Godzilla Returns (15 page)

The mood in the newsroom was grim, but Nick couldn't help himself - he had to make a crack about the anchorman whom he detested. It was practically a compulsion.

"Y'know, that guy makes a nuclear-powered, mutated prehistoric monster that breathes fire sound
boring
."

Brian tuned out his roommate's remark and listened to the broadcast.

"...Since Godzilla came ashore on the outskirts of Fukuyama, the monster's progress has been unopposed," the anchorman reported. "But there are now unconfirmed reports that the military is being mobilized -"

On the screen, Max Hulse paused suddenly, and touched his earphone. "I've just been told that we're getting a live feed from Blackthorn Adams and our INN camera team on the scene. Can you hear me, Blackthorn?"

The image shifted. Blackthorn Adams stood on a rooftop of an industrial building. He clutched a hand-held microphone. He wore a suit, but his tie was askew.

"I can hear you, Max," Adams replied. He looked into the camera. "I'm standing on the roof of the Ohashi Motors plant, less than half a mile from Onomichi."

The camera shifted position, away from Adams. The lens scanned the horizon, finally centering on a gray-black blob. Suddenly, the picture came into focus.

It was Godzilla! The monster was wading through a group of industrial buildings. As Brian watched, Godzilla's tail lashed out, and a factory with three huge smokestacks collapsed like a pile of dishes. Flames erupted around the monster's feet.

The image was doubly eerie because there was no sound. Then Blackthorn Adams's grim voice broke in.

"Godzilla is approaching from the south," he said. "Within moments, Ohashi Motors assembly lines number three and four will be rubble."

Again the camera image blurred, then sharpened. A telescopic shot of Godzilla's face filled the entire television screen. Brian almost jumped backward. He'd already had a few nightmares about Godzilla since that day on the
Kongo-Maru
... nightmares filled with double rows of man-sized teeth, cold, reptilian eyes, and blue radioactive fire.

"There goes the Conceptia!" Nick observed, breaking Brian's concentration.

"The what?" Brian asked.

"Ohashi Motors' answer to the Saturn." Nick replied. "That's where they built it - that pile of rubble to the left."

Just then, Everett Endicott came into the newsroom and approached the four of them.

"Come with me," he said.

* * *

"You've done well as a team so far," Endicott said when they were all seated in his executive office. "Even you, Mr. Gordon..."

Nick grinned.

"That's why I'm not happy with the network's decision." The portly news chief sighed.

Brian, Nick, Yoshi, and even May were all ears.

"The bosses back in the States want me to break you up," Endicott said. "We're stretched pretty thin here, and our coverage is suffering for it -"

There was a knock at the door. May rose and opened it. To everyone's surprise, Lieutenant Emiko Takado stepped into the room. As usual, she wore her military uniform smartly. Nick, Brian, and Yoshi greeted her warmly. After a moment, Endicott continued.

"I want Nick and Yoshi to accompany Lieutenant Takado to the front lines. Your job is to cover the upcoming battle - if there
is
one."

Yoshi smiled, anticipating more award-winning footage. Nick swallowed hard, surprised and happy with this new development. He smiled at Lieutenant Takado. "Traveling with Lieutenant Takado will be
my
pleasure," he said radiating charm.

May's face remained stony.

"Brian here has brought a lot of attention to INN in the last week," Endicott stated, placing his meaty hand on Brian's shoulder. The young man's face reddened.

Since footage of the harpooning had been beamed all over the world, Brian Shimura's name had become a household word. After returning to Tokyo, Brian had given countless interviews, including a live chat with Ted Koppel on
Nightline
via satellite.

"Because of his sudden fame," Endicott continued, "the network brass wants Brian to cover the debates in the Japanese Diet, starting with Dr. Nobeyama's speech tomorrow morning.

"I hate to break up a successful team, but for now, that's the way it is. I'm sorry."

After Endicott dismissed them, the group gathered in the outer office to say their farewells.

"Take care, roomie," Nick said, slapping Brian's arm. "You won't have Lieutenant Takado here to watch your back!"

Yoshi bowed. "I will see you when we return," he said simply, and then headed for the elevators.

