Those In Peril Part 22

All these men were to be selected from the force of 125 male personnel and one woman that Paddy was a.s.sembling at Sidi el Razig. Seventy of the men were flown in from the Cross Bow operations around the globe. The remainder were chosen from Paddy's extensive list of mercenaries and freelance guns-for-hire who were ready to accept even the most hazardous a.s.signments, for the thrills and for the money. The single female member of the force was also carefully selected not only for her martial arts skills but more importantly for her remarkable resemblance to Hazel. She was a Russian girl who had been trained by Spetsnaz. Her name was Anastasia Voronova, but she answered to Nastiya.

Tariq flew to Mecca and from there joined a party of Muslim pilgrims returning to Puntland. He crossed with them on the ferry to Mogadishu and then travelled by bus to Gandanga Bay. Once he was there he blended in with the local population, disguised as an itinerant job seeker. He lived rough amongst the other tramps and beggars. His instructions from Hector were to write nothing down, but swiftly he obtained a mental map of the layout of the town and the bay. He studied the exact position where each of the pirated vessels was anch.o.r.ed. He located the stockades in which the captured seamen were being held. He observed and mentally logged the movements of Adam's mother s.h.i.+ps and attack boats. One of his most important duties on this a.s.signment was to observe the movements of his arch-enemy Uthmann Waddah. It was vital for Hector to know if Uthmann was ever aboard any of the pirate mother s.h.i.+ps or attack boats when they left the Bay or returned from one of their raids. Hector's plans hinged on this information, because Uthmann would be the only one among the pirates able to recognize Hazel if he ever saw her again. However, Hector was almost certain that Uthmann would never go to sea. The simple reason for this was, as Tariq had pointed out earlier, that Uthmann Waddah, the invincible warrior, was pathologically terrified of open water. A chronic sufferer from sea sickness, a few hours on the ocean waves would reduce him to a prostrated moaning and vomiting wreck, unable to lift his head let alone stand upright on his two feet. Seawater was his one weakness.

In the few weeks he remained at Gandanga Bay, Tariq watched four large pirated merchant s.h.i.+ps brought in by Kamal Tippoo Tip and witnessed the wild jubilation of the successful pirates and the crowds that lined the beach to welcome them back from their forays. Always Adam and Uthmann Waddah were on the beach at Gandanga Bay to watch the s.h.i.+ps come in. However, when Sheikh Adam went out in his splendid royal barge to board the captured vessel and distribute largesse to the successful pirates, Uthmann remained on the beach. It was obvious that he was terrified even by the calm waters of the bay.

Hector and Hazel flew in the BBJ to Taipei where the Goose Goose's captain was already on board. His name was Cyril Stamford. He had been retired from the US Navy only ten months previously at the mandatory age of sixty-two years. He had commanded a battle cruiser and was still of bright mind and in robust health, eager to continue working with big s.h.i.+ps.

He was from a long line of fighting Americans. One of his direct ancestors had served in the war against the Barbary pirates in North Africa in 1800 to 1805. Cyril showed Paddy an old and treasured letter which his remote ancestor, Captain Thomas Stamford, had written to his wife from Tunisia in 1804. He read out to Paddy this sentence in yellowing ink: '"It was written in their Koran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were pagans, infidels and sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every Mohammedan who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise."

'The Stamfords have fought against tyranny, bigotry and lawlessness in two World Wars,' Cyril continued proudly. 'Most recently my eldest son Robert gave his life in the mountains of Afghanistan, after being captured by these people and tortured most horribly. My navy has put me out to gra.s.s but, by G.o.d, I would love to take one more crack at the murderous b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.'

Before confirming his command of the Golden Goose Golden Goose, Hector explained what his clandestine role would be and the hazards that would confront him. Cyril accepted the job gleefully. He was given ten of the Cross Bow Security men from nautical backgrounds to train as his crew. The Goose Goose's engine room and navigation bridge were equipped with such sophisticated electronic controls that a crew of this size would be perfectly able to operate and navigate her efficiently.

Dave Imbiss was also on board overseeing the final work on the Golden Goose Golden Goose - the installation of the cannon in the concealed emplacements and the reconfiguration of the bays in the hold to contain the three AAVs. - the installation of the cannon in the concealed emplacements and the reconfiguration of the bays in the hold to contain the three AAVs.

