“Close the door,” she said.
He went to it.
“I don’t normally do this with people I’ve not known very long.”
“Neither do I,” he replied.
She took her vest off, her bra candy pink. Next she was unzipping her jeans. He gawped at her. She had a fantastic body. Then a bad thought crossed his mind.
’We have to work together and I respect her!’
He looked at her perfect body. He’d never wanted a girl so much.
“Natalie maybe we shouldn’t. I mean we do have to work together and I don‘t want to upset your boss.”
She kicked her jeans off. Her thong matched her bra. She made it to him in two steps and grabbed him by the neck, pressing her body hard against his.
“Shut up and kiss me.”
He felt the lace of her underwear against his body and it stirred him. He reached behind for the latch on the door.
Afterwards they lay in each others arms in the cramped bunk. She gently stroked his chest with her fingertips. There was a knock on the door. Natalie lifted her head off Dennis chest.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Jim Nat. Just checking to make sure Peter gave you that message.”
Dennis held his breath in case Hutchinson heard him.
“Yes he did.”
“Have you seen him?”
Natalie put her hand in front of her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
“No I haven’t Jim. Have you tried his cabin?”
“Yes. He wasn’t there.”
“I don’t know where he could be then.”
“I’ll see you on deck then Natalie.”
“Give me five minutes. I’ll be there.”
“Thank you Natalie,”Hutchinson was about to walk away when he knocked the door again.
“Mr Dennis I’d like you to come as well.”
The ship was out to sea by the time they grouped on deck. The feel of it familiar to Natalie and her group once again. Peter Dennis leaning against the side. The untoward motion of the ship alien to him.
Hutchinson finished his briefing before handing over to the ship’s Captain.
“Good morning lady and gentlemen,” he said introducing himself in heavily accented English, “I am Captain Ali Hakan. Please call me Ali. I am from North Cyprus,” he continued looking at George, “I would be interested in learning where you are from my friend.”
George nodded the minimal of politeness. The Greeks loathed the Turks and Northern Cypriots. He could never conceive of being friends with any of them. He or any of his people.
“My crew,“ Ali continued, “Are mainly Turkish, two Russians, an American and Greeks. We’ll be sailing approximately two miles, to this location.”
Ali pointed on a map, outspread on some oil drums. He gestured for Hutchinson to take over.
“Yes. The island you see here is Djerba. This is Gabes,” Hutchinson pointed back to the port they’d left earlier that day, now on the horizon, “That is Djerba ahead. Somewhere on the line we are following is our prize. It’s up to us to find it.”
“In this area are a dozen shipwrecks,” Ali cut in.
“Nine of which are from world war two,” Hutchinson continued, “We are lucky that the water is shallow here. Sometimes reaching depths of only one hundred feet. It is shallower near the island, naturally. There are two wrecks here. We will search those first,” Hutchinson rummaged amongst the papers in front of him until he found what he was looking for. He held it up. It was a large black and white photograph.
“This is what we’re looking for. This is the freighter ’Tangipito’ This picture was probably taken before the war because she appears to be in pristine condition. One torpedo and sixty years at the bottom of the Mediterranean will have taken their toll on her. Take a good look though. There may still be something recognisable down there. Pass that picture around,” Hutchinson handed it to Alex, “Natalie.”
“Thank you Jim.”
Natalie moved forward from her place in the group.
“We’ll be diving in pairs. Alex and George. Tom and Jack. Myself and Peter. Mr Dennis is a novice diver which is why I’m accompanying him. It was Jim’s idea,” she said when she saw the look from George.
“Yeah I dived many years ago on a family holiday in Jamaica. I’m sure it will all come back to me,” Dennis said.
There were a few chuckles from the team. Natalie smiled at Ali.
“The water is not so calm today,” the Turkish Captain said, “It will be quite murky down there for you. The current pulls quite strongly around the island and you can drift. This is especially dangerous for divers if you get separated. Even in depths of sixty feet you may not be able to see the ship on the surface. If anyone gets into difficulty my crew will be circling in the dinghy. Make it to the surface and wave your arms and they will pick you up. Any questions? No. Good. We’ll arrive at the first wreck site in….” Ali turned to his first mate.
“About thirty minutes Captain.”
“Right people if there is nothing else let’s get suited up,” Hutchinson said.
The team broke into their pairs. Dennis looked over the side at the turbulent waters. It was a fairly calm day.
“There is nothing to worry about,” Natalie said joining him.
“I’m not worried. It’s just not as I remembered it.”
“You mean the warm, clear waters of the Caribbean. Jamaica wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“The water here will be warm. You just won’t be able to see much until you’re at the bottom, but don’t worry,” she flashed him her best smile, “I’ll be with you the whole way.”
“What are those?” he asked sitting down on a seat.
“Shark cages.”
“Shark cages! Are there sharks in the Med?”
“Some. But nothing to worry us much. Trust me.”
“That’s the trouble. I do.”
Once in the water Dennis felt more afraid than he’d thought he would. The accomplished divers had rolled off the dinghy backwards. Natalie told Dennis to stand and jump in feet first. He felt himself reaching out to try to steady himself, completely kitted out as he was, with tank, breathing apparatus, weighted belt, flippers. He felt ridiculous. He was sure he looked ridiculous. Natalie was sitting at the edge of the small boat.
“Just remember to breathe normally.”
He nodded and took two short breaths. Then thinking he was ready he wobbled to the little boat’s edge and nearly capsized it as he jumped into the sea. The fear reached him first and then the cold of the water. Bubbles raced past his mask and for a moment he felt himself begin to panic. He’d stopped his descent. That much he knew. But then he wasn’t rising either. His immediate instinct was to bolt for the surface. Then he remembered her words.
“Breathe normally.”
He took a few deep breaths and felt himself begin to calm. Underwater sounds were different. He heard the bubbles. A sound which registered in his mind as something similar to a splash. He glanced up at the surface and realised the sound had been made by Natalie entering the water. He could see the small dinghy. Foam appeared to be coming from its propellers. Then is sped off. The two crew members in it circling to lay buoys to warn of divers in the water. Natalie straightened up in front of him. She waved at him and spoke. He couldn’t understand the words but took them to be.