The Legend of the Black Monk

by Nigel Cubbage

  ‘Hande hoch!’ breathed the Admiral. ‘And not a word.’ He raised the barrel of the gun imperceptibly as Severus opened his mouth to call out. ‘Careful! I have used one of these many times.’

  ‘Bravo!’ said Rupert, helping Drew back to his feet. ‘A command performance! The rope, Laura.’

  They pushed Severus onto a chair and tied him firmly to it, Von Krankl securing a gag in the guard’s mouth with relish. He took the key from the door and stepped aside to allow the others to pass. ‘Shall we?’

  Locking the door behind them, they moved carefully and quietly down the gloomy corridor, alert for any sound or sight of their adversaries. Drew looked cautiously out through a window into the courtyard below and saw Brutus walking by. ‘Watch out!’ He said in a low voice. ‘Brutus is out and about.’

  ‘Wait’. They turned to look at the Admiral who had stopped, grimacing. ‘We have to go to the Hall, to the chest.’

  ‘Why, Gramps?’ Rupert was incredulous. ‘It’s just full of bones.’

  ‘Kraus would have left something. Why go to all the trouble of leaving coded co-ordinates, lowering it to the sea bed next to the sub? That took some doing. If he just wanted to put them off, why not put the chest somewhere obvious where it would be certain to be found? And if there was no gold, why bother hiding it at all?’

  The logic of this was obvious. Rupert breathed hard. ‘Be quick then. The longer we hang about, the more risk we are discovered.’

  Led by Drew they hurried back to the Hall where Drew peered carefully out. ‘Nobody about. And the box is still there.’

  ‘I’ll do it,’ said the Admiral, crossing silently to the table and opening the lid. He removed the bones one by one until there were no more. He let out a long breath. ‘Nothing. I can’t believe he wouldn’t have left something … some clue, a sign of some sort.’

  ‘Look, be quick or Daedalus is going to find us,’ said Drew looking round nervously.

  Rupert shook his head in disbelief. ‘Bones? Human bones?

  ‘Whose bones would Kraus have needed to hide at the bottom of the sea, if he did this?’

  Admiral Dewhurst-Hobb met Drew’s question with a blank, uncomprehending stare.

  ‘Well it has to be him, doesn’t it?’ Drew turned the bone over in his hands.

  ‘The bones of an adversary, Bertie? The General?’ Von Krankl came to stand by the Admiral. ‘Or perhaps not the adversary but …’ His voice tailed off.

  ‘Just a minute,’ said Laura, pulling the box towards her. She raised the lid.

  ‘Look at the shape of this! The lid is really thick, isn’t it?’

  ‘Thick enough to conceal something, you are thinking?’ Von Krankl looked over her shoulder. Under the edge of the lid Laura found a sliding catch.

  ‘This is tough.’ She took a firmer grip and pushed as hard as she could. All at once it slid open and a small hinged door revealed another compartment. Inside was a bundle of grey cloth. Laura took it out gingerly and gave it to the Admiral.

  ‘Clever girl!’ he beamed, laying it down on the table and unwrapping the folds. It contained a piece of flat, patterned glass. Nobody was quite sure what to say. The Admiral examined it closely. The pattern was intricate. He shook his head. A sudden noise along the corridor caused him to quickly refold it into the cloth.

  ‘Come on, we need to get out of here before we are discovered. We’ll work all this out later. Let’s get out of here.’ He led the way back past the chapel where he stood aside to let Rupert and Von Krankl take the lead.

  ‘Here it is!’ said Rupert, arriving outside a closed door. He grasped the handle and turned it. To his intense relief, it was not locked. They went quickly inside and Laura closed the door after them.

  ‘Ooh – this is too creepy!’ She winced at the gloomy, bare walled room.

  ‘Reputedly the room once occupied by the Black Monk himself,’ said Rupert. He was over to the fireplace in a trice and pulled and turned the lever as before. Drew and Laura looked on in amazement as the wall slid back to reveal the opening to the secret passage. One by one, they crouched down and squeezed through into the dank interior. With a dull clunk, the stone slab closed behind them.

  * * *

  Rebecca shivered in the early morning air and drew her coat more tightly about her.

