by John Muir
CHAPTER 22
UNDER THE HOBIE-CAT
T.A. kept glancing up briefly from under the hobie-cat to see what was happening. He kept one arm over Malou's back to keep her from moving.
"What's happening now?" she asked.
"I don't know," he responded in a whisper.
She lifted her head to look.
"For Christ's sake, keep your head down."
"I want to see what's happening!"
T.A. could imagine her having a screaming argument there and then about her right to look, completely ignoring the consequences. He knew when she adopted this attitude it was useless to argue. Now they both watched through the narrow gap between one of the outrigger floats and the trampoline above their heads.
As he watched the men jumping off the three bancas he tried to count them. But with the constant movement and unloading the gear, he could not get past forty before his count became confused. A group started running along the beach towards them. Malou reacted instinctively and put her head down.
He tried to control his breathing which he was sure the invaders would hear. The sounds of feet crushing sand came closer. He was expecting a yell telling them to get out from under the hobie-cat. Instead, the sand muffled running began to fade. They had run past within a couple of metres and not seen them. He could not see where they had gone as the hobie-cat's hull blocked the view. Another group headed south.
Sneaking a look at the distant large boxes sitting on the beach, he knew that the amount of drugs they could contain would be enormous and probably worth millions of dollars. Such a shipment would be run by people with no qualms about killing to protect the shipment and their own anonymity. He had to figure a way to escape. If he could get back to the house it would be unlikely that drug-smugglers would disturb any of the resort guests. But why pick this island for dropping off drugs?
T.A.’s mind began to run through the list of staff to think who would be involved in such a shipment. Maybe it was one of the ex-pats. After all it would be a great cover, being semi-retired and living on an isolated island. Who?
A larger group began running towards them. They were carrying automatic weapons across their chests. Again they pushed their heads into the sand and again T.A. felt relief as the running feet passed them by. When he looked up there was only a small group of about a dozen left. Suddenly they too turned, and all seemed to disappear toward the houses by the overhanging tree.
"This might be our chance to slip away," T.A. whispered. But where could they go?
"No," she whispered. "Not yet. Let's just wait here."
T.A. peered into the half light for movement among the trees lining the beach. Nothing stirred. He rolled over Malou to see if any small bancas were near. He had never started the motor of a banca. He did not know if he could. If there was no key he would be in trouble. Maybe some did not need a key. Perhaps he could sneak a jet-ski out of the bar hut, he could float it out a hundred metres or so before trying to start it. At least he knew how to start them.
He was sure they would only have one chance to escape. He had to pick the best time and method. With the experience of a run of the jet-skis, with Malou on the back, they would need only one. As long as Malou did not cause them to fall off trying to counter-balance him as she did before. He hoped they would have enough fuel to get to any one of the other islands.
"Come on," T.A. whispered. "Slowly. We'll get to the storage shed for a jet-ski."
As they started to slide out to the sea from under the hobie-cat, screams started to come from the nearby Simpson house. House lights were suddenly on in other houses where they had not been on before. More screams and yelling came from other directions. They quickly scrambled back under their protective haven.
"What the hell's going on?" asked T.A.
"It's the NPA," replied Malou.
"Oh shit. What are they doing?"
"Probably raiding the resort to steal cash and robbing the guests as well."
"Let's get to the barrio then, we should be safe there."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that, some NPA are probably from the barrio. We should just try and get into the jungle and hide. If we get to any of the other islands, they'd probably just turn us over to the NPA anyway."
"I thought the NPA was finished."
"Don't believe all the things printed in the newspapers."
Two gunshots rang through the still night air and T.A. and Malou both banged their heads on the soft trampoline above them.
"Oh my God, what was that?" asked Malou.
Two figures suddenly ran out from under the overhanging tree and crouched by the bancas, automatic weapons ready. T.A. was pleased that they had not made a move.
"Shit, lie still, there were two of them still under the tree."
"Let's just stay here please," she almost pleaded in a voice that seemed close to tears. She grabbed his arm so tight it hurt.
"Good idea." T.A. knew he was not heroic and there were no cavalry around. These guys meant business. They just lay, listening to the screams and yells.
T.A. felt helpless. There was nothing that he could do for the others. He was scared enough for himself and Malou. But he did not feel safe here either. Because they were lying flat on the sand they could not see above the level of the true shoreline. Whatever was happening on the tractor path, or going on inside the houses, even those houses right on the shore-front, could only be guessed at. All the houses were showing more lights than he had ever seen before.
The amount of screaming and yelling slowly diminished. T.A. worried why. It was as if they had been silenced one by one over a period of several minutes. He shuddered; perhaps they were being knifed to death. That could explain the lack of further gunfire.
