Anna and Shinobu both caught the optimism in Gray’s last sentence. They stared at him and Anna asked, “Gray, I know you answered yes when Paolo asked if we could kill those men. But please don’t give us false hope. Do you truly believe we will get out of here?”
Dayah and Keegan stepped closer to the others. Dayah looked like she was about to ask the same question when Gray said, “Of course I do. We have the advantage that every rebel in history has had; they have to come after us. We choose where we will engage. And I plan for us to make every use of that advantage.”
Shinobu was grinning broadly. “When we get out of here, I will be honored for all of you to visit me.” He glanced very pointedly at Anna.
“That could happen,” Gray said and also glanced at Anna.
They dragged Lleyton’s body to the north of the shelter and left it well hidden in the brush. They feared they had not the time to bury him. After a short discussion of whether they should move Malik, they left him in the shelter with some bottles of water and some blankets on the small chance he awoke.
“Have we forgotten anything?” Gray asked and got four head shakes.
Paolo’s was not among them. “You said Melanie will try not to give away our presence but if the pirates come to this beach they will see a lot of debris from the wreck. The shelter is not easily seen from the beach but they will see all those seat cushions and litter.”
“Thank you, Paolo,” Gray said, smiling. “We can make a sweep of the beach and hide everything south of the shelter where the jungle is the thickest.”
They took the bags and went south on the beach to nearly the notch and then walked back picking up every piece of litter from the wreck. When they had hidden it well they went back to the shelter and picked up their burdens.
“Okay,” Gray said. “We will start up the slope and if it is too much we will leave some and come back.”
It took them 20 minutes to reach the tree line that ran most of the way around the peak, almost twice as long as it would have taken Gray unencumbered but they did not have to make a second trip. They stayed low and followed the tree line around the peak to the cave where they stored the food, water and the mines they had carried. Gray went back along the tree line and removed the detonators from the mines he had set up for a signal. Anna climbed the peak from the north side, and staying low, pulled up the wires and brought them down with the triggers, or clackers as Gray called them.
In the cave Gray went over their options. One was to find a place where only one or two of the men ventured and ambush and shoot them with the revolver. Attacking any more than two of the men with only the revolver made the chance of success prohibitively small. He believed the trail was not entirely grown over because the men used it to get to the west side of the island although he had no idea why they came to this side.
The trail was a good place for ambush and if they used a Claymore chances of success were very good. The mines could be set up to detonate by trip wire or manually with the clacker as he had shown them on the peak. He told them the mines are directional in that they cover a fan shaped area in front of the mine of about 60 degrees and are very lethal out to 50 yards, shooting a cloud of pea sized steel balls at high powered rifle velocities. Ideally though would be to kill one or two of the men silently to get their weapons. They would then have uncertainty on their side.
Gray had some ideas about how to instill fear into the pirates but it meant using tactics not for the squeamish. That statement brought curious looks from all five but he said he had not yet decided whether to use those tactics. He instructed them to avoid talking aloud, especially when away from the cave. He explained that voices could carry in the jungle farther than one could see. And they must never walk in the open again. Stop often and be very still and listen.
Gray said, “We do not have time to drill or learn a lot of hand signals but when we move through the jungle as a group we need to concentrate on a few things. We will walk single file and keep about twenty feet between us. Do not talk. Make as little noise as possible. If what you are carrying rattles or squeaks, adjust it. Step carefully and set your heel down first and roll your foot forward. Keep your eyes moving, watch the ground and the person ahead of you. A simple hand raised means stop. If the person in front squats, you squat and do not speak or move otherwise. A come on gesture means to join up close so we can talk, but always remain quiet. If you see something important that you do not think the leader sees, give the little whistle that the orange bird we have been seeing makes. Then raise your hand to stop anyone behind you and squat.”
He imitated one of the short, single note whistles the orange bird made and then asked each to make the sound. Dayah had trouble whistling any note so they settled on a “Pssst,” for her which was so high it sounded like a bird chirp. Keegan could whistle a perfect imitation of the bird’s entire song. The others were passable.
Gray said food would become an issue. They could not make a fire during the day to cook the rice or beans due to the smoke and even at night the light could be seen from any place on the island that was line of sight to the fire and even a fire’s reflection in the trees could be seen. They no longer had access to the crab traps or the staples that were in the hut. There were likely food stuffs left in the wreck but he could not take the chance of diving with the possibility of one of the men discovering him in such a vulnerable situation. Gray proposed they go on a scouting mission to learn how well they could travel around the island and maybe pick up some ideas how to isolate some of the men.
With water and the last of the crackers, some cord, two Claymore mines and the wire and detonators, they left the cave and headed around the peak with Gray in the lead followed by Anna, Paolo, Shinobu, Dayah, and Keegan bringing up the rear. They went west toward the shelter but turned south before they reached the final part of the slope before the shelter. The detour kept them in cover and took them by a stand of bamboo. After listening carefully Gray cut down six 1.5 inch diameter bamboo stalks and cut them off at about 7 feet in length. He sharpened the larger end of one and gave it a toss at a big fan shaped leaf. The spear pierced the leaf and stuck in the earth beyond.
