by Ron Sewell
In a talkative mood, they sauntered back to Desert Wind.
***
Rono woke early, brewed the coffee and decided he needed to exercise. Weeks had come and gone since he had been to the gym or done any jogging. While his drink cooled, he undressed and put on his dark blue tracksuit. He sipped his coffee on the stern and breathed in the cool morning air. “Good time for a trot around town,” he said aloud. For five minutes, he stretched and completed twenty press-ups.
Ready, he jogged along the pontoon, into Queensway. Having planned his route he turned left at Ragged Staff Gates and continued to Europa. He used the pavement, hopping into the road to avoid pedestrians. Both feet pounded the concrete like a drummer, sending shockwaves through his body. His lungs heaved and sweat soaked his clothing but he did not stop. He grimaced; well aware he had become lazy with his everyday workout. Now he hit the wall, but he kept going. He stopped thinking and ran. At Europa Point, he trotted a dozen times around the lighthouse before sprinting back.
Sweat soaked his top as the sun heated the air. With his heart hammering in his chest, he clambered on board Desert Wind and went for a long hot shower.
For the rest of the morning the six men cleaned the boat. In the afternoon, they relaxed on the sun deck. ***
Algeciras Linda oversaw each alteration, but when the work slowed, she screamed at the men. Antarah kept out of her way and during the day, her crew continued with their ship’s duties.
***
Gibraltar On entering the Marina restaurant Eric and Anna searched the busy tables. An old couple eating side by side, one glass of wine each, nibbled at their meals; a group of young women in their thirties collapsing with fits of giggles from too much wine. Tourists from Asia attempted with the aid of the staff to decipher the menu above the high level of noise.
Rono placed his knife and fork on an empty plate, stood and waved. For the first time he studied the waiters. Their black trousers and white short-sleeved shirts were pristine. The young men and women rushed around taking orders. It seemed to those waiting, chaotic in every way. Somehow, the meals arrived and tables cleared with no appearance of confusion.
After navigating a path through the crowded room, Eric and Anna dropped their bags next to the table. Both pulled out a chair and sat.
“Wha t you need is a large glass of wine. Red or white?” asked Rono.
“Dry white,” said Anna.
“Do they serve English beer?” asked Eric.
“It’s England with sunshine. I’ve seen one named Boddingtons. Is that any good?”
“Perfect,” said Eric. “Mine’s a pint and pass me the menu, I’m hungry. I never eat that mush they dump in your lap on planes.”
Rono nodded to a passing waiter who stopped, took their drinks order and continued his journey.
Within minutes, a rather plump young woman arrived with their drinks. “I put these on your bill, sir. Is that acceptable?”
Rono nodded. “No problem.”
The young girl hovered. “Are your guests ready to order?”
Eric coughed. “The fillet steak, rare, and a plate of chips, and two sliced uncooked tomatoes.”
“And madam?”
“The smoked salmon salad please.”
For a while, they sipped their wine, chatted until their meals arrived.
They relaxed after enjoying their food. Anna drank three glasses of wine but said little.
Eric glanced at his watch. “As much as I’m enjoying this, it’s time to lift and shift.”
“Good idea,” said Anna. “I’m knackered.”
Rono emptied his glass. “I’ll pay the bill with my card and take you to the boat. I’m getting rather comfortable with such luxury.”
A few minutes later, the three of them, under a full moon, sauntered along the walkway to the Desert Wind.
“Here we are,” said Rono.
Anna whistled. “How the other one percent live. Any chance we can keep this as a mobile office?”
“It belongs to the Libyan Government,” said Khaled as he held out his hand to Anna.
Her eyes flashed. “And you’re as smooth as silk. A word to the wise. My cabin is off limits unless I tell you different.”
Eric and Rono laughed.
Khaled held her hand until her feet were on the aft deck. “I’ll show the lady to her cabin and keep my hands in my pockets.”
Anna looked over her shoulder at Eric and growled.
