by Albert Able
“It better be good stuff if they make it so difficult to get at!”
He had finally undone the wire and was tugging manfully at the stubborn cork when it exploded out of the bottle, embedding itself into the soft roof lining, and a jet of frothy champagne spewed out liberally spraying Annie and the child.
Soaked in champagne and feeling helpless, Dick looked anxiously at Annie. He tried to keep the fizzy liquid in the bottle with his hand but it simply squirted more effectively and eventually he just let it spill into the sink.
Annie stood up, drenched in the frothy liquid.
“Aren’t you supposed to serve it in a glass?” she laughed, grabbing a cloth and dabbing the startled child.
Dick laughed with her.
“Well the idea had been to celebrate our success but it turned out more like a Christening eh?”
He put the bottle down and reached out to Annie. Still holding the baby, she looked at him and for the first time saw a different look in his eyes. She placed the child gently on the floor and put its favourite cuddly toy in its outstretched hand. It cooed happily and paid no more attention to the adults.
Annie stood in front of Dick.
“Yes we have much to celebrate,” she smiled softly.
Dick pulled her gently to him and held her tight.
“Oh Annie,” he mumbled into her hair.
She snuggled into his grip and looked up into his face.
“I’ve waited a long time for this moment,” she whispered and kissed him gently on the lips.
Dick returned the kiss.
“I’ve wanted to do that for a long time now.” He continued to hold her, kissing her ear as he gently stroked her back. Suddenly he pulled away and looked down at her. “I’ve been such a fool trying to believe that Alice was respectable. I’ve been living a stupid fantasy haven’t I?” He pulled her hungrily back to his body.
“You needed time,” Annie cooed. “You must never doubt yourself. I believe you did what was right for you.” She pulled back enough to look into his face. “So now maybe we can take some time to discover each other?”
Dick smiled.
“So if the baby’s content why don’t we start now?” he grinned.
Annie pulled back, looking serious.
“Do I think I know what you have in mind?”
Dick looked uncertain until her face changed into a soft, warm cheeky smile.
“Then what are you waiting for?” She grabbed his hand looked briefly at the child playing quietly with its fluffy comforter and headed towards the forward cabin.
After a while, with their initial passion spent, they lay together in bed, their bodies just touching.
“We have so many things to sort out,” Dick said, half turning so that he could see Annie’s face in the moonlight filtering into the cabin from the skylight.
Annie smiled, slipped out of the bed and collected the child, who had fallen asleep curled up with her comforter.
“Yes,” Annie replied softly, “and the first thing if I may say so is to give this child a name!” She tucked the still-sleepy child into the makeshift crib at the head of the cabin.
“Well I’ve been thinking about that too,” Dick said rather hesitantly. “What should we be doing about her, I mean. Are we sure it’s really mine and should we be keeping her or what?” Dick burbled out.
Anne sat up.
“Now look here, I hope we’re not about to have our first row because whether she is your natural child or not makes no difference to me. I hope it’s the same with you? That child needs a family and a home, so as far as I am concerned, we are her family now and this will be her home or wherever else we find ourselves. Is that clear enough?” She looked at Dick defiantly.
Dick smiled. He was definitely going to love this woman.
“OK,” he said trying to sound indifferent. “So that’s the first decision.” He leaned down and kissed her. “Now how about a name?”
“I’ll tell you about the name in a minute. First there is this other matter which needs attention.” She placed both of her hands around his neck and hungrily pulled him down onto her breast.
The first rays of the morning sun had replaced the moonlight by the time they were woken by a hungry child.
w
The mobile telephone vibrated incessantly; discreetly removing the phone from her handbag Marion identified the caller and answered testily.
“I’ve asked you to stop pestering me. I cannot, I will not, help you. Do you understand?” She pressed the termination button aggressively.
Oscar could not help noticing the unusual number of calls Marion received in the last twenty-four hours. At first he assumed that it was Ricky or some other friends just calling for a chat but the calls were obviously irritating her.
Up until now he had chosen to remain silent.
“Problem my dear?” he offered gently as she entered the cabin and returned the phone to her handbag
“Not really Oscar but thank you for asking.”
He noticed that she was being over polite and was convinced that something was troubling her.
“Well, looks as though we will make the first test dives around ten-o’clock tomorrow. Pretty exciting eh?” he said, trying to cheer up the atmosphere.
