The Isle of Devils HOLY WAR (8 page)

Storm laughed and said, “You’d better be more worried about the new caretakers of Casemates.”

As the two were making their way through the crowd someone bumped Savage in the side almost knocking him down. Savage reached out instinctively grabbing the man by the shoulder saying, “Hey mate, what’s the bloody rush?” The man tried not to turn around as he moved on. It then hit Savage who this mystery man was. Savage added, “Well, if it isn’t my good friend, Krack.” He looked down at Krack’s hands and could see he was counting a fistful of money and not paying attention as to where he was going. Savage asked, “Krack, where in the world did you get all that money? Did you just win the lottery?”

Krack quickly shoved the money into his pants pocket and said, “No mon, I just made a delivery of sea shells to one of the local vendors.”

Storm joined in saying, “I think Krack was selling something else tonight. Savage, in the US it would get him ten to twenty years in the pen. What will it get my man in Bermuda?”

Before Savage could respond Krack said, “Look mon, I’m not selling dope. I’m an honest hard working Bermudian.”

Savage snapped back, “Now wait a minute, mate. You’re Jamaican; so don’t give me that bull. So my hard working friend, where in the world did you get that wad of US cash?”

Krack replied, “Ok, ok. Remember I told you the Arabs were buying stuff and paying mega prices for it?”

Savage replied, “Yes, I remember. Go on; so what’s that got to do with you?”

Krack continued, “Well, I wanted to cash in on some of this; so I sold them some goods.”

Storm interrupted, “And that was?”

Krack gave Storm a dirty look and said, “Don’t push me, mon. I’ll tell you. I sold them ten US prepaid cell phones.”

Savage asked, “What good are prepaid US cell phones in Bermuda? They probably won’t even work here.”

Krack fired back, “Who cares? They paid me ten thousand US dollars for the lot of them.”

Storm asked, “Any chance you can point out who you sold the phones to?”

Krack laughed and said, “Do you think I’m a snitch? I wouldn’t last ten minutes if I told you.”

Savage interrupted, “Ok then, Krack, tell me. Didn’t you spend time in Casemates before they shut it down?”

Krack replied, “Yes mon, I’m proud to say I survived that bloody rat trap.”

Savage responded, “I’m sure you won’t mind showing us a way into Casemates without going through the front door.”

Krack looked a little bewildered by Savage’s statement. He then replied, “You’re crazy, mon, I spent years trying to break out. Why in the hell do you think I would want to break into the prison?”

Savage laughed and said, “Look, mate, if you want to keep that ten grand I think you’ll be the first prisoner in Bermuda history to break into prison. Right, mate? ”

Storm spoke up, “Before we go breaking into prison we need to go down to the dock. I want to check out that Saudi oil tanker.”

Savage nodded his head in agreement and the three made their way through the crowd that had now gathered while the band was playing. They appeared to make their way down to the tanker without being noticed, unless they were being watched from the Casemate’s guard tower. It was clear the tanker was a Saudi registered tanker. There were Arabic markings on it and the tankers name was ‘Sahara Gold’.

Storm was first to notice the huge pipeline running from the oil tanks next to Casemates to the tanker. He said, “That’s the biggest pipeline I’ve ever seen. Isn’t that a bit of over kill for the size of this tanker?”

Savage scratching his head said, “See that small pipe line running parallel to the big one? Did that used to be the oil transfer line also?”

Krack added, “That pipe’s so big, I could walk through it.”

Savage and Storm looked at each other thinking the same thing. Storm spoke up first, “I wonder if our friends are passing something else through that line beside oil.”

Savage, “What in the world would they be trying to smuggle into Bermuda?”

Storm whisper so only Savage could hear him, “Maybe items that a terrorist might need.”

Savage turned to Krack and said, “Well, my main mon, what’s your plan for getting us into Casemates?”

Krack replied, “We’ll follow the pipe line to the wall. Then we’ll climb up the wall and sneak across the road. There’s an old gate there that will allow us access into the storage tank facility. From there we can get into Casemates without being noticed.”

