The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms Page #4

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the foremost paleontologist in the world.

Just a moment.

He wants to talk to you.

Col. Evans. This is Dr. Elson.

Colonel, I'm convinced that

Professor Nesbitt is onto something.

Dr. Elson, there have been all kinds

of stories. Stories of sea serpents...

stories of the world coming to an end,

stories of flying saucers.

What makes you so sure

there are no flying saucers?

Nevertheless, I'm absolutely convinced

that by some strange trick of chance,

this creature does exist.

And I'm prepared to stake

my reputation on it.

Well, I'm sure you know

what you're talking about, doctor, but...

I think it would look foolish

if we stick our neck out.

Well, will you promise if any reports

come in, you'll let us know?

I'll tell you what I'd do, Dr. 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 we can do...

but wait.

I heard a new song at the tavern

the other day.

Something about the 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 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, aren't you?

A neurotic colonel.

Well, 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, Jack!

Anyway, that's what they say.

Look, Phil. Would you do me a favor?

You check around and see if

there have been any reports of any ...

freak happenings or anything unusual.

Are you on the level?

If 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 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

is 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 fossils of his species were found.

If what you say is true,

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.

And just 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...

I'll have to go down and see it before I decide

upon a method of capture.

That would be much too dangerous.

Yes, but then the risk would be worth it

if 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 you can get it, let's move.

- Thank you.

- Yes.

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

This canyon is 100 miles long.

As I understand,

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

down there 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, my dear.

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, my boy?

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 will not be in vain.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome, doctor.

We are having coffee now.

And some visitors.

There appears to be a slight 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.

Hello!

- Get him up.

- Raise the bell.

We're pulling you up!

Dr. Elson!

Hello!

Can you hear me? Answer me!

Hello!

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.

Lee, 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.

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