"But we need to get back out there as soon as possible!"
"Please, Heather, I have it all in order. Miguel is already there. I sent him out at first light."
"Miguel? Isaac, I needed to see for myself! You know I..."
Heather never noticed the one-eyed man sat on the far side of the street. It would be a bad time to speak with her anyway, she was obviously busy. He thought it would make more sense to order some food and wait it out.
After all, he was about to present himself to her, after three months apart, as homeless, broke and lovesick. He would need to do that on a full stomach.
# # #
Dan hadn't long to wait before Heather came storming out of the building. He was only half way through a breakfast of bread and fruit, the most substantial and delicious he'd had in weeks, when he heard a door slamming shut and watched Heather cross the street and march off towards the myriad of warehouses and storage yards that formed the industrial sector of the port.
He finished what he could, threw down some of the last money he possessed to pay for it, and made after her. It took him a few minutes to catch up and get close enough to be heard, and as he did so, all the words he'd planned to say when they met just disappeared.
"Heather!"
His voice sounded weak and reedy, but it was enough to stop her dead in her tracks. She turned to face him, only ten metres away now, and Dan walked slowly towards her, trying desperately to gauge her reaction to his unannounced arrival. As he stepped closer, he could see the deep green of her eyes, fiery and full of life, and it filled him with longing.
In all his dreams and thoughts of her and how they might reunite, Dan had never considered what happened next. She slapped him hard across the face.
He stumbled backwards in shock, clasping a hand across his cheek where she'd hit him as the skin burned red with the force of it.
"I thought you were dead!"
"I'm sorry. After what happened I had to disappear. I couldn't make contact in case they were watching you. I...I thought you would have understood that...I..."
Dan found himself struggling for words. She had that effect on him. She was right though. How could she have known? Dan had left her on a mission, hell-bent on vengeance. He thought she understood what that meant. He thought she knew what it was to covertly enter a hostile country, on a one man mission, to assassinate a well-guarded warlord and then escape.
With his mission complete, Dan had ditched all his belongings, removing all trace of himself and any link back to Heather. One call was all he made, from a phone box in Harare to the Hwange National Park, where he thought she would be. They'd told him she'd gone to Brazil, so Dan had followed.
Heather sighed. Her shoulders sagged and her eyes drifted to the ground, away from Dan's, avoiding his pathetic mutterings.
"I understand, Dan. I heard what happened in Nigeria. The Boko Haram's greatest warlord, Omar Lamidi, was mysteriously killed in action. Murdered by a lone sniper, some would say. It sparked off a new wave of revenge attacks against the Nigerian Army. Hundreds are thought to be dead as a result."
Dan knew what would happen when he killed Lamidi, but war was war, he couldn't stop it. Lamidi was more than just a warlord who had tortured and killed soldiers under Dan's protection. He was the driving force behind the slaughter of elephants all over Africa. Using their prized ivory tusks to fund his war efforts. Dan had killed Lamidi for his own reasons, yes, but Heather played a major part in his decision to go after the warlord. She was trying to stop the trade in ivory and save the elephants. Lamidi would have killed her. Dan wasn't prepared to let that happen.
He switched the topic from war to her favourite animal, in the hope it might lighten the mood.
"And the Hwange? What about the elephants?"
"Reported incidents of poaching are at the lowest they have been for years. Abayomi said that he has never seen the like of it."
Heather lifted her head and focused on Dan. She examined every part of him from head to toe, as if looking at him for the first time.
"Abayomi also said that he had never seen the like of you. He said you are wild and dangerous - like a cornered lion."
Dan shuffled on his feet, knowing these next few moments could define the rest of his life. He could see the small chink of light he had been following grow smaller and smaller by the second.
"And what do you think, Heather?"
"I think you are wild and dangerous, just as he says."
"Omar Lamidi was a tyrant. He was responsible for the deaths of your friends and mine, never mind all the hundreds or maybe thousands of others he has killed in the Nigerian wars. The world is a better place without him."
"Maybe."
"You knew what I was, long before Lamidi. And what I did was as much for you as it was for myself."
She didn't reply to that, and instead walked away, finding a seat on the edge of the harbour where she gazed out over the water in silence. Dan sat down next to her, following her eyes to the ships in the distance.
"Abayomi told me you had come here to save the whales. Had any luck?"
She sighed again.
"Not yet. It's the same old story. People are too frightened to speak up. Even the man who asked for help is holding back on me."
"In what way?"
"He just seems reluctant. He will go so far, but then...I don't know. I wanted to go out this morning to where we found some illegal fishing ships last night, but he's stalling me. He says he has already sent someone out, and has no other boats to spare. But I need to go and see for myself. That's why I'm here. To record evidence of why the whale population is falling, and produce it to the government. There is something strange going on, I'm just not sure what it is yet."
"Can I help?"
Heather smiled at him then, and Dan smiled back.
"Do you think you could do that without killing anyone or blowing anything up?"
"Probably not. But I could try."
