Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The Page #4

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Nevertheless, I'm convinced that by some

strange trick of chance, this creature exists.

And I'm prepared to stake

my reputation on it.

I'm sure you know

what you're talking about, doctor...

...but it would look foolish

if we stick our neck out.

Will you promise if any reports come in,

you'll let us know?

I've got a friend in the Coast Guard.

I'll drop in to see him.

If he's heard of anything,

I'll get in touch with you. Okay?

Thank you, colonel.

We'll appreciate it.

He's going to check and let us know.

- We can't just sit around.

- I'm afraid there's nothing else we can do.

But wait.

I heard a new song at the tavern

the other day.

Something about gin and wild women.

- How'd it go?

- Oh, I don't remember.

I stuck five nickels in the box

to hear it again...

...and the thing busted down.

You know me, I couldn't carry a tune

in a bushel basket.

I like the ballads. The old ones that warm

you even when the fog is a foot thick.

Did you hear that?

Come in.

That's all.

- Jack, how are you?

- Phil, at this moment, I don't know.

Well, sit down. Sit down.

I haven't seen you

since the last Army-Navy game.

What a game that was.

What's the problem?

AEC getting you down?

- No, not at all.

- Good.

Stick around. I'll be through

in a minute. We'll go to the club.

Phil, here it is straight.

One of the scientists in the last polar test

claims he saw a monster.

The dean of the College of Natural History

believes him.

Then who am I to doubt it? Are you

trying to get a Section 8 discharge?

A neurotic colonel.

These scientists claim that this monster

or beast, this prehistoric thing...

...and if you laugh, I'll brain you,

is romping around the North Atlantic.

I guess you'll have to brain me.

You're nuts!

Anyway, that's what they say.

Look, Phil. Would you do me a favor?

Check around to see if there have been any

reports of any freak or unusual happenings.

- Are you on the level?

- Lf standing on my head's on the level, I am.

You certainly sound serious.

All right, I'll check.

But so help me, if this is a practical joke...

I'll die laughing.

Well, that's it.

No storm, no earthquake, nothing...

...but that lighthouse

was destroyed completely.

Were there any other

unexplained happenings?

Yes. Coast Guard station 37

reported minor shore wreckage...

...along the Massachusetts coast.

Several isolated buildings were destroyed.

And a farmer was found

crushed to death.

There's a certain inexorable chronology

in these disasters.

I don't follow you, doctor.

Tom first saw the rhedosaurus

near Baffin Bay.

While his latest presumed presence

was off the coast of Massachusetts.

- May I look at your chart, captain?

- Of course.

Now, first...

...north of Baffin Bay.

Second, the fishing ketch Fortune

was wrecked here...

...off the Grand Banks.

And another one attacked

shortly thereafter.

Here. Nova Scotia.

Third, the lighthouse

off the coast of Maine.

Fourth, unexplained wreckage

off the coast of Massachusetts.

You'll notice we've been following

the Arctic Current all the way down.

So it's just possible that he might

be making for here.

It was in these submerged canyons that

the only fossils of his species were found.

We could mine those canyons.

And kill the rhedosaurus? Oh, no.

Think what a loss to science

that would be. Oh, no.

But to capture it alive

would be an achievement.

How do you propose to capture it,

if it exists?

I don't know. But if we ascertain

it's down there in the canyons...

...l'll have to go see it before I decide

upon a method of capture.

That's much too dangerous.

Yes, but then the risk would be worth it

when one thinks of the benefit to science.

Captain, is it possible to obtain

the use of a diving bell?

- You really want to go down there?

- Yes.

I can get a diving bell.

What do you think, Jack?

Everything else checks out.

If he can get it, let's move.

Thank you.

I still don't see how he's gonna find it.

This canyon is 100 miles long.

As I understand it, he plans to drop down

at a different spot every hour till he finds it.

Hear this. Hear this. We are now ready

to make the dive at position number one.

I don't like the idea of you going

with just one man.

That's capacity. If there's any danger,

my crewman will know what to do.

- I brought your Dramamine.

- No, thank you.

I'm much too excited to get seasick.

Are you ready, Dr. Elson?

Remember, at the first sign

of danger, signal us.

Why will you persist

in talking about danger?

The rhedosaurus and I are old friends.

- Good luck, doctor.

- Thank you.

- Here you are, sir.

- Thank you.

Don't look so worried, Lee.

We're scientists.

This is our job.

This is a great moment for me.

Everything shipshape in there?

Splendid, thank you.

All the comforts of home. Lower away.

Hoist away.

Is there anything I have to do?

Oh, no, sir.

You just relax and enjoy the scenery.

This is such a strange feeling.

I feel I am leaving

a world of untold tomorrows...

...for a world of countless yesterdays.

Lee was right. I should have brought

the Dramamine pills.

This is all very frustrating. I do hope all

our endeavors are not going to be in vain.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome, doctor.

We are having coffee now.

And some visitors.

There appears to be a difference of opinion

between two of the local inhabitants.

There he is!

It's unbelievable.

He's tremendous.

I can only see part of him...

...the leg and the shoulder,

but he is enormous.

He found it.

Shall we pull you up?

No! No! No, put Lee on.

He wants to talk to you.

Yes, doctor.

Lee, there's no mistake about it.

It's a Paleolithic survival.

It's exactly as we pictured it except

the dorsal is singular, not bilateral.

The clavicle suspension

appears to be cantileveric.

But the most

astonishing thing about it is...

He doesn't answer.

- Get him up.

- Raise the bell.

We're pulling you up!

Dr. Elson!

Can you hear me? Answer me!

The line is dead.

Well, the report has been turned in.

The National Guard and Coast Guard

have been alerted. Evans is in charge.

This was being packed

for a very different reason.

What can I say?

I should have gone down instead of him.

I am to blame.

Nobody is to blame.

And everybody is to blame.

We all did what we thought was right.

But that doesn't bring him

through the door again.

With his funny little walk,

and that wonderful smile.

This place seems so empty.

He used to putter around with the

specimens and call them pet names.

His death was so futile.

He went down in that bell

because it was part of his job.

He used those same words just before...

Oh, Tom.

It's coming up Nassau Street toward Pine.

Get some help fast!

New York is like a city besieged.

A state of emergency

has been declared...

...and the entire police force

put on 24-hour duty.

Civilian defense is fully mobilized...

...and shelters have been opened

in an effort to stop the mounting hysteria.

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