Part 25 (1/2)

'If it is G.o.d's will,' Cyril agreed. Kamal looked startled and then smiled.

'I have enjoyed your company, Yankee. I shall regret our parting.'

'Perhaps if G.o.d is kind we will meet again?' Cyril smiled back at him. One of his front teeth had been knocked out when Kamal's pirate whipped him with the rifle b.u.t.t. The empty hole in his mouth gave him a louche expression.

'I love him, don't you?' Hazel smiled as she watched Cyril on the video screen. 'He is so super cool, as Cayla might have said.'

'He is a hard case, is our lad,' Hector agreed. He was delighted to hear Hazel mention Cayla's name so naturally. Was she at last coming to terms with the fact that her daughter was gone, he wondered?

No! he said to himself in reply. he said to himself in reply. It won't be over, not for Hazel, not for me, until we have finished what we have come here to do. It won't be over, not for Hazel, not for me, until we have finished what we have come here to do.

Although he now knew the exact time they would sail into Gandanga Bay, Hector let the troops sleep for four more precious hours. Forty minutes before sunrise he pa.s.sed the word for 'Stand To'. Quietly each man woke the man on the far side of him and within ten minutes they were all gathered in full kit and body armour in the a.s.sembly area on the second level. They watched Hector's face avidly as he stood before their closely packed ranks. He gestured for them to insert the earpieces of their Falcon battle radios, then cupped his hands around the microphone of his own set and spoke into it quietly. Even though he was speaking directly into the earpieces of his men, there was no sound of a human voice to echo through the bulkheads and alert a listening pirate.

'We are about to enter the pirates' home harbour. You have all studied the maps that Tariq Hakam drew up for us, so in general you know what to expect. However, we cannot know the exact anchorage which Kamal will select for the Goose Goose. Sam, it may be a long run in the AAVs to the beach but Dave's gunners will keep the enemy heads down until you are safely ash.o.r.e. As you all know our main objective is to capture or neutralize two particular men. You have seen their faces on video many times already, but I am going to show them to you one last time. These fine gentlemen are the first prize.' Hector turned to the large video screen on the bulkhead behind him and started the projection. The first images to appear were from the archives of Cross Bow Security. There were several excellent shots of Uthmann Waddah, talking with Hector, giving a lecture on firearms on the firing range and drilling new recruits.

'Many of you know this man,' Hector told them. 'He was once a member of Cross Bow. He is extremely dangerous. Mark him well. There is a bounty of fifty thousand dollars on his head, dead or alive.' The watching men stirred with excitement. Hector changed the projected images. First there were several pa.s.sport photographs he had obtained from his contact in French Interpol. They were full-face and side-view images of the subject.

'This person's name is Adam Tippoo Tip and he is a man of importance in Puntland; a sheikh and the head of his tribe. He is also the leader of the pirates,' Hector explained. 'Bear in mind that these pictures were taken almost seven years ago. Tariq has seen him recently and he says that his beard is now full and dark. Also he has put on some weight.'

Hector brought up another image on the screen. 'Now this video was taken a little over four years ago.' Hector started running the clip from the ransom demand that Adam had sent on Cayla's mobile phone. Blown up to full screen it was slightly grainy and blurred. Adam was looking into the camera and speaking, but the sound had been expunged from the recording, and Adam mouthed his threats silently. At the back of the a.s.sembly area Hazel stood up and ran from the room, unable to watch once again the face of Cayla's murderer. Hector ran the loop three times. Then he switched off the video machine and spoke into the microphone, directly into their ears.

'The bounty on Adam's head is one hundred thousand dollars.' His listeners smiled wolfishly and a few of them nodded and smiled. Hector looked them over with satisfaction. They were as hot as a pack of hounds with the smell of the game in their nostrils, eager to be slipped from the leash. He sent Tariq to fetch Hazel back and once she returned Hector went on speaking into the radio.

'I am switching now to the camera at the s.h.i.+p's masthead. This is real-time.' The image changed to a wide-angle view of the African coastline ahead of the Golden Goose Golden Goose. They were still four or five miles off. The time at the foot of the frame showed as 0617. The heat haze had not yet obscured the line of blue-glazed hills on the westerly horizon. The rising sun was highlighting them. They were looking into the wide, open mouth of an extensive natural harbour, guarded on either side by two low headlands. In the depths of the bay was an untidy a.s.sembly of s.h.i.+pping.