The Golden Goose Golden Goose was lying in one of the outer port basins and the security cloak that Paddy's men had thrown over it was all-embracing. Canvas screens had been rigged over the stern tower and all work was carried out behind this. The cannon, AAV and all other sensitive materials were brought in at night on low-loader transporters swathed in shapeless layers of black plastic sheeting. was lying in one of the outer port basins and the security cloak that Paddy's men had thrown over it was all-embracing. Canvas screens had been rigged over the stern tower and all work was carried out behind this. The cannon, AAV and all other sensitive materials were brought in at night on low-loader transporters swathed in shapeless layers of black plastic sheeting.

When the work on the vessel was nearing completion and the accommodations aboard her were habitable, Paddy O'Quinn arrived in Taipei. Over the following few days the first forty men of his expeditionary force followed him into the city in small groups posing as tourists. These included the technicians who would operate the sophisticated electronic listening devices and CCTV. Then there followed the gunners to serve the Bushmaster cannon, and the twelve drivers and crewmen for the AAVs. The man Paddy had chosen to command the armour was a former officer who had served under him in the army. His name was Sam Hunter and he was a hard man with vast experience in the use of amphibious armoured vehicles.

Lastly but very far from least there was Nastiya Voronova. In a hired car Hector and Hazel picked up Paddy and the Russian girl from their hotel to drive them to the s.h.i.+pyards. At this first meeting the two women bridled at each other, acutely aware of the other's rival attributes. Hazel sensed at once that the other woman was a wildcat, all feline grace and pulchritude on the surface but sheer primeval ferocity at the core. From her side, Nastiya was unaccustomed to not being the most strikingly beautiful female in any gathering.

Hazel and Nastiya sat together in the back seat of the hire car and conversed guardedly. On the dockside while they waited for the ferry to take them out to the Goose Goose's mooring, Hazel took Hector's arm and led him a little aside to whisper in his ear, 'Paddy and the Russian are already into each other like a pair of beavers in springtime.'

'Good G.o.d! How do you know that? Did she tell you?'

'She didn't have to say a word, you silly man. The sweet odour of l.u.s.t that hangs over the two of them is like the scent of orange blossom. Haven't you noticed?'

'Yes, but funnily enough I thought it really was orange blossom.' Hector laughed. The knowledge that Nastiya was deeply involved with Paddy softened Hazel's att.i.tude towards her. Now she knew that she would not have to guard Hector from the other girl's extravagant attractions, she found herself beginning to take a liking to the Russian.

The first thing that Paddy's recruits had to become accustomed to was the sheer size of the s.h.i.+p. The cargo deck was as long as five football pitches. When they were taken down into the covert area in the reconstructed No. 1 cargo hold they found themselves in a maze of interconnecting compartments and steel tunnels. The tunnels were so ill-lit, poorly ventilated, low and narrow that in them a tall man had to stoop. Once in the tunnels there were no points of reference, and it was not difficult to become confused. For instance, to reach the bridge from the a.s.sembly point on the second level involved a claustrophobic vertical climb of over ninety feet, breathing stale air and pa.s.sing identical exit hatches at the level of each intervening deck. In consequence the men arrived at the bridge level disoriented and short of breath.

Hector ordered the builders to install improved lighting and ventilation. In addition he ordered the interior of the tunnels to be clearly signed, with various colours of paint to demarcate each level. After that Hector turned his attention to the hatches. With the original design, opening these from the inside involved unwinding the twin locking handles. This was a noisy and protracted procedure that would give the enemy on the far side full warning. Hector devised a new system. The hinges of the hatches were spring-loaded, so that when a retaining pin was knocked out with a single hammer blow the hatch was thrown wide open with considerable force and the attackers were able to storm through it immediately afterwards, taking whoever was on the far side completely by surprise.

