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still aboard strained against the pression； their copper liner cones and spring…detonation heads inching perilously inward。
A hundred feet above the ocean floor； the powerful shaft of the megaplume grabbed the remains of the chopper and sucked it downward； hurling it against the red…hot crust of the magma dome。 Like a box of matches igniting in series； the Hellfire missiles exploded； tearing a gaping hole through the top of the magma dome。
Having surfaced for air； and then dove again in desperation； Michael Tolland was suspended fifteen feet underwater scanning the blackness when the Hellfire missiles exploded。 The white flash billowed upward； illuminating an astonishing image…a freeze…frame he would remember forever。
Rachel Sexton hung ten feet below him like a tangled marionette in the water。 Beneath her； the Triton sub fell away fast； its dome hanging loose。 The sharks in the area scattered for the open sea； clearly sensing the danger this area was about to unleash。
Tolland's exhilaration at seeing Rachel out of the sub was instantly vanquished by the realization of what was about to follow。 Memorizing her position as the light disappeared； Tolland dove hard； clawing his way toward her。
Thousands of feet down； the shattered crust of the magma dome exploded apart； and the underwater volcano erupted； spewing twelve…hundred…degree…Celsius magma up into the sea。 The scorching lava vaporized all the water it touched； sending a massive pillar of steam rocketing toward the surface up the central axis of the megaplume。 Driven by the same kinematic properties of fluid dynamics that powered tornadoes； the steam's vertical transfer of energy was counterbalanced by an anticyclonic vorticity spiral that circled the shaft； carrying energy in the opposite direction。
Spiraling around this column of rising gas； the ocean currents started intensifying； twisting downward。 The fleeing steam created an enormous vacuum that sucked millions of gallons of seawater downward into contact with the magma。 As the new water hit bottom； it too turned into steam and needed a way to escape； joining the growing column of exhaust steam and shooting upward； pulling more water in beneath it。 As more water rushed in to take its place； the vortex intensified。 The hydrothermal plume elongated； and the towering whirlpool grew stronger with every passing second； its upper rim moving steadily toward the surface。
An oceanic black hole had just been born。
Rachel felt like a child in a womb。 Hot； wet darkness all engulfing her。 Her thoughts were muddled in the inky warmth。 Breathe。 She fought the reflex。 The flash of light she had seen could only have e from the surface； and yet it seemed so far away。 An illusion。 Get to the surface。 Weakly； Rachel began swimming in the direction where she had seen the light。 She saw more light now。。。 an eerie red glow in the distance。 Daylight？ She swam harder。
A hand caught her by the ankle。
Rachel half…screamed underwater； almost exhaling the last of her air。
The hand pulled her backward； twisting her； pointing her back in the opposite direction。 Rachel felt a familiar hand grasp hers。 Michael Tolland was there； pulling her along with him the other way。
Rachel's mind said he was taking her down。 Her heart said he knew what he was doing。
Kick with your feet； her mother's voice whispered。
Rachel kicked as hard as she could。
130
Even as Tolland and Rachel broke the surface； he knew it was over。 The magma dome erupted。 As soon as the top of the vortex reached the surface； the giant underwater tornado would begin pulling everything down。 Strangely； the world above the surface was not the quiet dawn he had left only moments ago。 The noise was deafening。 Wind slashed at him as if some kind of storm had hit while he was underwater。
Tolland felt delirious from lack of oxygen。 He tried to support Rachel in the water； but she was being pulled from his arms。 The current！ Tolland tried to hold on； but the invisible force pulled harder； threatening to tear her from him。 Suddenly； his grip slipped； and Rachel's body slid through his arms…but upward。
Bewildered； Tolland watched Rachel's body rise out of the water。
Overhead； the Coast Guard Osprey tilt…rotor airplane hovered and winched Rachel in。 Twenty minutes ago； the Coast Guard had gotten a report of an explosion out at sea。 Having lost track of the Dolphin helicopter that was supposed to be in the area； they feared an accident。 They typed the chopper's last known coordinates into their navigation system and hoped for the best。
About a half mile from the illuminated Goya； they saw a field of burning wreckage drifting on the current。 It looked like a speedboat。 Nearby； a man was in the water； waving his arms wildly。 They winched him in。 He was stark naked…all except for one leg； which was covered with duct tape。
Exhausted； Tolland looked up at the underbelly of the thundering tilt…rotor airplane。 Deafening gusts pounded down off its horizontal propellers。 As Rachel rose on a cable； numerous sets of hands pulled her into the fuselage。 As Tolland watched her dragged to safety； his eyes spotted a familiar man crouched half…naked in the doorway。
Corky？ Tolland's heart soared。 You're alive！
Immediately； the harness fell from the sky again。 It landed ten feet away。 Tolland wanted to swim for it； but he could already feel the sucking sensation of the plume。 The relentless grip of the sea wrapped around him； refusing to let go。
The current pulled him under。 He fought toward the surface； but the exhaustion was overwhelming。 You're a survivor； someone was saying。 He kicked his legs； clawing toward the surface。 When he broke through into the pounding wind； the harness was still out of reach。 The current strained to drag him under。 Looking up into the torrent of swirling wind and noise； Tolland saw Rachel。 She was staring down； her eyes willing him up toward her。
It took Tolland four powerful strokes to reach the harness。 With his last ounce of strength； he slid his arm and head up into the loop and collapsed。
All at once the ocean was falling away beneath him。
Tolland looked down just as the gaping vortex opened。 The megaplume had finally reached the surface。
？ ？ ？
William Pickering stood on the bridge of the Goya and watched in dumbstruck awe as the spectacle unfolded all around him。 Off the starboard of the Goya's stern； a huge basinlike depression was forming on the surface of the sea。 The whirlpool was hundreds of yards across and expanding fast。 The ocean spiraled into it； racing with an eerie smoothness over the lip。 All around him now； a guttural moan reverberated out of the depths。 Pickering's mind was blank as he watched the hole expanding toward him like the gaping mouth of some epic god hungry for sacrifice。
I'm dreaming； Pickering thought。
Suddenly； with an explosive hiss that shattered the windows of the Goya's bridge； a towering plume of steam erupted skyward out of the vortex。 A colossal geyser climbed overhead； thundering； its apex disappearing into the darkened sky。
Instantly； the funnel walls steepened； the perimeter expanding faster now； chewing across the ocean