Then the captain had the idea of owning his own vessel and chartering it to the Syndicate. They had been very understanding and had willingly provided the funds to purchase the much larger vessel. With the new capacity, business picked up and their voyages became much longer. They had to look the other way more frequently now but had never had any problems, “Up until now at any rate!” the demoralised captain muttered.
Alex listened without interrupting the man’s flow as he unburdened his story but now it was Alex’s turn. He had heard similar stories before. The Syndicate happily trade on any weakness to ensure loyalty. The formula for success within the organisation was simple: look after us and the rewards are generous; failure however is not an option to be considered, its fatal consequences too dreadful to contemplate.
“Well Captain, it sure looks as though you’re in the shit now doesn’t it!” Alex pointed as the first container of weapons was lifted from the hold by the ship’s own derrick and then traversed swaying erratically to the side of the ship. Each one had been fixed with a small charge of explosive to be detonated as they entered the water. It would blow a hole in the containers big enough to make them sink rapidly to the irretrievable depths below.
“We wouldn’t want any of those containers floating about the ocean as a danger to shipping would we?” Alex smiled contentedly.
“They’ll probably kill me for this you know!”
“I’d say they certainly will and they won’t be quick about it either! Tell me,” Alex changed the subject suddenly, “about a year or so ago did you handle a cargo of gold bullion out of Manila, accompanied by four Singapore business men?”
The captain was obviously surprised by the question.
“How could you know about that?” He sat upright in his chair. “Are you Syndicate?” His anxiety was clear.
“No I’m not Syndicate. If I were, do you think I’d be dumping this cargo into the ocean?” He leaned forward. “You see I have made it my business to know a great deal about the Syndicate’s various activities and intend to purge their evil regime from the face of the earth. So consider this to be your lucky day as you have the choice of helping me or otherwise.” Alex folded his arms. “You see we have placed magnetic mines under the hull of your ship. I can detonate them any time I choose. You are only here because the captain of the tug insisted that I respect the natural law of the sea. Otherwise I would have blown you all to bits, without so much as a minute’s thought.” He paused. “Now what happened to that cargo and the passengers?”
By now the captain was totally demoralised his dreams of sailing the oceans of the world before retirement in relative comfort were all in tatters. Numb from the sudden impact of it all he muttered barely audibly, “They were transhipped.”
“What do you mean transhipped?” Alex raised his voice.
“We had a sudden change of orders. We were ordered to rendezvous with another vessel and transferred the gold and the passengers to them. It was one of those fast ocean-going junks. I’m pretty sure it was the one operated by the group known as The Yellow River Pirates — the Syndicate usually use them for anything that is shipped to or from China.” He looked up, almost unaware of what he had been saying. “I never learned about their final destination; in fact I never asked.” He sat up and looked more positively at Alex. “You should know, we’re not encouraged to ask questions about Syndicate business.”
The first charge was detonated as the container dropped into the water; it floated for a few seconds then slipped gurgling below the oily calm sea.
“Captain, you can see that I’m not bluffing.” Alex headed for the door. “I’m going to give some thought to what we do with you and your ship. I suggest that you sit here quietly until I return.” He gave “a keep an eye on him” nod towards John and went down to the deck as the next container emerged from the hold and swung into the air.
8
With Sophie rescued from the nightclub and safely packed into the rear of the pickup, they hurried back to the old fishing harbour where Remi and Marion waited nervously.
Oscar jumped from the pickup, hardly waiting for it to come to a complete stop.
“We found her!” he greeted Marion triumphantly. “Greg as well.”
He looked back as Greg, still stripped to the waist and the angry red weals from flogging showing across his shoulders and back, eased himself from the pickup.
“My God what have you been up to?” Marion gasped, staring in horror at the blood stained men standing before her. Sophie, assisted by Annie, emerged next from the vehicle and fell tearfully into Remi’s open arms.
Annie was still holding the child on her hip as Dick stepped forward and unconsciously slipped his arm around her waist.
“What a bloody mess,” he whispered close to her ear and then led them across to the boat, still rocking gently at its mooring.
Greg borrowed the pickup and drove the others back to the bungalows. “We’ll have time to clear our things before any of Len’s pals figure out what happened back at the club,” Greg reasoned as they pulled into the drive. “Quick as you like though — no point in taking any chances eh?” he grinned encouragingly.
In less than ten minutes they were assembled back at the pickup with their cases.
“We’re going straight to the airport.” Remi looked at Sophie, still trembling with shock. “No amount of gold could persuade us to stay a minute longer.”
He hugged Sophie, trying to rekindle her confidence. “What do you want to do Mama?” He turned and mild challenged his mother.
Marion, torn between her family and the excitement she felt for Oscar, was confused for a moment.
“Will you be OK if I stay?” She looked From Remi to Oscar for approval.
Oscar smiled confidently and nodded his head slowly, barely able to disguise the sudden thrill of her decision.
Remi understood and smiled weakly.
“Just be careful then and you better be sure to look after her!” He raised his voice addressing Oscar.
After showering and changing into some clean clothes Greg volunteered to drive them to the airport. “So let’s get moving, I’ll drop the others off at the boat and then take you to the airport. OK?”
They sat in total silence as Greg drove them back to the fish quay. Oscar and Marion got out with their luggage; Greg turned the pickup and headed away without further delay.
Oscar and Marion were left standing by their cases feeling a bit like refugees until Annie appeared on deck, still holding the child.
“Come aboard, it’s going to be a bit cramped but we’ll survive!” she welcomed them cheerfully.
They climbed on board. Annie moved close to Marion.
“I’ve put you two together in the double aft cabin; there isn’t much headroom but the bed is big. I assume that’s in order?” she winked.
Marion smiled softly, raising her eyebrows in silent confirmation.
“I’m taking over Dick’s cabin with the baby. He can share the twin bunks with Greg.” Annie was in her element; gone was the humble native girl bowing to the will of her captain.
Dick appeared from his cabin “Were moving to a little bay about three miles down the coast. We’re meeting a couple of Australian divers there — I told Greg where it is, so he’ll rendezvous with us there when he returns from the airport.”
Dick did not elaborate and went up to the wheelhouse to prepare his precious boat for an immediate departure.
Oscar left the ladies and joined Dick.
“I think I’ll help up here — seems as though Annie has everything under control down there.”
“You’re dead right, once she gets her teeth into organising things you can’t stop her,” Dick agreed philosophically as he turned the ignition keys. The sound of the powerful engines exploding into life drowned out any other conversation.