Death Diamonds of Bermudez (18 page)

Savage looked at the Spinners and gave them a thumbs-up. He looked at Storm and gave him a thumbs-down. When the Spinners weren’t watching Storm gave Savage a single finger signal.

They continued this zigzag and in-out strategy of crossing
Bermúdez. Finally after about twenty minutes of doing this Savage felt they were as close as they could get to the Death Diamond tower without taking the chance of being spotted. They decided to hole up in what appeared to be an ancient bakery. As the Spinners looked around the bakery they found stone ovens and large flat round tables with stone rollers on them. Sam picked up one of the rollers saying, “They rolled out the bread with this, but I wonder where they got their flour? There’s no wheat on the island.”

Graham picked up what appeared to be old seaweed that once had been long and stringy. He said, “That’s simple. They pounded dried seaweed into a type of flour. It would have been very nutritional. Here, Keno, do you want to try a bite?”

Keno said, “I am hungry, but not that hungry.”

All the group could do now was to wait for darkness and hope that the South Africans would not see them with their night vision goggles.

The manner in which the Death Diamond tower differs between day and night is simply how fast the trap doors open and shut in the tower. While Storm was looking out the front window to the shop it went from day to night in a blink of an eye. Storm signaled that he was going out to scout around a bit. Savage gave him the thumbs-up.

Storm slipped outside and slowly walked down the side street towards the tower. He was now within one hundred yards of the tower. He stopped for a minute making sure he could go on undetected. As he stepped out into the street he felt a gun barrel tingling in the back of his neck. A voice then said, “Blackie, are you going somewhere?”

Storm knew one of the South Africans had outmaneuvered him. He believed he must be by himself or his buddies would have surrounded him by now. Storm chose not to answer the goon.

The South African said, “Are you a dumb ass? Can’t you speak or should I just blast your ass now?”

Storm had just about enough. Without warning he spun around on one foot and with the other foot kicked him in the head as hard as he could. The goon dropped to the street and was out cold. Storm bent down to take his Uzi and said, “Whitey, thanks for giving me your weapon.” He grabbed the South African by the collar and dragged him back to the bakery. As Storm entered the building he threw the South African across the floor and said, “Let’s tie this scum bag up and gag him. He’s got a filthy mouth.”

Savage picked the South African up throwing him over his shoulder and took him to the back room. A few minutes later when he came back to the kitchen he said, “He won’t be going anywhere for a few thousand years.” Savage looked at Storm and said, “I see we now have an equalizer. Good job, mate.”

Storm smiled and replied, “We need to get going. There’s bound to be more of them waiting for us around any corner.”

Savage added, “You’re right, except I don’t think any of them are anticipating us going back to the tower.” Savage turned to the Spinners saying, “Alright, guys and girl, it’s time to shove off. Storm is going to lead the way. Stay close behind and don’t stop for anything until we’re safely locked behind that iron door.” Savage gave Storm a thumbs-up and said, “Storm, we’re right behind you, mate.”

Storm ran out into the street. About half way to the tower he dropped to one knee and motioned for the others to follow him. One by one the Spinners ran out the door with Savage close behind. As Michael, the first Spinner, made it to Storm he was signaled to keep on going to the tower. No sooner than Michael was halfway there, gun fire erupted from the darkness. Storm yelled out as he returned fire, “Don’t stop now! Run like hell for the tower.”

Michael made it to the tower with Sam close behind him. As Graham made his final dash for the door he tripped and went rolling head over heels. With no lost motion Keno reached down and picked him up carrying him the final twenty yards. Portagee was still with Storm and Savage.

Storm yelled to Savage, “I’m wasting ammo! Let’s move!”

Savage tapped Portagee on the shoulder saying, “Shadow my side and stay with me.”

Portagee replied, “Roger that sir.” Savage and Portagee jumped up and ran side by side with Savage acting as a shield. Storm was only a few steps behind them. He was now firing off only single shots hoping to keep the South Africans pinned down. All three made it safely inside the Death Diamond tower.

Once the door was slammed shut and bolted from the inside, the Spinners gathered around Storm and Savage. Savage pointed down to the closed trap doors and said, “When those doors open, it’s our ticket out of here. The question is how long do we have to wait for the doors to open, and can we hold off the South African goons that long?”

Storm added, “Everyone sit down, and take a short rest for a while. I’m going up top to see if there’s any movement out there on the streets.”

Portagee jumped up asking, “Agent Storm, can I go with you?”

Storm grinned and said, “Yeah, I guess so. Come on.” The two went up the stairs while the others took a much needed rest.

As the others sat there and rested, Savage could tell something was wrong with his daughter. He walked over and sat down by her asking, “Sam, what is it? I can tell something’s wrong.”

Sam replied, “It’s really nothing. I’m fine.”

Savage nudged her and said, “Tell me.”

Sam said, “Alright, but what I don’t understand is that we’re all calling these diamonds Death Diamonds.”

Savage added, “Yes, go on.”

Sam continued, “To the inhabitants of Bermúdez these diamonds were Life Diamonds. This isn’t the Death Diamond tower, Daddy. It’s the Tower of Life. It gave life not death.”

Savage thought for a minute then replied, “You’re so right. You’re so right.” He reached out and gave her a big hug.

