Cradle by Arthur C. Clarke & Gentry Lee

A top secret missile--that vanishes in midflight. A strange golden trident--that changes shape. An underwater cave--guarded by whales... 
   There's something on the ocean floor off Key West. Something powerful. Something terrifying. Something human--and utterly alien. Something that might destroy our future.
   Something that's about to be found.

CRADLE

Arthur C. Clarke's brilliant imagination now spawns a spine-tingling modern adventure of suspense, intrigue, and passionate drama...one that ranges from the unguessable past to the edge of tomorrow, from the vast ocean of stars to the bottom of the sea. And one that forces military spies, warring high-tech treasure hunters, and a beautiful, ambitious reporter to confront a horrifying challenge pivotal to world destiny--or human extinction.
   Miami photojournalist Carol Dawson arrives in Key West to cover a whale beaching. The vast gentle animals have been tragically casting themselves ashore, their navigational insects gone haywire. But Carol's real story is to investigate rumours that the U.S. Navy misfired and Lost the prototype for its new Panther missile. Using a state-of-the-art ocean "telescope," Carol hopes to grab the Panther and expose a Navy cover-up.
   She covertly charters the diving boat Florida Queen, captained by Nick Williams, a woman-hating Ivy League dropout still scarred by a traumatic youthful affair. But Nick has his own agenda. Cheated out of his share of a sunken treasure, Nick wants to get even with his ex-partners--a kinky pair whose s-m games turn lethal when their secret gold hoard is threatened.
   And the Navy's investigator, glory-hungry Lt. Richard Todd, is convinced that Carol, Nick, and Nick's amiable crewman, Troy Jefferson, are Soviet agents who must be stopped at any cost.
   Then Carol discovers underwater tracks, a disappearing reef, and a hole in the sea bed--where the Panther should be. Suddenly Carol, Nick, and Troy are dragged into the heart of a terrifying unearthly secret. And from that moment, nowhere is safe.
   Trapped in a clash of conspiracies; pursued by killers, military police, and a relentless alien force; the three adventurers must solve a mystery beyond comprehension. And one wrong hunch, one wrong deduction, one wrong move will trigger the start of human annihilation--even if the thing beneath the sea is not evil. . .
   Because, even in space, the road to Hell may be paved to unknown seas.

Genres: Science Fiction - Adventure - Fantasy - Space
Condition: Very Good
Published: First printing August 1988 by Warner Books.
Pages: 293
ISBN: 0446513792
Weight: 615g