Merman

By Myles Mason

For hundreds of generations leaders of church and state intentionally kept certain creatures away from public knowledge, fearing mass hysteria over the truth about evolution. A recent event has required the involvement of the FBU. The Federal Bureau of the Unexplained recruited retired Navy SEAL and cryptozoology enthusiast Max Cain to help recover a captured merman. In this explosive installment, he goes head to head with the Boko Haram and a Greek crime lord the only way he was trained. Filled with fast-paced action, this enchanting high-octane race from Colorado to Africa reaches its dangerous climax in Madagascar where Cain must stop a brutal enemy from capturing and exposing one of the world’s most hidden secrets.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Myles Mason
• Release date: Jan 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386940852

Book preview

Prologue

January 9, 1493

EARLY MORNING NEAR the coast of the Dominican Republic, the sun rises forming a golden mist to glimmer over the ocean surface. The sea, quite calm, like a tranquil lake, and its gentle murmurs are vaguely audible. Waves seemed to sleep under a blanket of fog. Lines of dark blue, green, and purple mark the horizon. Seagulls were flying in formation around in circles. One of them headed toward the salt water in search of a meal.

Admiral Christopher Columbus rose from below the deck to view the morning sunrise. His figure is tall, above medium height with a slightly porky waistline. The Admiral's face is drawn out and his expression imposing. His nose is angular, and his eyes are clear blue, with a light complexion. Red bushy hair adorns his head with a chinstrap beard to match. This morning Columbus dressed in the style of a Franciscan Monk. He breathed in the salt-filled air and gently exhaled as if he were enjoying a tobacco pipe.

The journey has been a success as the crew found pearls, spices, and precious stones on a Bahamian island. His men are most interested in getting more treasure they can haul back to Spain. After a lengthy voyage across the Atlantic, the Admiral is satisfied they explored land.

The weather has cooperated thus far, but now conditions have seemed to turn for the worse. By mid day the Santa Maria had passed north of a deserted volcanic island and was moving through the open ocean in deteriorating weather, with rainfall, high winds and an overcast scudding low and fast across the sea.

The ship was still sailing at full force, but it slowed now by the impacts of the waves, which rose regularly to twelve feet and higher. Sheets of salt water splash loose by the plunging and driving of the bow. They swept a heavy spray across the deck, and down poured against the window-lined captains quarters. Though the movements of the hull were changed, the ride was bumpy in pitch and not in roll, because the waves, unlike the winds, developed from straight ahead.

The ship heaved upward and reverberated in the roughest water, and smashed down into the troughs, sometimes with a crash. The motions were difficult for the able seamen of the Santa Maria to anticipate, but they held together and secured the sails. Men sloshed around the soaked deck, struggling and doing battle against the storm. Deck hands wrap multiple combinations of rope lines to secure the sails. The power of the wind forces the rope to its limits as the metal cleats are creaking under the pressure.

Hold on men, hold together, yelled Columbus. The nasty weather eased up on the crew and the skies cleared.

Admiral, there, starboard bow, called out a pointing crewman standing in the main top castle basket. 

Columbus peered through the eyepiece and commanded the helmsmen to steer the ship two degrees north. The Santa Maria, a galleon, some thirty meters long, cut through the swells in the direction of the drifting ship.

No crew hands on deck, where are they? questioned Columbus. The white skull and cross bones showcased on the flag of the vessel indicate pirates. The Admiral ran his fingers through his chin whiskers and speculated on whether the pirates were hiding below to man the cannon ports. Pirates were notorious for using any means possible to capture and pillage an unsuspecting ship. The Santa Maria however, was a larger vessel, and the crew is experienced in the art of war. They still approached the stranded ship with caution. Within minutes the Santa Maria was upon her, anchored and floating side to side with the ocean breakers crashing between the vessels, the crew braced themselves for any surprises.

Admiral Columbus, should we board her?

Indeed. The Admiral stepped on the long wooden plank placed between the boats and directed the men on board. 

Check, below the deck men, shout out if you encounter anyone. Columbus climbed on the wooden ladder on the starboard side to get below in the bow of the ship. He acknowledged things appeared to be in place, like lanterns, books, clothes and other supplies. There was no evidence of a struggle or piracy.

By his count of hammocks and sleeping barracks, he estimated this vessel carried a crew of twenty men. Columbus entered into the captain's quarters. At the front side of a table rested maps and books. A sextant and other navigational instruments are spread about the weathered wooden table. He reached down to grasp the captain's log, the leather cover cracked and pages frayed at the edges. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he discovered a floorboard up on its side adjacent to the table. Columbus knelt on his knee and reached down into a cubbyhole in the floorboard. Underneath he removed five burlap sacks. This must have been the hiding place the raiders held their loot.

He released the knot from the braided cord around each sack. His jaw dropped in shock as he reached down, scooped his hand into a sack, and pulled out a handful of gold coins and jewels. Columbus called out for help and his crew hands assisted in the collection of the treasure-filled sacks. 

The return voyage was difficult, and the vessel had to endure rough seas for the last three days. Columbus is happy this morning to look at the tranquility and beauty of the sunlight and the great sea. Clear skies and calm sea. He strolled over to the pirate treasure that is carefully secured in a crate; rope tied down under a canvas tarpaulin. Columbus slid his hand into his jacket and pulled out the diary he came across on the pirate ship. The last few entries caught his attention.

