‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ said Louise, ‘under the law of Treasure Trove we are the finders of the treasure and therefore have an automatic entitlement to a substantial part of its value. You two are just a pair of opportunist crooks eavesdropping on conversations you had no business overhearing. The coroner will have to be informed and will almost certainly call an inquest to decide the matter. Then, it is a question of awarding the market value of the treasure to those deemed to be the finders – in other words, us.’
This was a useless discussion to be having with two men who Louise knew perfectly well planned to clean out every last ounce of gold and silver from the cave, regardless of who found what or the provisions of the ancient law of Treasure Trove.
The others, unable to speak with mouths taped up, listened to her mixture of knowledge and bluff in admiration – they knew it was a delaying tactic, pending Dan’s return. Unfortunately, Dan would most likely blunder straight into the cave and be trussed up alongside them. A chill ran across them when they realised that there would be no guarantee that these men would ever let them free. Would they be left here to rot?
Meanwhile the men, content they had the upper hand with John tied up, were happy to toy with their remaining pretty victim a while longer. The pair looked hungrily at her young, lithe body. Those skimpy leggings Louise wore under that long jumper showed off her tapering limbs to perfection.
‘Right, missy, you’re clearly a spirited lass, aren’t you?’ said Zak. ‘I’ll concede you seem to know the law somewhat better than us. All credit to you for that. Now our problem is, not wishing to cut corners, like, but we don’t really give a stuff about the finer legal points.
‘Sloppy I know, but that being the case, why don’t we get you bandaged up along with your mates then we can get this junk out of your way. Think of us as a sort of removal firm or rag and bone men getting rid of your unwanted scrap metal.’
‘We do want it, we have a right to it and you have no right to take it,’ said Louise, her eyes blazing. ‘Now listen, you set us free and I tell you what we’ll do, we’ll allow you a cut of what we have found on condition you clear off and leave us alone.’
‘Oooh right, now you’re talking, ain’t she Jake?’ said Zak. ‘What do you make of this, it’s fun when they negotiate ain’t it?’
‘Definitely, shows a lot of initiative,’ replied Jake offering his trademark toothless grin. ‘Ok, in exchange for setting you free, what about we say half the loot for Zak and meself plus a little carnal satisfaction, missy. Also, we should like to know your name if we’re going to make love. Zak and I are old-fashioned like that, we’re not the sort of chaps who ’ave one-night stands and don’t even know the lady’s name. That ain’t right, is it?’
The others shuddered as the conversation moved from treasure towards a disturbing sexual interest in Louise. If they weren’t gagged they would have screamed at her not to negotiate with the men who undoubtedly had no intention of splitting the find with them.
Louise knew that of course. She knew that they were humouring her – pretending to agree to an equal division of the spoils in exchange for sex – then when they had finished with her, they would take the lot anyway. The stakes were unbelievably high yet she had no choice but to gamble.
‘I’m not telling you my name,’ she said. ‘That’s none of your business. However, I’ll agree to your terms on the strict understanding that we get half the treasure and after you’ve had your fun you let us go and leave us in peace to enjoy the rest of our holiday.’
She hoped she sounded more confident than she felt. She looked directly at first Jake then Zak, her vivid green eyes piercing theirs.
Zak returned her gaze and narrowed his eyes. Something about her agreement to their vile offer made him slightly suspicious. Was she playing games with them? He would soon find out.
‘If you’re for real missy, take that jumper off, let’s see those lovely pins and ass in those skin-tight leggings,’ commanded Zak. The others looked on in horror as Louise pulled her jumper over her head and stood there in front of them.
‘Hey, will you look at that,’ exclaimed Jake. ‘Great ass and great legs – as far as I can tell in this light.’
To help him, Jake shone his torch at Louise, lingering over her breasts then up and down her legs. It was embarrassing and humiliating but she knew she had to get them focussed on her, and forget the treasure for a while.