  The light was beginning to improve although the walls of the monastery and the cliffs below were still shrouded in an impenetrable cloak of darkness. Even the sea was almost silent, surging gently against the rocks. The dark shape of Druid’s Rock betrayed nothing. Rebecca wondered how her friends were and what was happening. She looked out across the bay as two gulls swooped over a strip of rock half way out.

  Rebecca blinked. That was no strip of rock! It was getting larger. All of a sudden she realised she was watching the submarine sail slowly and silently towards Druid’s Rock.

  It stopped about a hundred metres away. Rebecca could just make out two figures in the conning tower, flashing a light. She looked up at the dark shape of the monastery and caught her breath, seeing an answering flash at one of the windows. Were things about to start happening?

  * * *

  The flickering glow of Von Krankl’s cigarette lighter cast strange dancing shadows on the walls. The Admiral led the way out onto the hillside below the monastery.

  ‘Follow me,’ he said over his shoulder. ‘I have a little plan.’

  They skirted round to the place where the cave opened into the cliffs. The Admiral edged forward until he could see down. A small dinghy was just coming alongside the little jetty. As it tied up, a group of men in grey overalls came ashore and disappeared, presumably on their way to the monastery.

  ‘A submarine crew, would you say, Werner?’ murmured the Admiral. ‘You could sail her with that small a crew on today’s automated systems, so not impossible.’

  The Admiral turned to the others, clutching the revolver and smiling. ‘Anybody fancy a boat ride?’

  His companions looked a little uncertain. ‘Come on! No time to lose!’ he said. They clambered down the rocks and hurried on board the boat. ‘Mr Campbell?’ said the Admiral, indicating the steering wheel. ‘Take us out of here. Cast off, Rupe, lad.’

  Drew pressed the starter as Rupert jumped on board and the boat reversed slowly, turning seawards. Laura looked anxiously back to check nobody had spotted them.

  ‘Course, Admiral?’ asked Drew.

  ‘Yes,’ said the Admiral, mysteriously. ‘I thought you would ask that.’

  As they emerged from the cave, the dark bulk of the submarine came into view in the bay.

  ‘Hmm,’ murmured the Admiral, his eyes narrowing. Von Krankl appeared at his shoulder.

  ‘Bertie, you are not thinking what I think you are thinking … are you?’

  The Admiral gave a short laugh. ‘Faint heart never won fair maiden, Werner,’ he smiled.

  ‘I didn’t give in to these scoundrels sixty years ago … and I’m not about to start now. Drew, bring us alongside the submarine … and easy does it.’

  ‘The submarine!’ Laura gasped in surprise. ‘But surely –’

  ‘I know!’ said the Admiral, placing a hand on her shoulder. ‘But we saw the crew go ashore. If my guess is right, there is nobody aboard.’

  ‘Why would you board the sub unless you intended to …’ Laura’s voice tailed off, her mouth falling open in amazement. The Admiral smiled. In that moment, Laura saw the years fall away from him in the intensity and merriment of his gaze and she glimpsed the bold, fearless young man he had once been. She could not help grinning too.

  ‘At last! She fancies me,’ the Admiral said to Rupert with mock seriousness. Laura laughed.

  Drew carefully manoeuvred them alongside the grey hull and Rupert leapt aboard clutching a rope which he secured to a bar on the conning tower. Laura clambered onto the sub and tied a second rope, drawing an approving nod from Drew for a perfect bowline knot.

  ‘Very impressive! And I thought you were a land lubber, Gilmou
r,’ he grinned.

  ‘A woman of many talents!’

  Rupert helped the Admiral and Von Krankl on board. The Admiral indicated a wheel on a hatch. ‘Turn that clockwise, Rupe. You may need some help.’

  With much shoving, grunting and not a little swearing, Rupert and Drew managed to turn the wheel. There was a hiss of escaping air as they pulled the hatch door up. A steel ladder led down through a narrow opening. Dim light was coming from several feet below but no noise.

  ‘Stand back. Let me go first. Wait for my word before anybody follows.’

  Laura took an involuntary breath as she saw the gun in the Admiral’s hand.

  ‘Better take this, sir,’ said Drew, holding out a flashlight from the boat.

  The Admiral swung himself remarkably nimbly into the hatch and down the ladder. The others looked at one another as he disappeared, a nervous silence descending. After what seemed like a long pause, his head reappeared.

