“Dad?”
The radio went silent.
Maya looked toward the fighter.
Ethan finally answered.
“Yeah, buddy.”
Leo leaned toward the microphone.
“I like dinosaurs.”
Ethan laughed.
His laugh was shaky.
“I love dinosaurs.”
Maya closed her eyes.
Liar.
Ethan had hated museums.
Leo smiled.
“What’s your favorite?”
There was a long pause.
“Whichever one is yours.”
“Triceratops.”
“Then definitely Triceratops.”
Maya wiped her cheek.
Torres suddenly pointed forward.
“Lights.”
Everyone looked.
A string of lights appeared on the horizon.
Reeves frowned.
“That isn’t an island.”
Ethan said:
“Correct.”
As they approached, the shape became visible.
A massive vessel.
Flat deck.
Runway lights.
Reeves stared.
“Aircraft carrier?”
“Modified sea platform,” Ethan answered. “Classified until about thirty seconds ago.”
Torres shook her head.
“A commercial jet can’t land there.”
Maya examined the deck length.
He was right.
Too short.
Then Ethan said:
“You’re not landing.”
Maya frowned.
“What?”
“Look beyond it.”
