Leviathan(14)

Silent, Frank waited.

“I want to know the latest data concerning Leviathan's development.” Adler smiled. “I understand computers, but I prefer personal input from the source. It is an ultimately superior method for evaluating data.”

Frank stared a moment, spoke rapidly. “Leviathan is now sixteen feet tall and thirty-five feet long with fifteen feet of that in its tail. Its weight is approximately 12,000 pounds and it seems to have reached its maximum size. Internal resting body temperature is 326 degrees without the temperature rise ignited by kinetic energy release for—”

Adler abruptly lifted a hand. “Excuse me, Doctor. Explain this creature's ability to release kinetic energy to me again, and the relationship of the energy release with Leviathan's body temperature. I'm still not certain that I understand it.”

A reluctant pause, and Frank spoke. “Leviathan has vertebrae disks that continually contract, Mr. Adler, building unreleased potential chemical energy in semi-muscular non-Newtonian fluid sacs located between the vertebrae themselves. The vertebrae sacs also contain high catalyst molarity enzymes and menantinic, an enzyme that increases hemoglobin levels and euthrocytes in the blood stream. When Leviathan releases the enzymes and they are absorbed by specific muscle tissue that is already at peak tension in preparation for the event, a chemical reaction converts the tension into explosive kinetic energy where—”

“Like a dolphin,” Adler confirmed.

“Yeah,” Frank continued. “Like a dolphin does before he leaps from the water. A dolphin stores kinetic energy in its spine and then releases it all at once, propelling itself forward with greater force than it could have generated by simple muscular contraction.”

“Yes, I see,” Adler gestured. “Good. Go on.”

Frank stared a moment. “But with Leviathan, the kinetic release of stored energy is electro-neural and chemical in nature and therefore highly exothermic. When the reaction reaches a critical stage it increases the creature's surface temperature from its normal 326 degrees to slightly over 600 degrees in the first 76 hundredths of a second.”

“Incredible ...” Adler muttered, looking away. “Absolutely incredible.” He focused on Frank. “But how does the creature survive such an intense temperature? I don't understand this. How can its blood not boil at such intolerable heat?”

“Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit,” Frank said, “unless it's under pressure. And the more pressure the water is under, the higher the temperature has to be before it will boil. Leviathan's blood pressure is approximately 300 over 270. So that's enough pressure to keep the water in its blood from boiling or evaporating at 326 degrees. And any blood damaged by excessive heat shock is quickly being replenished with high doses of menatopoietic in the blood stream, which is regulated by the upgraded hypothalamus in the cerebral cortex. Besides, Leviathan's mutated cellular makeup is altered sufficiently to place the heat vaporization point well outside of kinetic energy release parameters. The native cellular structure of Leviathan's vascular system is almost equal to copper or bronze in tensile strength, so the veins and tissues sustain the stress pretty easily.”

“Absolutely incredible,” Adler repeated, amazed out of character. “But surely ... surely when the creature's internal temperature reaches 600 degrees during the ... ah ... ah ...”

“Kinetic energy release.”

“Yes,” Adler nodded, “during the kinetic energy release. Yes. Surely then the creature's blood would boil. It would die.”

“No,” Frank shook his head, “Leviathan's blood doesn't boil because the internal rise in body temperature only lasts a split second. And that's not long enough to superheat its entire circulatory system. Although a split second is more than long enough for...”

Adler appeared to struggle with his enthusiasm. “Long enough for what, Doctor?”

Frank hesitated. It seemed to him that the answer was obvious, considering the purpose of the project. Then he decided that Adler had asked the question simply so he could enjoy the answer. “Long enough to launch an attack, Mr. Adler,” he replied. “Just like it's neurally programmed to do.”

Adler smiled. “And what is the speed of Leviathan's attack?”

Frank felt an internal distance from the discussion. “Normally Leviathan charges at approximately 95 miles per hour, using only its hind legs. We've timed its attacks from one end of the cavern to the other. But with the kinetic energy release, it can cover approximately 1,000 feet at 145 miles per hour on all four legs before it exhausts the catalytic enzymes and adrenaline in its bloodstream. Then it has to move at normal speed for the rest of the attack. But a peripheral danger of the kinetic energy release is that Leviathan's surface temperature of 600 degrees will cause anything in its immediate physical proximity to burst into flames. Even if it doesn't touch anything. The shock of the ambient temperature suddenly increasing to over 600 degrees Fahrenheit will cause all low grade materials to shatter instantly, creating a virtual sphere of destruction. There's just... there's just too much heat.”