'So we come at last to the lovely pleasure resort of Gandanga Bay, Jewel of the African coast!' said Hector with heavy irony. 'There is even a meet-and-greet service on its way out to welcome you all.' A flotilla of pirate attack craft poured from the mouth of the bay and headed directly towards the Goose Goose at high speed. The wakes left behind by the powerful outboard motors frothed the surface like boiling milk. Every boat was packed with bearded men with dark complexions. As they drew closer it became clear that they were dressed in jihadist militia uniform, baggy breeches and black turbans, and that they were brandis.h.i.+ng either rifles or scimitars. at high speed. The wakes left behind by the powerful outboard motors frothed the surface like boiling milk. Every boat was packed with bearded men with dark complexions. As they drew closer it became clear that they were dressed in jihadist militia uniform, baggy breeches and black turbans, and that they were brandis.h.i.+ng either rifles or scimitars.

'Time to man your stations, gentlemen,' Hector told them. 'Remember! We will not spring the ambush until we have a positive fix on the exact whereabouts of both Uthmann Waddah and of his boss, Adam. This might take some time as there will be a lot of people milling around, but when we have them spotted in the throng we will have to move very fast. Try to take those two main targets alive. However, if they are escaping from you don't hesitate to kill them. You will still be up for the rewards.' Hector made a winding movement with his right arm. 'Okay! Move out in order of deployment!'

David Imbiss's gun crews formed up in an eerie silence and Dave led them into the entrance of the covert tunnel system. Swiftly they climbed the ladder to the gun platform below the bridge. Within minutes Dave reported back to Hector over the Falcon battle radio.

'Both guns loaded and manned, Heck.' Hector acknowledged and then spoke to Sam Hunter. Although they were in direct eye contact he used the battle radio to keep the noise level down to an absolute minimum.

'Okay, Sam. Get your men loaded into the AAVs. But the mode is still ”Silent s.h.i.+p”. Do not start your engines until I give the order.' Sam acknowledged curtly, and then led the ninety men of the landing party up the companionway to the level beneath the cargo deck. It took a little longer than manning the guns, but at last Sam's voice came over the radio.

'All AAV crews loaded. Hoist cables attached and ready to lift. Turret hatches closed, and engines off. We are ready to launch.'

'Right-oh, Sam!' Hector approved. Then he looked over the men still remaining in the a.s.sembly area. These were his storm troopers. They would spearhead the a.s.sault on board the s.h.i.+p. Of course, Hector was in overall command but his lieutenants were Paddy and Tariq.

Hector's stick of six men was a mixed bag. There were twin brothers, Jacko and Bingo MacDuff from Glasgow, two Iraqis, an Aussie from Queensland and a German Afrikaner from Namibia. They were all fighters and killers. If luck was with the attackers, and Adam and Uthmann came out on the royal barge to welcome the Goose Goose, and if they went directly up to the bridge to greet Kamal, it would simplify the matter a hundredfold. Hector and his stick could grab all of them in one fell swoop.

But whichever way it went, Hector and his stick must seize Kamal and the four jihadists with him on the bridge. Then they could release Cyril Stamford and the other crew members being held there. From the heights of the bridge Hector would then be in a position to overlook the entire bay and spot the whereabouts of Adam and his henchman. He would be able to direct Dave Imbiss's gunners onto these prime targets. After that they would destroy Kamal's fleet of attack boats and cover the landing of the three AAVs on the beach, and their return from the compounds escorting the seamen of the pirated s.h.i.+ps.

Paddy and his team would attack the second level. Their first objective would be to subdue the guards in the owner's suite and in the smaller cabin on the same level where Nastiya and Vincent were being held. Once they had rescued these hostages they would be ready to move swiftly to any area of the s.h.i.+p where Hector needed them.

Tariq and his team would attack the lowest level of the Goose Goose's accommodation where the other crew members were being held by the pirates. Once they were in control of that level they would also have command of the main cargo deck. After Paddy's team had come down to reinforce them they would be able to concentrate all their forces on their primary task, which was to capture Adam wherever he might be at that time.

Considering his pathological aversion to seawater it seemed highly unlikely that Uthmann Waddah would accompany his Sheikh, but he must surely be on the beach to witness the triumphant entry of the Golden Goose Golden Goose to Gandanga Bay. Hector was confident that he would be able to spot him through the high-power telescopic lens of the camera at the s.h.i.+p's masthead. Then he might have to go after him and hunt him down. to Gandanga Bay. Hector was confident that he would be able to spot him through the high-power telescopic lens of the camera at the s.h.i.+p's masthead. Then he might have to go after him and hunt him down.

At all times during the action Hazel and her four a.s.sistants would keep Hector and his officers informed of developments and of the exact whereabouts of every pirate aboard. The five of them would remain in the situation room to monitor all the cameras and listening equipment. The men under Hazel were all born Arabic speakers and would translate for her every word uttered by Kamal and his gang.