May and Nick did not share goodbyes. But when Nick finally departed a few minutes later, in animated conversation with the lovely Japanese military officer, May stared daggers at the pretty lieutenant's back.

June 7, 1998, 10:46 A.M.
The Diet building
Tokyo, Japan

The Japanese Diet members had been arguing for over two hours. Even with the services of a first-rate translator, Brian couldn't understand half of what was going on. All he'd gotten out of the contentious meeting was a headache. He was bored and disgusted - and this was only the first round of talks!

I guess Nick is right about one thing - politics is the same in every country
, he thought cynically.

The main event - the speech by Dr. Nobeyama - was already over an hour late. Brian shifted in his seat and readjusted his earphones. In his ear, the translator droned on. More news about the environmental organization Greenpeace declaring Godzilla an endangered species.

That speech was followed by a military briefing. A general in the Japanese Self-Defense Force proposed using tank shells filled with poison or a deadly disease. The shells would act like hypodermic needles, pumping a deadly substance into the monster's system. Brian felt a shiver go up his spine.
Disease released in a populated area!
he thought.
This is crazy
.

A second general, a short, stocky man with a shaven head, proposed another type of tank shell. This one would be filled with cadmium - a substance that is often used to extinguish nuclear reactor fires.

That sounds promising, but will it work?
Brian wondered.
Nick would know
, he concluded, missing his friend's knowledge of the sciences.

Suddenly, a wave of excitement rippled through the Diet chambers. Brian sat up and craned his neck. At the far end of the room, he saw a group of officials - some in military uniform - escorting Dr. Nobeyama to a table.

Brian gasped. The aged scientist looked even older and more frail than the last time Brian had seen him.
This crisis is killing him...

Finally, the officer at the podium ended his speech. A third high-ranking military officer followed. He gave a brief statement about the defenses in and around Tokyo. He also stated that the special cadmium tank shells were ready. The officer concluded by saying that he hoped Dr. Nobeyama could suggest a poison that would kill Godzilla.

The scientist sat stony-faced, listening to the military briefings. Finally, Dr. Nobeyama rose. He was led to the center of the chamber by a soldier wearing a spit-and-polish uniform and white gloves. The room fell silent.

Dr. Nobeyama looked out at the audience and bowed slightly. Then, in a voice that was almost a whisper, he spoke to the rulers of Japan and, via satellite, to the people of the world.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began. "I have presented my final report on the monster Godzilla to the Japanese government and the military leaders. This report, I am sad to say, is being ignored. For
that
reason, I now must present my findings to the world, in the hope that sanity will prevail."

He paused dramatically and shuffled the papers in his hand.

"In my opinion, a military attack on Godzilla would be a waste of time. It will only result in senseless loss of life and more destruction of property.

"All the evidence I have unearthed about Godzilla points to only one conclusion. The monster is immune to bombs, bullets, missiles, and rockets. Godzilla is, for all intents and purposes, indestructible!"

Angry shouts greeted Dr. Nobeyama's startling words. Then the whole Diet erupted in chaos. At the center of it all, the old man stood his ground defiantly.

Dr. Nobeyama continued his speech, though many of the voices tried to shout him down.

"Godzilla is not a natural being," he said. "The creature is not a product of evolution or natural selection. Godzilla was born in the radioactive fire of the hydrogen bomb - he has mutated beyond anything we understand.

"Bombs will confuse Godzilla, missiles will make him angry. But no weapon, except perhaps a direct attack using a nuclear bomb, can possibly harm him. Because nuclear bombs cannot be used near population centers, we must stop this useless attack on Godzilla before it begins."

More shouts and angry denunciations were heard. The chairman pounded his gavel and demanded order.

"I have presented my report, and other scientists agree with my conclusions. Attack Godzilla if you must, but be aware that the creature cannot be killed by conventional weapons!"

With that, Dr. Nobeyama gathered up his papers and slowly made his way out of the crowded Diet chambers. Angry shouts followed him.

Brian wanted to rush to Dr. Nobeyama's side, but he knew that the old man would be busy briefing other scientists. So he stayed, and listened to speech after speech, for the next three hours.