By the time that the Goose Goose was ready to sail for Abu Zara all the men knew the layout of the s.h.i.+p intimately. As soon as they were out of sight of land Hector ordered Captain Stamford to heave to. While they drifted on a sluggish and oily swell Sam Hunter and his AAV crews took their battle stations and the drivers started the engines. Then from the situation room in the belly of the s.h.i.+p the hatches above the vehicles were opened remotely and the hydraulic hoist lifted the first AAV to the main deck, carried it to the s.h.i.+p's side and lowered it overboard. was ready to sail for Abu Zara all the men knew the layout of the s.h.i.+p intimately. As soon as they were out of sight of land Hector ordered Captain Stamford to heave to. While they drifted on a sluggish and oily swell Sam Hunter and his AAV crews took their battle stations and the drivers started the engines. Then from the situation room in the belly of the s.h.i.+p the hatches above the vehicles were opened remotely and the hydraulic hoist lifted the first AAV to the main deck, carried it to the s.h.i.+p's side and lowered it overboard.

The powerful diesel engines of the AAV roared and it surged forward with Sam in the turret, clearing the way for the other vehicles to follow. One behind the other they were lowered over the s.h.i.+p's side. They splashed into the water, sinking for a moment below the surface and then bursting out again in a flurry of white foam. In formation the three ungainly craft circled the Goose Goose and then returned to her side, where they were hoisted up onto the cargo deck. When the last of them was safely lashed down and secured below deck, the hatch above them closed. The hoists were hinged to lie inconspicuously flat on the cargo deck until they were needed again. On each of the four following days the same training procedure was carried out a number of times. The gunners in the AAV turrets were given their chance of firing their heavy machine guns at floating targets from various ranges before they returned to the and then returned to her side, where they were hoisted up onto the cargo deck. When the last of them was safely lashed down and secured below deck, the hatch above them closed. The hoists were hinged to lie inconspicuously flat on the cargo deck until they were needed again. On each of the four following days the same training procedure was carried out a number of times. The gunners in the AAV turrets were given their chance of firing their heavy machine guns at floating targets from various ranges before they returned to the Goose Goose.

When the s.h.i.+p was a hundred and fifty miles offsh.o.r.e from Taiwan and there was no other s.h.i.+pping showing on the radar screen, Hector ordered an exercise with the cannon on the gun deck beneath the bridge. On his command the gun captains released the steel doors that concealed the gun emplacement. The doors swung down on their hinges and revealed the two Bushmaster cannon, with their long barrels pointed forward.

The cannon were loaded with air-burst fragmentation sh.e.l.ls. Each of these contained hundreds of steel b.a.l.l.s. The timer in the nose of the sh.e.l.l was set electronically by the gun captain for the required range using the built-in computer. The gunner picked up his target in the lens of his optical sight and then squeezed the trigger handle. The computer began continually calculating the range of the target and feeding this information into the fuse of the sh.e.l.l. When the gunner released the trigger handle the range was locked in and at the same instant the cannon fired. The sh.e.l.l burst in the air precisely above the target.

While Hector, Paddy and the two women watched from the bridge, the crew of the s.h.i.+p dropped empty oil drums over the side to serve as targets. Each of the cannon in turn fired a five-round salvo over the drums. The results were spectacular. The cloud of flying tungsten b.a.l.l.s turned the surface of the sea to a tall column of spume and spray, engulfing the drums and everything else around them for a distance of thirty yards in a storm of flying metal. When the spray fell back to the surface nothing remained except the ripples.

'By G.o.d and Begorrah!' Paddy cried. 'I can hardly wait to watch that happen to one of Adam's attack boats.'

'I would say we are almost ready to go and pay a visit to Gandanga Bay,' Hector remarked.

'You are ruddy well correct!' he agreed with a smile.

'Paddy actually said "ruddy",' said Hazel, nudging Hector. 'Have you noticed how Paddy never swears in front of Nastiya? You could take a lesson in manners from him, my boy.' Paddy looked dismayed. Up to this moment he had fondly believed that his burgeoning relations.h.i.+p with the nubile Russian was a top military secret. Standing at his shoulder, Nastiya kept her expression remote and inscrutable.

By necessity, Hazel and Nastiya spent many hours together in the owner's suite on the deck below the bridge, working to increase their physical resemblance. Hazel cut and blow-dried Nastiya's hair in the same style that she affected herself.

'How you are so good vith the scissors?' Nastiya asked, as she admired herself in the mirror.

'There was a time I had to do my own hair.' Nastiya looked puzzled, and Hazel went on to explain, 'I was broke. I could hardly afford to eat, let alone visit a beauty salon.'

