylor’s family doesn’t even know she’s electric.”

“You will come back, Mr. Michael. But if something happens, I promise that they will know the truth.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“You will come back,” he said again.

*

When I returned to my seat, the Elgen fleet was in view. The
Ampere
was sandwiched in between the
Watt
and the
Volta
. Fortunately the
Faraday
, the biggest boat of the Elgen fleet, was on the far north side of the fleet. It stuck so far out into the bay that had it been next to the
Ampere
we never would have been able to get close.

No one spoke. Jaime came back with us, looking at the fleet through his binoculars. The fishing boat made a wide, elliptical sweep of the bay, then drifted in toward the shore, carefully edging itself closer to the fleet.

The first of the Elgen boats we passed was the
Ohm
, which in spite of the hour had all its lights on as men and forklifts scurried on its deck filling it with supplies. The next boat was the
Tesla
, then the
Joule
, which was completely dark and stranger looking than I had imagined. Next we reached the powerhouse of the fleet, the
Watt
. The battle cruiser was gunship gray with large cannons pointing out toward the sea behind her.

Our boat slowed still more as we crossed beneath the shadow of the cruiser toward the
Ampere
. I turned back and looked up at the boats, wondering if we were being watched. All I could see were a few cabin lights and darkness. Jaime put down his binoculars, then moved over to the raft and waved to Jack to come help him. They quickly unlashed the raft, laying it flat at our feet on the floor of the boat.

When we were in the shadow of the
Ampere
the engine cut back even more, then slowed as the captain put the boat in idle.

“Now,” Jaime said.

The rest of us stood as Jaime and Jack heaved the raft over the port side, leaving just the front towrope attached. Jack jumped over the side, disappearing from our view. Jaime handed over two paddles, then turned to us.
“Rápidamente.”

Taylor climbed over first, helped down into the raft by Jack, followed by me, Ostin, then finally McKenna, who I hadn’t heard speak since we’d boarded.

“Mr. Michael,” Jaime said. He tossed me the coil of black rope, then handed the explosives to Jack. Then he pulled out a knife and cut our towrope.

“
Buena suerte, amigos.
Go with God.”

The boat shifted back into gear and was soon clear of us, leaving us alone and exposed near the
Ampere
’s massive stern.

“Paddle,” Jack said. He took one paddle and handed me the other, and we paddled our way toward the boat until her stern rose above us like a great canyon wall.

“Get the magnets ready,” I said to Ostin.

Ostin lifted one magnet, then handed the other to McKenna. The magnets were fist-size and round with a small loop through the back where a strap ran through them, connecting them to the raft. The strap was about six feet long but was designed to be cinched tight, to snug the raft up against the boat.

When we were twenty feet out I set down my paddle and reached out toward the boat and magnified. My magnetism was stronger than I thought it would be and our raft was drawn so quickly to the hull that we hit against the
Ampere
hard enough that I almost flipped the raft over.

“Sorry,” I whispered.

Ostin and McKenna stuck their magnets against the hull, which connected with an uncomfortably loud clang, then pulled the straps until the raft was tight against the boat.

“My turn,” I said.

Taylor leaned forward and kissed me, gently cupping my cheeks in her hands. “Be careful.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

I slid the rope coil over my head and one shoulder, then awkwardly stood in the leaning raft, putting my hands against the side and magnifying. The hull was cold and wet but easy to grab, as if the water actually enhanced my magnetism. “Watch for the rope,” I said. I threw my knees against the hull and began to climb.

With all the adrenaline pumping through my body I reached the top in less than ten minutes. As I got near the railing of the deck, I
stopped and listened for guards. I didn’t hear anything but the patter of rain, so I crept up a little farther so I could peer over the side. There was no one. I spotted a camera mounted high up on the wall facing down toward me. The camera appeared stationary, but the red light on top of the camera indicated that it was active. I wished Zeus was there to blow it out, and it occurred to me that I could take it out just as well. Throwing lightning balls was too risky, as a flash of lightning would almost certainly catch a guard’s eye. I could climb the wall beneath it and short it out; I just needed a little luck coming over the side railing.