The eerie silence made him feel even more uneasy as his brain raced with alternatives for escape. Maybe hiding in one of the smaller bancas under the fishing nets could be effective. It might stink, but it would be safer than their present position.
"Belly down to the sea. Then move quietly along in the shallow water to one of the small bancas by the restaurant. Watch the guys guarding the landing bancas, if they look in our direction, freeze. When they look away, start moving again."
They started slowly to slide down to the water. Both T.A. and Malou again froze at the sound of footsteps running along the sand. Instead of staying put, they both panicked and slid quickly back under the only shelter that had protected them to date.
The footsteps passed by and stopped at the tree. T.A. looked up at the bancas. The two guards had gone. Somehow he had not seen them move, but here they were again emerging from under the tree to greet the newcomer. He could hear the hum of quiet voices, but not make out the words.
After a short time the newcomers returned the way they had come. T.A. was not feeling comfortable with his escape plan now.
"Can we just wait here?" whispered Malou.
"Yeah, we'll wait and see," T.A. willingly agreed.
While he continued considering alternative escape plans he wondered how long these intruders would remain on the island. Then it dawned on him that the hobie-cat would not provide a good hiding place once the sun came up. They would have to move before dawn.
Immediately he came to this decision, he heard more footsteps coming down the beach. Not in groups, but in ones and twos without haste, and starting to gather again under the tree. Perhaps they were getting ready to leave. When he saw them unpacking more weapons and begin to disperse back into the trees in little groups, his heart sank again. They were here for more than a few hours. There were too many on the beach to escape now.
----------
Heidi saw there were enough people back on the beach to begin organising groups of six and allocate the ordinance. She hated the thought of this next task. She had often been the target of jest, being called school-ma'am. Now she had to undertake a school-ma'am, type task.
She had to make some form of roll call because she could not recognise her leaders among the masked grou
p. They probably could not recognise her either, especially as she was the same height as most of the guerillas present. Thankful for the surprising degree of quietness among the group she called out.
"Helmut, Dandan, Aziz, Raji."
Eight figures came toward her. That seemed strange, but she thought that maybe some had already started to form groups.
"Helmut here," came the first voice.
Dandan, Raji and Aziz responded similarly, but four remained silent.
"O.K.," she began, "organise your groups and allocate the ordinance. Then get to the defensive sites."
"I want each leader to have personal night glasses as well as one other pair in your group." Approving grunts responded.
"The same applies with the starlight-scope M16's. At least one in each group. The extra six spread with Rico getting one, one for Ali in the restaurant, one for the spit group and one for this machine gun post under the tree. The remaining two can go with the groups taking up positions on the top of the ridge. Everybody got that clear?"
Again the murmur of agreement.
"Get the three fifty calibre machine guns to where we discussed. Set the first one up here under the tree to cover the beach front. The second under cover at the northern end of Apuao with the group guarding the spit and covering the inlet to the east. The third on the ridge.”
"Dandan, go to the small barrio on Little Apuao and tell them what has happened. Let me know their reaction.”
"At the first chance, make sure everyone strips their weapons, dries and cleans them. Too many went into the sea. The same applies to magazines and every round they are carrying. We can't afford weapons to jam, or misfire. They won't discover a jam until they try to fire their weapon.
"Helmut, take one of the fifty's with you now. Take your own group and one other. Give the fifty and an RPG to the men guarding the spit. The spare group can keep a watch out from the north of Little Apuao. Then stay with the group on the spit until I send for you. Later, your group and mine will operate a roving commission.
"Dandan, help Helmut get his groups and the other groups ready for Aziz and Raji."
Helmut and Dandan moved toward the men milling around. Dandan sorted them into groups and gave instructions.
"Aziz, take a fifty calibre and an RPG with your group. Set up where we met on the ridge. I'll send the next group up shortly."
"What about the missiles?" asked Aziz.
"I'll send a launcher and three missiles when the first defences are set up."
He moved off to join Helmut and Dandan as Helmut’s groups picked up the now unpacked fifty calibre and several drums of ammunition, then started their run north along the beach again.
Dandan introduced Aziz to his group. Aziz grabbed his fifty calibre while some of the members grabbed ammunition belts, a tripod, and moved off.
“Raji, check Rico and Lorna are still O.K., give them their night glasses and starlight scope, then come back with your group and wait here for me.”
Raji linked up with his group picked by Dandan, and after grabbing the equipment quickly moved off.
Heidi looked at the four tall figures still standing nearby and felt uneasy as they looked at her. She called to Dandan to join her.
