by John Day
“You might manage a few gold bars, but you know you will get very little for them. The people who deal in gold bars are an elite crowd. Every legitimate piece of gold is well documented and inventoried, because governments realise how transportable it is.
“Of course, the dealers will take all and every illegal bar you have, but they know its worth in the market place and it is damn all for the likes of you.
“After all the risk you have taken to get it to this fictional safe place, the one in your imagination, can you bear the thought of them stealing this wealth from you?
“Perhaps you think the artworks, that you have so far rejected as worthless, could be sold.
“These are not some long-forgotten tat in a jumble sale. Every piece is fully documented and described. The world knows they have vanished, most likely destroyed.
“You surface with a small, apparently trivial piece. The first thing the purchaser will do is identify it. The piece has no real value without provenance. They will discover the piece has been hidden from the art world for 7 decades, believed destroyed. This piece must be a forgery, they will say. Not that any forger would bother to create one, but there are a lot of very stupid people out there.
“Tests will prove as much as they can that it is genuine. Now the buzz will travel around the world at the speed of light. An hour later you will be arrested for plundering a war grave.
“That of course will be just the start of your downfall. Your Government are not known for being merciful and forgiving, especially after you have murdered all your men, and cheated the corrupt officials out of their cut.
“How will your life be after that, Major?”
The man looked emotionally drained. The adrenaline that had buoyed him thus far had run out, and he was suffering a downer that knew no bottom.
He had no rebuttal to the sultry bitch’s arguments, but he rallied with the only one he could think of. “So how would you deal with all this?” He gestured with a wave of his hand around the cave.
He also noticed that all his men had stopped working and had been listening to every word Ellen had said. They realised they were about to be slaughtered, and their weapons rattled sporadically, as they were cocked. If there were to be any killings, each man intended it wouldn’t include him.
Ellen delivered her answer. The same answer that had always been there for her and her friends, long before they started their search for the treasure.
“It is the essence of our business to have the contacts that matter. We are the elite who trade in bullion. We are the art dealers who know the private collector, who will buy any genuine piece we offer.
“Such a buyer will lock the piece away in a secret vault and only he, or she, will be aware of its existence.
“Stolen, raided from a war grave, or bought anonymously at auction, possession is everything to them. And do you know what, they will pay way over the odds for that peculiar privilege.
“Don’t you just hate that, Major. Owning something and no one else ever seeing it. That is what real wealth is, not some idiot with a Ferrari, flaunting a few hundred thousand dollars, or millions, even.
“So, you see we are worth so much more to you alive than dead.” Ellen needed Benny more than anyone just now, but she counted the others as friends, and they would only be sacrificed if there was no other option.
“May I suggest that you cut your men in on a deal, to keep them honest. It may also keep you alive.”
His soldiers were listening intently, even though they probably had little English. They were all greedy for a cut of the treasure, so undoubtedly, they got the gist of what was being said.
Perez hadn’t thought about his men double crossing him. It suddenly dawned on him, how vulnerable he was. He put the answer to one side and asked his next question. “How are you going to shift all this cargo?”
Ellen looked aghast like he had just asked her for sex. “That is for me to know and you can go and stuff yourself!
“I am not telling you anything more, and forcing it out of me will not sell the cargo, so from now on, my friends and I call the shots. Not you.”
Major Perez glared at her, then at the wall of stony faced, trigger nursing, gun pointing men he once commanded.
What he wanted to do was pull his own pistol and scream abuse, as he shot each and every one of them, starting with the sneering bitch. His men’s muzzles rose up, every one aimed at him, until he backed down.
The beaten dog of a man whispered, “what do you want us to do?”
“Carry all the artwork they can manage, to the beach. Tomorrow we return and move another load. We keep doing that until the cave is empty.”
Perez issued a command and his men loaded up with the artwork and started the long walk to the shore…
Escape.
As night descended, the four were aboard Lady Jane. Alan, Sarah and Ellen were in the saloon, discussing the next step of their plan when Walter crept in. They offered to get him food and drink, but it appeared he had eaten aboard the Celeste.
“It looks like we have a way out of here, on the Celeste” he teased, as he waited for the big question.
Sarah chimed in. “How can we? If only we could sail away on it, but we can’t operate it. None of us can start the thing, let alone navigate it.”
Walter grinned and said. “Our dear friend can. You know the one? Charles sodding Henshaw, the swine who tossed us overboard. He and his officers are currently locked up in a store room. They will be delighted to take us home.
“I told Henshaw that I had planted explosives linked to a timer, so if he wants his ship in one piece, I had better be alive to reset it regularly.”
Everyone looked around, smiling at each other. Things were taking a turn for the better.
Walter continued with a question. “When I swam ashore, I saw a heap of something on the beach, brought by the soldiers from the jungle. Would that be the treasure?”
Alan grinned. “That is only a small part of it, Walter, there’s loads more in the cave.”
“Major Perez is now one of us, so are all his men. They’re very pleased to do all the heavy lifting for us and carry it down from the cave. Everyone gets a slice of the pie.”