The Great E
scape

Lynch and his men slowly moved towards the tower.
Upon reaching the tower two of Lynch’s men tried to kick down the iron door, but to no avail. Being his usual impatient self Lynch stepped in and shoved his men aside yelling, “Get the hell out of the way!” He threw his shoulder at the door. Although from the inside of the tower it sounded like the door was about to explode, nothing happened. Lynch couldn’t control himself. He started pounding and kicking at the door, but he might as well been attacking the tower’s stone walls. The door was so solid Lynch was never going to budge it in a million years. Lynch turned to his men and said, “Let’s blow this damn door open.”

Before the South Africans could do anything bullets began raining from above. It was Storm firing at them from the platform at the top of the tower. Storm yelled down, “You bastards better back away from that door or I’ll blow your butts back to South Africa.”

Lynch yelled back, “You’re a dead man
, mate.” He twirled his hand around in the air signaling his men to back off. As they walked away from the tower Lynch screamed out, “Kill him!” Each of Lynch’s men laid down a barrage of fire that sent Storm and Portagee diving for the hatch doorway.

Back inside the Death Diamond tower Storm looked at Portagee and asked, “Are you alright?”

Portagee replied, “I’m fine. Those goons missed me.”

Storm added, “Lynch and his men will think twice now before they tackle that door again. By the way you should head back down and let the others know I’ll be up here awhile watching our friends.”

Portagee nodded his head and went back down the stairway to his friends.

Downstairs the four Spinners were feeling slightly nervous after Lynch’s attack on the iron door. Savage was making sure the latch and the hinges were going to hold. A few minutes later Portagee made his way back down to the street level. He went up t
o Savage and said, “Inspector, Agent Storm wanted me to let you know he would be staying up top to keep an eye on the South Africans.”

Savage replied, “Portagee, thanks for the update. Savage walked over to the others and said, “When those doors finally drop open we may or may not have much time.” While he was talking he removed his flack jacket. He pointed to the others and added, “It’s time for all of you to remove your flack jackets also.”

Michael stood up to take his off, but stopped to ask, “Why do we need to take them off? They’re great protection.”

Portagee spoke up, “It’s simple, Michael. Your flack jacket is just the opposite of a life preserver. You wear that in the water, and you’ll be on the ocean bottom in seconds.”

As he finished taking off his jacket Michael replied, “That’s a good enough reason for me.”

Savage added, “Throw them all in a pile over here. Maybe when our good buddies break in they will try to wear them when they follow us.”

A
little timidly Sam asked, “Do you think they’ll really try to follow us in the water?”

Savage replied, “Well so far they haven’t quit following us. I don’t think a little cold water will stop them now. The good news is that they’ll have to leave most of their weapons behind if they don’t want to drown.”

Graham broke his silence saying, “Oh, that makes me feel much better.”

Back on the platform Storm kept firing pot shots at the South Africans every so often trying to keep them away from the tower door. Storm had a bad feeling that the longer he stayed in this fairly fixed position one of the South Africans might pick him off. With the South Africans paramilitary background one of these goons might be a trained sharpshooter. Even though they didn’t have a rifle with a scope they might get lucky with an Uzi.
Storm crawled back inside and yelled down to Savage, “When the hell is that trap door going to open? I’m beginning to feel like a sitting duck up here.”

Savage yelled back, “Don’t lay an egg up there. We won’t forget you.”

Storm went back to the hatch to peek out and check on the South Africans. The second he stuck his head out multiple shots struck the stone wall next to his head. The shattered stone and dust flew into his eyes.
Storm fell back into the tower. If it wasn’t for the railing he would have fallen over the rail and to his death. Storm yelled out in pain, “I can’t see. I can’t see.”

Savage looked up and seeing Storm rolling around yelled out, “Keno, come with me. The rest of you stay here and keep an eye on the door.” Savage charged up the stairway with Keno close behind him.

By the time they reached Storm, he was fairly calm and sitting up with his head in his lap. Savage put his hand on Storm’s shoulder and asked, “Are you alright
, mate?”

W
ith his head still in his lap Storm said, “Yeah, except for one problem.” He looked up at Savage. Around the eye area especially his face was bloody and cut up from the stone fragments. He added, “I can’t see a damn thing.”

Savage turned to Keno saying, “Let’s get A
gent Storm back down stairs, and flush those eyes out with some water.” Keno and Savage helped Storm to his feet. Savage picked up the Uzi and flung it over his shoulder. As they helped Storm down the stairs Savage said, “You’ll be alright, good buddy.”

A
bit sarcastically Storm said, “That’s just what you need now a blind man holding you back.”

Back on the street level one of Lynch’s goons ran over to him yelling, “I nailed one of the coppers
, boss. I saw him fall down after I ripped off several shots at him. He’s hasn’t stuck his ugly face back since.”

Lynch smiled and said, “That’s bloody good.” Lynch pointed to two of his men saying, ”Let’s give our prey a little surprise. I want you two to scale that tower and take them out from above. The rest of us will keep them thinking about the iron door.”

Most of Lynch’s men were experienced rock climbers. The tower built out of Bermuda sandstone was riddled with holes and ridges. Any experienced rock climber would have very little trouble climbing the tower without any tools or rigging. However, any mistake would most certainly be their last one. The two men strapped their Uzis to their backs and began the slow arduous journey up the face of the tower. The climb would take them at least an hour to make. `