“You’re a big girl and someone told me you eat men like him for breakfast.”
“It’s what happens before breakfast that matters.”
“Eric, you’re sharing a cabin with me,” said Rono. “Don’t worry; you have your own bed. Yours is the double. I prefer the single.”
“I can sleep anywhere. Ask my wife.”
***
Eric awoke as the sun streamed through the thick plate-glass window. Weary, he clambered out of bed and headed for the shower. Rono was up, showered and dressed when he asked, “Who cooks breakfast?”
“It’s help yourself. I recommend the Marina restaurant. Best and largest breakfast in town.”
Eric nodded. “What cabin is Anna using?”
“Out the door, go left, and it’s the first door on your right.”
Fifteen minutes later Eric, Anna and Rono were enjoying a full English breakfast. The waiting staff refilled their coffee cups until they refused anymore.
Eric shoved his plate into the centre of the table. “When do you expect our ship will sail?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” said Rono as he buttered the last slice of toast. “But I reckon as soon as those derricks are in place and tested she’ll put to sea and we will follow.”
Anna leaned forward. “Why don’t we ask the Royal Navy to stop and examine?”
“Waste of time. We tried that in Tripoli. They have the paperwork for every box in their holds. These people have set their minds to forge their mark on the world like the Twin Towers in New York. We can guess but at the moment we don’t have a clue.”
“Good point. I'll recommend to the captain of HMS Tamar to follow us at a distance. But I will insist his team is ready to go at a moment’s notice.”
Anna and Rono exchanged glances. “Okay, we follow and then what do we do?”
“Pray and stop whatever they’re doing,” said Eric. “I’m told the British Navy have a Westland Apache helicopter on the flight deck. Out of sight there’s an SAS team ready for immediate action.”
The blood drained from Rono’s face. “I’ve seen the American version of those gunships. Hell fire rockets, missiles and a chain gun that’s devastating. I’m glad they’re on our side.”
Eric sniffed as if unimpressed. “At the moment we are on our own. The cavalry will come to the rescue if we scream. Keep in mind the USA pays our wages and meets the costs of this enterprise.”
Anna shrugged. “When do we receive our weapons?”
“It should be on its way as we speak.”
Rono chuckled. “If you raise the trapdoors in the cabins, you’ll find enough weapons to equip a small army.”
Eric drained the dregs of a cold cup of coffee. “Every little helps. Anyway, I’m off to chat with the captain of HMS Tamar. Rono, you take delivery of the weapons and please keep them out of sight. We do not want a bright-eyed member of the public to see them. Anna, buy the best laptop available to track our ship. Use your company credit card.”
“Eric, will you do me a favour?”
He gazed at Rono. “If I can.”
He handed him an envelope. “It’s a letter to my ex- wife and the kids. You never know what might happen.”
“Rather pessimistic.”
He shrugged.
“Would you mind if I sent this with a note to George?”
“Whatever. So long as she posts it if something happens.”
Eric glanced at his watch. “Must go.”
Rono wandered back to the boat.
The sand-coloured tru
ck arrived and unloaded a dozen unmarked wooden crates. The officer in charge ordered his men to carry them into the lounge. He insisted Rono check each one.
As he made his way to the stern deck the officer said, “I don’t care who you are or what you’re doing. None of those weapons exists. Damaged in transit and destroyed. Understood?”
Rono grinned. “And you were never here.”
He nodded. “Covert operations can be a bastard if they go wrong.”
“So they tell me,” said Rono as the truck drove away. Footsteps thumped the deck behind him.
Khaled lifted a browning nine-millimetre pistol. “I will check each weapon and its ammo. Taruq tells me there’s plenty of room to store them in the engine room.”
For the rest of the morning they checked, shifted and dumped the unmarked empty boxes into a skip.
Anna came back in a taxi with two laptops and a range of computer cabling, a UPS and accessories. “Can someone give me a hand?”
