by P. W. Child
His multi-functional tablet had been upgraded with his own software and he was now able to employ external data he – as he put it – “grabbed from the atmosphere” to locate anything he wanted to. He had not tested the software’s ability to penetrate water without scrambling coordinates yet. It had already proven to be a problem to navigate through atmospheric disturbances at different locations around the globe, depending on the season, weather and distance from the magnetic influences of the poles.
If he was closer to the wreck, in person, it would be child’s play. Better yet, he would not have to go out on a yacht every day to survey. He could do it from the coast, undetected. Once he had gathered enough information for the sonar mapping, his only problem would be to get the wreck raised and towed out of territorial into international waters. In case they would run into any trouble with the coast guard, Crystal would deal with the legal side of it. From the same, data Nina would be able establish the authenticity and likelihood of it being the infamous battle ship, and once that was determined and the wreck was worth the salvage, he would pull out the ace he had up his sleeve.
“Purdue,” Sam groaned as he stumbled into the study, “please tell me you have a solution! Those women are going to be the death of me!” His hand was in his hair, his tired eyes blinking profusely, as he leaned on Purdue’s desk. Purdue just smiled contentedly, ignoring Sam’s plight, since he knew they were bickering for no reason.
“I already have the solution,” he said calmly. Nina appeared behind Sam.
“What?” she frowned. “Would it have been too much of a bother to tell us this before we racked our brains to work out the logistical nightmare South Africa poses?”
“I considered it,” he teased, punching in his password to open the final draft of the design he hoped to have conquered.
Nina rolled her eyes, but she was secretly relieved. Crystal joined her and Sam in silent anticipation.
“Well? Don’t exclude us from the latest great Purduic plan,” Crystal pried in her sternest tone, mocking him.
“Purduic?” Nina asked, staring at the tall lawyer with a look of warning. “Don’t flatter him too much. He already thinks he is a god!”
Sam chuckled.
Purdue waited for the tone to announce he was signed in and softly said, “Behold, my kingdom of simplicity.” He turned the tablet and lifted the top so that they could see the bright blue lines and numbers that filled the black screen. Some of the numbers were red and in the top right corner there was a lime green digital compass.
“This is to keep us from going arse about face on all the data we collect on the screen, see?” Purdue explained the compass.
“And what are all those lines?” Nina asked.
“It looks like the lines on a map.” Sam quickly excused, “That much is obvious, but, I would like to know exactly what they are for.”
"Wonder no more, dear lad, wonder no more," Purdue boasted, sounding much like a snake oil salesman of old trying to show off his elixirs. "Those are contour lines of the ocean floor. By these contours, we can calculate the distance between different depths. But there is more…”
“Ooh, I’m positively tingling,” Nina said in a pretend-bored tone with a smirk on her pretty face. Crystal winked at her in amusement.
Purdue touched the screen with two sweeps of his index finger along the bottom frame and the contour lines blurred to almost nothing, but a wealth of strange shapes of all sizes and infrequent arrangement appeared. "This is sonar mode. It uses high-frequency sonar in a 5km radius to detect objects on the same terrain. The only part I have not determined beyond doubt is its submarine accuracy."
"That could pose a problem since we have to see beyond that distance on the ocean floor. Dr. Malgas is adamant that the vessel is close to the edge of South African territorial waters,” Sam added.
“I know,” Purdue nodded, his light blue eyes darting over the objects on the screen as he mulled it over. “I will just have to increase its reach.”
“So, when and how are we going?” Nina asked.
Purdue snapped out of his deep thought, “Oh! I have decided to rent a house on the coast, maybe a holiday rental. Then I can use the landscaper software from there until we know exactly where the wreck is located.”
“You do know that Bluewater Bay is not exactly a holiday destination, right?" Crystal informed Purdue. "It is an ordinary town, and I doubt anyone who lives on the beach will just give up their house for you to use.”