'That is stupid! When you look like you do, is no need to be broke, never.'

'Perhaps I was too fussy.'

'Too fussy is also stupid.' Nastiya gave her sage opinion. Once they had perfected the hair styling Hazel opened the large cupboards on each side of the mirror that contained her cosmetics and she set to work. Nastiya's reserve broke and she giggled like a schoolgirl as she watched her own transformation taking place in the mirror. After that they turned their attention to choosing suitable clothing. Nastiya was entranced by the contents of Hazel's commodious walk-in wardrobe. It was a treasure house of silk, satin and lace. Of course, they were of similar dress and shoe sizes - Nastiya had been chosen for this resemblance. The Chanel and Hermes shoes looked almost as good on Nastiya's feet as on Hazel's.

When Hazel had finished kitting her out, they put on a little show for the men. Nastiya paraded around the lounge with the aplomb of the fas.h.i.+on model she had once been, and with the same disdainful expression on her lovely face. Hector and Paddy reclined in the easy chairs with whisky tumblers in hand and applauded her enthusiastically, while Hazel watched her creation with a proprietary pride.

Nastiya's a.s.signment required her to mimic Hazel's mannerisms: her walk, the way she held her head and the expressive way she used her hands. The Russian was a natural actress and she swiftly fitted into the role. Finally Hazel attempted to polish her diction. This soon proved to be a waste of everybody's time. Thanks to her Spetsnaz training, Nastiya spoke the English language well enough, except for one or two small weaknesses. Her word order was often confused, and she could not prevent her tongue from transposing the letters W and V.

'You are very welcome' was a phrase Nastiya used often, if and when she spoke at all, and Hazel could barely contain her merriment whenever Nastiya enunciated clearly, 'You are werry velcome'.

One of her other idiosyncratic p.r.o.nunciations was the word 'Okay' which from her pouting lips became 'Hokay!' Finally it was decided that she would have to keep her mouth closed during her period of captivity by the pirates. Fortunately this restriction would not inconvenience her inordinately. 'Silent s.h.i.+p' was Nastiya's preferred mode of operation.

To make absolutely certain that Adam would attack the s.h.i.+p they had to lead him to believe that both Hazel and Hector were on board. They had to allow the TV crew from Al Jazeera to film the two of them on the s.h.i.+p when she arrived at the natural gas offsh.o.r.e terminal. Even after the Goose Goose sailed from the terminal Hector would have to remain on board to command Operation Lampos. However, when he attempted to get Hazel to agree to leave the s.h.i.+p before she sailed and move to a place of safety far beyond Adam's reach, while Nastiya Voronova took her place, his arguments to this effect made as much impression on Hazel as a light drizzle of rain would make on Cleopatra's Needle. sailed from the terminal Hector would have to remain on board to command Operation Lampos. However, when he attempted to get Hazel to agree to leave the s.h.i.+p before she sailed and move to a place of safety far beyond Adam's reach, while Nastiya Voronova took her place, his arguments to this effect made as much impression on Hazel as a light drizzle of rain would make on Cleopatra's Needle.

'Please don't be daft, Hector Cross,' she said flatly.

Hector could not allow himself to be captured when the pirates boarded the s.h.i.+p. He could not command Operation Lampos while he was in chains and guarded by a gang of heavily armed pirates. So they had to choose a double to replace him too. There were a number of men amongst Paddy's recruits who could fit the role, in that they were dark-haired and well-built. In any event, it was generally acknowledged by all that to an Arab most Caucasians looked alike, and vice versa. When Hector's double was taken into captivity by the pirates they might beat him up, but Paddy helped Hector to choose Vincent Woodward, a hard man who could take punishment. As Paddy pointed out to Vincent, when he was captured, unlike Nastiya, he would at least be in no danger of rape. For an extra ten thousand dollars Vincent volunteered happily to become Hector's alter ego.

However, at this late juncture Hazel suddenly became squeamish about sending Nastiya into the jaws of h.e.l.l in her place. The Russian girl had become her friend. She expressed her misgivings to Paddy.