Khaled leapt at the chance and carried most of the boxes to her cabin. “Anything else I can do for you?”
“Not at the moment.” She ushered him out, shut and locked the door. In order, she unpacked and set up her system.
At that moment, the twin diesel engines roared into life. Bemused, she strolled to the flying bridge.
“She’s on her way,” said Rono as he peered through the high-powered binoculars. He lowered the glasses. “Anna, contact Eric and tell him we’re sailing in an hour.”
“I’m behind you,” said Eric as he stepped on the deck.
“I saw her single her ropes and dashed back. But I didn’t think you would leave without me.”
“I bet you believe in fairies,” said Rono.
“My kids do. What’s that smell?”
“Stew. We eat it every day for lunch and supper and it tastes different every time. Breakfast’s serve yourself. It saves on the cooking and you won’t starve.”
“It smells rather good. When will it be ready?”
“When Mohammed tells us. He’s the cook.”
“I have her AIS position so we can delay our departure until she’s well out of the bay. We should eat now and head out in an hour,” said Anna.
25
The red-jacketed crane controller waved his left arm to the driver. The stout man checked forward and aft as the lifting wire took the strain. From behind, Natalia charged through the dockers. She carried one suitcase and clambered across the gangway. The controller screamed abuse. With her feet on the main deck, she stopped, turned and blew him a kiss.
He shrugged, and this time hoisted the gangway clear of the American Queen.
On the fifth day, Jose Borta waited for the now black painted vessel to sail. He stood in his office as she warped off the jetty and with the nudge from a tug pointed her bow towards the Atlantic. The yard would be quiet for a few days until an aged cruise liner arrived. His job was to prepare her for the scrap yard, a dirty task but it paid well. He strolled to the outer office. Natalia was the first secretary to quit without working her notice and he did not have a clue where she had gone.
***
The pilot hovered at the rear of the bridge and stared out of the window. Linda guided her ship to his pickup position.
“You’re the first female captain I’ve ever met and I’m impressed. I’m here because the regulations insist you use a pilot.”
She shook his hand. “I benefit by having a man of your learning and experience on board.”
“You flatter me.”
“Your tender is coming alongside.” She handed over the pilot’s fee. “My apologies. I forgot to have this delivered.”
“Thank you.” He strolled off the bridge.
Linda stood on the starboard bridge wing and watched. The moment the tender cleared, she ordered halfahead twelve knots. With a quick glance to port and starboard, she placed herself in the captain’s chair. She beckoned to Antarah. “I have a guest in my cabin.”
“Keep your whore out of sight and away from me.”
“You touch her and I’ll hurt you so much you’ll regret being born.” Her hate-filled stare did not waver as the message-hit home.
“The woman is of no importance. When we arrived in Algeciras, I received a message from my Caliph. He has told me his thoughts have changed. In a dream, our God ordered him to use this mission as a shot across the infidels’ bow. The main event is yet to come.”
She stood and glared. “Your goal is not my concern. When I’ve finished my part of your operation, I’m out of here.”
He flashed a smile. Experience had taught him to say nothing. When the trap sprung, he would enjoy killing her in the traditional way. “What are your plans?”
She stared at him, her mood cold and controlled. In long strides, she paced from one side of the bridge to the other. “The vessel left Barrow-in-Furness four days ago. She is now on passage to an undisclosed location in the Black Sea. On arrival, they will load the plutonium for processing in the standard units. I intend to be ready and waiting for her off the coast of Greece. Tell me the target.”
“Isn’t today remarkable. We are close to Judgment Day. No one can stop the inherited power of my people. Aggression is the believer’s path to paradise.”
Linda glanced at the deckhead. “You’re becoming a bore. Tell me what I need to know or I’m out of here.”
Antarah smirked. “I will tell you when I’m ready. Until then you may set a course for Crete.” Having won the advantage, he left the bridge
Linda shrugged and monitored the other ships as they passed through the Straights. As she pondered what their destination might be the first officer arrived.
