Dicing With Diamonds

by Gerry Skoyles

  Vaka reappears from the undergrowth, goes behind Lazarus's animal and slaps its hindquarters. The donkey kicks back and catches Vaka in the groin, making him double up in pain.

  Lazarus tumbles off headfirst over the neck. The donkey turns its head, gives a laughing expression, hee-haw's and trots off.

  * * *

  The three donkeys with their riders move up a steep, twisting track. Vaka brings his mount to a halt at the top. Jed and Lazarus pull up on either side of him. The path ahead plunges down to a valley.

  “Mateo's hideaway is down there . . . at the end of this path,” Vaka points.

  Lazarus looks down the treacherously steep path. “Hope this dumb ass has good brakes. That's scary.”

  “You can always walk,” Jed suggests.

  “Not that scary.” Lazarus sulks.

  “We'll stop here and eat.” Vaka steers his donkey to the shade of trees and dismounts.

  Lazarus gets off his donkey and tries to drag it to the trees by tugging on the reins. He gives up, lets go the reins and strides to the shade. The donkey follows him.

  Lazarus stands, hands on hips, in front of his donkey. “I swear to God you're just trying to wind me up.”

  Jed's mount obediently stops in the shade, Jed jumps off, takes carrots from a pannier basket and gives them to the three donkeys.

  Vaka takes bottles of water and empty bowls from a pannier, fills the bowls and puts them down for the animals. He rummages in the panniers and pulls out some wrapped food. “Please, eat.” He sits and spreads the food packages on the ground. Jed and Lazarus join him and take some food.

  “Anybody have any ideas about what we do when we arrive at this Mateo's place?” Jed inquires.

  “Pray?” Lazarus chortles.

  “You mean you don't know?” Vaka stiffens.

  The donkeys lay down. Jed points to them. “Not exactly equipped if we need a fast getaway.”

  * * *

  Mateo, a Colombian of about thirty, nervously paces up and down outside a rickety shack made from palm fronds and timber, set amongst trees. He looks in the direction of the track leading down from the mountains. “Daniella! Come here. Quick!”

  His Colombian wife, Daniella, also in her thirties, stunning and feisty, breezes through the doorway. “Now what, Mateo, you pathetic useless wreck?”

  Mateo points. “I think Latu's men are coming. Look . . . three of them. What do we do, Daniella?”

  Daniella looks towards the track. Three donkeys with male riders appear in the distance. “You do nothing, Mateo. Leave this to me.” She strides back inside the shack and emerges carrying an assault rifle.

  “Please, Daniella, no violence. Latu will seek revenge,” Mateo begs.

  “Latu, Latu . . . all I hear about is Latu. I'm sick of it. Those diamonds stay right here until I say we go back to Colombia with them. Get it?”

  “But ...”

  Daniella swings the rifle and points it at Mateo's chest. “Shut it, Mateo! Not another word.” She lowers the weapon. “Inside. We wait inside until we know for sure. Go!”

  They go inside the shack.

  * * *

  The three donkeys arrive outside the shack. Two well-cared for, tethered horses munch from buckets. Bridles and saddles hang from a tree branch.

  Jed dismounts. “Anybody home? Hello?”

  Lazarus and Vaka remain on their mounts.

  Jed walks to the doorway. “Hello? Mateo? I need to talk to you.”

  Daniella's voice rings out, “Hold it right there, mister.”

  A rattle of automatic rifle fire and bullets smack into the ground near Jed's feet, throwing up stones and dust. He spins round, ducks and dives headlong on the ground.

  Lazarus slides off his donkey and rolls underneath while Vaka holds his arms up in surrender.

  Daniella appears and advances on them, automatic weapon at the ready. “Well, well. Vaka. Get off.”

  Vaka scrambles from the donkey and keeps his arms up.

  Daniella looks at Lazarus. “The old man under the donkey. Out!”

  Lazarus crawls out.

  “And who might you be, sir . . . asking for my husband?” Daniella turns to Jed.

  Jed picks himself up. “Jed. Jed Namara, ma'am.”

  “Daniella shouts, “Mateo! Get over here, do you hear me?”

  Mateo scurries from the shack and stands next to his wife.

  “You know this Jed Namara?” Daniella asks.

  Mateo shakes his head.

  “Okay, you wanted to talk, Mister Namara, so let's be hearing you,” she orders.

