"Very well. But I have to do it. It"s my sacred duty."
The sun was setting, and there was only just enough light to make out the channel as the Golden Goose Golden Goose led the convoy of strangely a.s.sorted ships out of Gandanga Bay. They sailed southeast during the night. While it was still dark the next morning Hector and Hazel bathed and dressed in fresh clothes. Then they each drank a mug of strong black coffee, standing together in the kitchenette of the master suite without speaking. At precisely five o"clock Tariq knocked on the door and Hector opened it. led the convoy of strangely a.s.sorted ships out of Gandanga Bay. They sailed southeast during the night. While it was still dark the next morning Hector and Hazel bathed and dressed in fresh clothes. Then they each drank a mug of strong black coffee, standing together in the kitchenette of the master suite without speaking. At precisely five o"clock Tariq knocked on the door and Hector opened it.
"Everything is ready," Tariq told him.
"Thank you, old friend." Hector left him at the door and went back to see Hazel sitting on the bed. She looked up at him. Her eyes were a shade of blue he had never seen them before, cold and sunless as an Arctic sea.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Yes!" he said and taking her hand he lifted her to her feet. He led her to the lift and they descended to the lowest level. When the doors opened he took her elbow and steered her out onto the stern deck. A section of the deck had been screened off with a heavy tarpaulin. Tariq walked ahead of them and held open the fly in the canvas. After they pa.s.sed through he closed it behind them.
Paddy and Nastiya were waiting for them. Paddy was seated in a folding canvas chair. His chest was strapped with surgical tape and his left arm was in a sling. Nastiya stood beside him with one hand resting lightly on his shoulder. Hector and Hazel went to stand at Paddy"s other side. Hector looked at Tariq.
"Fetch Adam," he ordered. Tariq went out through the opening in the canvas screen and returned almost at once. Two of the Cross Bow men followed him. They had Adam between them. His legs were paralysed with terror. His guards were half-dragging, half-carrying him. They let him drop on his knees in front of Hazel. Hector nodded at them and they went to stand guard at the entrance to the enclosure.
Adam knelt facing Hector and Hazel and his eyes were dark and swimming with tears. The black attache case was still chained to his wrist and with both hands he hugged it against his chest.
"Why does he still have that case? Take it away from him," Hector demanded.
"There"s a combination lock on the chain," Tariq replied. "He won"t give it up. We cannot get it away from him."
"Cut off his hand at the joint of the wrist, Tariq. The chain will slip off the stump easily enough," Hector ordered. "Use your trench knife." Tariq stooped over Adam, drew the knife and grabbed his arm. Adam squealed like a piglet having its throat cut.
"No! Don"t use that knife. I will give you the case." He placed it in his lap and with shaking fingers tumbled the combination of the lock. At his second effort the chain fell from his wrist and he crawled across the deck and proffered the attache case to Hector with both hands.
"You and I can strike a bargain," he sobbed. "I know you are a man of your word, Hector Cross. In this little bag there are the internet bank codes and pa.s.swords to almost two billion dollars deposited in twenty-six banks around the world. We can share it, you and I. Set me free and you can take half the money."
"The money is not yours, Adam. You stole it from the people whose ships and goods you plundered."
"Then, you can take all of it," Adam pleaded. "Two billion dollars! Take it all, but let me go."
"Yes! I am am going to take it all, Adam," Hector said with a nod, "and I"m going to let you go to Iblis, the evil jinnee. He is waiting for you. Take the case from him, Tariq." Adam wailed and tried to resist, clinging to the chain. Tariq reversed his knife in its scabbard and whipped the hilt across his temple. Adam released the chain to clutch at his skull with both hands. Tariq handed the attache case to Hector. He set it aside and concentrated his attention on the wretch cringing at his feet. going to take it all, Adam," Hector said with a nod, "and I"m going to let you go to Iblis, the evil jinnee. He is waiting for you. Take the case from him, Tariq." Adam wailed and tried to resist, clinging to the chain. Tariq reversed his knife in its scabbard and whipped the hilt across his temple. Adam released the chain to clutch at his skull with both hands. Tariq handed the attache case to Hector. He set it aside and concentrated his attention on the wretch cringing at his feet.
"Adam, you are the perpetrator of countless acts of piracy, rape and murder. Even under the Sharia law which you profess to honour, all these are capital crimes. You are in manifest guilt. However, one of your victims was a young woman named Cayla Bannock. You raped and tortured her without mercy. Finally you murdered Cayla and her grandmother Grace Nelson by ordering your minions to decapitate them. Then you sent the two heads to Hazel Cross with a mocking message. Hazel Cross, who is Grace Nelson"s daughter and Cayla Bannock"s mother, stands before you now demanding retribution."