Heather reached up and lightly touched the patch across his eye, then ran a finger across the scars on his head that lead away from the patch and melted into his hairline.
"OK then, Daniel Harpur. It'll be the same terms as before though. You're off the books. I might be freelance now, but if the South Atlantic Sea Life Cooperative found out I was working with shady characters like you, they wouldn't be pleased. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
"Good. I know exactly where to start."
CHAPTER THREE
Lucas Machado supervised the unloading of his catch, left orders to ready the ship, and then swiftly made his way to the office of the Harbour Master, Martim Santos.
The port of Fortaleza was especially busy this morning and it wasn't long before Lucas got caught up in the crowds, meeting old friends and shipmates from years of working the sea, who wouldn't let him pass without a word or a joke for old time's sake. These men were his friends, or at least they used to be - tough, hardworking sailors whose sweat and toil earned them little enough to feed their families. More than once Lucas caught them staring or cursing under their breaths. "Here comes the pirate Machado", they would say, "He was once one of us".
Lucas followed a path through the thronging market where merchants and chefs quarrelled over the price of the bounty of fresh produce on display. Row upon row of crates packed with fish and ice were quickly being bought and carried away to be served at restaurants and supermarkets all over Brazil. Some would make it further still, to Mexico or North America, where customers would pay a premium for fish of any shape or size.
Unwittingly, they would pay the same price for fish from La Mujer Codiciosa and her sister ships as they would for fish from the other ships of the Fortaleza fleet. This was why they cursed his name. The captains of the other ships must sail far out to sea for days on end to make their catch. Lucas barely left sight of land.
With the market behind him, Lucas climbed a flight of stairs that lead him up to the office of the Harbour Master, Martim Santos. H
e knocked on the door, knowing all too well that Santos would be waiting, having spotted him from his vantage point on the floor above as Lucas made his way through the market.
Santos stood at the window to his office watching the folk below like a vulture on a tree top; waiting to swoop down on any who showed weakness. He'd presided over the comings and goings at Fortaleza for as long as Lucas could remember, and was as famous for his adherence to the rules and regulations of the harbour as he was for his connections to the Tercerio Commandos.
"Enter!"
Lucas walked into the large furnished office which had been occupied by Santos for the last thirty years. The walls were decorated with maritime artwork of every description, the furniture, old and functional, was made from solid oak and likely passed down through several generations of Harbour Masters. In one corner, a camp bed had been erected and a sleeping bag sat neatly folded upon it.
Santos stood looking out through the large window. His hands were clasped at his back, like a naval commander surveying his ship with a critical eye.
"Your catch could have been better, Captain Machado."
Lucas approached the window and stood next to Santos. Standing a full head taller than the older man, he looked down on him to speak, but Santos didn't waver and his eyes never once left the activity in the market below.
"We were interrupted last night. My nets had to be cut again. Another humpback got caught up in them, not to mention the dolphins and turtles. The whale woman was there also. I think we might have a problem. She..."
"A problem? Am I hearing correctly? The mighty Lucas Machado is unable to fill his nets in water teeming with fish and a woman is worrying him?"
"It is hard work. She could cause us trouble and my crew is..."
"Hard work? Maybe I should find another captain for Antonio Correia then. Is that what you want?"
"That's not what I am saying. The woman took pictures of my ship working inside the reserve. It was not yet dark, so she may have something to link us."
"Us? What flag were you flying at the time?"
"The flag of Belize, as we agreed."
"And why were you fishing inside the reserve in daylight?"
"We are under pressure from Antonio Correia to make a return on his investment. I must see him tomorrow to give him money he has demanded. We must fish in daylight so we catch enough to keep up with the payments."
Santos turned away from the window and sighed heavily. He took a seat behind his desk and indicated for Lucas to sit opposite.
"As far as anyone else is concerned you are not a Brazilian fishing vessel. No record will exist of your presence in Fortaleza and your fish will be sold in the market just like all the others. No-one will be the wiser, Captain Machado. I will see to that."
"And the woman?"
"There is a man who also works for Antonio. He will be waiting for you on your ship by now. Go and speak with him. He will decide what should be done with the woman."
Santos reached into a drawer and pulled out a large brown envelope. He tossed it carelessly across the desk. It slid across the shiny wooden surface and landed neatly in Lucas' lap.
"You must be more careful in future, Captain Machado. Antonio Correia does not suffer fools."
Lucas stuffed the envelope inside his jacket and left without a word. He hurried back to his beloved ship to meet the stranger waiting for him.
Lucas was seething with anger. He was once his own man, answering to no-one and the creator of his own destiny. Now, he fought for the crumbs from lesser men's tables and took orders like a whipped pup. Lucas was firmly in the grip of the Tercerio Commandos, and the livelihoods, and lives, of all aboard La Mujer Codiciosa depended on him. It was a formidable weight around his neck, weighing him down and threatening to sink him fast.