Finally, it was decided that the Japanese Self-Defense Force would launch an attack on Godzilla that very evening, using the cadmium shells. Troops were mobilized. Equipment was moving into position. Everything was on schedule.

At dusk, the army would attack.

But will these cadmium shells really work?
Brian wondered again.

* * *

"Cadmium shells will never work," Nick Gordon declared. "Cadmium is fine if you want to put out a nuclear fire. But it won't stop a nuclear chain reaction - which is what Godzilla
is!
"

"What makes you so certain Dr. Nobeyama is correct?" Lieutenant Takado asked. "Many scientists don't agree with him."

"But
you
saw the film." Nick argued. "Wonder Lizard heals instantly. He
can't
be killed."

"But Dr. Nobeyama's work is still theoretical," the lieutenant argued. "Science still has limitations -"

"Science has nothing to
do
with it," Nick interrupted passionately. "This attack is all about politics, not science."

"
Hai!
" Yoshi said in agreement. "Even when politicians don't know what to do, they must do
something
to justify their existence."

The three of them sat in Lieutenant Takado's tent which was lit by a single kerosene lantern. The tent was set up only a mile away from the flat plain where, at dawn, tanks would confront Godzilla.

Even as they spoke, the special cadmium shells were being delivered to tank commanders in the field.

All around them, Nick, Yoshi, and Lieutenant Takado could hear the sounds of the upcoming battle. Tanks and artillery rumbled toward the first line of defense, where bulldozers were carving defensive positions. Fuel and supply trucks filled with the specially designed ammunition followed the heavy armor to the front.

Overhead, Pave Low helicopters, equipped with special night-vision devices, circled the dark skies. Their job was to watch for Godzilla's approach and warn the army if the creature charged direction.

Periodically, the tent's radio crackled with situation updates and the latest reports on Godzilla's movements. There was excitement, and apprehension, in the air. Every nerve was on edge. No one knew what the morning would bring. The question was debated all over the camp, and in every tank, truck, and aircraft.

Would the new cadmium shells stop Godzilla?

Finally, after listening to another update from the choppers, Nick rose and stretched. "I'm going to hit the sleeping bag," he announced.

"Yes," Lieutenant Takado said. "We should all get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a momentous day."

* * *

Hundreds of miles away, in Tokyo, Brian sat with his uncle, Admiral Willis, and a dejected Dr. Nobeyama. The mood was grim. Dr. Nobeyama was convinced that the cadmium shells would fail. The admiral tended to agree with him.

Worse still, Dr. Nobeyama was certain that the cadmium would force Godzilla to find and consume a nuclear reactor core to replenish his strength. The resulting release of nuclear radiation might become an even bigger threat than Godzilla himself.

"But if the cadmium shells won't work," Brian asked, "then what can we do? Is humanity helpless?"

Dr. Nobeyama and Admiral Willis exchanged glances. Then Dr. Nobeyama spoke. "There is a glimmer of hope," he replied.

"You've found a weakness?" Brian asked excitedly.

"Perhaps," the Japanese scientist said noncommittally. "But it is only a theory..."

"Please explain it to me," Brian pleaded. The old man paused, his face unreadable. Then, finally, he nodded.

"There is a theory that dinosaurs did not become extinct millions of years ago. Some paleontologists believe the dinosaurs evolved because of climactic changes."

"The theory is that some species of dinosaurs evolved into modern birds," Brian interjected. "Isn't that correct?"

"Yes," Dr. Nobeyama answered. "You are correct."

"But how can an obscure theory on dinosaur evolution help us now?" Brian pressed.

"Through the equipment on the harpoon you fired, we learned much about Godzilla's physical nature," the scientist said. "We managed to get an EEG. That is a reading of Godzilla's brain waves. We learned that Godzilla's brain is very similar to a modern bird's brain - though vastly larger, of course."

"You see, son." Admiral Willis spoke up. "Dr. Nobeyama believes that Godzilla may respond to the same sounds that a bird responds to. And that's good news for us!"

"How?" Brian said, feeling hopeful for the first time since he had come face-to-face with the monster called Godzilla.

"Do you remember all that trouble last year - about the bird sanctuary near the U.S. Naval Base in Okinawa?"