‘Now ain’t that a sight for sore eyes,’ enthused Jake. ‘Hey you two,’ he said, addressing John and Emma, don’t your friend look gorgeous atop those shapely shanks? Bet you wish you could ’ave some of that,’ he added, winking at John.
‘I’m not some exhibit in a zoo,’ said Louise. ‘If we’re going to do something, can we go to the back of the cave so we’re not in full view of everyone.’
‘Ok, that sounds reasonable to me,’ said Jake. ‘There’s a nice smooth, flat bit of floor we could rest you on, missy. I’m sorry, if we’d thought, we’d ’ave brought you a mattress to lie on or something.’
‘Yeah, we’ll be more organised next time,’ said Zak.
‘Right,’ said Louise. ‘Let’s get it over with. You had better take off your clothes then hadn’t you?’
‘Ooh she’s keen this one, Jake. Ain’t she the little vamp! We’re worth it of course. But let’s not forget our manners. Ladies first, missy,’ said Zak. ‘You strip off first, that way we know you’re for real and not leading us on. Cos we’re sensitive types, Jake and me, we ’ate being led on and flirted with only to be left high and dry.’
~~~~~
Dan glanced at the chalk marks he had made on the walls of the passageway as he returned clutching Felipe’s diary. It had been an unnecessary trip but somehow he felt it important to reunite the precious notepad with the captain’s personal effects – a simple act of decency before they took away his most valued possessions.
Dan was feeling happier. If any criminal interest had been aroused the previous night in the pub, it would surely have become apparent by now, he surmised. They should consider themselves fortunate.
Nonetheless, as he approached the entrance to the cave where he had left the others, he switched off his torch and tiptoed forwards slowly. No reason, save for pure instinct and his natural caution. He listened intently for the familiar voices of his friends.
That, unmistakeably, was Louise’s! Calm, assured, authoritative, as she discussed the legal intricacies of Treasure Trove as if continuing the conversation in the pub the previous night.
He smiled as he heard her say, with apparent expertise, ‘under the law of Treasure Trove we are the finders of the treasure and as finders we have a right to be granted the value of at least half of . . .’
Dan was about to jump into the cave with a cheery, ‘I’m back,’ when again his instinct reined him in. Louise’s voice – it wasn’t quite right somehow. Dan detected a quavering, strangulated note in it. It sounded tense, strident, discordant. Why would she talk in that tone, so cold and aloof, to John and Emma?
Then he understood why. The voice which responded did not belong to either of them. It was mean-sounding in a rough, uneducated Cornish accent. While he had disappeared in search of that diary, his friends had been caught! How could he have been so stupid!
Dan had feared that they had been overheard in the pub. Yet despite this he had acquiesced as they blundered slowly along, making mistake after mistake and taking half the day to get back down here. Then, to cap it all, he – the sensible one – had gone and cleared off on a ridiculous, sentimental errand all so he could feel less guilty about plundering the long-hidden hoard.
There was no time to beat himself up about it – that would have to wait until later on – if later on was ever to come. For now he had to try to get them out of this mess. Whatever was he to do? Should he flee along the tunnel and get help? Would help come in time?
I mustn’t panic, he told himself repeatedly. I must stay calm and keep a clear head. Returning was a go
od option, a sound option. His mobile phone wouldn’t work in the tunnel but as soon as he was out, he’d get a signal and could call for help.
Dan pushed Felipe’s diary into his fleece pocket and inched further forwards along the passageway. He peeped into the cave. He could dimly see John and Emma tied up and gagged. Only Louise was free so what was going on?
As he listened, he realised with mounting horror, that the men planned to have sex with her. John and Emma could do nothing to stop them. He had to act quickly. But do what? Someone slight and slim like him wouldn’t have a hope of overpowering those two brutes. Nor would he be able to raise the alarm in time to stop them forcing themselves upon her.
An anger welled up inside him – anger at them and anger at himself. He felt like bursting into the cave and demanding that they keep their dirty hands off her. But they would tie him up too and no doubt force him to watch. That would help no-one.