Purdue scoffed. He flashed one of his trademark confident smiles at the women and patted Sam on the shoulder as he walked by. “Sam, could you check the property sites and get us a house, please? Make sure they can’t resist the bait, will you?”
“Aye! Absolutely,” Sam grinned and made for the high back chair behind Purdue’s computer on the desk. “What time should I give Dr. Malgas? Are we taking your jet?”
"We are indeed," he heard Purdue say cheerfully on his way to the bar fridge. "Tell him we should be there by Tuesday late afternoon. Also, Crystal, do me a favor and draw up the necessary contracts for our crew, please. That includes Nina and Sam. Sam will give you the names of Dr. Malgas' team if he is bringing his own people.”
“On it,” Crystal replied, and gave Purdue one of her sexy winks as she exited the room to fetch her laptop.
“No chores for me, then?” Nina asked. Although she had never enjoyed being given orders, she felt excluded.
“You have already gathered all the information you could get about the Admiral Graf Spee there is, haven’t you?” Purdue asked cordially. Nina nodded. “That means your work is done for now. You are welcome to roam or rest at your heart's delight, my dear," he smiled, tenderly running his hand through her hair like he used to when they were a couple. It ignited something in Nina, and she glanced over to Sam who was so engrossed in his task that he barely noticed her anymore. With the charming, rich German woman in their midst, Nina felt even more insignificant, and Sam's reciprocation to Crystal's flirtations confirmed her feelings.
At that moment, Nina decided to stop the self-pity and remember who she was. She made the conscious choice of letting go of all her self-doubt and any inkling of inferiority she had been harboring since coming to Edinburgh a few days ago. Perhaps it was her new-ish life in her hometown of Oban that had changed her perception of herself. Living in the most hated house in Oban’s history, she had begun to feel lonely.
As a fellow at Edinburgh University under the unbearable arrogance of the misogynist Prof. Matlock, she at least had had a schedule to focus on. Back then, several years ago, she had had classes to teach and exams to grade on a regular basis, keeping her mind off her personal life that lacked romance. Now that she was older, approaching her forties, there was a subliminal urge to settle down she had never entertained before; and for some reason it made her self-conscious.
Somewhere along the way, the sexy historian had forgotten that her looks and petite body gave most women in their twenties a run for their money, but from now on, she decided, she would not be intimidated by anyone anymore. Dr. Nina Gould reclaimed her old self at that moment, and when Purdue stroked her luscious dark tresses she vowed to embrace her innate fury and use her delectable feminine wiles once more.
“Why thank you, Dave,” she smiled in a special way he had not seen in years. “Call me if you need me… for anything.” Nina walked off, flicking her hair back. Where the ends bounced off the small of her back, Purdue watched her curvy hips sway seductively. It provoked a reaction in him, an intangible yet powerful reaction that he dared not act on while planning this important expedition. He had to keep his bearings to get the project off the ground and complete the salvage. But after that was taken care off, he had another excursion to embark on.
He heard Sam talking on the phone about a beach house he wanted to rent. Crystal was filling in her contract templates as the rain began to patter against the study windows. The light grew faint from the darkening weather, and he switched on
the hallway lights, still catching sight of Nina's petite frame descending the second story stairs.
Purdue smiled and whispered, “Time for me to get you back, Nina.”
Chapter 12 – Arrival on African Soil
After Purdue’s flight crew had made sure his passengers had only the best liquor and meals, the group arrived at a private airstrip just south of Walmer, a suburb of Port Elizabeth. The aircraft touched down just after 6.30pm after a two-day stint with a stay-over in London which had almost turned into a catastrophe. On Crystal’s insistence, they had had dinner at a restaurant Ashford, although Purdue and Nina thought it would have been better to get takeout and turn in early.