Marion appeared to take no notice and slumped onto the bed, her face in her hands, sobbing.
“Whatever is the matter?” Oscar placed a comforting arm around her shoulders.
Tearfully she turned to face him.
“Oh Oscar I am desolate. I have allowed myself to become emotionally attached to you and now I feel so guilty. You see I told you a little white lie when I said that my father was a common soldier.” She stopped sobbing and sat upright staring at the opposite wall. “In fact his name was Prince Decator Sunoshi.” She turned to face the stunned Oscar. “He knew about the gold all right. You see it was his job to hide it!” She looked down at her hands. “The letter and everything is genuine - of that I’m sure. My mother made me swear never to reveal the truth for fear of the danger it would place us in.” She looked straight at Oscar. “I have kept that oath up until now. I couldn’t have broken that for any other person. I pray that you believe me?” she pleaded.
Oscar returned his arm to Marion’s shoulders.
“Dearest of all people I assure you that I do understand and I promise that I am not offended in any way. I’m more interested in why it should suddenly have erupted into such spectacular importance?” He looked at her discarded handbag. “The telephone calls,” he queried. “Is someone hassling you?”
“I better tell you the rest of the story.” And so she explained what she knew about the Golden Lily organisation. Everyone believed that it had died out after the war. However apparently a couple of the lesser members survived the war crimes purges and secretly continued using the organisation for their personal clandestine purposes. Marion’s search for information about her grandfather and the gold had in fact been quite coincidental. However, in the last two days The Golden Lilly had apparently risen from the ashes and announced that it was staking its legitimate right to any gold discovered on the wreck of the submarine.
“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?”
f
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.
w
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.
f
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.
w
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.
“Three metres. That will do. Now right again,” Big J muttered to no one in particular. “Four five six,” he counted quietly as a small bead of perspiration trickled down his forehead. “Now up two and left, there!” he shouted. The rest of the onlookers cheered
“Well done!” Greg banged the big man on the shoulder.
The camera hovered one metre from the torpedo tube with its deadly ordnance protruding from it.
“That’s a torpedo no doubt about it boys.” Big J confirmed. “Well we’ve certainly found the same wreck; now we better see if we can find anything to identify it.” He started to manoeuvre the camera again.
“I think we should take the risk of sending down a dive team,” John interrupted. “We could be hours skimming around with the camera and the tide is only good for about five hours. What do you say?”
“OK by me.” Big J looked up from the screen. “But just be bloody careful; don’t touch anything until we have a full picture of the whole wreck, particularly if there any more live torpedoes lying about.”
“Thanks,” John replied with a wry smile as he moved out of the control room. “Come on boys, let’s get the first team in the water.”
&nbs
p; Within minutes the first four divers were assembled by the ramp.
“Now remember boys, observation and report only. We want to get a full picture of the situation and firm evidence that it’s our wreck before we send down any clearing equipment, understand?” They all gave the OK dive signal before entering the water.
John set the timer on his watch; he had calculated that by using a gas-air mixture at that depth they would be able to work safely around the wreck for about fifteen minutes, allowing them to surface without decompressing.
The next four divers were already standing by the rail waiting to replace their colleagues. For them, the time ticked by slowly as they waited on the surface. For the men on the bottom, it seemed to pass unnaturally quickly.
Working in pairs, they each carried small marker buoys attached to coiled light lines; these would release once they had identified a particular part of the wreck, allowing the next diver to land directly on the chosen section.
The first pair of divers found rusting metal debris almost immediately. Following the trail for a few metres, they came to a confusion of the rusting old ship’s beams and the jagged remains of its moulded plating. It was obvious that the wreck had suffered considerably from the ferocious tides and currents that moved relentlessly back and forth year in, year out. Consequently there was no recognisable ship-like shape to be seen.
The second pair of divers set out at right angles from the others and soon found the rocky ravine seen by the robot camera in the previous search. It took some time before they came across the nose of a submarine. Buried, in a wide crevasse, it appeared to have escaped the worst effects of the erosion.
They hovered a metre from the tip of the torpedo and released their first marker buoy; satisfied that it was secure, they turned left and headed on a parallel course hoping to find more of the wreck. They swam several metres when their hopes were suddenly fulfilled by the sight of a mountain of jumbled beams and even the curved shape of a submarine hull. With their submerged time almost at the limit, they released their second buoy and returned to the surface.