  “I've come to collect my diamonds,” Jed states calmly.

  “Your diamonds? A likely story. Mateo, round up those mules. The rest of you . . . inside.” She brandishes the gun. Jed, Lazarus and Vaka troop inside the shack.

  * * *

  A man, barely distinguishable and unrecognizable in the blackness, stealthily creeps along the dark Starway wharf, quiet except for the creaking of moored boats and the sloshing tide. He stops at Lazarus's ferry, furtively looks around, unties, climbs aboard and starts the engine. The ferry slowly chugs from the wharf, heading out to sea.

  * * *

  Several Polynesian men unload crates, boxes, bottles and tins from Sam Kirkston's old supply boat tied up at Goodway jetty. Kami, Akolo and Penny gather round Sam on the jetty.

  Kami pleads, “Please Captain, can you help? Jed's been away two days now . . . with Lazarus. I'm so worried.”

  Sam says, “My next port of call is Starway. I'll do what I can but it's the sort of place where you have to watch your step.”

  Penny suggests, “Lazarus's boat. Perhaps you can see if it's still over there?”

  “Sure. It might still be at the wharf.”

  “I could come with you, Captain Kirkston. You might need help,” Akolo offers.

  Sam shakes his head. “Sorry, Akolo, I can't do that.”

  “Please, take me as well. I must find out where Jed is,” Kami insists.

  “I would go too. Surely together we can do much more,” Penny adds.

  Sam takes his cap off and scratches his head, deep in thought. “Well . . . okay. It's against regulations but rules can be bent. I sail in a couple of hours. Come back with enough clothing for a few days.”

  “Oh thank you! Thank you, thank you!” Kami jumps up and down.

  * * *

  Sam steers from his seat in the bridge as the supply boat pitches and rolls in heavy seas. Rain lashes from lowering skies, the windshield wiper blade battling to maintain visibility.

  Penny, Kami and Akolo brace themselves against the wall behind Sam.

  Akolo, looking ill, holds his hand over his mouth and staggers out to the deck.

  “Careful out there! Hang on tight,” Sam warns.

  The boat's bows plunge into a huge wave and the vessel pitches violently.

  Penny says fearfully, “Are we going to make it, Sam? It's bad.”

  “Sure we'll make it. We're through the worst now. I wouldn't like to be out there in a small boat.”

  Kami looks petrified. “What if Jed and Lazarus are out there in the old ferry?”

  “Even Captain Hornby has more sense. Mind you, if he'd left Starway before the storm he'd not have much choice.”

  Akolo struggles back in. “There's a boat out there . . . in trouble! I think it's upside down!”

  “What?” Sam secures the wheel, grabs binoculars and rushes outside.

  * * *

  Sam pans round the raging sea with his binoculars, rain and spray soaking him.

  Akolo joins him at the rail, pointing.

  Sam lowers the binoculars, wipes his eyes, raises the glasses again and looks to where Akolo is pointing. An upturned and broken wooden boat bobs crazily, lumps of shattered timber drifting all around. A figure clings desperately to the keel

  Sam blurts, “There's someone alive out there . . . on the hull!”

  Penny and Kami lurch over and grab the railings.

&
nbsp; “I'm gonna try and get closer.” Sam runs back to the bridge.

  The supply boat starts turning, heads for the wreck and slows as it draws closer.

  “I can see a man . . . only one. Oh please hurry,” urges Kami.

  The boat stops, heaving agonizingly in the stormy waters.

  Sam runs to a life ring and tosses it overboard, hanging on to the rope. “Hello! Hey! Can you hear me? Hello!”

  The man on the upturned hull raises his head and looks over.

  Sam shouts, “Can you reach the life ring? I can't get any closer.”

  The man slips into the water and tries to swim towards the ring, disappearing time and again beneath the waves.

  “Oh my God! He's gone!” Penny croaks.

  A monster wave lifts the upturned boat momentarily, revealing upside down sign writing on the side, reading Goodway - Rockyway Ferry. The hull falls back in the sea.

  Kami screams, “Oh no! No! It's Lazarus's ferry! Where are they? Jed! Jed!”

  The man reappears and reaches the ring.

  Sam yells, “Okay, slip it on! Can you get it on?”

  The survivor manages to get the ring on and Sam begins hauling on the rope. Slowly the survivor is pulled close to the supply boat's hull.

