“Line’s clear,” she shouted.
Sealed PVC tubes affixed to the top frame kept the cage buoyant and level at the surface. With high-strength polyethylene fiber rope, we tied the four corners off—one each at the port and starboard quarter cleats, and one each to the spring cleats amidships.
Then she hustled back into the wheelhouse. “Come on. We need dive gear."
I followed her inside, grabbed a tank, did a safety check, then shouldered it.
Ariel handed me a camera in a waterproof housing. "Take video."
She shouldered a tank, then grabbed a pole spear with a punch biopsy tip. I didn't particularly want to get close enough to the shark to use the punch biopsy, but we needed a DNA sample.That was the best way to get it, short of swimming with the shark and taking a sample from the caudal vein. That was a death wish.
We marched outside to the stern. Waves slapped against the hull, and the boat rocked with the swells.
The massive dorsal fin of the hybrid pierced the surface of the water. The big bastard was still in the area. Apparently, the great white was just an appetizer.
Ariel dropped into the cage without hesitation. She had enough time to regroup and summon her strength again, fearless as ever. For someone as passionate as she was about sharks and the ocean, getting eaten alive by the largest shark on the planet at the moment was probably the best way to go out.
"I think you're out of your mind," Jack said.
"It's been nice knowing you, buddy," I said, hoping I'd make it back out of the cage in one piece.
I followed Ariel down into the cage and pulled the top shut. I latched it once we were inside. The reinforced aluminum cage looked sturdy. It was big enough for four people, if you knew each other well.
Bubbles rose to the surface as I breathed into the regulator. I cleared my mask and scanned the area for the massive predator. It had disappeared out of view for a moment. Maybe it was gone for good. I can't say I’d complain if that were the case. But we had a job to do, and I knew it needed to be done.
We waited a moment and exchanged a wary glance.
Another few minutes passed. I was beginning to think the leviathan was gone when it faded into view.
My heart thumped again.
It looked even bigger this time around. The mammoth shark lumbered through the water, looking ready to eat the entire ocean and everything in it. A shark this size could do serious damage to a small boat.
He circled around the Siren, his black, soulless eyes never disconnecting from his prey.
Ariel readied the spear in case the shark passed close enough to the cage to get a sample. She would have to lean through the bars, and even then, there might not be enough length to get a good sample.
The mega shark circled around but kept its distance. It made a whale look small.
Another pass, and it swam closer to the cage. The current rippled as the monster swam past.
Ariel plunged the spear toward the beast, but she missed. She had the end of the spear tied around her wrist in case it came loose from her grasp. It would give her a little extra range, but not much.
Through the bars of the cage, I filmed the shark and got clear footage, up close and personal. It would be hard to deny the shark’s existence with footage like this, but a punch biopsy would seal the deal and perhaps match the DNA recovered from the prior victims.
Somebody needed to go to jail over this, and it sure as hell wasn't going to be the shark.
The shark circled around and made another pass by the cage.
Ariel plunged the spear toward its dorsal fin again and managed to make a quick stab. She retracted the pole, and we shared a triumphant glance. Her job was done. I had gotten more good footage. We had achieved the objective.
There was something mesmerizing about the shark. A hybrid creature, the likes of which hadn’t been seen in millions of years. This shark was, without a doubt, the apex predator of the sea. It had no equal.
The behemoth turned around and swam back toward the cage. I filmed the approach. I had to admit it was a great shot, and as an amateur camera buff, I couldn’t resist framing up a subject like this. They say 90% of photography is pointing the camera at the right subject.
This was the right subject.
I was pointing the camera at something most of the world had never seen. I couldn't help but want to get more footage.
