The Collectors Book Six: Black Gold (The Collectors Series 6) (16 page)
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Authors: Ron Sewell
BOOK: The Collectors Book Six: Black Gold (The Collectors Series 6)
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Through the intercom a metallic voice said, “Please move on, sir, or I will be forced to contact the police.”
“You must be joking. I’m thinking of buying one of these places and I’m enquiring into the security.”
The guard looked at him, eyes narrowed, expression humourless. “Sir, if you were buying, someone from the management agency would have escorted you and informed the security company of your date and time of arrival. You can be assured your visit is being recorded by our cameras. You appear a decent type of guy so on your way.”
Henry calculated his options. “If there’s a shooting, how long does it take the police to arrive?”
From nowhere came a terrifying growl. The full weight of an Alsatian struck him from behind. He staggered and fell to the pavement. The dog barred its teeth close to his face and drooled.
“Sit,” said another guard in a soft voice. The dog obeyed and nuzzled its nose into the guard’s hand. “Sir, you were requested to leave. You may stand.”
Henry, shaky and unsure, rose to his feet. “Okay. I get the message. Can you ring for a cab and I’ll be on my way.”
The security guard lifted his telephone and pressed the buttons. “Ten minutes and you wait by the kerb.”
The clock was ticking and time was at a premium. Henry lifted his head and stared at the building on the other side of the road and read the sign,
Dangerous building. Keep out.
For a moment he considered continuous surveillance of this entrance but realised the odds were against him. The taxi arrived and he returned to his complex, had a shower and fell into bed.
@@@
The moon had long dropped behind the horizon as the Humvee with its lights out approached the disused airstrip. Amadou peered into the dark. Where were ZZ and the aircraft?
“Hassim, flash your lights once.”
“You must be mad. If I do and the wrong people see us we might as well shoot ourselves.”
Amadou covered his eyes to protect his night vision. “Just do it.”
The twin beams lit up the night.
“Did you see them?”
“No.”
Amadou grabbed his AK, clambered on top of the vehicle and checked the vicinity. “They have to be here.” He jumped to the ground and walked in a circle, his eyes attempting to penetrate the night.
“One more step and you’re dead.”
“ZZ, what the hell?”
“Your lights will have been seen by IS. They’re everywhere.”
“Where’s the plane?”
“Well hidden but ready to go. I had to tie the pilot to its wheels while we waited.”
Amadou chuckled. “I’ve promised him a cart load of money to fly us out of here.”
“He’s scared IS will find us.”
“We met a few of them way back. I doubt if they’ll be bothering us again. The plane, where is it?”
“Grab what you can carry and follow me.”
They returned to the Humvee.
“Durrah, ZZ found us. Toss out our bags and we’ll be on our way. Hassim, it might be safer to come with us. I’m told IS nutters are everywhere.”
Hassim helped Durrah and when she was on firm ground leaned out of the turret. “I’ve enough fuel to reach Bur Sudan and with luck I can sell this beast and hire a boat to Jeddah. I have an uncle who has a house outside the town.”
“I ask you again. Come with us.”
Hassim thumped the armour plating. “Like me, bullet proof. I’ll see you somewhere in this stupid world.” He waved and then slammed and locked the hatch shut.
The Humvee’s engine turned, fired and rumbled into life. In a cloud of sand it raced into the dark.
ZZ lifted two cases while Amadou carried the others. “We walk two kilometres. Then we’re out of here.” He led the way with Amadou bringing up the rear. It took an hour to walk back to where the plane was hidden.
ZZ pointed. “Well camouflaged.”
“I must admit I see it because you’ve shown me where.”
“I take the netting from the army in Waddan. They are stupid, no guards.” He stopped and whistled.
From what appeared to be a ridge of sand, Scarlet, wearing army desert uniform, emerged, an AK47 in her hand.
She rushed to ZZ and kissed him. “I’ve heard a lot of heavy vehicles starting and stopping. Something’s going on.”
“Don’t worry. We’re out of here.”