In the dawn the Golden Goose Golden Goose moved slowly and carefully between the sandy headlands of Gandanga Bay. Under Kamal's direction she was groping her way down the deepwater channel. Hector, Paddy and Tariq watched the scene ahead on the repeater screen on the bulkhead of the a.s.sembly area. The surface of the bay swarmed with small craft. The wolf pack of attack boats was already circling the tanker. The roar of outboard motors, the crackle of rifle fire and screaming and chanting was so loud that Hector was able to hear it even deep in the hull of the tanker. moved slowly and carefully between the sandy headlands of Gandanga Bay. Under Kamal's direction she was groping her way down the deepwater channel. Hector, Paddy and Tariq watched the scene ahead on the repeater screen on the bulkhead of the a.s.sembly area. The surface of the bay swarmed with small craft. The wolf pack of attack boats was already circling the tanker. The roar of outboard motors, the crackle of rifle fire and screaming and chanting was so loud that Hector was able to hear it even deep in the hull of the tanker.

Hector spoke into the microphone of his radio. 'Hazel! Have you spotted Adam? He should be coming out to us in his royal barge. According to Tariq he will be dressed in white robes with a golden headband around his turban. It should be easy to pick him out.'

'Negative, Hector. I cannot see anyone who answers that description,' Hazel replied. Hector had been absolutely certain that Adam would want to be the first to step aboard the Golden Goose Golden Goose. His whole plan was based on this premise, but now he felt the sharp stab of doubt.

s.h.i.+t! If the very first thing goes wrong, he thought, then everything afterwards goes wrong! then everything afterwards goes wrong! But he must not let his doubts affect the others, so he said calmly, 'Hazel! Where is Kamal? Do you have him on your screens?' But he must not let his doubts affect the others, so he said calmly, 'Hazel! Where is Kamal? Do you have him on your screens?'

'Affirmative, Hector. Kamal is on the starboard wing of the bridge with three of his pirates. He is waving to the men in the small boats and they are cheering him. Cyril Stamford is at the s.h.i.+p's helm. It's all getting somewhat confused.'

'Okay, Hazel. Watch that swine Kamal. I cannot delay any longer. We have to deploy into the tunnels and take up our jump-off positions at the hatches.' Hector nodded to Paddy and Tariq. Then he went to the tunnel entrance and climbed swiftly. The ladder was only wide enough to admit one man at a time. The six men of his team followed him closely. As soon as the last of them disappeared into the tunnel Paddy led his team in behind them. They stopped at the level of the owner's suite. Paddy could see the soft para boots of the men of Hector's team on the steel rungs above his head. When he looked down he could see the top of Tariq's helmet. He was at the level of the crew's quarters and the cargo deck. The ladder was loaded with armed men primed for action.

Hector leaned his shoulder against the clandestine entrance to the bridge and whispered into his microphone.

'Hazel! Where's Kamal now?'

'Hector! He's come in from the wing. He's with Cyril at the con. I think he's preparing to drop anchor.'

'How far are we off the beach?' There was a pause while Hazel read the range finder.

'Seven hundred and thirty-four metres,' she said. 'Kamal has taken us in very close.' Hector was aware of a faint rumble and vibration and immediately Hazel went on, 'Yes! I can see that Kamal has let go the two bow anchors.'

'Still no sign of Adam's barge?'

'No. None.'

'Are any of the men from the attack boats coming aboard the Goose Goose?'

'No. They are shouting and shooting in the air, but they are standing well off from our s.h.i.+p. It's almost as though they are waiting for something to happen.'

'Can you see any sign of Adam or his barge on the beach?'

'There are hundreds of people there, but I can't make out any sign of him or Uthmann Waddah.'

'Where the h.e.l.l is the b.a.s.t.a.r.d? We can't do a thing until he shows himself,' Hector fretted.

'Hold on! Kamal has gone out on the wing of the bridge again,' Hazel said softly. 'He's making another call on his satphone.'

'You can bet all your money that he's talking to his master,' Hector guessed.

With the skirts of his robe tucked up between his knees, Uthmann Waddah squatted in the clearing on the periphery of the tent city above Gandanga Bay. He had the satphone pressed to his ear, and in front of him was a fine view out across the anchorage to where the great s.h.i.+p lay at anchor. Although he had watched it for over an hour as it came in sedately through the mouth of the bay and anch.o.r.ed off the beach, still he was amazed by its enormous size. It did not seem possible that anything of that magnitude would be capable of floating. Its open deck seemed larger than the new airfield that Adam had had built at the Oasis of the Miracle. That deck seemed sufficiently s.p.a.cious for a 737 to land upon it, and furthermore the s.h.i.+p was less than a kilometre off the beach. Uthmann felt much more sanguine about the orders that Adam had given him. He was listening to Kamal's voice on the other end of the satphone, and occasionally acknowledging the orders he was receiving.

'As you say, n.o.ble prince! ... I shall give him your message at once, Your Royal Highness.'