He motioned the five close. “Throwing the spear is really a last resort. The best use is to lunge and stab with them.” He demonstrated holding the spear two handed with about half the spear ahead of the leading hand.
They continued toward the trail, stopping at intervals and listening. When they were close to the trail, Gray turned east and led them parallel to it through the jungle. It was much slower going and before they reached the saddle, Anna gave the bird whistle to get Gray’s attention. When she had closed the gap between them she said softly, “We should take a rest.”
Again Gray thought Anna was asking to rest for his and especially the old man’s benefit but he did not say so. He led them farther away from the trail to heavier cover. Out in the breeze or even in the open parts of the trail, mosquitoes were not much of a problem but in the thick of the jungle they swarmed. Gray cut their rest short and they climbed on and crossed the saddle.
When they were half way down to the clearing, Gray led them close to the trail, listened for a full minute and then had them hurry across to the south side. He led them south almost to the foot of the peak that rose on the south end of the island. They moved even more carefully now that they were so close to the hut. They came to a place where they could not go forward without exposing themselves to the clearing. Gray had them back track and move north and then east. They came to a vantage point about fifty yards from the clearing with the hut to their right. Lex’s body had been moved from sight but the first thing that drew their attention was someone lying in the dirt under the thatched umbrella in the center of the clearing. Gray asked Shinobu for the binoculars.
It was Melanie lying in the dirt and she was shackled by an ankle to the thick pole supporting the thatched umbrella. If any mercy for these men had remained in Gray, the last traces of it vanished with the sight
of the young woman. He handed the glasses back without comment and signaled for the five to stay where they were. The jungle ran down to mere feet from the back of the hut and he moved closer until he was in the last cover. The murmur of voices and the smell of cigarette smoke drifted from the hut. There were no windows in the back of the hut and the hut protected him from view by anyone in the clearing. He could slip under the hut and plant a Claymore but should he be discovered the only firepower his group had was the pitiful revolver. This was not the time but he believed it would come.
The sun was almost to the saddle and dark clouds were building to the east. It was of no benefit to slog through the jungle in the dark and the rain so Gray led them back into the foliage and they worked their way to the trail well up from the clearing. They joined up off the trail and Gray proposed they use the trail to get back to the beach. They were all confidant that none of the pirates had gone west on the trail so they agreed to use it. Keegan asked why they did not put a mine with a trip wire in the trail and added if they did not plant a mine all their effort of struggling through the jungle was for naught. Gray said they needed to be near enough the mine when it exploded that they could immediately retrieve the weapons that those killed or injured might be carrying. The sound of the explosion was sure to quickly draw more men who would take the weapons and the chance might never come again to get them.
When they reached the shelter Anna checked on Malik. Gray saw her bow her head and cover her face with her hands. He guessed why and knelt beside her. “On the plane I think he and I shared a moment of respect. I wish he could have made it.”
Thinking they might not get another chance soon to bury Malik and Lleyton, nor have the strength to do so if they were unable to find food, they pulled the two bodies out to the beach. Gray sent Shinobu to the notch where he could listen for anyone coming down the trail. If someone was approaching, he was to flash them with the mirror and then hide himself in the jungle. Hopefully the warning would give the other five enough time to escape.
Gray, Paolo and Keegan worked quickly, taking turns with the large shovel and Anna and Dayah scraping out sand and then soil with the smaller shovel and a heavy pan. The sun had set and in the last light they finished the burial and marked the spot with an X of rocks as Lex had done for the others. Gray waved for Shinobu to leave his post.
They met at the shelter as a slow drizzle started and in low voices discussed whether they should attempt to spend the night there or climb up to the cave. The pros for going to the cave were the fear of being discovered at the shelter and there was a bit more food in the cave. The fear of being discovered was not great because of the rain and darkness. The pros for staying at the shelter were the risk of injury climbing in the darkness and the wet and they did not relish the thought of sleeping on the uneven bare rock of the cave. They might get away with a small fire to cook rice in the mouth of the cave if the cave did not fill with smoke but it was an unknown so it did not carry much weight in their decision. The louder patter of rain on the shelter’s roof clinched the decision to stay.
They had plenty of water but the few crackers, nuts and candy made sparse fare. Gray split them out evenly but the old man said he was smaller and had not helped with the digging so needed less. After what was more gentle urging than argument, Gray, Paolo and Keegan settled on having two more crackers each, and Anna and Dayah one more cracker each than Shinobu. They hugged in a circle and vowed that tomorrow they would make more progress. As they lay in the dark, Gray asked the old man if he knew anything about running a ship. Gray was not so surprised when Shinobu said he had worked as second mate on a fishing trawler.