“Dandan, there’s four spare Filipinos here. I thought they were with you. Who are they?”
“We’re not Filipino,” one of the four extras answered, in a non-Filipino voice.
Heidi quickly regained her composure after the shock.
“Who the hell are you?”
“We’re extras. There were a few extra people sent. We met up with our friends Mohammed and Ali and they asked us to join the action here. So we’re here to help in any way we can.”
“Jesus Christ, why wasn’t I told earlier?” barked Heidi.
“We only met up with them a couple of days ago so there was no time.”
“Where are you from?”
“Libya.”
“Scheisse, I guessed that.”
“I’m Moamar, this is Abdul, and these two are both named Mahmood.”
Heidi felt her control over Mohammed and Ali was being resisted. She distrusted Mohammed, and now he had brought four of his friends and no doubt allies to help. Who were they really here to help? Her, or Mohammed?
“Abdul. Wait here, and help set up the fifty calibre on the beach. You are trained aren’t you?”
“Don’t worry about our training we’ve done our share of killing.”
This comment chilled Heidi. She suddenly felt she would have to watch her back. It might be wise to isolate Mohammed from his allies.
“Moamar, instead, take Mahmood number one with you and go to the restaurant and relieve Mohammed. Take over his group. Dandan, go with them and bring Mohammed back here to get the extra machine gun. Take him and Mahmood Two with your groups to the ridge to set up the second machine gun post. Tell Mohammed he must take his orders from Aziz, not Ali.”
“When that’s done talk to the barrio on Little Apuao. Then take up a roving commission with your group to keep an eye on things. When I issue the radios keep them switched off to conserve power at this time. Pass that message on. Moamar, go to the restaurant. Dandan will follow in a minute.”
Moamar and Mahmood One headed off to the restaurant without comment.
“Abdul, you can start setting up under the overhanging tree. Mahmood Two, help him until you have to go up the hill.”
They moved away and Dandan moved closer to Heidi.
“I’m not too sure I like this,” Dandan said.
“You feel it too eh?”
“It just seems that there are too many chances of a mistake and I don’t have good feelings about those people.”
Heidi did not want to reveal that she too was worried.
“Don’t worry,” she lied, “we might need the extra help. Just make sure that the extra group is ready when Mohammed returns. When you take them up to the ridge warn Aziz what has happened. Tell him to keep a wary eye on where Mohammed is, or where he goes if he leaves his group. Tell him that Mahmood Two will be on the hill too.”
“I’ll be watching all of them as well,” commented Dandan.
“When you get the chance, make sure the same information is passed on to all the others. By that I mean the other non-Libyan leaders.”
“At the first chance. With your approval I’d like to do something else too.”
“What?”
“Actually I’ve already done it in two of the groups. We have several Filipinos who have worked in the Middle East. A few of them can understand some Arabic. So I put some Arabic speaking Filipinos in Mohammed and Ali’s groups. But now we’ve got four more Libyans. I’d like to change the personnel to include someone who can keep an ear on their conversations and radio transmissions as well.”
“Well thought out. Do it.”
Dandan returned to the remaining group. After a few words to his colleagues he led the new group at a fast pace to catch up to Moamar and Mahmood One.
The beach front heavy machine gun was set up by the time Mohammed had returned with Dandan. Their groups immediately gathered the weapons for the ridge and departed. A few quick words were exchanged between Mohammed and Abdul, in what Heidi presumed to be Arabic. Heidi had stood back and watched without comment, unsure whether Mohammed was aware that she was watching. She was pleased that Dandan was ready for the ‘interpretation.’
As they pulled out, Boy and his group arrived.
“The restaurant is set up. I’m not too sure about the new addition though, he seems a bit aggressive,” said Boy.
“We must hope for the best,” replied Heidi. “Are all the hostages clothed?”
“As well as we can manage. They’re all wearing something. We’ve got as many seated as we can. There are two groups guarding. Nine men are just outside the open walls and three among the guests to keep a closer eye on them. They have settled down.”
“Take your group and check the bancas and store sheds. There are two gue
sts missing. Use your night binoculars rather than torches. Once they see the torches they’ll pull their heads into whatever cover they’ve got.”
“If you find them, no reprisals. Just take them to the restaurant. If you can’t find them, check everything else is O.K. with Rico and Lorna. Once they’ve set up, check the barrio. After that just roam around between the barrio and the ex-pat houses. Search them again just in case they are hiding there.”
Boy signalled his group to join him. He showed one member how to put on the night glasses and adjusted the strap, then put on his own pair. With a wave of his hand he headed north along the beach.
CHAPTER 23
INVITATION TO JOIN THE