They all paused to look up at the stone fortress as the full moon cast an eerie light over the entire complex. A sense of evil crept over the three. Krack was ready to leave, but Storm and Savage would have none of that.

Storm shook off the strange feeling and turning to Savage asked, “Will the man’s plan work?”

Savage replied, “I trust Krack; so let’s give it a go. You first, Krack. We’re right behind you.” Krack grumbled and moved along the pipeline staying out of sight of the guard tower. The trio made it to the old stone wall and helped each other climb over the wall. Once on the narrow road they quickly ran across and were completely out of sight of the guard tower.

Storm turned to the other two and said, “I don’t know about this plan.”

Krack, on the defensive asked, “What’s the matter, mon, you scared?”

Storm replied, “Hell no, but look around. First, we’re standing in the middle of a road. What happens if someone who works in Casemates just happens by in a car or on a scooter? Also look at that ground down there that we’ll have to walk across. It’s lit up like daylight. What if there’s a guard down there walking around the storage tanks?”

Savage said back, “Well, mate, if you want to go home to your mum that’s fine, but I think we need to get going.”

Krack tried to open the gate only to find it chained and locked. He turned and looked at Savage.

Savage popped back, “What the bloody hell you looking at me for, mate?” He turned back to Storm and said, “Houdini, get your bloody butt up here and pick this lock.”

Storm stepped up to the gate and started to reach into his pocket. He quickly turned sideways kicking the gate with a karate kick. The chain and lock didn’t budge an inch, but the old hinges holding the gate to the fence post crumbled. The gate fell over on its side. Storm turned to Savage and said, “Sorry, I forgot my FBI issued lock pick. Will this do?”

Savage replied, “I think so. I’ll go first and, Krack, you follow behind Storm.”

The three went through the gate opening and down the steps to the ground level. They quickly crawled across the ground trying to stay out of sight, but that was impossible due to the bright lights. If a guard happened to be walking by they would be spotted. After crawling for about twenty yards they made it to a hill that ran parallel with the wall. Now they could crawl with the incline of the hill and stay in the shadows at the same time. As they made their way up the hillside Storm could see that they might be able to scale the wall at the highpoint of the hill. Storm was in the lead, closely followed by Savage with Krack bringing up the rear.

The trio had no idea that they were being watched from the top of the wall that surrounded Casemate's. Krack was beginning to get nervous. As Storm and Savage crawled up the hillside, Krack began backing down the hillside. He reached the bottom of the hillside and turned to make his escape back to the road, but before he could move someone stepped out of the shadows and grabbed him. Krack was struck in the face knocking him back against the stone wall. He tried to shake it off, but before he could a rope was dropped over the side of the wall. The attacker quickly secured the rope around Krack and signaled someone on top of the wall to pull him up. With all the commotion Storm and Savage turned to look back down the hillside. Savage yelled out, “Look, those bloody Arabs have Krack!” Savage jumped up and began running back down the hillside with Storm not far behind him. But by the time they reached ground level all they could see was Krack being pulled over the top of the wall. Savage started banging his fist on the stone wall, but before he could say anything bullets began to rain down on the two from the top pinning them down.

Storm grabbed Savage by the arm and pulled him back to the other side of the hill. They were now out of the line of fire, but they were also trapped. Storm turned to Savage and said, “I thought guns were illegal in Bermuda.”

Savage replied, “I guess we forgot to tell that to the terrorists.”

Storm added, “What now we can’t make it back to the gate without being shot. If there’s any of Hooda’s men up the hill at the storage tanks then we’re sitting ducks. ”

Before Savage could reply an Arab from the top of the Casemate’s wall yelled down, “Infidels, we have your friend. If you want to see him alive again please step out into the open and show yourselves.”

Savage yelled back, “Do you think we’re bloody idiots?”

The Arab replied, “Who are you, and why have you trespassed?”