  ‘As I thought, deserted. Drew, I need you and Werner and Laura too. Rupert, secure the boat to the buoy there, then come on board, or we’ll take her down with us.’

  ‘How do I get back?’ asked Rupert, eyeing the distance between the buoy and the submarine.

  ‘I taught you to swim, didn’t I?’ came the reply from below.

  Chapter 37

  Here Comes the Cavalry

  High on the cliff path Rebecca watched her friends board the submarine, incredulity tinged with envy. But able to offer little help now, she headed back towards the beach. The pleasant walk was almost enough to make her forget about the drama now playing out in the bay. But when she reached the beach and rounded the dunes onto the sand, she stopped in shock.

  * * *

  ‘Take us to periscope depth, Werner,’ said Admiral Dewhurst-Hobb, scrutinising the radar scope on the submarine’s bridge. At the navigator station, seated next to an awestruck Drew, Von Krankl keyed in the necessary data and moved a lever in front of him.

  ‘Drew,’ he said, his eyes not leaving the instrument panel. ‘When I say, press that blue button in front of you and hold it until the reading on that meter is 6.’ Drew looked down, stunned but thrilled that he was being called into action. His finger hovered excitedly over the button.

  ‘Watch this scope for me, you two,’ said the Admiral to Rupert and Laura. ‘If anything appears on it like a white blip, shout. It’ll be Daedalus.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’ asked Rupert.

  ‘I am going to send a signal, in case anybody is listening out there.’ He crossed to another panel of instruments and started to type on a keyboard. ‘I miss morse,’ he murmured absently.

  ‘Are we underwater?’ asked Laura, eyes wide and shining.

  ‘Coming to periscope depth.’ Von Krankl’e eyes narrowed at his instruments. ‘Now, Drew.’

  Drew hit the blue button and held it. ‘There,’ he said.

  ‘Good,’ said the Admiral. ‘We are now six feet under, everybody.’

  ‘I’m not sure I like that idea.’ Laura shivered.

  ‘Nothing to worry about, my dear. Remember, I’ve been here before.’ There was a merry twinkle in the Admiral’s eye.

  ‘I don’t believe it – you’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?’

  ‘Gramps!’ Rupert was studying the radar scope in front of him and most definitely not smiling. ‘I think our friends may be on the move.’

  The Admiral appeared at his shoulder. He nodded grimly.

  ‘Up periscope, Werner!’

  ‘It’s just like the Hunt for Red October!’ said Drew.

  ‘Bags be Sean Connery, not Sam Neill. He gets shot,’ said Rupert.

  ‘Boys!’ Laura rolled her eyeballs.

  The Admiral gripped the periscope and looked into the viewfinder. ‘It’s Daedalus. But he can’t get us down here.’

  ‘What do we do?’ asked Rupert.

  At that moment, there was a bleep from the console the Admiral had used to send the signal. He scanned the display, checked his watch and a small smile crossed his features.

  To everyone’s amazement, the Admiral started to sing.

  ‘I seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band

  I seen a needle that winked its eye But I be done seen ’bout ev’rything When I see a submarine fly …’

  Rupert did not know whether to laugh or not. ‘Gramps?’ he said.

  ‘Dumbo!’ said Laura, coming over to the Admiral and putting a hand on his shoulder. ‘I know that song! Except it’s elephant fly.’

  ‘Dumbo?’ said Rupert, baffled.

  The old man was smiling to himself. ‘Werner? Take us four hundred metres south and bring us about, if you would. Now, my young accomplices … you may see a submarine fly.’

  * * *

  On the deck of a small motor-cruiser, Daedalus was in a foul temper. His men were trying desperately to avoid catching his eye and becoming the object of his wrath. ‘How could you imbeciles let this happen?’ he was screaming. ‘Brutus! What is the radar seeing?’

  ‘The sub is heading out to sea.’

  ‘Follow it!’ yelled Daedalus, brandishing a pistol wildly. ‘They are heading for the gold! Do not lose them, you hear me?’ The gun waved dangerously in Brutus’ face, producing an expression of terror which, moments later, was replaced by shock. A short distance ahead, the surface of the sea was shattered as the huge black bow of the U-821 cleaved through, pointing skywards. It soared almost clear of the water like a giant leaping salmon and plunged forward, righting itself in a huge cloud of spray and foam. When the sea finally subsided, the sub was heading directly towards the boat.