Seconds passed, agonising seconds, in which Dan stood immobilised, at a complete loss. Was there anything he could use as a weapon? He felt in his pockets and pulled out the chalk Emma had given him. He smiled bitterly.
What about the treasure, hard cold ingots, and countless coins in a big chest, could he haul it from the shelf and cosh one of them with it? Even if he did, he would be seized by the other. What else was up there? Yes of course, there was a weapon – the captain’s cutlass! It lay alongside his old jacket and boots and sailor’s hat. He could take that and brandish it at them and order them to keep away from Louise. But would they take any notice? Even if he manoeuvred them away from her he could not stop two big, burly men like them from going back up the ladder to spirit away their precious hoard.
The ladder – he could remove it and hide it. That would impede them from getting onto the shelf and making off with the riches, but wouldn’t stop them. After all, with John’s help he had got up to the shelf the day before without a ladder. In any case, it wasn’t so much the treasure he was worried about at that moment but the welfare of his friends and in particular Louise who seemed about to be attacked.
I might as well arm myself with the cutlass, concluded Dan. It would be better than nothing. Silently, glad he was in soft training shoes, he padded into the cave, keeping himself pressed against the rear wall. Fortunately, no eyes were looking in his direction – but towards poor Louise. She had taken her jumper off and her cleavage was under careful scrutiny. Dan resisted the urge to run at the men; it would achieve nothing.
He guessed from Louise’s apparent co-operation that she was playing a desperate stalling game – no doubt in the hope that he would return, realise what was happening and find a way to help. But how?
By keeping close to the rear wall, he slid naturally into the hidden recess. He could see the dull gleam of the ladder from the nearby lamp on the cave floor. He did not dare flick on his torch. He must climb slowly, carefully, silently. The slightest error and he would slip and send the thing crashing to the rock floor and the game would be up.
Dan mounted the ladder like a spider, smoothly and noiselessly. He might not have John’s physical strength but he was light, agile and nimble. He stepped out carefully onto the shelf and crawled on all fours into the middle. Only then did he dare switch on his torch, pointing it carefully to the rear wall.
The gold and silver dazzled on cue. It was a wondrous sight which Dan ignored completely. He crawled to the rear, where Captain Felipe had carefully laid his personal belongings. He reached for the cutlass and examined it. It still looked sturdy. This shelf was clearly bone dry; the metal had not deteriorated at all. It was a proper, functional short-bladed sword, still with its hilt and hand guard. Dan ran his fingers along the curved blade, it was reasonably sharp. He would take it with him, it would be better than nothing – a means of defence, if not of attack.
It occurred to him that he might as well carry out his mission and slip the old diary into Felipe’s coat. Perhaps that act of decency might bring him good luck. As he was about to do so, an idea struck him – a crazy idea, but this was a crazy situation.
Chapter XIII
Instead, Dan pushed the diary into the furthest corner of the shelf, took his fleece off and placed it on top. It was the safest place for Felipe’s precious jottings, given what he was about to do. Now for the crazy idea! He picked up the captain’s old coat, noting its red lapels, gold lace and maritime insignia bearing the name of the ship Providencia. A proper sailor’s coat. It looked worn but had not noticeably deteriorated – at least not as far as one could tell in poor light. The stable, dry climate on this subterranean rock shelf had proved a perfect storage location.
Dan slipped the coat on and did up the still functioning brass buttons. His trousers were dark and would pass muster but his training shoes were a giveaway. He slipped them off and gingerly pushed his feet into the captain’s sturdy leather boots which fastened to the top of his shins. The boots, which sported large ornate metal buckles, fitted surprisingly snugly. Now for the hat. He lifted it gently. It was a magnificent two-cornered bicorne edged with gold braiding which would not have looked out of place atop Nelson or Napoleon.
He placed it on his head in side-to-side position – from memory he was pretty sure that was how they were worn around the turn of the 19th century and most probably was how Captain Felipe would have sported his. He wished he had a mirror to check his appearance. Dan fumbled in his pocket for the chalk and crumbled it in his hands. He rubbed it briskly over his cheeks and forehead to make himself look as pale as possible. Reverently, he picked up Felipe’s cutlass.
