“Just how they suddenly found out that we were looking for it or how I came to be here, I don’t know but the telephone calls have been a series of threats reminding me of my grandfather’s status and consequently my family commitment to the Golden Lilly. Oh Oscar they are threatening to kill anyone who gets in their way and they expect me to tell them when it is salvaged. Just how did they get on to us?” She fell into his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
“It’ll be OK.” He held her protectively. “Thank goodness you told me now so we have time to do something about it eh?” He smiled encouragement and squeezed her gently. “You are going to have to trust me with this but it is important that Alex also knows; he is the one man who will know exactly what to do, agreed?”
“Whatever you think. I’m just so miserable and feel so guilty,” Marion replied tearfully.
“Just leave it to me now,” He coaxed. “Here, you’re going to look all smudgy. We can’t have that can we.” He placed a large clean white hanky in her hand. “Come on it’s all over now — you get ready for dinner. I’m going to try and contact Alex. Perhaps I could use your mobile — that should keep it private?”
Deep in thought, the lawyer carefully replaced the telephone on its cradle. This latest piece of information was indeed interesting; he’d heard vague stories about the Japanese secret organisation responsible for hiding their wartime loot but had never encountered any real evidence that they still actually existed. The call from the Syndicate leader himself was also rare occurrence and the information he delivered, regarding the existence of Golden Lily was even more amazing. Now at last he had the chance to make a real killing for himself and make up for all those years of organising and contracting other people’s schemes to make and protect their fortunes with precious little of the success rubbing off on him. “But this time there’s going to be a big chunk of gold for me!” he muttered happily.
He’d also taken a call from the Syndicate guard who was still confined to the clinic, so now he also knew the truth about Oscar and Greg’s new enterprise. This, added to his awareness of the Golden Lily plan flushed him with new confidence. The only slight concern was the unusual attitude of the Syndicate. They did not want any of the gold; they just wanted him ensure “that the Golden Lilly is kept fully briefed and given all possible assistance” and they would generously reward him for his services.
He was quite certain that he could make it all work to his own advantage.
There were only a few people about and little activity on the nearby fishing boats when Dick went ashore for some fresh milk and newly baked bread.
He walked briskly along the quay towards the little cluster of shops. “Not many people about today?” he commented to the shopkeeper.
“I expect they’ve all gone to see what’s happening at Mayo Cove. There’s a deep water dive boat in — apparently they’re recruiting crew for a big project.” The bent old woman smiled. “I guess it’s another gold dive, they always attract the most interest.” She winked. “Not Yanks this time though, they’re Japs.” She shook her head in disgust. “Still I suppose as long as they spend money here, what does it matter eh?” she concluded philosophically and returned to stacking her shelves.
Dick jogged back to the boat and told Annie what he’d heard.
“I’m going to take a look, see what its all about. I won’t be long.”
“Be careful won’t you,” Annie pleaded.
Dick smiled.
“Have no fear I’m only going to look and listen.” He turned and left.
It didn’t take long to walk the half-mile to the Cove where the deep-sea trawlers usually lay-up. There he found a large converted stern trawler moored to the loading dock. Bristling with electronic equipment, it had two brightly coloured underwater vehicles sitting on the flat stern deck and a circular helipad mounted at the high bow.
Dick moved to where a group of about twenty men stood talking volubly, as they pointed or shook their heads knowingly at the various items of equipment adorning the vessel.
“She’s a fancy looking job,” Dick offered casually to one of the men standing apart from the others.
“Yes she is isn’t she,” was his non-committal reply.
“What’s the story then?” Dick asked more positively.
The man looked again at Dick and somewhat reluctantly explained. “She’s an ocean going exploration dive vessel, on charter to some wealthy Japanese businessmen.” Then suddenly for some reason he warmed to the conversation. “It seems they want to look at some wrecks in the bay and are asking for local information on any locations.”
“Well there are hundreds of wrecks out there,” Dick observed.
The man turned around and looked at Dick “Of course there are but they’re looking for one full of gold!” the man laughed. “You’d think they would have given up chasing dreams by now wouldn’t you but why should we care if they want to throw their money away and we get some of it eh?” The man winked and moved towards the gangplank. He had convinced himself to volunteer.
The three powerboats slowed and slipped off the plane; the trip had been without incident on the flat calm sea. In spite of that, some of the men had suffered from the miserable effects of seasickness and were obviously grateful to be finally pulling into the small harbour. Their leader would let them have some time to recover and make themselves ready for the bloody business ahead.
Alex took the call from Oscar as the cargo boat was weighing anchor. The call confirmed his worst fears: the news of their search was spreading like wildfire throughout the area and very soon now he expected every treasure hunter in the region would know what they were trying to do. Careful to omit Marion’s involvement, he relayed the news to Big J and Greg on the tug.
“That’s all we want right now,” Greg replied truculently.
“It was bound to happen. Any story with the faintest hint of treasure in these parts is unstoppable.” Alex tried to sooth him. “Anyway, you get on with the business of finding it and I’ll do the bit of keeping the dive area secure, OK?”
“Sorry mate, a bit tense this morning. Anyway please keep in touch and who knows it may be payday today.” Greg’s tone was more cheerful as he rang off and turned his attention back to the GPS.
“We’re nearly on the site Big J. I suggest we put her on auto hold now.”
The tug was equipped with multiple thrusters and extended drive legs, giving it the ability to hold the same position within a few metres in most operational sea conditions.
Bearing in mind the discovery of what they suspected to be live torpedoes, they elected to send the robotic camera to survey the wreck before taking any unnecessary chances. Facing into the light breeze, the tug hove to as men busied themselves with the winch and soon had the brightly coloured robot camera lowered into the water. Guided by Big J, it only took a minute to reach the seabed then deftly manoeuvred in into the position where the photograph of the suspected torpedo had been taken. They were in the early stages of slack water so the sea conditions were near perfect. The monitor cleared and with the aid of the lamps attached to the camera the seabed could be seen in sharp focus in the crystal clear water. Boulders silhouetted in the artificial light littered the scene as the camera nosed slowly towards its target. Suddenly a wall of encrusted metal appeared. Big J stopped the camera.
“We’ll have to be careful now. I’ll go up a couple of metres and then work around in a circle, see if we can find that tube again.”
No one spoke as the robot camera raised two metres before moving off to the left.