At the top of the gangplank, his First Mate waited nervously for his arrival. Erico was small and wiry. Not a pick of fat clung to his body and the crew of La Mujer Codiciosa feared his wrath even more so than Lucas himself. Erico was as quick as a viper. Years at sea had hardened his lean body to extremes in temperature and the back-breaking labour that life on a fishing boat demanded. He carried a wicked bone handled dagger in the small of his back, and stories abounded of how quick he was to use it in the heat of a fight.
With a nod of his head, Erico acknowledged his captain and pulled him close to whisper.
"There is a man in your cabin. He is part of that city scum. He calls himself, Miguel. I dared not stop him."
"I know. Make sure the men are ready. We won't be hanging around today."
As he entered his cabin, Lucas found his visitor lounging in a chair and leafing through papers that didn't concern him. He was a seagoing man, Lucas could tell, and the salt smell of the ocean was fresh upon him. His long hair was tied back on his head with a leather strap and although a loose fitting shirt covered his body and arms, Lucas noted the edges of gangland tattoos clearly visible from underneath it.
"What is the meaning of this?"
The man stood up, smaller than Lucas by a long way, as most men were, but he carried the confidence and arrogance of one unused to authority or fear.
"I am sick of babysitting you. In future you must be more careful in your work. Antonio Correia does not like high risk investments."
Lucas took a step closer. Hoping to intimidate the smaller man with his sheer presence in the confines of the tiny cabin.
"How dare you come to my ship uninvited and speak to me that way! I ought to gut you and throw you overboard for such an insult."
The smaller man didn't flinch and stepped closer still, eyeing Lucas with undisguised contempt from only inches away.
"And I ought to tell Mr Correia he should acquire a new ship, as Lucas Machado is unable to pay his debts. What do you think would happen then?"
"He will get his money!"
"I know he will. But Mr Correia expects a long term return on his investment. So I would suggest you take more care in the future. I will deal with the whale woman."
Lucas was afraid to ask how that might happen and watched as the man left him behind in his cabin; weary from a lack of sleep and worried for the future.
# # #
Heather lead Dan through the busy fish market and towards the harbour, where long lines of ships waited impatiently to unload their goods. They'd been close enough last night, just before the crew began firing on them and darkness fell, to catch the name of the ship; La Mujer Codiciosa - The Greedy Lady. She thought it a very appropriate name indeed.
Although Isaac had given her very explicit instructions to stay away from the harbour and the rough fishermen it contained, Heather chose to ignore his warnings. Today she had a new man by her side. A man who strode confidently next to her; constantly searching for danger and not afraid to confront it if the need arose.
She couldn't deny her feelings for Dan. Although anger was the first emotion to consume her when she saw him, it was relief and excitement that had quickly washed the anger away. Dan was here for her and no other. He'd fought and killed for her. From the very first moment she had met him, Heather knew there was something special about Daniel Harpur. He was focused, professional, determined and above all, loyal. She respected him for that. But on the other hand he was also unpredictable and violent. When she looked at him, with the patch over his eye and the livid scars that ran away from it, a shiver ran down her spine. This was a man that would never desert her, who'd bled and suffered for her. A man who'd gave up his life and broken the most sacred of all laws just to please her.
The two of them received plenty of attention as they walked - the inquisitive whale woman and her new one-eyed friend. Some of the local fishermen she recognised, from the smaller more traditional boats, who were glad she had come to Fortaleza to investigate the drop in whale numbers and who had spoken to her in private about the large commercial vessels plundering the waters of the reserve, did not now acknowledge her presence. They dipped their heads and busied themselves as
she passed by, unwilling to even make eye contact. Was it Dan putting them off, or was it something else entirely?
This was the first time Heather had been to the fish market and the first time she had something to look for. If La Mujer Codiciosa was docked in the harbour she could alert the authorities, maybe inspect the ship or speak to the crew. Today, in full daylight and with hundreds of people crowding the harbour, she doubted the danger would be as high as it was last night at the edge of darkness and on the open sea.
Dan didn't seem to feel as confident as she did.
"Heather, we're getting some strange looks from these people. I'm not so sure this is a good idea."
"We're only taking a look, Dan. I told you. If we find the ship, we'll alert the authorities. The police, the harbour master, they're all obliged to help me. The South Atlantic Sea Life Cooperative is an intergovernmental body made up from several different influential countries. It's in everyone's interest to help me or questions could be asked at very high levels of government."
"Yeah, but we've been here before. Have you forgotten Laos so soon? There are crooks at every level of society. From fishermen to presidents, they're all the same."
Heather examined the creases in Dan's brow and marvelled at the way he scanned the environment around them, assessing each person or obstacle in their way, judging the threat it posed. He was a soldier, and a damn good one, but his people skills left a lot to be desired.
"I just want to talk, Dan. To look around and talk. This isn't a battlefield."
"It is. Just a different sort than I'm used to."
With a roll of her eyes and a smile towards her new bodyguard, Heather pulled the rucksack from her back and removed the camera she had used the night before to photograph the ship. She scrolled through the images until she found the one she wanted and showed it to Dan.
The Dead Sea Page 2