Chapter 49 – We Finally Reached the Submarine
The island's instability had turned deadly, with cracks spreading like veins across the land and water rising relentlessly. At that moment, Gabato was running toward the distant golden mountain, his heart pounding with hope for his daughter's future. He slipped on loose, wet soil and fell hard to the ground. Breathing heavily, he stared at the gleaming gold exposed right in front of him.
"Sweetie, our prayers have been answered. You'll be able to fulfill your dream."
Filled with determination, he started digging furiously with his hands and any tools he could grab, working to pull the massive vein of gold free from the earth.
On the other side of the rapidly sinking island, Sean, Hank, Loona, and Charlie pushed through flooded paths and dense foliage until they finally arrived at what was supposed to be the submarine's location.
Sean scanned the area, frustration building.
"But Poseidon's trident is in the right place. Where's the submarine?"
Charlie asked, looking around confused.
"Well, did we get the wrong place for the submarine…"
Hank frowned at the open, water-logged coastline.
"Where's the cliff? This is just a coastline."
Sean insisted.
"The submarine should be in a cave right here."
Loona crossed her arms, shaking her head at them.
"Seriously, you don't know such an obvious answer? The island is sinking, meaning the submarine we're looking for is underwater. We're in the right place. We just arrived too late."
Hank realized.
"Sean, she's right. This is the place."
Sean said:
"Then that means…"
Hank confirmed.
"Yes. We'll have to dive. The submarine is down there. It looks like the sea level rose 30 meters in the last 24 hours."
Charlie's: Then that means we arrived too late?"
Sean deflated.
"Looks like it. It's over. We're all going to die."
Hank stood tall.
"It's not over. No one's going to die."
Loona demanded: Then what's the plan?"
Hank thought fast.
"Oxygen tanks."
Sean said:
"Cool, but where are we going to find oxygen tanks on an island?"
Hank asked.
"You still have waterproof bags?"
Sean said:
"We do. Why?"
Hank explained.
"Then we'll take what we have and improvise some diving tanks. Don't breathe short, don't move unnecessarily, don't forget the ear pressure on the way down. You got it?"
Loona said: Well, I got it.
Charlie said: Yes, understood.
Sean muttered.
"Then if we die down there, mom will kill us."
Hank reassured.
"We're not going to die."
On the other side, Gabato had managed to unearth a giant piece of gold, his muscles straining from the effort.
He then heard a whistle and a voice.
"You know, in horror movies there's always that idiot who drags everyone to death with a stupid decision. I thought Sean would be the one, but it looks like you took that role for yourself, Gabato."
Gabato turned to see Alexander, his daughter, and Razan staring at him.
Kailani ran toward her father. Arriving in front of him:
"Dad, how could you leave like that without telling anyone?"
Gabato looked at her.
"What are you doing here? You should already be on the submarine."
Razan said:
"Well, I think what she came here for was to stop you from turning her into an orphan with your little riches adventure."
Gabato said:
"I'm fine. You guys should go now. I'll meet you there."
He said while trying to move the giant piece of gold on the ground.
Kailani said:
"Dad, stop!"
Gabato ignored and kept trying to move the gold.
Kailani said to Gabato:
"Stop!"
He looked at her sadly and said:
"Daughter, this is our only chance to send you to college, to give you a different life, a better life."
Kailani said:
"Dad, we have all the wealth we need as long as we stay together. Come on, let's go home."
Gabato looked at his daughter and said:
"All right. Let's go."
Razan looked at them and said:
"I really can't stay mad at an idiot like you who risked his life just to give his daughter a better life."
He then approached Gabato, put a hand on his shoulders and said:
"Well, you may not be a very smart and handsome person, but you're still a great dad."
Gabato said:
"I really don't know if I'm being praised or insulted with class."
Kailani and Alexander laughed hearing that.
Razan then suddenly went quiet.
He then said slowly:
"Well, guys, I have good news and bad news for you. Which do you want?"
Alexander said:
"Say the bad news first."
Razan said:
"The bad news is we have company."
He said pointing upward.
Everyone then saw a giant snake staring at them.
Kailani asked with a forced smile:
"And what's the good news?"
Razan said laughing:
"At least it's not our lizard friend."
Gabato said, looking at the snake:
"I think that doesn't make much difference. After all, it looks like it wants to devour us too."
Then Razan grabbed Alexander and put him on his shoulders and said:
"Then there's only one solution: run, everyone!"
They finally started running toward the marked spot.
The snake, seeing this, slithered faster toward them.
While he jumped and ran from the snake with Gabato and Kailani, he looked at Alexander and said:
"Well, now it's up to you, old man. Show the way."
Alexander said:
"Look at the map. Here, turn left."
Razan turned and, with his free hand, pulled Kailani to his side just in time for the snake to miss its bite where she was.
Razan then kept running faster with Kailani and Gabato following the direction Alexander was pointing.
On the other side, Sean, Hank, Loona, and Charlie were looking at the cliff where the water level rose even more.
Charlie said:
"Well, this doesn't look very safe."
Hank said:
"Calm down and follow the instructions. Be quick. Breathe twice until you reach the submarine. So ready?"
Sean said:
"What choice do we have? It's this or die. So let's go."
Hank said:
"Yes, let's go."
Loona looked at him and jumped with Charlie while saying:
"Hurry up with this, you cowards."
Hank said:
"Well, we better go soon too."
Sean said:
"I agree."
They then jumped after them.
As they dove deeper and deeper, they finally found the cave.