With a knife in his hand, ZZ dived under the netting. In moments the pilot, rubbing his wrists, staggered out. “My wife, where is she?”
“Fast asleep in the back seat, with my son.” said Scarlet.
ZZ shouted at the man. “Don’t stand scratching your arse. Get this net and tarpaulin removed.”
“I’m sure they do by now but they can have it back when we’re finished,” said ZZ. “This aircraft’s fitted with sand tyres and long range fuel tanks.”
“So long as it flies I don’t care.”
“We need to form a line and check the ground for rocks,” said the pilot. “If we damage a wheel we’re stranded.”
The two women and three men stood in a line in front of the aircraft and at a slow pace shuffled forward. They found nothing, returned and sat in the cargo section.
ZZ prodded the pilot in the back. “Time to go.”
The pilot turned his head. “I take off in another twenty minutes when I can see where I’m going.” He clambered out of the cockpit and began checking flaps, undercarriage and other externals. Shivering, he climbed on board.
Everyone rested, wrapped in blankets against the cold.
The moment a hint of colour lit the morning sky ZZ jabbed his pistol into the pilot’s side. “Go.”
With the internal pre-flight checks once again completed, the pilot started one engine and then the other, destroying the silence. He turned the craft into the wind, applied the brakes and wound the engines up to full power.
In the back Scarlet covered her son’s ears as the roar of the engines became deafening.
The pilot gave the gauges a quick glance and released the break. At full power the craft travelled across the dry, hard-packed sand. With its nose pointing at the rising sun it soared into the air.
“Bur Sudan,” shouted Amadou.
The pilot raised his hand, acknowledging the order. He knew Amadou would be watching the compass heading. He flew low to keep under the radar but feared some trigger-happy IS band, if they spotted him, might for fun use him as a target.
With little to be seen and the steady drone of the engines, everyone but the pilot and Amadou slept.
“I see a vehicle,” said the pilot.
Amadou peered out of the window. Below Hassim and his Humvee were making good time towards the Sudan border. “I hope I’m wrong but I’m sure I saw something.”
The pilot turned in the general direction, completed a circuit and resumed course.
Below, five trucks, three packed with armed men and two fitted with light machine guns, followed the dust cloud of the Humvee.
Amadou checked the aircraft’s radio, turned it to transmit and selected a channel. “Hassim, this is Amadou. Over.”
He tried four channels before he received an answer. “I’ve an IS mob chasing me. Can I change my mind and join you.”
Amadou turned to the pilot who executed the lowest of passes near to the Humvee. He shook his head. “Large rocks and the ground’s a mess. Good chance we wouldn’t stay in one piece.”
The plane gained altitude and circled.
“I guessed as much. How many and where are they?” asked Hassim.
“You have five chasing but you seem to be holding your own.”
“I’m running on air. Should have topped up the tank when I dropped you off.”
“I hate to tell you but you’re heading straight for an ambush, another four trucks are waiting for you once you go over the next dune.”
“It’s decision time.”
Wide awake, everyone watched as the Humvee turned and stopped on high ground.
“Great spot but we can’t help.”
“Hey, Amadou. This is a great position so I’m going to give our friends a surprise. If I’m lucky I’ll eliminate those following before the crowd waiting realise. I might be busy for a while so don’t try to contact me.”
“Good luck.” Static filled the cabin.
Hassim opened the turret and scanned the locale. Time was running out. He removed a box of grenades from their stowage and prised off the lid. Through a dozen ring pulls he looped string and secured it. He inserted a full belt of ammunition in the machine gun and placed his well-worn AK by his side. Ready, he waited.
Through the view port he saw them coming but did nothing. “A bit closer, just a bit and then I’ll fucking blow your brains out.”
The five wagons approached head on.
“I don’t believe you’re so stupid,” muttered Hassim. At twenty-five metres he stood and opened fire at the drivers. He laughed as three windscreens erupted and the drivers’ heads exploded. Seeing the destruction, the other two veered away. Hassim traversed the machine gun and a storm of bullets decimated those in the rear. Men tumbled to the ground.
