The floor below the roof where they had entered was Bill’s private indoor swimming pool area, complete with palm trees, water gardens with trickling waterfalls and exotic statues. One could lie on plush sun-lounges gazing through thick crystal-clear Navilon walls to the sun drenched canals during the day, and the glittering exciting lights of Surfers Paradise at night. It was a world protected from the elements, but still offered the atmosphere of the seaside resort. The western wall of this area contained a fully equipped gymnasium, sauna and change rooms.
People remarked that Bill was entirely mad to have sold his mansion on the Nerang River to move to a high-rise apartment, yet once they saw the Phoenix apartment, they agreed he had made a wise choice. To Nick it was a bad reminder of Laura’s Penthouse in Washington, and like that apartment everything was highly technical and voice operated. The only difference being the addition of the large swimming pool. He experienced a pang of misery and at the same time one of astonishment. It seems money can buy anything, he thought, as his eyes fell incredulously upon the fully stocked cocktail bar in the centre of the swimming pool, suspended above the water and held in place by thick steel wires from the ceiling. Part of the Navilon ceiling above the pool opened up on voice command to allow the sunlight to stream into the room by day and the stars on a balmy night.
Four floors below on the twenty-second floor where the restaurant was located, Nick could see the Navilon-domed, steel walkway radiating out in its cross formation over the highway, joining the other three towers at their shopping arcade levels.
‘This is just the top floor, there are two more to his Penthouse.’ Karen explained.
They took the lift to the main penthouse floor, missing one floor on the way.
‘What’s on that floor?’ Nick asked.
‘That’s the sleeping quarters and guests’ apartment. You need to have a special code to allow the lift to stop there.’
‘I wouldn’t have believed it unless I saw it with my own eyes. I bet there’s not many to beat this anywhere in the world.’ Nick exclaimed.
The lift halted and the doors opened onto a luxurious vestibule that many five-star hotels would be proud to own. Two elegant crimson velvet lounge suites facing each other and centred on an exquisite gold hand-woven rug, greeted them. Matching gold glass-covered tables squatted either side of each lounge, carrying huge gold-gilt vases filled with dazzling bouquets of fresh flowers. The gleaming black marble floor and mirrored walls reflected elaborate, gold-framed original works of art, pinpointed by spotlights from above.
‘Brian sent you to rescue us, no doubt.’ Bill laughed heartily as he greeted them. ‘Didn’t know you could fly a Veto Nick, thought you were a sea captain.’
‘There’s a lot you don’t know about Nick.’ Karen said as she kissed his cheek.
‘Naah.You remember my mate Graham Bronson? He’s the pilot.’ Nick said, shaking Bills hand. ‘He’ll be back at two o’clock to pick us all up.’
‘Is he now?’ Bill looked at his watch. ‘It’s just after eleven, so we can have a leisurely lunch. It’ll give Veronica a chance to exercise her culinary skills, the servants have all scarpered.’
‘Be serious Bill.’ Nick interjected. ‘We’re here to get you and Veronica out. You know we only have about six hours. Where is she by the way?’
‘She’s upstairs trying to decide what designer clothes to pack. I feel a fool for not believing you before.’ He sighed. ‘Thank God Brian carried the flag, otherwise I would’ve really missed out on the story of a lifetime. Brian told me he’s going to fly out to sea with a camera crew.’
Nick spun around. ‘What! Bloody fools! If they get caught in the downwash they’ll all be killed.’
‘Oh my God, Nick. Call him now! You’ve got to tell him the danger.’ Karen cried.
Nick was already poking at his sat-phone. ‘Shit. I can’t get a connection!’
‘Stupid bastard! I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you before Nick.’ Bill said. ‘I guess all these years as a journalist has made me a bit sceptical, I don’t believe anything until I see it. I taught Brian to be the same, he’ll believe it when he can get it on camera.’
Nick tried calling Brian several times. He flung himself down on Bill’s couch and hung his head, he had never felt more defeated. His brother could die and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Quietness filled the room.
Bill broke the silence. ‘This building’s built like an oil derrick with foundations of steel deep into the earth. Do you think it can survive this tsunami?’
Nick raised his head and there were tears in his chocolate eyes. ‘I’m not sure. It’d take an exceptionally strong building to withstand the force of the water heading this way. I spoke to Wolf earlier, he said it was terrifying at sea, so it’s going to be ten times worse on land.
I remember a tsunami in the North Sea a while back, it smashed into a breakwater and demolished thousands of tons of steel and cement in seconds. They measured it at around seventeen thousand pounds a square foot.
Building techniques have changed since the sea started rising. This building might survive. Those walkways serve a duel purpose, beside providing access, they’re made of heavy steel to brace the buildings.’
‘Okay, we’ll assume it can take it, will we be able to move back in here afterwards?’
Nick sighed. ‘I can’t tell you that Bill. We don’t know how high the sea level will rise, or for how long. There won’t be any power or water supply, no communications.
We’re wasting time speculating. We need to get your things together and get you to Karen’s house. It’s going to be a little crowded there, but safe. We’ve already dropped in supplies but I’m sure you’ll want to take along as much as you can, so let’s get moving. We’ll start in the kitchen. Collect up all the non-perishable food you can find and you’ll need plenty of warm clothes and blankets.’
Nick sent Karen up to the next floor to join Veronica to collect the clothing and bedding items. They worked for two hours, hauling blanket bundles of supplies up to the locker room on the roof top. It was now one o’clock and Graham was due back in one hour.
Veronica had made lunch; a delicious meal of crab and lobster. ‘May as well use it all up, can’t take this with us.’ She declared. Bill opened a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and they settled down to eat.
Bill had never seen Veronica so casual. She looked quite beautiful dressed in a silk trouser suit of light-coloured apricot. She wore her golden-blonde hair loose, falling gently around her pale fine face. For a woman in her early fifties she was still stunning, having maintained her body like that of a thirty-year old. Like many women with fair skin she had kept out of the damaging Australian sun, and had been rewarded with soft, line-free skin. He felt an odd sense of pride seeing her like this. For once she wasn’t sniping at him, and with the air’s and graces put aside, he was beginning to see her in a new light. She was calm and serene, not at all daunted by the drama unfolding around her.
Karen refused to join them to eat and paced around the room punching Brian’s number in her sat-phone. In between trying to reach him she stood before the windows tapping her feet and fighting back tears. Nick tried other numbers with the same result.
‘I don’t know how you two can eat at a time like this.’ Nick said to Bill and Veronica who were seated at their elegant chrome and glass dining suite, with a silver candelabra centrepiece and their meal a banquet before them. Veronica had brought out all the delicacies she could find, together with her finest crystal that she saved for special occasions. The dining suite seated ten people and was one of Veronica’s prized possessions, having imported it from Italy herself at great expense. It reflected all the grandeur of fine Italian craftsmanship. She had paid a local interior designer a fortune to construct a special circular revolving floor to carry it. The dining room was situated on the south-east corner of the building, offering floor-to-ceiling Navilon windows. Their dinner parties were always the talk of the town, as special invited guests marvelled at the changing view as they dined. To Nick it was just another of the astonishing things this apartment revealed. He could imagine the fine dinner parties past; the important guests and the sumptuous meals presented by immaculately dressed servants.