He stood beside her and whispered, “Be careful. From the gossip below decks, Antarah wants you dead and bringing the woman on board wasn’t a good idea. My men will support you but we cannot watch over you twenty-four hours a day. He will make his move once we have the plutonium on board.”
Her blank expression gave no clue to her thoughts. “I’ve set the auto-pilot, and the chart is up to date. You have the ship.”
As she descended the stairs to her cabin, she kicked herself. She took on this mission for the money. The way out was clear, kill Antarah.
***
Those on Desert Wind ate fresh crusty bread from a local bakery dipped in an unnamed stew.
“Thank you, Mohammed. You make a great stew. Best I’ve ever tasted. What meat did you use?” asked Eric
“He adds herbs and spices to tenderise goat meat,” said Khaled as he left the lounge. “Taruq, when you finish your food, start your engines.”
Taruq raised his head and nodded while his spoon found a large lump of meat.
Rono sat in the corner of the cabin with his eyes closed. He opened them. “Anna, make sure your computer and anything else is secure. The sea may be calm on the way out of harbour but this boat bounces at high speed.”
She wiped her plate clean with a slice of bread. “You’re right.” She shuffled along the settee, stood and went to her cabin.
*** Taruq entered the engine room and inspected both engines. From a small cupboard, he lifted the ignition keys and inserted one into each control panel. With a little prayer on his lips, he pressed one starter button. The engine whirled, stuttered and roared into life. He pressed the other button and the second engine came alive. He strutted around the compartment one more time. The gauges settled, and he switched control to the upper bridge. As he left, he shut the watertight door.
***
Khaled waited until the American Queen passed Europa Point and was out of sight. With a quick goodbye to the harbour master, Desert Wind headed at five knots into the bay. As her bow entered the Straights, he increased the engine power and met the first waves at twelve knots.
Rono and Eric stood and stared through binoculars at the target vessel.
“She’s easy to spot with that black hull,” said Eric.
“Thank God for AIS and radar. As the night draws in, she’ll ble
nd into the dark,” said Rono.
Eric grinned. In three strides, he stood next to Khaled as he switched to autopilot. “What’s the plan?”
“One moment.” With precision, he formed an electronic box on the radar screen around the vessel. “Rono, you’re in charge. Eric, we keep the goat in the pen until you tell us different.”
“Don’t forget we have the British Navy as back up,” said Eric.
Rono glanced aft over his shoulder. “Sounds great but where the hell are they?”
Khaled checked the radar screen. “Good positioning and a strong signal from their radar.” He pointed. “That’s them fifteen miles astern.”
“Are you sure it’s them?” asked Eric.
“On my mother’s life.” His eyes studied the radar screen. “Their helicopter is in the air and coming this way. It will catch us in ten minutes.”
“Practice,” said Eric as he eyed the growing speck in the distance.
High in the air, the Apache gun ship flew at full power.
“That’s a wicked machine,” said Khaled.
“Be thankful they’re on our side,” said Eric. ***
The Apache helicopter circled the American Queen twice and then hovered to port. “How many photos have we taken, James?” asked the pilot.
“One more circuit, please.”
“You’re the photographer. I’m only the pilot.” The Apache’s nose dipped as they flew another circuit and then charged after a nearby vessel.
***
Linda peered out of her cabin window and saw the helicopter race towards another vessel. She assumed they were checking ships passing through the Straights.
She kissed Natalia full on the lips. “You shouldn’t be here. It’s dangerous. Never leave this cabin unless you’re with me.”
“You’re so adorable.” Natalia placed her hands on either side of her face, pulled her mouth close, and let her tongue find the way.
Linda stroked her hair, and soft skin.
With a burning passion, they undressed and caressed breasts and smooth bellies. Lips teased nipples until Natalia let out a long moan.
Linda pressed her hand over her mouth. “No noise.”