In disarray the attacking soldiers regrouped behind their wagons and began firing from cover. He could feel the bullets zipping past
Dropping back inside, he started the engine. Bullets ricocheted off the armour and at full power the Humvee rammed the first truck turning it onto the men behind. He backed off, jumped up and fired into those who scrambled free.
Hassim rotated his weapon but not before his shoulder erupted in a mess of blood and bone. He collapsed shouting abuse. With his free hand he secured the hatch and tied the string of grenades to the operating lever.
With one hand he reversed twenty metres and roared, “Charge,” as he hurtled into another truck. He sat and waited until he could hear them. A dozen or more were jumping on the body of his Humvee while others attempted to force the hatch. With the barrel of his AK he operated the hatch lever.
It sprung open and the pins from a dozen grenades flew in the air. Single-handed, Hassim fired his AK.
The explosion slaughtered the IS soldiers.
A plume of flame and smoke signalled Hassim’s fight was over. Amadou shook his head and turned away. “I told him to come with us. He fought well.”
When they crossed the border into Sudan the pilot contacted Bur Sudan airport.
Amadou pressed memory button two on his mobile and waited.
“Hi, Amadou. Petros.”
“Just letting you know Durrah and I, along with ZZ and Scarlet, made it out of Libya. I’ll process your order as soon as I land.”
“I assume we collect at sea somewhere near Das Island.”
“No choice. This ship you’re working on, where’s it going?”
“Once clear of any pirates, the States.”
“Have a word and book passage for us. Cash-in-hand and we have passports. I’ll process our visas over the internet.”
“Looks as if I’m going for a cruise. With reference to your passage, I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks. I’ll confirm the details later.” The line went dead.
Chapter Fourteen
Henry decided to talk to the police. He produced his credentials to the officer on duty show his position in the agency. He shrugged and told him to wait. Thirty minutes later he sat opposite Police Major
Prinsloo
and Lieutenant Johnston in an interview room.
“I understand you wanted to speak with someone in a position of authority,” said the major.
“You must be joking. I’m thinking of buying one of these places and I’m enquiring into the security.”
The guard looked at him, eyes narrowed, expression humourless. “Sir, if you were buying, someone from the management agency would have escorted you and informed the security company of your date and time of arrival. You can be assured your visit is being recorded by our cameras. You appear a decent type of guy so on your way.”
Henry calculated his options. “If there’s a shooting, how long does it take the police to arrive?”
From nowhere came a terrifying growl. The full weight of an Alsatian struck him from behind. He staggered and fell to the pavement. The dog barred its teeth close to his face and drooled.
“Sit,” said another guard in a soft voice. The dog obeyed and nuzzled its nose into the guard’s hand. “Sir, you were requested to leave. You may stand.”
Henry, shaky and unsure, rose to his feet. “Okay. I get the message. Can you ring for a cab and I’ll be on my way.”
The security guard lifted his telephone and pressed the buttons. “Ten minutes and you wait by the kerb.”
The clock was ticking and time was at a premium. Henry lifted his head and stared at the building on the other side of the road and read the sign,
Dangerous building. Keep out.
For a moment he considered continuous surveillance of this entrance but realised the odds were against him. The taxi arrived and he returned to his complex, had a shower and fell into bed.
@@@
The moon had long dropped behind the horizon as the Humvee with its lights out approached the disused airstrip. Amadou peered into the dark. Where were ZZ and the aircraft?
“Hassim, flash your lights once.”
“You must be mad. If I do and the wrong people see us we might as well shoot ourselves.”
Amadou covered his eyes to protect his night vision. “Just do it.”
The twin beams lit up the night.
“Did you see them?”
“No.”
Amadou grabbed his AK, clambered on top of the vehicle and checked the vicinity. “They have to be here.” He jumped to the ground and walked in a circle, his eyes attempting to penetrate the night.
“One more step and you’re dead.”