'I truly have the utmost pity for any Arab who tries to lower Nastiya's knickers without her full agreement and cooperation,' said Paddy with a smile. This was not enough for Hazel and she insisted on a frank discussion and disclosure with Nastiya. They all met in the sitting room of the owner's suite. Hazel gave a long disquisition on the hazards that Nastiya would encounter if she allowed herself to be captured. She expressed the affection and respect she had developed for Nastiya, and offered her the chance to withdraw from the a.s.signment. Nastiya sat silent, beautiful and inscrutable throughout the whole recital, watching Hazel intently.

When Hazel had finished she asked, 'So, hundred thousand dollars you are not going to pay me?'

'No, no,' Hazel replied, 'that is not fair to you, Nastiya. In view of the fact that you are going to risk your life for me I think I should pay you at least double that amount.'

Nastiya almost smiled. 'We all know that these people will not try to kill me whatever I do to them, as long as they believe I am really you, Da Da or or Nyet Nyet?'

'We don't think they would kill you. They want the ransom. But they might try to hurt you. They might try to force you, to rape you.'

'Vell, they vill be werry velcome to try,' said Anastasia Voronova, which put an end to any further discussion on the subject.

Three days later the Golden Goose Golden Goose entered the Gulf of Oman and headed up towards the Strait of Hormuz and the entrance to the Persian Gulf. As soon as they were within easy range of land the Bannock Oil Corporation helicopter flew out to meet them. This was a large twenty-six-seater Sikorski, a replacement for the old Russian MIL-26 that had been lost in Puntland. It ferried Paddy's men ash.o.r.e, and landed them at the training camp in a remote part of the Abu Zara desert where the rest of the troops were in intensive preparation for the Puntland expedition. Relieved of her supernumeraries the entered the Gulf of Oman and headed up towards the Strait of Hormuz and the entrance to the Persian Gulf. As soon as they were within easy range of land the Bannock Oil Corporation helicopter flew out to meet them. This was a large twenty-six-seater Sikorski, a replacement for the old Russian MIL-26 that had been lost in Puntland. It ferried Paddy's men ash.o.r.e, and landed them at the training camp in a remote part of the Abu Zara desert where the rest of the troops were in intensive preparation for the Puntland expedition. Relieved of her supernumeraries the Golden Goose Golden Goose sailed on towards the natural gas terminal to take on her cargo. sailed on towards the natural gas terminal to take on her cargo.

The director of publicity for the Bannock Oil Corporation invited Al Jazeera Television to send a film crew to the new natural gas terminal in the Gulf offsh.o.r.e from the Emirate of Abu Zara to record the maiden voyage of the Golden Goose Golden Goose. They accepted with alacrity, and Bert Simpson placed the Sikorski at their disposal. It picked up the Al Jazeera camera crew when they arrived in Sidi el Razig and flew them down to intercept the Golden Goose Golden Goose as she pa.s.sed through the Strait of Hormuz. As the TV crew circled the s.h.i.+p she was a truly impressive sight. Her gas tanks were empty, so she stood to her full height out of the water, a towering mountain of steel. The camera crew were delighted with the footage they obtained. as she pa.s.sed through the Strait of Hormuz. As the TV crew circled the s.h.i.+p she was a truly impressive sight. Her gas tanks were empty, so she stood to her full height out of the water, a towering mountain of steel. The camera crew were delighted with the footage they obtained.

When the Goose Goose docked at the gas terminal a succession of visitors came aboard. All the other Middle Eastern news media sent journalists to cover the event. When they had gone, the Emir and his entourage, including most of his ministers, arrived to attend the royal banquet that Hazel had ordered in his honour. docked at the gas terminal a succession of visitors came aboard. All the other Middle Eastern news media sent journalists to cover the event. When they had gone, the Emir and his entourage, including most of his ministers, arrived to attend the royal banquet that Hazel had ordered in his honour.