Walter glanced at Ellen. “Been up to your old tricks again, Ellen?”
“Who Moi?” She chuckled at the appreciation of her deceitful nature.
Walter looked at the three sat around the table. “Where is our loveable Benny?”
Sarah chimed in, beaming warmly at Walter. “Poor thing went to bed with a headache. The Major biffed him one on the side of his head.”
Walter looked up in mock surprise. “Oh, but that’s my job. No damage done I hope?”
Everyone laughed. It was hard to feel sympathy for the snivelling Russian, but unfortunately, they still needed him.
Sarah added. “It’s man-pain, so it’s terminal until breakfast, then he will be fine.” Everyone laughed again, their good mood had returned.
Alan thought they should discuss their plans, now that a crucial part of the problem was solved. “So, how do we play things with the Major? When he ships the cargo aboard Celeste, he will find Henshaw there.”
Walter added his extra news. “Henshaw and his men are fed, watered and locked back in the store room. I suggested they didn’t try to break out, because the outside of the door is booby trapped, like the vessel itself.
“Knowing they will live another day, I left them in generally good spirits and with a willingness to cooperate with me.”
Alan made a suggestion. “I think we would be wise to share the news of the cargo with them, and cut them back in. There is no way we will be able to manage them otherwise, when we head out to sea.”
“Fair point Alan.” Walter nodded. “Do we all agree with that?” Everyone agreed it was fair, wise, and affordable.
Walter looked at Ellen. He recognised the look of larceny and deceit in her gorgeous eyes. What is she planning, he wondered?
***
Whatever deal Major Perez promised his men, they seemed pleased to accept it. They worked hard and willingly, a stark contrast to their grudging obedience when they first landed on the beach.
At the end of the fourth day, every item of cargo had been carried to the beach and transferred to the Celeste.
Alan escorted Major Perez and his two officers around the ship. The tour had been carefully orchestrated with Walter, so he could keep Henshaw and his men moving around, unseen.
The Major was satisfied he still had the upper hand with the four, and the cargo. He was confident he could rely on his men to operate the ship. Taking over and operating civilian machinery was all part of the intensive training the army gave their men. The fact that they didn’t have a clue which lever to pull first never came up in conversation. Each man assumed someone else would know.
***
With the treasure safely stowed aboard, the soldiers gathered in the mess room, and on deck.
The soldiers enjoyed a feast of fresh game and fruit, bought from the friendly villagers. Henshaw’s private stockpile of fine wines and whisky were necked by the troops with no appreciation of their quality. By midnight, all the drink was gone and the soldiers were drunk, and very sleepy.
Conveniently, the soldiers had neatly piled up their weapons outside on deck and celebrated their good fortune, while Alan, Benny, and Walter removed the ammunition from the clips and breeches. The trio couldn’t hide the weapons without raising the alarm, but when the order came from Walter to attack, Perez and his men would have no time to reload.
***
The time had come to strike.
Alan and several of Henshaw’s men, armed with empty weapons, quietly marshalled the soldiers partying on deck, to the ship’s rail.
Walter handed out more of the empty weapons to Henshaw and his remaining men. They would threaten the soldiers with them, but would not be able to turn the tables on the five friends.
Double crosses were Ellen’s privilege Walter thought, no one else’s.
When all the soldiers were accounted for, Walter and Henshaw’s men rounded up those in the mess room to join the other soldiers waiting at the ship’s rail.
With the army disarmed and held at gunpoint, the Engineer and two of Henshaw’s men started the engines. All they could do now was wait for further orders from Henshaw, as soon as he took control again, on the bridge.
During this time, the Major was being entertained by Ellen and Sarah, in one of the cabins. The girls had led the man on, and he was expecting a happy ending. There was a knock at their cabin door and Sarah got up to open it.
Alan walked in and spoke politely to the rather annoyed Major. So far, Perez hadn’t been included in the takeover, and with good reason. They still needed him to command his men and ensure a smooth conclusion to their operation.
“Major Perez, could I trouble you to bring the four bars of gold you hold in your cabin, up on deck? Now the engines have started, it is time to leave, but without your men.”
Alan gave Perez a friendly, knowing smile. The realisation dawned on the avaricious man. His men would have to content themselves with four measly gold bars.
They could concoct whatever story they liked, but if they wanted to keep the bars, they would probably tell his superiors that he died at the hands of the cannibals. No one would be any the wiser.
The man went to his cabin and retrieved the bars, Alan helped to carry them.
Alan spoke again. “Thank you Major, if you would be so kind as to give the bars to your officer in charge, and ask him to lead his men to the RIB.” Alan gestured with a vague wave of his hand. “They all need to be ferried to the beach.”
The Major followed Alan and the girls up on deck and saw all his men gathered along the rail. With the men out of the way, Perez could see his cut would be much larger and immediately issued his order. With some reluctance, the men descended the ladder to the small boat.
As the RIB came and went, Alan made light conversation with Perez. Walter stood out of sight a short distance away, gun dangling from his hand, as though he was unconcerned what the Major did, provided his men did as they were told.