“ZZ, what the hell?”
“Your lights will have been seen by IS. They’re everywhere.”
“Where’s the plane?”
“Well hidden but ready to go. I had to tie the pilot to its wheels while we waited.”
Amadou chuckled. “I’ve promised him a cart load of money to fly us out of here.”
“He’s scared IS will find us.”
“We met a few of them way back. I doubt if they’ll be bothering us again. The plane, where is it?”
“Grab what you can carry and follow me.”
They returned to the Humvee.
“Durrah, ZZ found us. Toss out our bags and we’ll be on our way. Hassim, it might be safer to come with us. I’m told IS nutters are everywhere.”
Hassim helped Durrah and when she was on firm ground leaned out of the turret. “I’ve enough fuel to reach Bur Sudan and with luck I can sell this beast and hire a boat to Jeddah. I have an uncle who has a house outside the town.”
“I ask you again. Come with us.”
Hassim thumped the armour plating. “Like me, bullet proof. I’ll see you somewhere in this stupid world.” He waved and then slammed and locked the hatch shut.
The Humvee’s engine turned, fired and rumbled into life. In a cloud of sand it raced into the dark.
ZZ lifted two cases while Amadou carried the others. “We walk two kilometres. Then we’re out of here.” He led the way with Amadou bringing up the rear. It took an hour to walk back to where the plane was hidden.
ZZ pointed. “Well camouflaged.”
“I must admit I see it because you’ve shown me where.”
“I take the netting from the army in Waddan. They are stupid, no guards.” He stopped and whistled.
From what appeared to be a ridge of sand, Scarlet, wearing army desert uniform, emerged, an AK47 in her hand.
She rushed to ZZ and kissed him. “I’ve heard a lot of heavy vehicles starting and stopping. Something’s going on.”
“Don’t worry. We’re out of here.”
With a knife in his hand, ZZ dived under the netting. In moments the pilot, rubbing his wrists, staggered out. “My wife, where is she?”
“Fast asleep in the back seat, with my son.” said Scarlet.
ZZ shouted at the man. “Don’t stand scratching your arse. Get this net and tarpaulin removed.”
The three men heaved and dragged the net and cover behind the Cessna 208B.
“I’m sure they do by now but they can have it back when we’re finished,” said ZZ. “This aircraft’s fitted with sand tyres and long range fuel tanks.”
“So long as it flies I don’t care.”
“We need to form a line and check the ground for rocks,” said the pilot. “If we damage a wheel we’re stranded.”
The two women and three men stood in a line in front of the aircraft and at a slow pace shuffled forward. They found nothing, returned and sat in the cargo section.
ZZ prodded the pilot in the back. “Time to go.”
The pilot turned his head. “I take off in another twenty minutes when I can see where I’m going.” He clambered out of the cockpit and began checking flaps, undercarriage and other externals. Shivering, he climbed on board.
Everyone rested, wrapped in blankets against the cold.
The moment a hint of colour lit the morning sky ZZ jabbed his pistol into the pilot’s side. “Go.”
With the internal pre-flight checks once again completed, the pilot started one engine and then the other, destroying the silence. He turned the craft into the wind, applied the brakes and wound the engines up to full power.
In the back Scarlet covered her son’s ears as the roar of the engines became deafening.
The pilot gave the gauges a quick glance and released the break. At full power the craft travelled across the dry, hard-packed sand. With its nose pointing at the rising sun it soared into the air.
“Bur Sudan,” shouted Amadou.
The pilot raised his hand, acknowledging the order. He knew Amadou would be watching the compass heading. He flew low to keep under the radar but feared some trigger-happy IS band, if they spotted him, might for fun use him as a target.
With little to be seen and the steady drone of the engines, everyone but the pilot and Amadou slept.
“I see a vehicle,” said the pilot.
Amadou peered out of the window. Below Hassim and his Humvee were making good time towards the Sudan border. “I hope I’m wrong but I’m sure I saw something.”
The pilot turned in the general direction, completed a circuit and resumed course.