They then started swimming inside it and finally found the submarine.
They then started opening the submarine's hatch to enter.
When Sean and Hank were finally opening it, a giant electric fish appeared heading to bite Hank's head.
But before that, Loona appeared and kicked it, throwing it far away, leaving it a bit stunned, giving time for Hank and Sean to open the hatch for them to enter the submarine.
Inside the submarine, Sean smiled and said:
"We did it. We're saved. Now we just need to make it work and go back to pick up the others."
Hank said:
"Let's go."
On the other side, Razan was running carrying Alexander while dodging the snake's attacks chasing them.
Razan looked at them and said:
"Guys, we have to do something. I can keep running, but you two look like you're almost at your limit."
Kailani, running with a bit of shortness of breath, said:
"If we keep this up, I won't hold out."
Gabato said:
"I'm already at the end."
Alexander said:
"Even if we reach the spot, if we bring this snake with us, we'll just put Sean and the others in danger."
Razan was about to use his power when he smelled something and got an idea.
He looked at Kailani and Gabato and said:
"Follow behind me and, when I give the signal, separate. Got it?"
Kailani said:
"Yes, understood."
Razan then grabbed a large stone and threw it at high speed into the snake's eyes, injuring it, which got angry and focused its attention on Razan, who ran attracting it to a spot.
Alexander said:
"I hope your plan is good or we're dead."
Razan then, when the snake was about to strike its bite, started counting:
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5."
Then dodged, making the snake's bite hit the lizard that ran after them when they arrived.
They then started fighting.
Razan said:
"That's the plan. If I can't fight it, just find someone who can."
He then looked at Gabato and Kailani who appeared and said:
"Well, let's go before they figure out it's easier to kill us than fight each other."
Razan then started running toward the spot with Gabato, Kailani, and Alexander giving directions.
On the other side, in the submarine, Hank and Sean started turning on its lights, but they turned on and off right after.
Charlie said: What happened? Why doesn't it work?"
Sean tried turning it on again. He looked at the button and pressed several times, but the submarine didn't start.
Hank said: The engine died.
Loona sighed and said: Well, one more problem.
Hank said:
"No choice. We have to mess with this engine."
They then went to where the boat's engine was, looked at the engine battery.
Hank said:
"These batteries are 140 years old. They'll need a recharge."
Sean said: Okay, but it'll need thousands of kilowatts."
Loona pointed at the electric fish outside and said:
"He can solve our problems. But who's the crazy one going out to try luck with him?"
Hank said: I'll do it.
They then started preparing the plan.
After a while, Hank in the diving suit looked at Sean and said:
"Check if the cables are all connected in the right place. After all, we'll only have one chance."
Sean said: Well, everything's right. So good luck out there.
Hank nodded and exited the submarine.
Outside, looking at the electric fish, Hank started yelling, but seeing the fish ignoring him, Hank started hitting the harpoon on the submarine making noise to irritate it.
The electric fish opened its mouth and, right when the fish got close, Hank launched the harpoon into its mouth, making it bite and release a very strong electric discharge.
Sean then tried starting the submarine this time and finally succeeded, with the lights and submarine engine on.
Hank then took advantage of the stunned electric fish and returned inside the submarine.
Inside, Sean looked at Hank and said:
"Well, now let's pick up the others."
On the other side, Razan, Alexander, Gabato, and Kailani finally arrived at the island's coast.
Kailani looked around and asked: Where are they?
Gabato said: Why aren't they here?
Razan said:
"Well, if they're still alive, they must be in the submarine underwater. Now it's just hope they arrive here before the island sinks first."
The island then started shaking and crumbling.
Razan held them tightly so they didn't fall into the agitated sea.
Alexander said: They better arrive soon or we're going to die."
With the last tremor, all of them fell into the sea and started sinking.
When they saw a light coming toward them, they saw the submarine coming in their direction, opening the hatches and pulling them inside.
Already inside the submarine, Gabato breathed relieved and said:
"We did it. Finally we did it. We're alive."
Hank, looking at the crumbling island, said:
"It's not over yet."
He then started piloting the submarine to dodge the pieces of the island sinking to the sea bottom.
When a giant piece of rock appeared, Kailani screamed pointing:
"There in front! The passage will be blocked!"
Hank said: Gabato, you'll be our captain."
Gabato said: Me?
Sean said:
"If you got us here, you can get us out."
Razan said:
"Well, you better succeed. I want to be alive for Loona's 16th birthday. So you better help me stay alive until then."
Loona said softly: Idiot.
Charlie smiled and said: Well, we're counting on you, Gabato, to keep us alive."
Gabato then started driving the submarine while Hank prepared the torpedoes at the bottom to blow up the rock in the way.
Alexander yelled:
"Hank, hurry!"
Hank finished, loaded the torpedo and yelled:
"Fire!"
Sean then pressed the launch button that fired the torpedo exploding the rock into pieces just in time for them to pass with the submarine.
They then celebrated.
Gabato said: You saw? We did it! We're alive!"
Razan smiled and said:
"Well, who would've thought you'd save everyone in the end, Gabato. Honestly, I thought since we arrived on the island you'd be the first to die."
Gabato, hearing this, said:
"Wait, what?"
Loona said: gabato, he was a hero today. Go easy."
Razan said: All right."
Hank said:
"Then let's go home, everyone."
Sean said, holding Kailani's hand:
"Yes, let's go home."
Gabato then started driving the submarine back finally to Palau