Savage snapped back, “We’re just a couple of tourists from the cruise ship who’ve lost their way. What the hell are you shooting at us for?”

The Arab laughed and said, “You Westerners are all alike. You will pay for your transgressions.”

Storm elbowed Savage in his ribs and said, “We need to get our butts out of here, and then try to find Krack before they kill him.”

Savage replied, “The only way we’re going to get out of here alive is to crawl along the base of this hillside and try to clear that chain link fence before they see us.”

Storm asked, “Then what? It looks like a dead end to me.”

Savage snapped back, “Just follow me, mate, and don’t ask questions.”

The two crept along the wall and over the chain link fence and were out of sight in no time.

Casemates or Bust

Savage and Storm were now trying to escape the storage tank grounds with their lives. None of the terrorist shots had been heard from anyone at the Dockyard due to the loud band playing. The duo had not been detected as they made their way to the shoreline. Once there they made their way through the old dump that was on the ocean side of Casemates; then they were in the clear. Hiding behind some old rusty buoys Storm asked, “What now?”

Savage replied, “Well, we’ve got two problems now, mate. First those bloody terrorists know we’re here. Secondly, we’ve got to get Krack out of Casemates before those Arabs kill him. Any rate, let’s sneak into the small shipyard between here and Casemates then look for a way in.”

Storm added, “Good idea. It looks like they’re still looking for us on the other side of Casemates.”

Savage agreed and added, “Follow me, mate. We’ll climb over this wall and drop down into the shipyard.” Both men helped each other up the wall which was an old elevated access road that connected Casemates to the Commissioner’s House. This road had not been used in years. They quickly moved across the road and jumped down into the small shipyard. With the full moon the view of the Casemates wall was very clear, but to no avail. There just didn’t appear to be any way for the duo to scale the towering forty foot wall of Casemates from this side.

In frustration Savage and Storm sat down behind a sailboat that was up on blocks. Savage asked, “What in the hell are we going to do now? There’s no bloody way to scale the walls on this side. It’s at least forty feet high.”

Storm looked around; then cocked his head back looking straight up into the air. He smiled and said, “I’ve got it. It’s easy.”

Savage watching Storm knew exactly what he was thinking. He said, “You’re bloody nuts! It won’t work.”

Storm smiled and said, “Don’t worry old man. When I get in I’ll send down one of the terrorists to open the front gate for you.”

Savage snapped back, “This old man will take care of himself. You get going, and I’ll be right behind you.”

Storm’s plan was risky, but simple. The sailboat they were leaning against had a tall mast that extended at least fifteen feet above the outer wall of Casemates. The sailboat was also sitting within twenty feet of the tall wall. Storm’s plan was to climb up the mast, and once high enough cut one of the halyards and swing over the wall dropping into Casemates. It was risky, but it might work. Storm scrambled up the mast. Once he was well above the wall he reached out and grabbed one of the halyards and cut it with his pocket knife. He tied a double knot at the end of the rope to help him grip it better. He took the rope into both hands and yelled out, “Geronimo!” Storm pushed off from the mast swinging wide and within seconds he had passed over the wall. Storm could see that he had cleared the wall and without hesitation let go of the rope flipping over backwards and landing flat on his back just inside of the Casemates wall. Lying on the ground with the wind knocked out of him, it seemed like an eternity before he could get up. Finally Storm got back to his feet and looked over the wall, waving his arm to Savage that everything was fine.

Savage looked up seeing Storms signal started whispering to himself, “Oh crap! Now I’m going to probably kill myself. I’m glad I left my family a note.” Savage climbed up the mast very slowly and carefully. Once he was high enough to be able to clear the wall he took the rope and yelled out as he swung, “Look out below!” Savage did not get a good kick out with his swing and just barely cleared the Bermuda stone wall. By the time Savage let go of the rope he was already on the backswing. Savage hit the top of the wall like a ton of bricks. It took every ounce of energy Savage had to hang on to the outside of the wall. The forty foot drop would be the end of Savage.