by Drew Herdman
CHAPTER 9
REX TAKES CHARGE.
At the sound of Rex's voice from the radio, everyone stood still, as if they had been suddenly frozen.
"Yes boss, we are all here." replied the older man. His voice shook slightly as though he was afraid.
"I'll be with you in 5 minutes." snarled Rex.
The seconds ticked by. Each one seemed like a minute, and each minute like an hour, but all too soon heavy footsteps clattered on the deck. As the door handle turned, all eyes were drawn to it, like metal to a magnet. Even Rhes looked as well, now that his ears had been freed from the hands that held them.
The door opened, and a giant of a man stepped through. He was so tall that he had to duck his head to come in, and turn sideways because he was so broad. His hair was long, his face was covered with a bushy moustache, and a full beard. He stood in the doorway, and his eyes swept over the crowded room. His eyes seemed to burn with an inner fire, and as he looked from one another, they were unable to hold his gaze, and soon dropped their eyes to the floor.
The older man then jumped to his feet, and held the chair for Rex to sit in. Without a word Rex sat down, and after putting his huge hands on the desk, fingers loosely clasped together, leaned forward, and just stared at Rhes.
Rhes tried to stare back, as though he wasn't afraid, even though deep down he was terrified, and could feel the evil coming from this man.
Eventually Rex said.
"Who are you?"
"Your men have kidnapped my friends." replied Rhes, not answering the question, "And I demand that you release them now! I don't know what you are up to, but if you harm one hair on their heads,. I’ll destroy you."
Rex's eyes still stared. They widened until the whole dark centre was surrounded by the white outer part, His fists slowly clenched, and then lifted to smash down on top of the desk. He leaned forward, and reached out to grab Rhes by the front of his silvery one-piece suit. As he lifted, both Rhes and the chair came up off the floor.
Suddenly Rex's head went back, and he burst out with a horrible laugh. He let go of Rhes, who crashed back to the floor. Luckily the chair stayed upright.
"You're a brave man to talk to me like that" roared Rex, "But if you try that again, I’ll squash you".
His hands moved as though he was wringing out a towel.or a neck.
Rex turned to the others.
"Well; what's going on?" He said, "Tell me now."
"We caught him trying to rescue the two brats". mumbled the older man. The words tumbled out, and soon Rex knew all about the twins, and how they had seen Lofty and Shorty, and could tell the police what had happened. On and on it went, until the words came slower and slower, and then stopped, just like a run down clock.
Rex sat and though for a while, and then decided what to do.
"Lock this one up with the other two. Leave the real crew where they are. Take the mind device off the ship. Take it to Douglas, and hide it in the tower on Refuge Island, off the pier there. We can operate it by remote control. I don't want to, because it will give the game away to the police on the mainland, when everything stops over here, so we'll use that as a last resort, until the ransom is paid. Then we use it, and protected by our special helmets, we will be able to rob all the banks round here. I have a sale for it after, so this can be a selling point, to prove it works.
So we walk off with ten million pounds, all the money here, a sale for the device, and we can soon build another.
When all is ready, sink the ship with everyone in it. The water is deep here, and it will never be found. Dead men tell no tales. Now get on with it. I have arrangements to make for the ransom to be paid.".
As he finished speaking, Charlie stepped forward, and said
"I want no part in murder. When I joined the gang it was agreed that no-one would be hurt".
Rex turned on him, red faced with anger.
"You'll do as I say, or would you rather end up dead as well?"
Charlie stood head down, while Rex shouted at him. In the silence that followed, Rex's plans were carried out to the letter. Rhes was pushed into the small storeroom with the twins, and they could hear the others moving about, until all was quiet. Up to that moment neither the twins nor Rhes had said a word. Rhes felt that it would be better not to say too much to the twins and certainly nothing about the ship being sunk with them in it.
He was about to speak when heavy footsteps stopped outside the door. The key turned, the door opened. It was Rex. He stood there smiling
"All is set, my friends. Nothing can stop me, so do have a pleasant trip. Give my regards to the devil, or whoever you meet".
The door slammed shut, the key turned. His cruel laughter grew fainter as he went away down the passage.