The Collectors Book Six: Black Gold (The Collectors Series 6) (20 page)

              The helmsman glanced at Andy. “The old man’s back on his destroyer.”

              “Morning, Andy,” said Petros with a chuckle.

              “You’re up with the lark.”

            “Couldn’t sleep. After breakfast I want to test the water cannon. Tonight we’ll check the cameras and the electronic door locks.” He glanced at one of the bridge consuls. “Something’s wrong. Who turned off the power to the cannon and cameras?”

              “I don’t know but I’ll have a word with the chief engineer to make sure it never happens again.”

              “Shit happens,” said Petros. “The electrical supplies should have had lockable breakers. I didn’t consider them necessary in a manned engine room.”

              Andy lifted the engine room’s direct line telephone. It was answered straight away. “Good morning. This is the Chief Officer. I’ve noticed the electrical power to the water cannon and security cameras is isolated. I want them operational.” He replaced the receiver. “A couple of minutes.”

              Petros knew something was wrong the moment nothing changed. He tried to relax but the green indicator lights remained off. One minute dragged by, two, then three. After five minutes he asked, “The engine room’s taking its time to restore those power supplies. I could have done it myself by now.”

              Andy lifted the telephone and pressed the call button. “This is the Chief Officer again. I asked you to restore two power supplies. I want them live this instant... Don’t interrupt or you’ll report to the chief engineer when you come off watch.

              “What do you mean you can’t?” He shrugged but continued to listen. “He will not be happy but get the chief engineer to have a look and when he’s ready let me know the problem.”

              The telephone on the bridge buzzed. “Chief Officer.”

              “Andy, can you get someone to ask Mr Kyriades to visit the engine room. Bad news,” said Tony.

              “He’s standing next to me.”

              “Ask him.” The conversation terminated.

              Andy turned to Petros who looked at him in anticipation.

              “You have a face as long as a week. What’s up?”

              He looked wary. “The chief engineer told me it’s bad news, and could you visit the engine room.”

              Petros found Tony Wilson wearing his pristine white overalls in the control room. “Mr Kyriades, you need to see this.” He handed over a pair of ear defenders. “Put these on.”

              The two men left the control room and walked along the steel deck plates to the main switchboard. Tony opened the two breakers and nodded.

              Petros’ eyes opened wide when he saw the once neat cabling to the pumps and camera circuits cut in two. “Shit.”

              Back in the control room Tony smiled. “Better to have discovered the damage when I have time to rewire. It also means we have a saboteur onboard. As a rule of thumb I can vouch for my team but with so many new faces,” he grimaced, “I can’t."

              “How long?”

              “I’ll have one of my juniors work on the repairs until he’s finished and tested the water cannon and the cameras. Furthermore, the on-watch engineer will check those two breakers every hour and sign the log confirming all is well.”

              Petros leant back against the bulkhead. “Any idea who cut those cables?”

              “No evidence and no idea but you can be assured I’ll be checking on my staff,” said Tony as he let out a sigh. “And if I find the bastard I’ll chop his fucking hands off.”

Linda Liu paced back and forth in the lounge of her hotel suite. She wore blue jeans, a white T-shirt and no makeup as she waited for her contact to arrive.

              Over an hour later there was a knock on the door. On opening she recognised the man waiting. “Jomo, you’re late.”

              “Forgive me but organising two teams for this operation took longer than I planned.” The tall African swivelled his eyes around the room. “We should go for a walk on the beach where we’ll not be overheard.”

              Linda grabbed an umbrella to use as a sunshade and followed Jomo out of the hotel via the kitchens.

              On the beach they walked at the water’s edge. “Why are we using two teams?” asked Linda.

              Jomo stopped, his eyes sharp but lacking affection and peered out to sea. In the distance modern catamarans thrilled holiday makers when the light wind lifted one hull clear of the water. “A report from our masters tells me this vessel has three water cannon, and infra-red cameras.”

              Linda shrugged. “Men, you are so pathetic. I have arranged for the new defences to fail before we attack. Are our tankers in the area?”

              “They are at present anchored offshore. We have two dhows carrying the attack craft and enough men on each. As soon as we pick up the beacon we’ll make our move. You will of course lead the attack.”

              “Jomo, I have led every assault since we began six years ago. It has made you and me rich and our masters richer, but our days of easy pickings are numbered. We may have to move further afield.”

              Jomo looked at her, his face curious. “My men will do as they’re ordered. Their families live well. If needs must we will change like the tide.”

              “Be ready for my call. The transmitter will operate when the tanker is still one day north of Mombasa. We will attack the next night. Now go.”

              Jomo loped along the beach not looking back.

              Under the shade of her umbrella Linda gave the operation much thought. Concerned, she sauntered back to the hotel.