This morning the creatures were visible, human-like and almost woman like. It appears as if the beasts are holding spears. I cannot believe my eyes. It must be the nasty whiskey. I myself haven't seen woman-folk in over two months. Maybe I am wishful thinking of it. The next entry alarmed Columbus. "Today the creatures killed two of my crew. One of the crew reported trident like spears thrust out of the water and impaled two crew mates. The bodies fell overboard and vanished under the water."

The initial high pitch shriek sounded off and at once drew the Admiral's attention. Columbus walked toward the bow of the boat pursuing the noise. Another squeal howled, this one longer and higher pitched. Columbus squinted and shielded his eyes as he was gazing out into the ocean with sunlight piercing and blinding him.

Out of the water burst four figures. Two had flowing hair and two bald headed. The long- haired figures appeared to have female breasts. All four of them seemed to be similar to humans but with fish or reptile like complexions.

He wiped at his face pressing his fingers in circles rubbing his eyes. Columbus learned of tales from seamen who believed to have come across strange sirens that some had called mermaids. The two long-haired figures sang high-pitched tunes almost taking turns as they bobbed up and down in the water. Their breasts submerged and soon after appeared once more to him as they tread on the surface of the sea.

Christopher Columbus cocked his head to the side, obsessed, he moved near the edge of the boat. One of the mermaids raised her arms over head and waved them side to side in a constant motion. Trying to step closer to the figures, he shouted out to them in the water.

Hello there, who goes?

Two of the creatures dove under the sea and vanished. The visible sirens continued with their tune and swayed their arms in unison. Columbus thought of the diary he brought back from the pirate ship and thought about the treasure they found in the captain's chambers. It was a matter of a minute before the sirens soon mesmerized Columbus and his eyes and ears are quite infatuated on them.

His still body stood at attention, rigid and stiff. Two sets of webbed hands gripped the side of the wood railing and pulled themselves on board. Puddles of water swell up around their webbed toes. One merman stood behind the entranced Columbus. The treasure was unsecured, and the crate pushed overboard sent splashing into the sea. The mermen dive in after it and pull the floating crate and its contents under the water. They disappear from sight leaving a circle of bubbled water in their wake.

Admiral Columbus, Sir, do you hear me? asked a crew member.

The captain dazed in confusion his face dripping and head drenched in sweat mumbled, What... what happened.. did you see them?

See who sir, Captain... what happened to the treasure?

Chapter 1

March, 2016 Kunar Province, Afghanistan

AT NINE O’CLOCK, THE SEAL team lifted off from Jalalabad en route to a remote marine outpost, escorted by three Apache helicopters. Captain Max Cain gazed out of the chopper appreciating the vibrant landscape. A bountiful valley explodes with local color in the summer as pastures bloom with a broad mixture of crops that are sustained by a vast churning river powering downhill and bordered by a clear blue sky with a sizzling, golden yellow sun. Snow-crowned mountains shoot up into view in the distance, covered in pine trees at the highest altitudes. This part of Afghanistan is beautiful and picturesque and quite a contrast to where the team is headed, and it puzzled Max. The convoy buzzes over a group of Afghan men crossing the river at a shallow point tending to herds of black and white goats and sheep.

The helicopter ascends and soars up in elevation in the foothills halfway up the mountain. The convoy landed on the stony surface and the SEAL team hauled out and into a camouflaged staging area. Not so pretty up here, remarked Captain Cain. The unit is advised by the command team at the outpost and assembled to carry out their assignment to rescue the marines.

Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em boys. We have time before you head out, said the outpost Lieutenant.

Later that morning, a reliable Afghan translator met with the unit and helped the soldiers traverse through the land bringing them closer to the pinned down soldiers.

Captain, we got ISIS fighters in numbers to our north. I counted twenty, possibly twenty-five men on the move, said lieutenant Seretti catching his breath. Max Cain surveyed the rugged terrain and pointed toward the forested area up ahead. These foothills proved to be a treacherous battlefield to navigate. Jutting rock structures in this part of the region were spread out all over the hillside acting like road barricades.

Let’s go get our boys. Seretti and Blanchard split your units up left and right and flank them. I will take my team up the middle. Remember we are recovering four marines all injured but alive, boomed Captain Cain.

The three groups of Navy SEALS moved in unison working toward the injured marines who are pinned down behind rocky boulders by ISIS soldiers. The wooded area is thrown together in the rock-covered hillside. It is a perfectly camouflaged landscape for the SEAL team to blend but difficult to maneuver. Captain Cain leaned his back up against a craggy boulder, peeking over the ridge of the stone, spying an ISIS soldier.

Everyone in place, asked Cain.

Roger that, said Seretti.

All good, said Blanchard.

Wait for my shot, then release hell, said Cain.

The captain lifted his M4-A1 carbine assault weapon and squinted as he peered through his scope. The cross hair placed on the skull of an ISIS soldier. Captain Cain pulled back on the trigger; the suppressor on the weapon muffled the sound until the bullet blew off the Shemagh headscarf of the soldier. A puff of a blood red cloud gathered around the man’s head as he tumbled backward from the force of the blast. The team fired a barrage of bullets at the ISIS soldiers.

The gunfight raged on as SEAL team soldiers cut through the ISIS forces, slaughtering them with swift precision. Lieutenant Blanchard is leading his unit of three marines up the front side of the hillside when he caught a view of the hostile forces with the injured U.S. soldiers.

Captain, hostiles have our guys and they’re retreating up the hill. I see them, Blanchard I’m going after them. Seretti and Blanchard cover me.

Captain Cain moved around between the big boulders and trees closing in on the escaping soldiers. Lieutenant Seretti and Blanchard are carrying out their mission as ISIS hostiles were suffering