  Sam secures the rope to the railing. “I'll have to go down to him and help him aboard before he gets crushed against the side.” He points along the deck to a stowed rope ladder. “Throw that over and try and keep it steady.” He tosses his cap away, kicks his shoes off, climbs onto the railing and dives into the water.

  Akolo and Kami throw the rope ladder over the side, gripping the top firmly. Penny hangs on to the life ring rope. Sam swims to the man in the life ring, grabs him, manages to swim back with him to the boat and helps push the man up the swinging ladder, following on.

  Penny joins Kami and Akolo at the top of the ladder and between them they haul the man aboard.

  Kami gasps and stares in amazement. “Ofa! You! Where's Jed and Lazarus? Tell me! Tell me! Please no.”

  Ofa Latu, exhausted, slumps to the deck boards.

  Sam clambers back on board and kneels beside him. “What happened? Where's Lazarus and Jed? Come on.”

  Ofa shakes his head and rolls over. “I don't know. I took the boat from Starway.”

  “You took Lazarus's ferry? Just you, or with someone else?” Sam hisses.

  “Just me. I had to get away.”

  Sam orders, “Someone fetch a blanket from my cabin. Keep this man warm while I radio for assistance. He's got a lot of questions to answer back in Hamway City.”

  “I'll get the blanket, Captain.” Akolo goes off.

  “What about Jed and Lazarus?” Kami's voice quivers.

  Sam says, “A fast boat shouldn't take that long to get here from Hamerstown. They'll take this man back with them. Then we'll carry on to Starway.” He goes to the bridge.

  Chapter 6

  Jed, Lazarus and Vaka, sitting on the floor in Mateo's shack, backs to a wall, their wrists and ankles bound with rope, wriggle uncomfortably.

  Mateo nervously paces to and fro.

  Daniella, sitting at a makeshift table, her automatic rifle ready for action beside her, spills a fistful of rough diamonds onto the table and spreads them out.

  “Very beautiful, eh, Mateo? Just like your wife don't you think? Say yes, Mateo!”

  Mateo turns to Daniella. “Of course, Daniella. Just like you.”

  “There just remains the problem of what to do with our three friends here. What shall we do with them?”

  “Er, perhaps we can tie them on those donkeys and make them have an accident on the mountain path.”

  Daniella leaps up. “You get more stupid everyday! Perhaps you should be tied on a mule.”

  “Sorry, I'm still thinking.” Mateo resumes pacing the floor.

  Daniella picks up the rifle, moves to Jed and points the gun at his chest. “You, Mister Namara, have made big problems for me. But you have also made a bad mistake.”

  “You're the one making a big mistake,” Jed tells her. “Whatever you do with us can't stop you being caught. It's already known in Hamerstown that Latu's son stole my diamonds and brought them over here for his father.”

  Daniella sticks the barrel of the rifle against Jed's head. “You lie!”

  Lazarus buts in. “No lies, ma'am. A boat will be heading this way right now.”

  Daniella spits and swings round, pointing the gun at Mateo. “You stupid pig! Why didn't you tell me it was Latu's son carrying the diamonds? Answer me!”

  “How was I to know? I just did as I was told.”

  Daniella sits at the table. “So. We have to act quickly. I know just the place where we can get rid of these . . . these miserable people. Perhaps you too, Mateo. I might just go to Colombia alone.” She scoops up the diamonds and places them in a cloth bag. “Just me and these.” She kisses the diamond bag.

  “Wait, Daniella. You forget Latu will have men out looking for us,” Mateo says.

  “They'll never find us where we are going. Go and get those stinking mules and our horses ready. Move!”

  Mateo hastily makes for the doorway.

  * * *

  Kami leans on the deck rail of Sam's supply boat, which is in darkness and tied up at Starway wharf. With an anxious look she peers at buildings in the town emitting soft light from windows and doorways.

  Sam joins her at the railing. “Try and get some sleep. We can't do anything tonight. In the morning we'll go ashore and start searching.”

  “I can't sleep. I know something horrible has happened.”

  “We don't know that. Lazarus is a shrewd old man. He knows how to take care of himself.”

  “But what about Jed? He doesn't know much about this place.” Kami wipes a tear from her cheek.

  “Come on, things will look better in daylight.”

  Kami turns and walks slowly to a doorway in the bulkhead. “I hope so. I really hope so. Goodnight.”