  ‘Get us out of the way!’ exploded Daedalus. Brutus swung the boat hard to port, finally bringing them to a halt a distance off the bearing of the submarine. The U-boat passed them and came about, slowing to a stop. The hatch to the conning tower opened and the Admiral pulled himself through, followed quickly by his companions.

  ‘Lautsprecher! Loudspeaker, schnell!’ Daedalus clicked his fingers, his eyes burning at his adversary.

  On the submarine, everyone was staring at Daedalus and the boat. The exception to this was the Admiral, who was watching the sky intently. ‘Nice and easy, everybody,’ he murmured. ‘No sudden moves. Our friend looks a bit jumpy.’

  ‘I think he is about to give another of his speeches,’ said Drew.

  The harsh, clipped tones of Daedalus crackled across the short expanse of water.

  ‘How you English love your pantomime, Admiral Dewhurst- Hobb. I congratulate your ingenuity but this is a final warning to you and your crew. Abandon my submarine immediately or face the consequences.’

  ‘His submarine?’ said Rupert.

  ‘Fat chance?’ said Drew, looking to the Admiral for confirmation. The Admiral opened a metal hatch and took out a radio handset. He pressed a switch and a loudspeaker on the conning tower crackled.

  ‘In the spirit of pantomime, Daedalus … It’s behind you!’

  ‘Hey!’ Drew exclaimed and grabbed Rupert’s arm. Two helicopters had just appeared in close formation from around the point and were flying towards them across the bay. Each bore the markings of the Royal Navy.

  ‘Boats, look!’ Laura pointed to three grey launches speeding across the water.

  Among Daedalus’ men there was now consternation. Brutus wrestled to turn the wheel and escape. Daedalus screamed incomprehensibly, smashing his fist against the side of the boat. He fired his pistol maniacally at the helicopters, missing, until the chamber clicked and he realised he was out of bullets.

  The biggest surprise of all followed quickly. Alongside the U-boat, a second submarine surfaced. Taller and wider, it dwarfed the other vessel.

  ‘Say hello to the modern navy,’ said Admiral Dewhurst-Hobb softly as the new sub towered over them. Its huge wash caused their smaller craft to pitch from side to side.

  The little launch was no match for the powerful naval launches and they had soon hemmed it in. Armed men leapt aboard and quickly overpowered the
monks and their leader. All but Daedalus surrendered instantly.

  ‘Permission to come aboard, Admiral!’ A familiar voice hailed them from a speaker on one of the helicopters, now circling above. Two men in orange flight suits were descending on ropes and landed on the U- boat, the first rather more nimbly than the second. Laughing, Rupert nudged Drew, recognising Uncle Gaston.

  ‘My goodness,’ grinned the Admiral, hands on hips.

  ‘Hi Dad, thought you were dead!’ Gaston gave his father a bear hug. ‘This is Flight Lieutenant Harry Stanley, Royal Air Force.’ The second man extended his hand to the Admiral, who grasped it firmly.

  ‘Thank you for appearing on schedule, Flight Lieutenant. We owe you a great debt of thanks,’ said the Admiral.

  ‘On the contrary, sir, I think we owe you. Without your efforts, this lot would have vanished without trace. Until you and Herr Von Krankl contacted us, we were chasing shadows.’

  Rupert, Laura and Drew were looking on in increasing bemusement and wonder.

  ‘Gramps? You knew about all this? This is about more than just the submarine and gold, isn’t it?’

  ‘What do you say we tell the whole story over a good meal? I don’t know about anyone else but I am very, very hungry,’ said the Admiral.

  They were suddenly distracted by a commotion on board one of the launches. Daedalus had broken free of his captors and was running towards the bows of the boat, while armed officers shouted to him to stop. But he did not stop. He did not even slow down, leaping straight over the bow of the boat and plunging into the waves. Drew and Rupert leaned over the edge of their boat, expecting to see him flailing in the water. The officers were poised to leap in after him. But he did not reappear. Twenty, thirty, forty seconds went by.