Aftershock by Sam Fisher Read Free Book Online Page B

outside.’
    A few minutes later, the limo pulled onto the main highway leading from the airport to the capital city, Suva. It was raining hard, drenching the lush tropical forest that lined the highway left and right. The sky was heavy with dark grey, low cloud.
    â€˜This is supposed to be our drier season,’ Michael Xavier commented wryly. ‘But of course none of that matters a bit where we’re going!’ He handed a brown plastic folder to each of the visitors. In the back of the limo, the three men were seated in oversized leather seats. Each of the guests had a drink on walnut side tables attached to their chairs. For Harry, this was a godsend – he hadn’t had anything alcoholic for almost an hour.
    â€˜You’ve both signed the contract agreeing to the press embargo, so I’m happy to let you see these now. They contain the basic facts behind the Neptune. Let me talk you through them.
    â€˜The Neptune is the world’s first true sub-aquatic hotel. It’s been built at a depth of 100 metres, 12 kilometres off the coast on the edge of the continental shelf, in what is known as the neritic zone. Half a kilometre beyond the Neptune, the ocean floor starts to drop away almost a thousand metres. The reason this location was chosen is because 97 per cent of marine life lives in the neritic zone, and the variety of this life off Fiji is particularly remarkable.
    â€˜If you turn to the schematic, gentlemen. On page seven, you’ll find the layout and stats for the hotel. The Neptune is a complex of interconnected domes made from superstrong micro-alloyed glass. There are three main domes: Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Each is 60 metres high and 50 metres in diameter. Each dome is topped with a thick metal cap. Alpha contains the main docking area and air locks for receiving the submarines that transport guests from the surface. Above this is the reception area, and on the top level is a restaurant with a wraparound view of the ocean. Beta consists of three floors of luxury rooms on the periphery of the dome, each with a view to the ocean. At the top of the dome is the Presidential Suite, more fish bowl than hotel room, actually. Dome Gamma also has four floors. On the first level is an enormous casino. On the second floor we have a conference suite. Above that is a 100-seater theatre, a cinema and two restaurants.’ He glanced quickly at his guests. ‘And on the top floor, there’s an incredible pool and more restaurants. The administration centre and the power station and communications hubs are housed in separate, smaller domes linked to the main hotel complex. You can see them on the edge of the diagram. Any questions?’

    â€˜This is amazing,’ Harry said, genuinely impressed. ‘They sent some stuff over from London, but you’ve been understandably circumspect about what you’ve let out. I never dreamed it would be on this scale.’
    â€˜Thank you,’ Xavier replied, clearly delighted. ‘And, yes, we’ve had to be very careful. We want to make a big splash. If you’ll excuse the terrible pun.’
    â€˜What about safety mechanisms?’ Terry asked. ‘Is it completely self-contained?’
    â€˜No, that would be too risky. The hotel has a double redundant backup system for power, oxygen and communications. But on top of this, it is linked to the mainland by a submarine cable for emergency power and communications.’
    â€˜So what’s the budget for this?’
    Michael Xavier took a deep breath. ‘Five billion euros.’
    Harry whistled. ‘Christ! And how was that raised?’ He knew the basics from the rather scant file Terry had compiled, but wanted more, and from the horse’s mouth.
    â€˜A consortium called BHL – Bathoscope Holdings Limited – owns the project. There are 600 shareholders – some very big players, but quite a few small investors. The complex was designed by Felix