Godzilla Returns Part 8

Please report to my office at six o'clock. I have a special a.s.signment for you.

Everett P. Endicott

Brian's heart raced. A special a.s.signment - at last!

At precisely six o'clock. Brian stepped into Everett P. Endicott's outer office. May McGovern was sitting behind her desk, speaking urgently into the phone. She nodded to Brian when he entered, and motioned for him to sit down. Brian was not surprised to see Yos.h.i.+ sitting in the opposite chair.

As May continued her phone conversation in a hushed tone, Brian leaned over to Yos.h.i.+. "Do you know what's going on?" he asked. Yos.h.i.+ shook his head nervously.

At that moment, May hung up the phone. Without a word to Brian or Yos.h.i.+, she leaped to her feet and rushed into Endicott's inner office and closed the door behind her. Brian leaned back in his chair and tried to relax.

The minutes ticked by. Brian looked at his watch.

Then the door swung open and May ushered Brian and Yos.h.i.+ into Endicott's inner sanctum. The office was just as Brian remembered it. The only difference was that the blinds were closed, blocking out the dramatic view of Tokyo at twilight.

The big man was sitting behind his desk. His baby face was creased with worry when he looked up at them.

"Sorry for the secrecy," Endicott said. "Sit down, boys."

Brian and Yos.h.i.+ took seats.

"In a little while, two men will be arriving here. They are a small part of the biggest story of this, or any, century," Endicott announced dramatically.

Brian and Yos.h.i.+ looked at each other.

"Originally, I was going to have you both a.s.sist Blackthorn Adams in working with these men." Endicott paused. "Unfortunately, Ms. McGovern informs me that Blackthorn's son was one of the survivors pulled out of the Sea of j.a.pan after that ferry wreck early this morning... so Blackthorn won't be joining us.

"He's on his way to Hakata and has asked for some time off, which means that we'll have to make do with the resources we have." Endicott looked up at May.

"Call Nick Gordon and tell him to come up here immediately," Endicott told her.

"Mister Endicott!" May exclaimed. "You can't trust him with a story like this. It's too - too big! Call the network. Surely they can send someone!"

"I agree with your a.s.sessment of Mr. Gordon," Endicott said. "However, in another hour or two, the whole world is going to be in an uproar..."

For the second time, Brian and Yos.h.i.+ traded glances. This is something very, very big, Brian thought, suddenly queasy.

"Every reporter in the world will be working on his or her own angle," Endicott continued. "We have a chance at an exclusive here, and we have a responsibility to our network and our viewers. INN needs a science correspondent on this story, so call Mr. Gordon, please."

May did not argue further. She tossed her long auburn hair and headed for her desk. But when she left her boss's office, she closed the door behind her a little too hard. Endicott sighed again.

"Excuse me for a moment," he said to Brian and Yos.h.i.+. Then he lifted the cover off of his laptop computer and began to type. Five silent and uncomfortable minutes later, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Endicott said, closing his computer.

"Hiya, chief," Nick said, stepping into the room wearing a c.o.c.ky smile. "You called?"

"Sit down. Gordon," Endicott said, pointing to an empty chair. Nick sat down, flas.h.i.+ng a toothy grin at Brian and Yos.h.i.+. May stepped into the office and closed the door behind her. Endicott looked at the four of them, and then spoke.

"The Pusan ferry sank this morning," he began. "Casualties were moderate, mostly because the captain got out an early distress call. But the real scoop here is that the ferry was attacked."

Endicott paused dramatically to gauge their surprised reactions. "The ferry was attacked by the prehistoric monster called G.o.dzilla."

Nick's grin disappeared. Brian looked at Yos.h.i.+, who paled visibly. May nodded, her face serious. Finally, Brian cleared his throat and spoke.

"But G.o.dzilla is supposed to be dead," he said.

"Well, it seems reports of G.o.dzilla's death have been greatly exaggerated," Endicott replied. At that moment, his telephone buzzed. Endicott lifted the receiver. "Yes!" he barked.

Endicott listened for a moment then nodded. "Send them up," he said and hung up.

"They're here, May," Endicott said to his a.s.sistant. May rose and left the room.

"The j.a.panese government is about to announce G.o.dzilla's return," Endicott continued. "The network bra.s.s has ordered me to a.s.sign a science correspondent and a cameraman to cover the activities of the two men you are about to meet."

"Why?" Nick asked seriously. "Who are these guys?"

"'These guys' are among the world's only experts on G.o.dzilla - if there can be such a thing," Endicott replied. "These two men, and dozens of others, have worked together in total secrecy for over forty years, preparing for the possible return of the monster."

"If their work was so secret," Brian interrupted, "how come we know about them?"

"A fair question," Endicott said. "A few years ago, one of these men retired from his government's service. His name is Dr. Hiros.h.i.+ n.o.beyama -"

"The molecular biologist who won the n.o.bel in 1997?" Nick interrupted.

"The very same," Endicott nodded. "Dr. n.o.beyama has been working as a scientific consultant for our parent company, International Science Systems. But this afternoon, when it was learned that G.o.dzilla had returned, he was recalled to active duty to head a special defense task force established by the j.a.panese government during this crisis.

"Dr. n.o.beyama has, of course, agreed to help but requested that INN be given exclusive coverage of his group's activities. To everyone's amazement, the government has agreed to this."

Endicott paused, scanning the three youthful faces before him. "It is a remarkable opportunity, gentlemen," he said. "You will be at the very center of the crisis, for as long as it lasts."

"Why us?" Nick asked, clearly excited by the prospect. "Why not Max Hulse?"