@@@

Andy sat with his back to the steel bulkhead as he listened to Petros describe the damage to the electrical breakers. A cold shiver ran through his body. “Not good.” He thought for a few minutes before speaking. “Five men served on Goliath. The problem is we carry general purpose ratings. These men can work the deck and in the engine room.”

              “Write down the names of the five men,” said Petros.

              Andy wrote each name from memory on a sheet of paper.  Castillo-GP rating, Ramos-GP rating, Mendosa-GP rating, Turner–Cadet, Stevenson-Third Engineer.

              “Give me some details on these men. Who do you suspect and why? If we tighten security will they smell a rat and stop or damage something which may hazard this ship?”

              Andy shook his head. “The company hired every one of them through our own agency. There’s nothing in the records to indicate they aren’t what they appear to be. Each man works hard and is a credit to this ship and the company. Stevenson’s been a third for years. He has a problem with exams but he’s a satisfactory engineer.”

              “So what do we do?”

              Andy grinned. “We operate the buddy system.”

              “I’ve used a system by that name when diving. One diver watches the other.”

              “You’ve got it in one. I’ll ask the captain to inform the officers and crew on the likelihood of this ship being attacked by pirates. The buddy system will help each man and they’ll have plenty of overtime.”

              He frowned. “Will the captain go for it?”

              In an impartial tone Andy replied, “If it deters our saboteur he’ll agree. Leave it with me.”

              Petros nodded, turned and went to his cabin where he grabbed a sealed package. His next visit was with Tony Wilson, the chief engineer.

`

             
“Your guess is as good as mine.” Petros noticed a pilot ladder being dropped over the lee side.

              “Tell your friends port side amidships and to have their cargo ready to hoist.”

              Petros lifted the microphone and turned the switch to loud hailer. “Amadou, port side by the ladder, and have the stores ready to hoist.”

              The dhow turned in a sweeping curve, passing under the stern. Bow and stern lines soared over the side of Leviathan to be grabbed and secured by the waiting crew.

              Petros and Bear stood by the ladder and waved.

              Scarlet, carrying a large backpack, dressed in dark blue jeans and a figure-hugging white T-shirt, ascended the ladder first, followed by Durrah who wore white trousers and an open-necked pink blouse, much to the delight of the men on deck.

              The backpack moved as Scarlet placed it on the deck and unbuckled the straps. A tiny head peered out but shielded its eyes from the sun. She lifted a young boy clear. She pointed. “Abraham, time you met your uncle Bear. Don’t be shy.”

              Bear bent towards the boy and then grinned at Scarlet. “You didn’t waste any time.”

              “My virile man of the desert plants a strong seed. I’m expecting another in seven months.”

              “I believe it takes two.” He pointed. “It’s safer over there.”

              The two women and Abraham went and sat on a pipe some distance away.

              ZZ and Amadou waited until a cargo net descended. Into this they placed twenty long wooden crates.

              Bear and his team watched as the net rose, swung over the main deck and lowered onto a cargo mat. In ten minutes it dropped back to the dhow. Amadou and ZZ loaded another dozen wooden boxes and their personal luggage.

              ZZ stood in the centre of the cargo net, holding a trailing rope and signalled to be hoisted.

              Amadou returned to the wheelhouse, grabbed two canvas bags and slung them across his back. He hugged a man dressed as an Arab and kissed him on both cheeks. “Until we meet again, my friend.”

              At speed he clambered up the pilot ladder and when on the main deck cast off the securing lines. He waved as with a roar the craft powered its two Ford V8 engines and raced away.

              Petros shook hands with Amadou and ZZ, but gave Durrah and Scarlet a kiss on both cheeks. “It’s been a while since we last enjoyed each other’s company. The girls and the boy will share the captain’s day cabin on the bridge. You and ZZ will have to rough it in the forward mess. If everything goes to plan you’ll have cabins after Cape Town.”

              Amadou cast his eyes from the bow to the stern. “It’s fucking big.”

              Bear hugged ZZ and shook Amadou’s hand and said with a grin, “May I suggest we get these packages stowed in the forward mess. If for no other reason than they’ll be out of the sun.”

              “I’ll take the girls to their cabin,” said Petros.

              Bear chuckled. “How did I know you’d say that?”

              Amadou, Bear and ZZ each hoisted one of the long wooden crates onto their right shoulders and strolled to the forward mess. Henry and David went and assisted. Barry and Colin took and positioned them against a bulkhead.

              With every crate secured, Amadou along with ZZ sat on the bench in the mess. “Bear, I have some irritating questions re these pirates,” said Amadou.

              “Any coffee on the go?” asked Bear.

              Colin laughed. “Can you imagine this place without a pot brewing? Who wants a cup?” Six hands shot in the air.

              “I’ll make a fresh b of the rew,” said Colin.