  * * *

  Jed, Lazarus and Vaka, on their donkeys, follow Mateo, mounted on a horse with bulging saddle panniers, up the steep mountain track. Daniella, on the other horse with coils of rope attached to saddle panniers, rides behind them, her automatic rifle slung over her shoulder.

  They reach a section winding between low cliffs with overhanging boulders.

  “Okay, we stop here for a few minutes. Stop I say!” Daniella barks.

  Mateo pulls his horse up.

  The three donkeys ignore tugs on the reins by the riders and stubbornly continue up the track, passing Mateo.

  Lazarus rants, “Whoa! You deaf brute! You want to get us shot? Whoa!”

  Jed takes off his hat and smacks his donkey on its head. “Pack it in! Do you hear me? Stop!” He puts his hat back on.

  Daniella grabs the rifle and points it at the prisoners.

  A rattle of automatic rife fire and Jed's hat shoots off his head, spins into the air and falls to the ground. Jed dives from the animal and sprawls on the ground, hands protecting his head.

  Lazarus's mount bucks violently and Lazarus slithers over the donkey's neck, landing heftily on the ground.

  Vaka pulls his donkey up and holds his arms up in surrender.

  Daniella prepares to fire again. “Anymore disobedience and I'll blow you to bits. Understand?”

  A single crack of a pistol and the bullet smacks into the ground under Daniella's horse, which rears in alarm, throwing Daniella off. She strikes her head on a rock and lies motionless, rifle beside her.

  A man appears from behind a boulder on top of the cliff, pistol at the ready, most of his face concealed by a scarf.

  Mateo stares at him. “Who are you?”

  The mystery man says, “Let's just say Latu sent me. Now, Mateo my friend, very slowly pick up that rifle and throw it away. Very slowly. Move.”

  Mateo dismounts and starts slowly walking back to where Daniella lies.

  The man with the pistol climbs over the boulder, slips, loses his ba
lance and crashes to the ground, pistol flying from his grip.

  Jed leaps up and rushes for the rifle, reaching it before Mateo can get to it.

  Jed grabs the rifle and raises it. “Hold it right there!”

  Mateo stops in his tracks.

  Daniella stirs, shakes her head and sits up.

  “Lazarus, get that pistol,” Jed demands.

  Lazarus hauls himself from the ground and gathers up the pistol, helping Jed cover their enemies.

  The pistol's owner staggers painfully to his feet and backs off.

  Lazarus walks towards Jed. “Hey buddy, that was a bit impressive. Well done. What do we do now?”

  “I guess we tie 'em up, take my diamonds and get out of here. Vaka! Get that rope from the horse and let's get on with this.”

  Vaka collects the coils of rope from Daniella's horse.

  Jed, waving the rifle menacingly, looks over to Daniella. “Right. Hand them over. Come on!”

  Daniella spits, wipes her mouth, stands, moves to her horse, opens a pannier, takes out a small cloth bag and throws it down in front of Jed.

  Jed stoops and picks up the cloth bag “Vaka, check this will you?”

  Vaka crosses to Jed, takes the bag, opens it and tips some of the diamonds into one hand. “They still look very beautiful, Mister Jed.” He puts the diamonds back in the bag and hands it to Jed, who stuffs it in a pocket, retrieves his hat and puts it back on.

  Jed says, “Let's get our three friends into the trees and nicely tied to some sturdy trunks.”

  “I can let Latu's mob know where we left them later. They'll soon find them. I'll tether their horses as well,” Vaka offers.

  * * *

  Sam, Penny, Kami and Akolo, sitting on stools at the coffee cart in the street market on Starway, sip coffee from mugs.

  A Polynesian woman washes empty mugs in a tub of water behind the cart.

  The money lender, sitting with a client at a nearby table, looks over to Jed and the others.

  Sam sighs. “We've just about turned the town upside down and nothing . . . no trace.”

  Kami wipes tears from her cheeks. “I said something terrible had happened.”

  Penny puts an arm round Kami's shoulders. “We mustn't think like that. I know it'll be alright.”

  “Mister Namara will turn up . . . and Captain Hornby. You'll see,” Akolo says bravely.

  The money lender pushes his chair back, stands, crosses to the coffee cart, sits next to Sam and orders from the woman. “Two American coffees with sugar.” He gives Sam a sideways glance. “You look like you've something on your mind. Is it about money? I may be able to help.”