Adam raised his head and gazed at Hazel. Blood trickled down his cheek from the blow that Tariq had dealt him. He was weeping and the tears diluted the blood and dripped onto his white robe.
Hector went on quietly, "Cayla Bannock"s mother stands before you now. She claims from you the right of retaliation granted to her under Sharia law. A life for a life."
"Please!" He cupped his hands and held them out to Hazel in supplication like a beggar. "It was my duty. I only did what was my duty to Allah and my ancestors. Please understand. Please have mercy." Hector looked across at Tariq and nodded. Tariq had a folded canvas sheet lying at his feet. Now he spread this on the deck. Then the two Cross Bow men carried in a heavy sandbag and placed it in the centre of the sheet.
"Adam, go to the sheet and lie upon it with your head on the sandbag," Hector ordered.
"No!" Adam blubbered. "I have given you the money. I have paid the blood debt under Sharia law, and you have accepted it. You must let me go free."
Hector drew the pistol from the holster on his webbing, and he reversed his grip and handed it b.u.t.t first to Hazel. She took it, pumped a round into the chamber and pointed the muzzle at the deck. Then Hector went to where Adam knelt. Adam"s voice rose to a shriek.
"Mercy! I beg of you, mercy."
Hector took hold of one of Adam"s wrists and, seemingly without effort, twisted the hand up behind Adam"s back and lifted him to his feet. He marched him to the spread canvas sheet and forced him belly down upon it.
"Place your head on the sandbag," Hector ordered him quietly. "It will stop the bullet after it has pa.s.sed through your skull. Afterwards the sandbag will weigh your corpse down when it goes into the sea."
Adam screamed, a formless incoherent sound. Hector forced him down until the scream was m.u.f.fled by the sandbag. Then he looked up at Hazel.
"Are you ready?" he asked, and she nodded. She was weeping silently. She went and stood beside Hector and pointed the pistol down at Adam"s head, but her shoulders were heaving and the pistol wavered and shook in her grip. She lifted it and pointed the muzzle at the sky. She was shaking her head and gasping for breath like a drowning woman. Nastiya Voronova left Paddy"s side and came to her. She laid her hand gently on Hazel"s shoulder.
"I vill do it for you, Hazel. I am trained for zis, and you are not," Nastiya said; but Hazel shook her head again.
"No," she whispered, "it"s my duty to G.o.d, my mother and my daughter."
She lowered the pistol and aimed at the back of Adam"s head. Her hands were suddenly rock steady and she was no longer sobbing. She fired a single shot. Afterwards there was no sound except the throbbing beat of the engines.
Hector took the pistol out of Hazel"s hand and removed the magazine. He ejected the live round from the breach. Then he placed his arm around his wife"s shoulder and said, "Now it"s over. It"s done, and done well. Grace and Cayla are free and so are we."
She buried her face against his chest and did not watch while Tariq and the two guards came forward. They rolled Adam and the sandbag into the canvas sheet and with a length of nylon cord trussed the bundle up neatly and securely. Then between them they carried the package to the stern rail and slid it over into the seething white wake of the ship. It disappeared without trace.
The USS Manila Bay Manila Bay intercepted the flotilla thirty nautical miles outside territorial waters. Commander Andrew Rob-ins"s tone was incredulous as he called up the intercepted the flotilla thirty nautical miles outside territorial waters. Commander Andrew Rob-ins"s tone was incredulous as he called up the Golden Goose Golden Goose.
"Golden Goose, this is Manila Bay Manila Bay. Is Captain Stamford available?"
"Hi there, Andy, this is Cyril Stamford."
"Good to speak to you again, sir. There have been reports of some trouble in the Gulf of Aden. At a place named Gandanga Bay in particular."
"Do tell, Andy! I wonder what that was about?"
"Well, sir, as long as you were not involved in any unpleasantness. I was a little worried for you." There was a pause. "I see you are sailing in company."
"Darn funny thing, Andy, how these fellows latched onto me. Seems they lost their way."
"How many are there, sir?"
"Nineteen at the last count."
"My orders are to go to the aid of any vessels emerging from the Gulf of Aden who request a.s.sistance."
"Then I will hand them all over to you, Andy, and get on my way."
"Last time we spoke I thought you said you were bound for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Captain Stamford?"
"Change of plan, Andy. My owners just can"t make up their minds where they want me to go. Now I am on my way around the Cape of Good Hope."
"Seems that the rumour of trouble in Gandanga Bay was an exaggeration. The last satellite report is that the bay is totally deserted."
"Just goes to show, Andy, that you can"t believe everything you hear."