Eventually, with Sam backing her, Purdue and Nina had surrendered to what they had considered an unnecessary trip. The menu had been excellent, the wine exquisite and the service surprisingly fast, but as they had left the establishment to go to the taxi Purdue called, they had hit a snag. Crystal’s bag had been ripped from her with such force that she had been slammed down on the pavement. Sam had pursued the thief, but when the culprit had disappeared into the shadows, two gunshots had rung out, and a slug spark just to Sam’s right had discouraged him from following the man any further.
He had expected to hear Nina call out to him – Are you alright, Sam? But there had been no response from her. Instead, she had joined Purdue in helping Crystal to her feet. Panting wildly, Sam had returned to the others to see if Crystal had suffered any injury.
“Careful, old boy,” Purdue had warned, concerned about Sam’s recklessness. “Your chivalry is admirable, but if you really want to get yourself killed…”
“What?” Sam had stood with his arms akimbo, huffing and puffing from the brief pursuit as security and a local police patrol car had taken up the task of searching the vicinity for the perpetrator. Purdue did not really have anything to finish that sentence with. He had been hoping the journalist would know that he meant it as an admission of friendship, that Purdue would be upset if anything happened to him. He had merely patted Sam on the back in acknowledgment and opened the door for the chatting ladies to get in the car safely.
Apart from that unsavory incident, they had made the rest of their long trip without any unwanted adventure.
There was enough of that coming for all of them, having never been to this South African city before. Although they had traveled in luxury, the flight had been exhausting.
"I just want to go to bed," Nina complained, rubbing her lower back. “You can wake me when you have found the wreck.”
Crystal smiled and nodded, “I feel your pain, Nina. Some barbiturates would come in handy right about now. When will we get to the house, Dave?”
Purdue shrugged and looked at Sam.
“Oh, uh, apparently it is a rather short drive from here along the highway, through the whole city and a few kilometers to the outskirts. The rental car lady said it should take us about thirty minutes max to get there,” Sam reported as he tossed Purdue the keys to the rental car.
“When are we meeting up with Dr. Malgas and his team?” Crystal asked. “My flash drive with the contracts it was in my purse. I will have to redo them at the house before the meeting.”
“Oh, you can borrow my laptop if you want,” Nina offered.
“Thanks, sweetie,” the lawyer sighed. “I hope they don’t show up too early. I’m fucking exhausted.”
“I’ll make sure we set a comfortable time for everyone,” Sam assured them. He whipped out his cell phone and dialed Dr. Malgas’ number. “No time like the present.”
The women scowled at him. Sam laughed, “No, girls, I meant to call, not to have the meeting!” Relief eased their expressions as they sank back in their seats with an exchange of scoffs and chuckles.
Following the GPS’s directions, they drove north along the eastern beachfront, toward the neighborhood where their holiday rental was located. They passed grimy downtown streets under lonely yellow lights that illuminated the vacant parking lots of dilapidated factories to get on the highway that crossed the harbor.
“In the 1950’s my aunt was here to claim land she’d inherited from a relative,” Crystal remarked as they drove up the ramp to the wide highway from where they had a view of the old city center. “I just saw the old graveyard on the hillside. It’s deserted and vandalized with graffiti. My aunt’s photographs were monochrome, but in them this area looked very posh, and the old colonial buildings were in pristine condition.”
In the front passenger seat, Sam was discussing a proper time to meet with Dr. Malgas, just nodding to Purdue every now and then to confirm.
“Look, there is some clock tower!" Nina pointed at the roofless skeleton of what had once been the majestic courthouse, now reduced to a boarded-up attest to the area’s decay. “Oh, what a shame!” Nina exclaimed. “I’m not a religious person, but Jesus, that neo-Gothic church actually has a makeshift clothing store in it!”
“It's evident that the grand parks and kirkyards of the city center have fallen prey to mismanagement and vandals," Crystal remarked, screening through her aunt's photos in her mind. "The pictures she showed us depicted a flourishing First World gem, but I suppose that is what corruption and change of political climate do. Pity.”
