The Ocean Sunburst Treachery
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The Ocean Sunburst Treachery 1 Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, January 20th Waikiki Beach resort was destroyed at five forty-four in the morning. Christopher Wyatt ran along the beach, bare feet pounding into the warming sand, to- wards Diamond Head. He was wearing a garish Hawaiian shirt that would make Linda laugh when she called. The sky was becoming lighter, the rising sun radiating vast streaks of pale red and purple through wispy clouds and outshining the few remaining visible stars. The range of tall square hotels loomed against the burgeoning dawn, windows speckling with electric lights. The breeze was light and cool, the sea restless, long rolling waves topped with white spume rushing up the sand to gradually stop and retreat like frightened creatures. Wyatt expected to be alone on the beach at this early hour but he was surprised by the number of people jogging, sightseeing, surfing and fishing off the rocks. Wyatt enjoyed the sensation of sweat rolling down his back. He was in good shape, his work was near comple- tion, and he was in love. He was excited about Linda’s call and was not sure whether his heart was racing hard from the exercise or with the anticipation of seeing her face again, albeit on the screen of a cell phone. Linda Marquez called as Wyatt reached the foot of Diamond Head. Wyatt smiled as Linda’s face appeared on screen. ‘Wow,’ Linda said. ‘Can this be my husband, up this early? It’s a quarter after ten here in Washington so it must be real early there.’ Wyatt sat down on a grassy tuft of sand below Diamond Head Road. He said: ‘I’d get out of bed anytime to see your beautiful face. Or preferably get into bed to see your beautiful face.’ ‘Careful, mister. No smutty talk please. Today is a solemn and dignified occasion here in this solemn and dignified city.’ ‘Have you met the new President yet?’ ‘No. The inauguration ceremony starts in about an hour. We’re still in the White House. Logan said he would introduce me to the incoming President before they leave for the Capi- tol, so it could be any minute now. It will seem strange to work for President Brady instead of President Logan. I can’t say I’m happy about the prospect. They say Brady is a real tough nut ball-breaker, a right-wing firebrand. My colleagues have a nickname for Brady and her chief of staff Jazmin Isaacs. They call them Riggs and Murtaugh.’ ‘Riggs and Murtaugh? Who are they?’ The Ocean Sunburst Treachery - by David Stedman 1 www.davidstedman.co.uk Linda tut-tutted. ‘Your knowledge of contemporary culture is pathetic, sergeant. Riggs and Murtaugh are those two guys in the Lethal Weapon films.’ ‘I’ve never watched them.’ ‘You should. You’re like a Limey version of Riggs, half-crazy, fearless and totally in love with his late wife.’ ‘That last part is certainly true, except you are very much alive, I’m delighted to say.’ ‘I’ll check out Brady before I decide whether to stay on as head of her Secret Service detail, if she asks me.’ ‘I’m sure Logan and the outgoing First Lady put in several good words for you after all you’ve done for them over the years. Brady would be a fool to ditch you, captain.’ ‘Thank you, sergeant. How is your job going?’ ‘Fine. They were a bit resistant to a goddamn Limey giving them security advice on their public buildings but the recommendation from good old President Logan could not be ignored and they eventually saw the sense in my proposals. Their security was a mess. Anoth- er couple of days should see the contract wrapped up and then I’ll fly straight to India for the wedding. I’m really looking forward to seeing Prem again, and you. It will be a very happy occasion.’ ‘Prem deserves all the happiness he can get and it will be great to see him again. Hold on, Chris.’ Wyatt watched the screen. Linda turned away from her laptop as an aide whispered in her ear. Linda turned back and said: ‘Gotta go, lover man. Logan wants me in the Oval Office to meet Brady in ten minutes. How do I look?’ ‘You look beautiful and hot, even in a regulation Secret Service suit.’ Linda sighed. ‘I wish I was over in Hawaii with you instead of in freezing DC.’ Wyatt looked up as the crown of the rising sun burst through light cloud. He said: ‘Let me show you what you’re missing.’ He turned the smartphone camera to the dawn and treated Linda to a sweeping panorama of the incoming waves and the beach. Linda said: ‘It’s beautiful. Wait a minute . who’s that hot chick checking you out?’ ‘What hot chick?’ Wyatt looked up. A girl was peering through binoculars in his direc- tion. ‘She’s not checking me out. She’s looking at Diamond Head mountain behind me. It’s gratifying to find out that you get jealous.’ ‘You’re worth getting jealous over.’ ‘You have nothing to worry about, Linda. I love you very much and I will never cheat The Ocean Sunburst Treachery - by David Stedman 2 www.davidstedman.co.uk on you.’ ‘I love you too, big guy. Even when you’re wearing a hideous shirt like that.’ Wyatt laughed. ‘Okay, you busted me. Now go say hello to your new President and I’ll call you after the inauguration.’ Wyatt slipped the cell phone into the pocket of his shirt. He looked at the girl. She had lowered the binoculars but was still staring in his direction. She was slim and elegant, medium height with long straight black hair and she looked Chinese or Japanese. She was wearing a full length sarong-type skirt with a bikini top. Wyatt, out of sheer curiosity, waved to her. The girl hesitated, then turned and walked away. Wyatt shrugged. She had been looking at Dia- mond Head all. Wyatt was not disappointed. It had been simple curiosity. He was completely sincere when he promised Linda he would never cheat on her. As some actor had once said: Why go out for hamburger when you have steak at home? Wyatt closed his eyes and lay back on the soft sand. The rising sun warmed his face. He thought of Linda and how lucky he had been to find her. She was a woman of beauty, unshake- able integrity and supreme courage. They had endured much hardship and sorrow together, but also much joy and companionship. Wyatt allowed himself to drift off towards sleep but his subconscious mind warned him that something was wrong. The regular reassuring sound of the sea had stopped. It was impossible but it had stopped. People were shouting and screaming. Wyatt opened his eyes and was gripped by shock and disbelief. The sea had disappeared. The uncovered wet sand extended out as far as the eye could see. Wyatt leapt to his feet. The girl who had been looking at Diamond Head was shouting and gesticulating at people to get them off the beach. Wyatt understood what was going to happen. He looked around. There were only a few people near him. He shouted: ‘Get off the beach!There’s a tsunami coming!’ The line of the horizon darkened. The line became darker, thicker, and higher with incredible speed. Wyatt ran up the dunes and crossed Diamond Head Road. All traffic had stopped. People were getting out of their vehicles. Wyatt shouted at them to climb the hill. He looked back. The girl was shouting the same warning. The tidal wave had changed colour from black to dark green and was rapidly growing in height, the water forced upwards as it roared towards the shallower slopes near the beach. Within seconds a wall of water towered over the beach, the crest as high as the hotels, the wave top folding over as it hit the obstacle of land, thwarted, angry, like the frothing jaws of a gigantic serpent. Wyatt scrambled up the foothills of Diamond Head. He came across a narrow path lead- ing to the summit. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the tsunami smash into the buildings behind Waikiki Beach. They were swept away as if made of cardboard. As Wyatt sprinted upwards he glimpsed bodies being taken up and flung aside as the water cascaded between the crashing buildings. Trees were uprooted, vehicles tossed aside like toys. Wyatt ducked as an outrigger canoe, hurled by the wave, narrowly missed his head. Wyatt glanced behind him. The girl was close. The immense wall of water, thwarted by the side of the mountain, had turned to engulf them. The Ocean Sunburst Treachery - by David Stedman 3 www.davidstedman.co.uk They had reached a concrete stairway bounded by metal posts. There was no escape, no time left. Wyatt called out to the girl: ‘Get down! Grab a post! Hold on for your life!’ Wyatt dropped down and wrapped his arms and legs around the posts. The sky was blotted out as the seething mass of water loomed over him and then, mercilessly, ruthlessly, crashed down. 2 Oval Office, White House, Washington DC, January th20 Linda Marquez was shown into the Oval Office as the chiefs of defence and intelligence were being ushered out after delivering changeover briefings to the President-elect. Linda was acquainted with most of the chiefs. One of them whispered: ‘Good luck with Riggs and Mur- taugh.’ Outgoing President Joe Logan beckoned Linda to join him.