"Shall we just score one up for your boy, Bobby?"
"G.o.d bless you, Andy Robins!"
"Calm seas and fair winds, Uncle Cyril!"
After long debate between Hazel, Hector and Paddy it was decided that regardless of the cost they should get rid of any incriminating equipment left on board the Golden Goose Golden Goose. Accordingly the Bushmaster cannon were dismounted from their emplacements and together with all the ammunition they were dumped into the Mascarene Basin in over five thousand feet of water. All three AAVs followed them with their turrets and seac.o.c.ks wide open.
Once she was clean the Golden Goose Golden Goose stopped over in the roads of Dar es Salaam harbour and sent 146 men ash.o.r.e by ferry. Each of the pa.s.sengers was dressed in civilian clothes and carrying a fat cashier"s cheque drawn on the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Bernie and Big Nella Vosloo were waiting at Dar es Salaam airport to fly them up to Qatar in the Hercules. From there they dispersed across the globe on commercial airline flights. Paddy was still not in any condition to travel so he remained on board, with his self-appointed Russian nurse. They sailed on down to Cape Town where the BBJ was waiting. It took Paddy and Nastiya up to Moscow, where Nastiya wanted to get her mother"s approval for what the two of them had in mind. stopped over in the roads of Dar es Salaam harbour and sent 146 men ash.o.r.e by ferry. Each of the pa.s.sengers was dressed in civilian clothes and carrying a fat cashier"s cheque drawn on the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Bernie and Big Nella Vosloo were waiting at Dar es Salaam airport to fly them up to Qatar in the Hercules. From there they dispersed across the globe on commercial airline flights. Paddy was still not in any condition to travel so he remained on board, with his self-appointed Russian nurse. They sailed on down to Cape Town where the BBJ was waiting. It took Paddy and Nastiya up to Moscow, where Nastiya wanted to get her mother"s approval for what the two of them had in mind.
Hector and Hazel stayed over at Dunkeld Estate for a week to sample uncle John"s latest vintage and render comfort and support over the loss of his beloved sister Grace. When he learned that the scores had been settled and that Hazel had carried out the execution in person John was well on the way to a full recovery. The BBJ returned from Moscow and flew Hector and Hazel back to Houston.
During the flight home they discussed what had to be done with the contents of Adam Tippoo Tip"s attache case. Finally they agreed that if the funds could be recovered from the bank accounts using the pa.s.swords and usernames they had acquired, then they would have to be returned to their rightful owners. As soon as they were back in Texas they made the first attempt at recovery. First they opened a numbered account in Switzerland. Then Hector went online and used his fluent Arabic to type in the username and pa.s.sword of Adam"s account at the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"s.h.i.t! It works!" he breathed as the files opened on the screen with miraculous rapidity.
"Don"t swear, darling," Hazel told him primly, "it"ll bring us bad luck."
Hector pointed to the balance on the bank account. "Do you think eight hundred and fifty-seven million US dollars is bad luck?"
"It will be, unless you can transfer it into the Swiss numbered account."
"Hold your breath and pray," he told her, and typed in the instructions. "Here we go!" He hit the "Submit" b.u.t.ton, then let out a whoop of triumph. "It has accepted the instruction! The money has been transferred!"
"Check that it"s gone in," Hazel suggested. Quickly he opened their Swiss account.
"It"s there!" he gloated. "Look at it! Eight hundred and fifty-seven million dollars!" He took her in his arms and waltzed her twice around the room.
"Now, let"s be serious." She stopped him at last. "Let"s get the rest of the lolly." They sat down in from of the computer again, and worked away for the next three hours. At the end of that time they stared in awe at the screen.
"We"ve scooped the pot!" Hector said in sepulchrous tones. "We"ve got the lot. Every last b.l.o.o.d.y dollar. A smidgen over two billion dollars."
"Okay! Go ahead and swear. I was wrong. It does seem to bring us good luck."
"There is a magnum of Roederer Cristal champagne in the fridge. What d"you think? Shall we?"
"I think it"s obligatory," she agreed. They toasted each other and absent friends, and then got down to the next item of business.
"Right!" said Hazel. "Can we establish who paid the money into Adam"s accounts?"
"Yes, of course. We just open Adam"s bank statements. It"s all there."
"And we have their account numbers to return all the money to?" she asked.
"Not all of it. We have to reimburse Bannock Oil for all the expenditure of equipping and mounting the expedition to Gandanga Bay."
"Yes, of course. But we must keep all of this at arm"s length. We can never admit that we had any part in the raid on the pirates. We broke nearly every law in the book when we did that."