A large Bedouin tent was erected on the cargo deck of the Golden Goose Golden Goose and the deck itself was spread with colourful Turkish carpets. The Emir, his three gorgeously bejewelled wives and all the other guests were seated on silk cus.h.i.+ons, and the most famed chef in Arabia with fifty a.s.sistants prepared the banquet. A string band played traditional music in the background. The foreign minister was one of the Emir's younger brothers. He was a graduate of Oxford University, and made a speech in beautifully modulated English extolling the virtues of the Bannock Oil Corporation and the role the company had played in the development of the Emirate's resources. and the deck itself was spread with colourful Turkish carpets. The Emir, his three gorgeously bejewelled wives and all the other guests were seated on silk cus.h.i.+ons, and the most famed chef in Arabia with fifty a.s.sistants prepared the banquet. A string band played traditional music in the background. The foreign minister was one of the Emir's younger brothers. He was a graduate of Oxford University, and made a speech in beautifully modulated English extolling the virtues of the Bannock Oil Corporation and the role the company had played in the development of the Emirate's resources.

Then Hazel addressed the distinguished guests. She gave some information on the Golden Goose Golden Goose and her cargo capacity. She spoke of the cost and planning that had gone into the building and launching of the s.h.i.+p and what this would mean for Abu Zara. She explained that the s.h.i.+p was much too large to negotiate the Suez Ca.n.a.l and for her maiden voyage she would sail down the east coast of the African continent and round the Cape of Good Hope. Then she would head northwards up the Atlantic Ocean to the port of Brest in France to discharge her gas. Hazel told the a.s.sembly that she antic.i.p.ated that the voyage would begin in fifteen days' time. She went on to say that for Bannock Oil this was such an important event that she and her husband Mr Hector Cross would sail on the s.h.i.+p as far as Cape Town on the southern tip of Africa. and her cargo capacity. She spoke of the cost and planning that had gone into the building and launching of the s.h.i.+p and what this would mean for Abu Zara. She explained that the s.h.i.+p was much too large to negotiate the Suez Ca.n.a.l and for her maiden voyage she would sail down the east coast of the African continent and round the Cape of Good Hope. Then she would head northwards up the Atlantic Ocean to the port of Brest in France to discharge her gas. Hazel told the a.s.sembly that she antic.i.p.ated that the voyage would begin in fifteen days' time. She went on to say that for Bannock Oil this was such an important event that she and her husband Mr Hector Cross would sail on the s.h.i.+p as far as Cape Town on the southern tip of Africa.

The cameramen at the rear of the tent discreetly filmed the entire ceremony. In the situation room in the bowels of the s.h.i.+p Paddy and Nastiya followed the proceedings on the CCTV screens, and Nastiya mimicked to near-perfection every movement, every gesture that Hazel made.

Five evenings later Hector and Hazel sat together with Nastiya and Paddy in the situation room and watched as Al Jazeera TV broadcast a seven-minute programme which covered all the main elements of the Golden Goose Golden Goose's voyage. The images of this enormous s.h.i.+p at sea were compelling, and the excerpts from Hazel's speech contained all the most vital elements: the enormous value of the s.h.i.+p and its cargo, its proposed route around Africa, its estimated date of departure and the fact that both Hazel Bannock and her husband would be on board for the first leg of the voyage as far as the Cape. At the end of the programme Hector looked across the situation room at Paddy.

'Well, what do you think?'

'I think Mrs Cross should go into film,' the Irishman replied. 'She could put Nicole Kidman out of work, so she could.'

'Thank you, Paddy,' Hazel said, smiling. 'From such a judge of womankind that is high praise indeed. So you think Adam will fall for it?'

'Head over heels and a.r.s.e over tip, no doubt about it.'

'Vot means "a.r.s.e over tip"?' Nastiya asked.

'Exactly the same thing as head over heels,' Hector explained, and Nastiya looked at Paddy pityingly.

'So vhy so many vords you must alvays be using?'

Hazel smiled at this demonstration of the authority that Nastiya was already wielding in their relations.h.i.+p.