Chapter VII Day four
The sun was peeking above the horizon on the day Haatim and his men expected Bayani to deliver the Boeing 797. The mines had been laid in an arc around the bay at the northwest corner of the island and across the channel between them and the pirate’s island. All had said their prayers and then they waited with rapturous anticipation. Within an hour their spirits had plummeted. By noon, Dawoud called from outside Manila saying that the Emirates flight was reported missing and assumed crashed. Dawoud proposed they release Bayani’s family if no one came to investigate the island within the next ten days. Haatim would have executed them immediately but he chose to honor his friend’s request.
Haatim desired to know whether the island was compromised and the only way to determine that was to stand off from the island and see if any naval vessel or aircraft approached the island over the next several days. They did not have the rations to stay many more days at the island so they left two volunteers on the island as watchers and sailed to Davao, where they dropped off some of Dawoud’s men and picked up Dawoud himself. They headed for Sorong to drop off Kamil and replenish their supplies.
The sun was throwing beams of light over the saddle when Gray awoke. He took a drink of water to ease his growling stomach but it made him nauseous. He considered eating the toothpaste from the tiny tubes that had been included in the gift baskets but resisted.
“I have a plan that may get us some food,” he told the others in a low voice. He knew most airliners did not have refrigerators but the special menu that was supposed to have been served for dinner included ice cream and he had seen some passengers eating yogurt during the flight. He and the others had recovered some yogurt after the crash and although that was long gone, there should be more in the galley. When he told the others about his plan to dive to the wreck, Dayah happily raised her hand and said she was a very good swimmer and diver and knew where everything was located in the airplane.
“You right,” she said. “Airplane has refrigerator in cart place special flight only I think.”
Gray momentarily forgot their need for quiet and almost yelled aloud. He did raise his fists in celebration. The others followed his lead and then he gave the surprised but pleased young Malay a hug.
“If you are so good a diver, why did you not swim out of the air pocket yourself?”
“I not know airplane tore open. I hit head dizzy, then I think I open front hatch. Then you in air pocket yelling to Melanie. Then you help me, thank you. You see if I good diver,” she said, sounding insulted.
“Okay, Dayah.”
Carrying the two Claymores, their spears and knives and a miscellaneous bag of wire, tools, rope and twine and more empty bags, Gray led them east to the rocky slope leading up to the peak. There were rocks here but not the smooth rounded kind he could find in the Sierra Nevada. These were jagged and abrasive but sufficient. He picked out three rocks of about ten pounds each and put them into one of the cloth bags. After throwing the bag over his shoulder, he led his companions through the jungle to the trail. He dropped the bag of rocks by the trail and led his companions east as they had done yesterday but today Gray studied the trail and the cover along it carefully. When he found a spot about two hundred yards along that fit his needs, he set up a Claymore mine facing east up the trail. He ran a wire back to a safe position behind an outcropping of rock surrounded by big leafed plants that provided good cover. When he had tested the connection, he went farther east up the trail and set the second mine. This one faced east like the other but it was placed on the east side of a tree trunk. He did not want the explosion from the first mine to destroy the second. While he went up the trail to see if the mines were well concealed, Anna ran the spool of wire from the second mine into the jungle and then back around to the cover where the trigger for the first mine was located.
When they were all back to the outcropping, Gray again explained in a quiet voice the operation of the mines. All the while he kept glancing up the trail and pausing to listen during his instructions. He warned Keegan, Anna and Shinobu that their light skins and light colored clothing showed up easily in the jungle but not nearly as much if they did not move. Paolo’s clothes were dark and his skin had tanned so deeply and his beard grown dark that he was much better camouflaged. He told them should anyone come down the trail, they were to rema
in motionless until they had detonated a mine. He also stressed they hold a hand tightly over their ears before the mines were detonated. They were to wait only a few seconds after setting off a mine to see if there were any more men following and if not then they were to rush at any survivors while they were stunned and finish them off surely and with no mercy. All four grunted like they might relish the opportunity. Gray told them they were to gather all weapons and ammunition and then take up position with the clacker for the second mine and wait for him. The explosion was sure to draw others but they might not use the trail.
Before leaving, Gray gave the loaded revolver and the few extra rounds to Shinobu and told him if the mines did not go off, he was to make a judgment call as to whether he should resort to using it or not.
Shinobu gazed at him a moment and said, “If we do not use it, they will discover you and Dayah diving.”
That gave Gray pause. “Thank you, Shinobu. I do not know what we would do without your wisdom.”
Keegan bobbed his head. “Aye, I agree with that.”
They stood in silence until Dayah said, “Some risk we take. Otherwise no food.”
Gray smiled at the young woman’s display of wisdom and courage. Shinobu smiled also. He said, “She is correct. If more than two armed men come down trail we may not engage. We will improvise.”
“We will warn you somehow,” Anna said.
“I’m good with that then,” Gray said.
The old man stuffed the revolver under his belt with a grave expression. Gray hugged Anna to him and kissed her cheek but she took his face in her hands and kissed him on the mouth.
She made a little sighing moan but did not linger. She whispered into his ear, “Just in case.”
PULAU MATI Page 11