With some difficulty, in footwear unworn for over two centuries, he clambered his way as quickly and quietly as he could to the ladder. He listened for any sounds from below. All he could hear was the muffled conversation in the cave.
Dan left his torch behind on the shelf. He would have no further use for it and with a cutlass in one hand, he needed the other free. He inched stiffly down the ladder, preying he wouldn’t slip in those antique boots.
When he got to the cave floor, while behind the hidden recess, he listened hard for Louise’s voice. He could scarcely believe it. Those revolting men were telling her tell to strip and, incredibly, she was telling them to do the same! For a split second he was paralysed with doubt, as if this could not be the Louise he knew, but the moment passed.
This was a clever, if high-risk strategy on her part, to dupe them into thinking they had a chance with her and allow their lust and conceit to cloud their judgement. They were now being distracted by treasure of a different kind and with Dan on the loose, it offered a sliver of a chance.
Dan overheard one of them sneer that he and Jake were sensitive types who did not want to be led on, so she had better strip off first. Gingerly, Dan poked his head round to look into the cave. Louise was towards the far side of the wall and the men were on either side of her.
‘Go on, let’s see if you’re for real,’ snarled Jake. ‘Step out of those clothes and lay yourself on the floor.’
The look on Louise’s face shouted desperation. She had been bluffing her way through and her bluff had been called. If she stripped off now they would be on top of her in seconds. They could, legitimately, argue that’s what she had promised them in exchange for half the treasure.
Where on earth was Dan?, thought Louise. He should definitely have been back by now. Perhaps that was a good sign, that he was aware what was going on and had avoided lumbering straight into the cave and being caught. That would suggest he had gone for help. Only help would not come quickly enough. She was to be raped and the treasure spirited away, never to be seen again. A double violation.
‘Well,’ snarled Zak, ‘do we ’ave a deal or not? I think the young lady’s ardour has cooled somewhat, Jake. I think she’s one of these flirts who get men all excited only to let ’em down. Come on, we’re wasting our time, let’s scoop up that booty and go out and find ourselves a real woman. We’ll be able to afford a good few now, I should say.’
‘
Right,’ said Louise, in a final attempt to buy some more time. ‘Here’s what we’ll do. I will take my things off, but I will do so slowly, and make it more interesting. If I must have sex with you, at least let’s make it a bit more erotic.’
‘Oooh, great idea missy,’ crowed Jake, approvingly. ‘Hey Zak, I’ve always been partial to a slow, sexy striptease.’
Grinning like schoolboys, Jake and Zak sat on the floor, looking up expectantly.
‘Right,’ said Louise, ‘here goes.’ She knew she had to show them something if she was to stall things for any longer. She stepped out of her shoes and socks then, taking as long as she could over it, pulled her skimpy T-shirt above her head. She was now naked from the waist up save for her bra.
As the men cheered, Louise glanced miserably towards the entrance to the rear of the cave, willing help to arrive.
Her wish came true, although not quite in the guise she was expecting. Suddenly, at the back, appeared the most astonishing, unsettling sight, just visible in the poor light.
A man stood there, looking like a sailor of some kind but not one belonging to the 21st century. He had a pirate-type hat on and what looked to be an old seafarer’s sword in his hand – yes – a cutlass! His face was a chilling, unnatural white; the colour of death itself, the colour of a ghost.
Dan managed to catch her eye. He saw terror there, because she did not recognise him. She had no idea who he was. He had to do something quickly to put her at her ease. He took off his hat and bowed to her. Then, cutlass and hat in one hand, he thumbed up with the other.
A look of puzzlement crossed her face, followed, finally, by recognition. Christ, thought Louise, it’s Dan, it must be! He’s got himself dressed up as the Spanish captain! Dan put his hat carefully back on his head. Now that Louise knew it was him, he could wait and pick his moment.
Wreckers Island (romantic suspense) Page 10