Now fully laden with her cargo of gas and riding low in the water, the Goose Goose went back through the Strait of Hormuz ostensibly to begin the outward leg of her voyage to France. As soon as they were out of sight of the sh.o.r.e the Sikorski began ferrying Paddy's men out from the desert camp and landing them on the cargo deck. As they arrived on board they were issued with their arms and equipment. Each man carried a Beretta 9mm automatic pistol and a Beretta SC 70/90 a.s.sault rifle. They were issued with body armour and each of them carried a compact shortwave Falcon hand-held battle radio. Those amongst them who had sailed in the s.h.i.+p from Taipei began an intensive indoctrination of the newcomers, who very quickly learned the layout of the covert tunnels and how to use them to reach any point aboard the went back through the Strait of Hormuz ostensibly to begin the outward leg of her voyage to France. As soon as they were out of sight of the sh.o.r.e the Sikorski began ferrying Paddy's men out from the desert camp and landing them on the cargo deck. As they arrived on board they were issued with their arms and equipment. Each man carried a Beretta 9mm automatic pistol and a Beretta SC 70/90 a.s.sault rifle. They were issued with body armour and each of them carried a compact shortwave Falcon hand-held battle radio. Those amongst them who had sailed in the s.h.i.+p from Taipei began an intensive indoctrination of the newcomers, who very quickly learned the layout of the covert tunnels and how to use them to reach any point aboard the Goose Goose swiftly, quietly and unseen. They practised embarking in the AAVs and disembarking from them. The s.h.i.+p hove-to and the AAVs were once again deployed overboard but this time with a full complement of troops on board, then they were recovered and stowed below decks. swiftly, quietly and unseen. They practised embarking in the AAVs and disembarking from them. The s.h.i.+p hove-to and the AAVs were once again deployed overboard but this time with a full complement of troops on board, then they were recovered and stowed below decks.

The men were already in top physical condition and Paddy kept them that way by using the expansive cargo deck as a training field. Every man ran twenty circuits of the deck twice a day, with Hector and Paddy close behind them chivying them on. Paddy divided them into teams of ten men who competed with each other in shooting compet.i.tions and boisterous games of touch rugby. Paddy held a daily relay race from the bottom tier of the cargo hold to the bridge and back, using the ladders in the steel tunnels. He timed them with a stopwatch, and Hazel put up a prize of a thousand dollars each day for the fastest team. She and Nastiya made up a ladies' team and they registered the best individual times on three consecutive days, to the deep chagrin of the men.

The Golden Goose Golden Goose was still six hundred nautical miles east of the Great Horn of Africa when her sirens sounded 'general quarters' in the middle of a keenly contested touch rugby match. There was a rush to clear the deck. Hector and Hazel reached the bridge within minutes. was still six hundred nautical miles east of the Great Horn of Africa when her sirens sounded 'general quarters' in the middle of a keenly contested touch rugby match. There was a rush to clear the deck. Hector and Hazel reached the bridge within minutes.

'What is it?' Hector demanded of Captain Stamford.

'We have a radar contact at forty-two miles, bearing twenty-seven degrees. Looks like a slow-flying aircraft, almost certainly a light helicopter. It's heading this way.'

'It probably has already picked us up on its own radar,' Hector said. 'We make a large enough target. He couldn't miss us. Hold your course and speed, please, Cyril.' Then he turned to Hazel. 'If this is who we think it is, it might be a good idea for the two of us to show ourselves on the deck.'

'Shouldn't our doubles do that?'

'No, it's just possible Uthmann Waddah might be aboard the helicopter. He would spot the difference right away. Come on!' They hurried down to the deserted main deck and ran its full length to reach the bows. There they leaned against the rail and watched the distant speck materialize over the western horizon. The speck grew larger until it resolved itself into a Bell Ranger helicopter. They stared up at it. Hector was standing behind Hazel and he slipped his arms around her waist, and laughed and squeezed her, as she began to hum the theme from the movie t.i.tanic t.i.tanic, 'My Heart Will Go On'. They imitated the famous pose of DiCaprio and Winslet standing at the doomed liner's bowsprit in the film.

Hector had ordered a small section of the Goose Goose's hull amids.h.i.+ps to be painted with red lead primer, and rope ladders and a workmen's cradle to be left dangling over the s.h.i.+p's side just above the water level as though the painting of the hull was a work in progress. The dangling equipment was an open invitation to a boarding party. This would certainly be noted by the pilot of the helicopter and reported to Kamal.

The helicopter circled the tanker once at low level. The pilot was the only occupant. He wore dark goggles and the lower part of his face was covered by a keffiyeh. Hazel waved up at him. He gave no acknowledgement but turned the machine back the way it had come and was soon lost to view. Paddy and Dave Imbiss were waiting for them on the bridge.