When the last soldiers reached shore, Alan said. “I see your men are all on the beach, also they have not returned the RIB.”
The Major seemed relaxed and confident. He heard the Celeste’s engines build revs, and the anchor chain rattle up through the hawsehole. “That’s right, I told them not to. I assured them I would contact them again, as soon as I had hard cash for them, from the sale of the bullion.” Walter still lingered nearby and could read lips, though he didn’t need to in this case.
Benny sauntered across the deck towards the Major. Alan turned to Benny, the small white bandage around the Russian’s head starkly contrasted with his dark hair. Benny smiled back and broke the news to the Major in a rather apologetic manner. “Looks like the RIB is not returning, I suppose we had better cast off now.”
Benny smiled again as he shouted. “Altogether then.” They both grabbed a piece of the Major and hurled him over the side.
Never in his life had the surprised man been treated so badly, and was so taken aback, he uttered only one word. It was a long yell actually, ending abruptly with a distant splash.
The men on shore must have been watching for some sort of trickery. Pilots and crew ran for their aircraft and a minute later, the whine of turbines and rotors beating air, drowned out the soldiers’ threats. The five would have heard them, except Celeste’s engines roared under full power and she was charging out of the lagoon.
Even at 35 knots, there was no way they could outrun two armed military helicopters. Walter looked particularly tense as he watched first one, then the other, lift off and head after them.
The pilots soon got ahead of the ship and turned to face it. A stream of shots raked the thick steel deck and hull. Henshaw instinctively threw the vessel into hard astern, and in a blue sea whipped white with churned water, rapidly Celeste slowed to a stop.
Alan, Walter and Benny looked astern, Henshaw did the same from the bridge. They saw a RIB full of soldiers giving chase, with fully loaded weapons.
The helicopters had achieved their objective. The warning shots had stopped the escaping vessel. The last thing they needed was to sink it with the cargo on board.
The armed soldiers would force the ship back into the lagoon. Everyone on Celeste had no doubt they would all die. The Major and his men would then take their chances in any subsequent enquiry.
Alan and Benny looked accusingly at Walter. The man looked relaxed again. He knew something, and he wasn’t sharing it with them.
Yes, there it was, the tell-tale expression of ‘shit happening’ on the pilot’s face. Inside the cockpit, alarm sounders were screaming and the controls were kicking and threshing, as dregs of hydraulic fluid kicked into the control system and died. Very soon now, the aircraft would ditch.
The coms between aircraft shared the news. The other pilot was not interested, his controls were beginning to fail as well.
Both pilots decided to ditch rather than fall out of the sky. As they lowered their collectives, the helicopters started to drift and spin while dropping into the sea.
Buffeted by waves, the hulls tipped and rotors snapped on contact with the sea. Top heavy with their turbines and already on their sides, the hulls rapidly filled and sank.
Fortunately, the pilots and crew escaped, as they had been trained to do.
That was all Henshaw cared about as he opened up the throttles, half speed ahead. As Benny instructed, Panama was their destination.
Could anything stop them now?...
A ripple of time.
The moment Benny had been able to make contact from Celeste, with people he knew in Panama, he became a busy and driven man.
He set in motion the biggest storage and fencing project he had ever planned. The cunning man arranged for timber and plywood packaging to be delivered to Celeste, as soon as she doc
ked.
Once it was onboard, everyone assembled the flat pack crates and loaded the cargo into them. The stencils and black paint showed the contents to be machinery parts and bespoke wood panelling. This matched the manifest that they created on board.
The morning after the packaging had been completed, three flatbed trucks arrived carrying steel shipping containers, all with matching livery.
To anyone who saw the fleet, the fact that the vehicles and containers were old, but freshly resprayed and sign written, wouldn’t have been noticed. It was all part of the plan to hide the fact that they contained a precious cargo.
Everyone knows you would use an armoured security truck to transport valuables, but of course, that would attract attention. What could be more normal and uninteresting than container lorries with machine parts. If anyone wanted to enquire about the business, they would find that it had only just been legally registered in Panama.
After unloading from Celeste, the trucks drove off and pulled into a small warehouse, 4km away. The old building housed several other identical, but empty containers. Each container would eventually hold the cut for that member of the group.
They could try their luck disposing of it themselves, but they all decided to rely on Benny. No one trusted Benny, but he did have an honourable track record when it came to the final transaction.
***
Over the following four months, money flowed into the members’ accounts.
For Alan, it was a double bonus. He had the cash and the evil Mr Mendez was dead. Alan’s company was able to cancel the Mendez transaction, and cover up the illegality.
For him, the only downside was Sarah. What had gone so wrong between them? Several times he had picked up the phone to call her, then put it down again. He didn’t want to pressure her into marriage. She would come to him, if she wanted him.
***
For Sarah, the money made no difference to her life. She realised with deep regret that she had ruined the opportunity of marrying Alan and could see no way of going back to that magical moment on the plane, when they were teetering on the brink of a kiss.