Little did the group know that they played witness to the conditions Cheryl had to survive under. They had no idea that one of their colleagues on this expedition actually lived in the run-down buildings with the ornate architecture, offering oral sex and sodomy for less money than they would use to pay a parking meter.
“Alright. He says they will meet us in Bluewater Bay at 10 am tomorrow morning. I gave him the address. Apparently his team comprises of two assistants to do the cataloging and two security men to make sure we don’t get uninvited guests,” Sam grinned.
“Nice,” Purdue said, tapping the steering wheel cheerfully as they left the city limits towards where the highway only had the vast ocean to the east as company. They marveled at the natural beauty of the massive bay area. As the sun surrendered to the night, the fishing trawlers and gigantic cargo ships changed into a collection of pleasant dancing orbs floating on the water. The city flaunted its legendary blue skies and temperate climate to the Scottish explorers, as they drove along the quiet street.
When they finally arrived in Bluewater Bay, most stores had already closed, but they bought something to eat at a local fast food restaurant before seeking out the beach house Purdue had rented for the next few days. As Purdue collected the key from the landlord, they were all grateful that the long travel was over.
“I want the room with the shower!” Sam shouted the moment he laid eyes on the glimmering shower screen in the dark of the first room down the corridor.
“I think they all have en-suite bathrooms, Sam,” Purdue laughed. “Sorry, no special treatment for Pulitzer Prize winners.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Nina said, as she went down the dark hallway to the stairs to find a room on the second floor of the abode that possessed walls resembling a plaster of Paris finish with kitschy framed paintings of shells and starfish, sea urchins and mermaids. “Anything good up there, Nina?” Crystal called as she watched the historian look around the upper floor through a thick Perspex pane that served as a modern banister.
“Aye! Come see!” Nina answered from inside a room where she had just switched on the ceiling light. “It’s quite lavish for a place that usually hosts people who just tread sand and lug fishing gear in, I suppose.”
Crystal raced up the stairs, her long legs easily carrying her skinny body – the body of a master diver. Purdue and Sam used the time to set up their equipment in the living room, which exited right onto the deck that overlooked the road that separated them from the beautiful oceanfront. Two wooden door frames fitted with glass opened up to the outside eastward to the sea. To the north a sliding door opened to the lawn with a fire pit, where they could have a barbecue.
“They call it a braai here,” Sam remarked after he explained the
steel grid on the pit to Purdue. "It's a barbecue of sorts. Around here people apparently look for any excuse to throw a braai to spend time with friends outside. At least, that's what Dr. Malgas told me.”
“Well, in this climate it’s perfectly understandable,” Purdue smiled as he surveyed the distance to the beach from where he perched on the low masonry that surrounded the fire pit. “My God, this is a perfect piece of heaven, isn’t it?”
“Aye,” Sam agreed.
“And somewhere just ahead of us is a hidden treasure. I only find it hard to believe that the coast guard or geo-engineers have never noticed it. Admittedly that part of the story is a bit weird to me. What say you, Sam?”
“I agree. But Dr. Malgas has always been a very solid, even-keeled academic. He is not a man to jump at shadows or just embrace hearsay at a whim. To be honest, it was his integrity that had me approach you about this find,” Sam declared.
“You know, that is not as far-fetched a method to prompt decisions as you might think. A lot of my explorations, friendships, relationships…”
“Nazi ships…” Sam jested. “Couldn’t resist,” he shrugged.
Purdue laughed. "Yes, most of my decisions are the product of an equal helping of logic and intuition. Reputation is more important than anything in business. Therefore, it is always important not to burn bridges without careful consideration."
His eyes pierced into Sam, perplexing the journalist somewhat. Was that a secret message he hid in his words, meant especially for Sam?
“But some bridges left untouched could spell disaster,” Sam replied.
“That, my friend, is where the bloody problem lies!” Purdue avowed. “Sometimes the worst of bridges left could serve as the only path out of a bind…if the enemy is not crossing them, of course.”
“Aye. Gospel truth.”