'All right. There is very little doubt that this is them, and that their main force is not far off,' Hector told them. 'The round-trip range of that helicopter is under a hundred and fifty miles. In less than an hour and a half from now it will be landing on the deck of the pirates' mother s.h.i.+p.' He was switching into battle-ready mode, his mind razor-sharp. 'From now on the main deck is off-limits to all personnel. Everyone must return to their quarters in the covert area and remain there until the enemy makes the next move. All the hidden hatches must be closed and checked. "Silent s.h.i.+p" must be maintained at all times. Hazel and I will move out of the owner's suite and into the small cabin on the AAV deck. Nastiya and Vincent will take our places in the suite.'

'But, I sincerely hope, not to follow your behavioural patterns when they are ensconced there,' Paddy said sourly.

'You can keep an eye and an ear on them with the CCTV camera in the bedroom,' Hector suggested, and Paddy nodded thoughtfully. Although Paddy was too much of a gentleman to spy on the woman he loved, it was just by chance that a short time later, while he happened to be checking the correct function of the camera in the owner's suite, he witnessed an episode between Nastiya and Vincent Woodward as they settled in. With a deadly tone of voice Nastiya was making her position clear to Vincent.

'If you think you can treat me like a real vife, Wincent Voodvard, I vill tell Mr O'Quinn and he vill kill you, but first I vill remove by force those round things that hang between your legs and I will push them up your nose holes.'

Paddy was greatly heartened to overhear this moving expression of her feelings towards him.

Adam's uncle, Kamal Tippoo Tip, stood in the wheelhouse of the 110-foot captured Taiwanese trawler and watched his helicopter skimming the tops of the swells as it raced back from its reconnaissance. He turned the trawler's bows into the light breeze to facilitate the landing. The mast and most of the superstructure had been removed from the trawler not only to a.s.sist the operation of the helicopter, but also to offer a lesser target for the radar of other s.h.i.+pping. Forward of the wheelhouse a wooden landing platform had been laid on top of the deck. The choice of material was also to reduce radar echoes. Now the Bell Ranger hovered above this and then delicately lowered itself until it settled with a barely perceptible jolt onto the platform. The crew ran out with mooring lines to secure the machine.

Kamal nodded his approval. The pilot was an Iranian who had been trained by the airforce of that country and was an enthusiastic recruit in the Islamic jihad against the infidel. As soon as his aircraft was secured he shut down the engine and jumped down to the trawler's deck. He hurried back to the wheelhouse, pus.h.i.+ng up his goggles and unwinding the scarf that covered his lower face.

'Praise and grat.i.tude to Allah and his exalted Prophet,' he greeted Kamal.

'To them be all praise and devotion,' Kamal agreed. 'What news, Mustapha, my brother?'

'The infidel is delivered into your hands. The s.h.i.+p is only one hundred and fifteen miles ahead of us, and closing with us at a speed of well over twenty knots.'

'You are certain it is the s.h.i.+p we are hunting for?'

'There can be no other on all the oceans like her. She is bigger than a mountain and her name is on the bows and the stern. She is the Golden Goose Golden Goose. Praise be to Allah, his Prophet and all his saints.'

'All praise and devotion to Allah! Tell me all you have seen.'

'On her bridge three men were visible, but on her foredeck there were a man and a woman. The woman has yellow hair, and was not old. Her hair and her face were uncovered.'

'Praise Allah! It is the Bannock wh.o.r.e! What of the man?'

'He is tall and with dark hair. He was openly caressing the woman in the most obscene and shameless fas.h.i.+on.'

'It is the a.s.sa.s.sin Hector Cross! This time he will not escape our righteous wrath.' Mustapha went on to describe details of the s.h.i.+p's structure and possible weak points, not forgetting the workmen's cradle hanging conveniently over the side.

'I must inform the Sheikh at once of our great good fortune,' said Kamal, turning to the electronic array at the back of the wheelhouse and switching on the satellite telephone. There was a delay as his call was pa.s.sed upwards but at last he heard the voice of his nephew.

'Who is this I speak to?'

'It is Kamal. Greetings and the blessing of Allah upon you, mighty Sheikh!'

'And on you also blessings, revered Uncle,' Adam answered.

'We have found that which you seek, my beloved Sheikh. It is delivered into your hands along with the man who murdered both your father and mine.'