"As for the refund of expenses to Bannock Oil, I will talk to Prince Mohammed in Abu Zara. We can route the money through him as oil royalties."
"Will he do that for us?"
"Not for us, but for a nice little commission," Hector said with a shrug. "Apart from being the Prime Minister and Minister of Mines, he is also head of both the army and police force, and governor of the Central Bank of Abu Zara. People tend to do what Princey says without kicking up a fuss."
Hazel laughed. "He sounds like my kind of guy. But how do we get the money to the others that Adam Tippoo Tip robbed?"
"Have you got a really reliable lawyer?"
"A whole platoon of them," she agreed.
"Your chosen lawyer will contact each of them separately under a confidentiality agreement. He will explain that his anonymous client has negotiated with the pirates and received a substantial refund of the extorted funds. If they sign a guarantee of secrecy, then they are in line for a distribution of a portion of this amount. You can bet that they will jump at the offer."
Hector was right; Prince Mohammed channelled the money into the Bannock coffers, and the ship owners and insurance companies who had suffered losses performed like Olympic athletes jumping at their offer.
While all of this was in process Hector and Hazel found the time to fly to Moscow for the wedding of Nastiya Voronova and Paddy. On the way they picked up Cyril Stamford in Taiwan, where the Golden Goose Golden Goose was being refitted. Cyril was now officially employed as the full-time captain of the vessel, and Nastiya had particularly asked Hazel to see to it that he was present at the wedding. Hector could not see the reason why Cyril"s presence was planned so carefully by the two girls. It was only when Nastiya introduced Cyril to her mother that matters became clearer. Galina Voronova was a tall and stately lady of fifty-seven years whose long hair had turned silver blonde. Looking at her it was obvious from whom Nastiya had inherited her own spectacular beauty. was being refitted. Cyril was now officially employed as the full-time captain of the vessel, and Nastiya had particularly asked Hazel to see to it that he was present at the wedding. Hector could not see the reason why Cyril"s presence was planned so carefully by the two girls. It was only when Nastiya introduced Cyril to her mother that matters became clearer. Galina Voronova was a tall and stately lady of fifty-seven years whose long hair had turned silver blonde. Looking at her it was obvious from whom Nastiya had inherited her own spectacular beauty.
Cyril and Galina shook hands and she said in excellent English, "You are a sea captain. That is very romantic!"
Cyril stammered something unintelligible and paled beneath his tan. He seemed actually to sway on his feet as he stared at her. Hazel squeezed Hector"s arm and murmured just loudly enough for only him to hear, "Bingo!" Then she and Nastiya exchanged self-satisfied glances.
After the wedding ceremony in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Hazel handed Nastiya her contract with Cross Bow Security. She had appointed Nastiya the new a.s.sistant chief director of the company. When Hector and Hazel flew back to Houston Cyril Stamford was not on board the jet. It would be at least another three months before the Golden Goose Golden Goose was ready for sea and he had that time to spare. For reasons which he fondly believed were known only to himself, Cyril had decided to stay over in Moscow for a while. was ready for sea and he had that time to spare. For reasons which he fondly believed were known only to himself, Cyril had decided to stay over in Moscow for a while.
Hector and Hazel had a mountain of work awaiting their attention in Houston, including the Bannock Oil AGM and a j.a.panese delegation anxious to discuss deepwater drilling in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, so it was almost a month after their return before they had the opportunity to fly to the ranch in Colorado. After breakfast on the first morning they walked up to the mausoleum on top of Spy Gla.s.s Mountain. Old Tom greeted them at the door.
"They told me you was coming, Miss Hazel and Mister Hector," he said, "so I got in the flowers. Arum lilies for Mister Henry and roses for Miss Cayla, like always."
"You are a good man, Tom." Hector watched from the doorway as Hazel arranged the flowers, and when it was done she called him. They knelt side by side on the purple velvet cushions that Tom had placed at the head of Cayla"s marble sarcophagus.
"I"m not very good at this prayer business," Hector warned her gently.
"I know. Leave this part to me," she replied. She was very good at it. The tears welled up in Hector"s eyes as he listened to her.
It was just a little short of two hours before they went out onto the lawn again. The sky was grey with dense snow clouds. They sat together on the stone bench. A snowflake settled lightly on Hazel"s nose. It tickled, so she wiped it away.
"Winter"s coming early this year," she said. "d.i.c.kie tells me that the geese have already flown south."
"Cayla and Henry have gone with them," Hector agreed. "They weren"t there today." He looked back at the mausoleum.
"You also sensed that?"
"They won"t be coming back, Hazel. They have gone for ever. Only the memory of them will remain with us."
"I know."
"Don"t be sad, my darling."