"Max Hulse stays in Tokyo. He is doing our on-camera work," Endicott replied. "And if it were up to me, you would not be here, Mr. Gordon. You are merely a replacement for Blackthorn Adams - and not a very good one, in my estimation."

"Yeah, I like you, too," Nick shot back. Endicott ignored the insubordination.

"Mr. Masahara is here because he is one of our best new field cameramen - and I can almost spare him."

Endicott's eyes fell on Brian. "Mr. s.h.i.+mura is a special case. He is here because his services were specifically requested."

"The network wants me?" Brian asked.

Just then, the door swung open behind Brian. Yos.h.i.+ and Nick jumped to their feet. Everett P. Endicott rose, too. Brian saw that May McGovern was ushering two men into the room. Leading the way was a distinguished-looking j.a.panese man with gray hair and horn-rimmed gla.s.ses. Brian could not see the second man, who was still behind the door, but he heard him speak.

"It's not the network that wants you, son," a familiar voice announced with a slight Texas drawl. "I want you."

Brian's eyes widened in amazement as a giant of an American with an erect, military bearing stepped into the room.

"Uncle Maxwell!" Brian cried out in astonishment.

CHAPTER 9.

ALL IN THE FAMILY.

May 29, 1998, 6:55 P.M.

Office of the j.a.panese bureau chief

Independent News Network

Tokyo, j.a.pan

Standing next to Brian, Nick couldn't resist the urge. He reached out, put his hand under his roommate's chin, and pushed Brian's mouth closed. Brian blinked, then shook himself out of his astonishment.

Meanwhile, a tall, imposing figure entered the room. He wore a tailored U.S. Navy dress blue uniform. His dark hair was streaked with silver, and his face had been lined by sun, salt-spray, and harsh weather. Despite his stern, craggy features, the man Brian called "Uncle Maxwell" had an engaging smile. He extended his hand to Everett P. Endicott, who came around his desk to meet him.

"Admiral Maxwell B. Willis, United States Navy," he said, gripping the portly man's hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Admiral," Endicott said smoothly. "Now I understand why Brian's services were specifically requested," the bureau chief said. Admiral Willis winked. "My nephew's been in j.a.pan almost three weeks, and he didn't even call. I figured he was avoiding me, and so I thought I'd get his attention."

There was a ripple of laughter that broke the tension in the now-crowded office. The admiral reached out and touched the older j.a.panese man on the shoulder.

"May I introduce my friend and colleague, Dr. Hiros.h.i.+ n.o.beyama."

The j.a.panese man bowed graciously, and after introductions were completed, the men - and May - got down to business.

"Two days from now, on May 31, a joint task force of j.a.panese Navy s.h.i.+ps and elements of the United States Air Force stationed in Korea are going to launch a preemptive strike against G.o.dzilla."

May gasped. Nick whooped in surprise.

"This must be done while G.o.dzilla is still in the relatively shallow waters of the Sea of j.a.pan," Admiral Willis told his amazed listeners.

"Of course," he added, "this information is top secret, and must not leave this room - for now. Officially, there will be an emergency meeting of the United Nations tomorrow, where all this will be hashed out by the Security Council in the public eye. Unofficially, I can tell you that this attack is a done deal. It will take place. Period."

"How do you know where G.o.dzilla is?" May McGovern asked. Nick noted that her long-dormant reporter's instinct was returning.

"Helicopters equipped with sonar systems, as well as two Yuus.h.i.+o-cla.s.s submarines of the j.a.panese Maritime Self-Defense Force, have been stalking G.o.dzilla since his appearance this morning," the admiral answered.

"What's the hurry?" Endicott blurted. "Maybe G.o.dzilla won't even come ash.o.r.e. Why ask for trouble?"

It was Dr. n.o.beyama who answered. "It does not matter whether or not G.o.dzilla comes ash.o.r.e," he said. "The monster will do great damage no matter where he goes. We know G.o.dzilla wrecked the Pusan ferry. Several other s.h.i.+ps have also been reported missing."

"Why now?" Nick asked, his curiosity aroused. "What made Wonder Lizard return to life, or wake up from hibernation, or whatever he did?"

Dr. n.o.beyama smiled at the youth. "Two years ago, a Russian submarine was lost off the coast of China. Several weeks before that, the French government conducted the first open nuclear tests in the Pacific Ocean in many years -"

"We think that G.o.dzilla was awakened by those French hydrogen bomb tests in 1996," Admiral Willis interrupted.

"Yes," Dr. n.o.beyama nodded. "At first the creature was probably weak - G.o.dzilla feeds on nuclear radiation, you see. The French nuclear tests were powerful enough to awaken him, but not powerful enough to return G.o.dzilla to his full strength. That is why he attacked the Russian nuclear submarine -"

"Sea Base One!" It was Nick who interrupted this time. "Sea Base One discovered the wreckage of that sub. They knew G.o.dzilla had sunk it!"

"You're sharp, son." Admiral Willis said. "Sea Base One found the nuclear core from that sunken submarine. And it was drained of all nuclear energy. h.e.l.l! It wasn't even radioactive anymore."

"You mean that G.o.dzilla is capable of absorbing nuclear energy?" Nick asked. "That he actually feeds on it?"

"Probably not exclusively," Dr. n.o.beyama answered. "G.o.dzilla has a stomach and a heart, lungs, blood, probably a liver. G.o.dzilla is physically capable of eating more traditional fare.

"But to survive long-term, and to be able to use his most destructive offensive weapon - His so-called radioactive breath - G.o.dzilla must replenish his supply of radioactive material from time to time."