Below, five trucks, three packed with armed men and two fitted with light machine guns, followed the dust cloud of the Humvee.
Amadou checked the aircraft’s radio, turned it to transmit and selected a channel. “Hassim, this is Amadou. Over.”
He tried four channels before he received an answer. “I’ve an IS mob chasing me. Can I change my mind and join you.”
Amadou turned to the pilot who executed the lowest of passes near to the Humvee. He shook his head. “Large rocks and the ground’s a mess. Good chance we wouldn’t stay in one piece.”
The plane gained altitude and circled.
“I guessed as much. How many and where are they?” asked Hassim.
“You have five chasing but you seem to be holding your own.”
“I’m running on air. Should have topped up the tank when I dropped you off.”
“I hate to tell you but you’re heading straight for an ambush, another four trucks are waiting for you once you go over the next dune.”
“It’s decision time.”
Wide awake, everyone watched as the Humvee turned and stopped on high ground.
“Great spot but we can’t help.”
“Hey, Amadou. This is a great position so I’m going to give our friends a surprise. If I’m lucky I’ll eliminate those following before the crowd waiting realise. I might be busy for a while so don’t try to contact me.”
“Good luck.” Static filled the cabin.
Hassim opened the turret and scanned the locale. Time was running out. He removed a box of grenades from their stowage and prised off the lid. Through a dozen ring pulls he looped string and secured it. He inserted a full belt of ammunition in the machine gun and placed his well-worn AK by his side. Ready, he waited.
Through the view port he saw them coming but did nothing. “A bit closer, just a bit and then I’ll fucking blow your brains out.”
The five wagons approached head on.
“I don’t believe you’re so stupid,” muttered Hassim. At twenty-five metres he stood and opened fire at the drivers. He laughed as three windscreens erupted and the drivers’ heads exploded. Seeing the destruction, the other two veered away. Hassim traversed the machine gun and a storm of bullets decimated those in the rear. Men tumbled to the ground.
In disarray the attacking soldiers regrouped behind their wagons and began firing from cover. He could feel the bullets zipping past
Dropping back inside, he started the engine. Bullets ricocheted off the armour and at full power the Humvee rammed the first truck turning it onto the men behind. He backed off, jumped up and fired into those who scrambled free.
Hassim rotated his weapon but not before his shoulder erupted in a mess of blood and bone. He collapsed shouting abuse. With his free hand he secured the hatch and tied the string of grenades to the operating lever.
With one hand he reversed twenty metres and roared, “Charge,” as he hurtled into another truck. He sat and waited until he could hear them. A dozen or more were jumping on the body of his Humvee while others attempted to force the hatch. With the barrel of his AK he operated the hatch lever.
It sprung open and the pins from a dozen grenades flew in the air. Single-handed, Hassim fired his AK.
The explosion slaughtered the IS soldiers.
A plume of flame and smoke signalled Hassim’s fight was over. Amadou shook his head and turned away. “I told him to come with us. He fought well.”
When they crossed the border into Sudan the pilot contacted Bur Sudan airport.
Amadou pressed memory button two on his mobile and waited.
“Hi, Amadou. Petros.”
“Just letting you know Durrah and I, along with ZZ and Scarlet, made it out of Libya. I’ll process your order as soon as I land.”
“I assume we collect at sea somewhere near Das Island.”
“No choice. This ship you’re working on, where’s it going?”
“Once clear of any pirates, the States.”
“Have a word and book passage for us. Cash-in-hand and we have passports. I’ll process our visas over the internet.”
“Looks as if I’m going for a cruise. With reference to your passage, I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks. I’ll confirm the details later.” The line went dead.
Chapter Fourteen
Henry decided to talk to the police. He produced his credentials to the officer on duty show his position in the agency. He shrugged and told him to wait. Thirty minutes later he sat opposite Police Major
Prinsloo
and Lieutenant Johnston in an interview room.
“I understand you wanted to speak with someone in a position of authority,” said the major.
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