The Boss could not find any definitive information on the powerboat owners but given that the old fuel attendant was correct and they came from the southern islands, they were almost certainly the same terrorist group that had been deprived of their expensive arms shipment and was now out for revenge.
“Looks as though you should have come straight home instead of doing a bit of moonlighting eh,” the Boss chuckled. “Still I don’t suppose you will ever stay out of trouble will you!” Then more seriously, he said, “Just one thing to remember. You’re a family man now, so no bloody heroics.”
“You know me Boss.”
“Exactly.”
The telephone vibrated seconds after the Boss terminated his call. It was Hans.
“Ah Alex, I’m afraid I’ve detected more mobile calls and they’re not from the lady’s phone. Whoever it is, they called the same number in Manila.”
“Damn!” Alex exclaimed. “Thanks Hans. I’ll get back to you.”
Alex was in his element, sifting through the various pieces of evidence and planning the strategy to protect the two ships and above all the divers who would be operating day and night whenever the tide and current allowed.
By strapping two of La Vielle’s longest derricks between the two vessels, they effectively created a catamaran, allowing them to work the heavy lifting cables and underwater vehicles in between the two hulls.
Greg, wearing a safety helmet equipped with earphones and microphone, had both of La Vielle’s remaining derricks working to commands from the divers almost eighty metres below, where the job of gaining access to the submarine’s pressure hull was proving to be slow and difficult work. An oxyacetylene torch had to be used to cut into ancient frames, which were then pulled away by the ship’s derrick. “Big Blaster” was working at maximum delivery alongside the divers, attempting to blow away the silt that constantly hampered their vision.
The first real success came on the third day of the operation when a large piece of steel plating, still attached to its curved metal frame, was finally pulled away.
“It’s still pretty cloudy but I think we’re in!” Hal shouted in excitement, his voice distorted by the tinny microphone. “Over here with ‘big blaster’ — let’s see if we can clear some of this shit out of the way.”
There was silence for a couple of minutes while they struggled to blow the silt away from the opening. Gradually the water cleared and there in the bright yellow arc light was the opening they had hoped for.
“It looks a bit of a mess in there!” Hal observed. “We’ll have to get the suction hose going before we venture inside otherwise we’ll have another silt storm!”
The sharks retreated out of range when the steel plate was pulled away, creating so much debris in the water. After a few minutes, as the water cleared again, and increasingly irritated by the intrusion into their private world, they returned.
Old Ling’s daughter Ellie-Mae and her son Ming-Lee were still on board La Vielle. However, knowing that some kind of conflict was almost inevitable in the very near future, Alex decided that they should be put ashore into Annie’s safe keeping, at least until the diving operation was completed.
“There is likely to be some serious trouble out here.” He raised his hand at her protest. “I promised your father I would keep you safe and keep you safe is what I intend. So in spite of your wonderful cooking, Dick will take you ashore. You will be in good hands with Annie so please no arguments.”
“I’m only going for Ming Lee’s sake,” she protested with typical dignity. “I’ll get our things.” She turned and left the cabin.
“Right next problem,” Alex addressed the empty cabin. “Oscar and Marion!”
Dick carried his reluctant passengers ashore and delivered them into Annie’s care.
“I don’t know what you’re getting up to but you’d better be careful or you’ll have me to deal with!” Annie scolded Dick.
She knew she could never persuade him to stay away; the temptation of adventure was too great for such a man. She reached out and held him tight.
“I’ll be waiting for you.”
Dick, embarrassed by the display of emotion, gave her a quick hug and pushed her gently away.
“Oh stop worrying — you don’t think I’d let anything happen to our boat do you?” He turned and left.
“Oh men!” Annie sobbed. “Why do we let ourselves become so involved?”
Ming-Lee looked up into Annie’s eyes and, smiling innocently, placed her tiny hand into Annie’s and squeezed it gently.
“Don’t worry, I don’t think they’ll stay out there any longer than necessary — not without mummy’s cooking!”
In order to assess their potential threat, Alex wanted to see the Japanese dive boat and the three powerboats for himself so travelled ashore with Dick.
“We can walk around to the fish quay — the boat is still there. I caught sight of the helipad as we rounded the headland.”
Dick led off at a brisk walk.
“This way,” he commanded
As they approached the fishing harbour they met the man Dick had spoken with the other morning; Dick was convinced that he knew him from somewhere else but could not quite place him.
“You didn’t sign on then?” Dick approached him.
The man was still truculent.
“Nah they don’t want real seamen.”
“Oh so what do they want?”
The man turned and studied Dick carefully, then looked across at Alex.
“I wasn’t really sure,” the man eventually replied in a low voice. ”I suddenly decided that in spite of the big payday being offered, it was all a bit too vague and secretive for me — though I could have done with the money!” he sighed. “Anyway its too late now — they’re leaving.” He pointed at the ship.
Men were running along the side deck. A lone figure on the quay unhooked the shorelines, which were pulled quickly on board.
“Any idea where she’s heading?” Alex asked, speaking for the first time.
“Research in the China Sea was all they said.” The man shook his head. “Perhaps I shouldn’t be so choosey” he sighed as he watched the boat manoeuvring out of the harbour.
“Diving?” Alex asked simply.
“That’s what I assumed but when I asked what equipment they had on board, they suddenly shut me up, saying they had enough divers now and only wanted more deckhands. By then I was too suspicious and said no.”
“Out of interest,” Alex encouraged the man, “did you notice what equipment they have on board, other than the two underwater vehicles on deck?”
“That’s what puzzled me, you see. I’ve been diving all over the place and the first thing any dive operation usually claims to woo the best divers is that they have all the latest gadgets or gas air mixers, you know the sort of thing, and especially a luxury recompression kit. But these guys claimed nothing of the sort. Strange, very strange,” he mused.
“So you’re a diver?” Alex asked. “That could be useful — you see we have a dive team working out in the bay at this moment and could use an extra pair of hands. This job will be more like support and security. Interested?”
The man looked at Alex.
“Security — what does that mean exactly?”
“Let’s put it this way, we are a legitimate diving operation working on a wreck out in the bay. I am convinced that those people are part of a Japanese crime syndicate who are going to try to interfere with our operation.”