9
The Syndicate leader welcomed his partner.
“Thank you for coming around at such short notice.” In spite of his black mood he was being unusually considerate. “Everything that could go wrong with this dammed arms shipment seems to have happened so if we are to salvage something from the mess, we urgently need to agree our next move without delay.” He was not accustomed to such indecision.
The partner sat slowly and deliberately into the luxuriously upholstered chair.
“I imagine the gentlemen in the Philippines are a bit pissed off?” He tried a weak smile.
“Yes I think you can safely say that,” the leader agreed, trying to mimic the lighter humour.
“Well Carl,” he looked towards the plate glass window — it was extremely rare for him to use the leader’s Christian name, “We are both extremely wealthy and we have a completely clean sheet with every authority,” he asserted himself. “Yes, I am also convinced that this is finally the right time to slip silently away from the business.” He returned his gaze to look directly at the leader. “I’ll warrant those crazed fanatics out in the Philippines will use considerable energy trying to exact vengeance on us.” He smiled confidently. “Our prime advantage has always been that they don’t know who or where we are and it must always remain so. Fortunately the fact that we are the only ones left makes keeping that secret so much easier.”
“You’re right of course but it peeves me to think that SONIC may have won the last round.” The Syndicate leader stood up and paced the floor, his steps falling silently in the deep piled carpet. “I just wish we could leave them with a bloody nose somehow eh.” He continued to pace the room, deep in thought.
“Did you have something in mind?” the partner asked inquisitively.
“Yes I do; firstly we make an immediate refund of all the cash that Abu Sayyaf paid for the arms plus we add a further sum equivalent to fifty percent of the total value as compensation.”
The partner made to speak.
The leader held up his hand. “At the same time,” he continued uninterrupted, “we identify the people actually responsible for destroying their munitions. That I believe will take the heat away from us.”
The partner was bursting to ask how such a proposal could be justified in spite of knowing from experience that the leader would reveal the answer in his own time.
“Secondly you will remember the Golden Lily people who handled the gold for us last year? Now I have been advised that they have fitted out a full dive and search mission looking for a World War Two submarine alleged to be loaded with gold bullion. They have been searching for weeks without any success. Now, according to our informer in Manila, the two so called businessmen he had in his office last week were the same people who found and so generously handed over the gold in the Philippines last year. Thirdly, we let these people find the gold, possibly even let them bring it to the surface, and then we sell the location to the Golden Lily. Fortunately Kyoto, the man we negotiated with last year, is personally in charge of their expedition, so we know, based on his track record, that he will honour the contract. The price I propose will be a sum equivalent to twice the value of the lost arms!” He raised his eyebrows and stared at the partner. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s brilliant and we must do it,” he respectfully agreed. “Promise me one thing though.”
“And what would that be?” Carl queried.
“That this really will be the final act?”
“Don’t worry, I guarantee it will be the final act. After this we retire!” He turned and looked out of the window as he thought to himself, Yes and then you’ll be the only one left you knows my identity! So perhaps not quite the final act!
Alex received the call from Hans just as he was preparing for bed.
“Sorry to call so late but I thought you should know that there have been several phone calls from that Manila number to a mobile or mobiles on the tug. The same number you asked me to check out!” Hans paused. “It seems, my friend, as though you have a rat in the cupboard. You need to be very careful until you catch him.”
“Anything to go on? Can you trace his number?” Alex asked hopefully.
“There’s little chance — it’s the same as a pay card phone, no trace of ownership possible. The only thing I can tell you for certain is that it is from Manila to the tug.”
“Thank you Hans. I’ll get onto it. Take care, I’ll call as soon as I have anything.”
Towards the end of World War two as the Japanese retreated from their invaded territories the gold that had been accumulated in the Philippines became a major factor in ensuring that the islands were successfully defended for long enough to ship the hoard to Japan.
To ensure military success, one of Japan’s most illustrious Commanders, General Yamashita, was sent to the Philippines to ensure that the task was properly conducted. At the same time a secret organisation known as the “Golden Lily”, which claimed to be a patriotic group dedicated to ensuring the continuation of the Emperor’s dynasty, appeared in the Philippines to take charge of the treasures.
Emperor Hirohito was so concerned about the many security risks involved that he placed a high ranking member of his family, Prince Deshibo, in charge of the “Golden Lily” The prince then sent his first cousin Prince Decator Sunoshi to the Philippines who with co-operation of General Yamashita, was to hide the gold, at least until it could be safely returned to Japan. They completed the task by burying the treasure in no less than one hundred and seventy separate sites throughout the main islands.
Some say that “Golden Lilly” still exists to this day; some say that it died when General Yamashita was executed for war crimes soon after the war. There were also some questionable circumstances surrounding the general’s hasty trial and execution. Certain historians imply that it was at the command of General Douglas Macarthur who was out for revenge after his embarrassing defeat and withdrawal from the Philippines at the start of the conflict. Others suggest the most likely scenario is that the Central Intelligence Agency found the key to the locations and was able to secure the majority of the treasure for their own covert purposes. In these circumstances it is quite plausible that General Yamashita was indeed quickly brought to trial and summarily dispatched to ensure that he could not point the finger at General Macarthur or the CIA. It also ensured, that no one else would ever learn the secret of the golden locations.
None knew about the “Golden Lilly” survivors.
Moby Dick and Annie delivered the stores to the cargo boat. Politely refusing the invitation to stay for dinner, they returned to Manila, each secretly eager to be together and alone t last; alone that is with the exception of Dick’s rescued baby.
They chose not to return to their usual mooring, preferring to keep a low profile as advised by Alex, so they slipped into the busy commercial fishing port a few miles down the coast, where they were able to tuck unnoticed into a quiet corner at the shallow end of the harbour.
The child was only about eight months old and spent much of the time happily crawling about the cabin floor or sleeping in between guzzling large intakes of bottled milk and mushy baby food. Annie was in her element with all her female instincts reacting willingly to the sudden blessing of a child.