Death Diamonds of Bermudez (20 page)

Sam yelled out, “Daddy, you have to stop him!”

Savage replied, “It’s a little late now. We’ll give him a couple of minutes then I’ll go in after him.” The next two minutes seemed to be an eternity. After two minutes there still was no Portagee.

In a worried tone, Keno asked, “Let me go in after my little buddy.”

Savage replied, “No, you stay put. I’ll go.” Just as Savage was un-shouldering his Uzi a small head popped up out of the water. It was Portagee.

Portagee shook the water off his face and said, “Sorry to take so long, but I found another larger cave with another pool in it.”

As Savage helped him out of the water he asked, “How did you find the other cave?”

Portagee replied, “That was easy, sir. There’s a line of cricket ball size rocks that lead the way. It’s like following the dotted line on a map. It only takes a minute or so to get there.”

Savage turned to Storm asking, “Mate, with your blurry vision are you up to this?”

Storm snapped back, “I’m ready for anything that gets me back to the surface.”

Savage waved his arm and said, “Alright, let’s move out. Portagee, you take the lead, and I’ll bring up the rear with Storm.” One by one the Spinners dove into the pool and made their way to the next cave. Savage and Storm followed a few minutes later. Once in the other cave Savage said, “Let’s take a break. It looks to me like we have to do the same process all over again to get to the next level.” The other pool in the cave was about fifty yards away. Storm, Savage, and the Spinners made their way over to the other pool and sat down to rest. This cave was much larger than the one they had just left. In fact, it was full of s
talactites and stalagmites.

While they were all sitting there resting Graham observed, “You know, with all these stalactites and stalagmites we must be much closer to the surface.”

Michael asked, “How do you know that?”

Graham replied, “I’m just guessing, but stalactites and stalagmites are formed from water from the surface that seeps through the rocks.”

Before anyone could respond a voice from behind them said, “That’s a bloody good observation, boy, but who gives a damn?”

Savage jumped to his feet, but before he could pull out his Uzi a shot fired out. It was Lynch. He said, “Copper, throw that Uzi into the water, or I’ll blow a hole through your head the size of a watermelon.”

Savage hesitated, but he could see that Lynch already had his pistol locked in on him. He flipped the Uzi over his shoulder and it landed in the middle of the pool. Lynch added, “All of you clean your pockets out. I want to make sure you don’t have any other weapons.” One by one the sound of pocket knives hitting the cave floor could be heard. Storm and Savage also dropped their hunting knives. Lynch went on to say, “Now back away from the knives.” Once they did that Lynch pulled out his GPS communicator to call Van Eck.

After a short wait a voice from the other end said, “I see you’re back on land. What do you have to report?”

Lynch replied, “We’re still underground, but I believe we’re getting close to the surface again.”

Van Eck replied, “On the GPS map it appears you’re east of Harrington Sound on a small strip of land.”

The Spinners and Savage all knew they must be close to Tom Moore’s Jungle and Crystal Cave.

Lynch asked, “I’ve captured the kids and the coppers. Do you still want me to kill them?”

Van Eck replied, “You have your orders. I’ll follow your GPS location and meet you at the surface.” Van Eck flipped his device closed and prepared to go track Lynch.

Lynch put the communicator back in his pocket. He pointed the pistol at Savage saying, “Well, mate, who’s first?”

Savage looked at the Spinners and said, “You kids get behind me, and be ready.” The Spinners all knew what to do as they backed up towards the pool.

Lynch yelled, “What the hell did you just say?”

Savage snapped back, “None of your bloody business!”

Storm pushed Savage aside yelling, “Take me first, you loser!”

Not realizing Storm’s condition, Lynch said, “Alright, buddy boy, step right up.” He pointed the pistol at Storm.

Savage grabbed Storm by the arm and said, “Wait a bloody minute! You can’t even see the bloody bastard.”

Lynch smiled as he cocked back his pistol. He said, “This will be easy. He won’t even see what’s coming.”

Savage was beginning to boil. He stepped forward and said, “You dirty bastard. Act like a man. Put that weapon down, and let’s see who the real man is here.”

Storm whispered to Savage, “Are you nuts? I’m not sure if the both of us could take this creep out together.”

Lynch stepped forward saying, “Savage, your friend is right. I’ll break you in half then I’ll take out your blind friend.”

Savage replied, “Well mate, I’ll just have to take that chance. Drop that weapon, and I’ll kick your ass.”

Lynch smiled as he laid down his pistol on a rock ledge. He then pulled his knife out of his boot. Before anyone could react he threw it at Storm striking his right arm. Storm fell over sideways laying on the cave floor. He pulled the knife out of his arm and dropped it.

Storm stood back up holding his arm. He said, “Savage, if you don’t finish this goon off then I will.” Portagee ripped off his t-shirt and quickly wrapped it around Storm’s wound. Storm looked over at Portagee barely seeing his outline and said, “Thanks.”

Lynch looked over at Portagee commenting, “You’re wasting your time, kid. I’m just going to kill him anyway.”

Savage had seen enough. He took a step forward and hit Lynch with a crushing right fist to the jaw. Lynch stumbled backwards. He stopped his backward motion and smiled as he said, “Did you think a sucker punch was going to stop me when I wasn’t looking?”

Savage now knew he was in a fight for his life. He just hit Lynch with the most powerful punch in his fighting arsenal. The man wasn’t even braced for it, and all he did was smile. Savage snapped back, “You’re just lucky I only gave you a jab.” But he really knew better.

Lynch was through talking. He lunged at Savage hitting him in the chest and knocking him to the cave floor. Savage was slightly stunned from the fall and the weight of Lynch landing on his chest. Lynch was now in an out-of-control rage. He looked around for an easy way to finish off Savage. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a stalactite hanging to his left. He reached up to grab the stalactite and snapped it off from the cave ceiling. He now had a three foot stone club. He raised it over his head yelling out, “You’re a dead man, copper!”

Savage thought to himself, “Oh crap!” He rolled over on his side and tried to jump up and move out of the way, but to no avail. The stalactite hit Savage in the back causing him to hit the cave floor again.

Lynch laughingly said, “Stand up, and take it like a man. I’m getting tired of seeing you on the ground.”

Savage didn’t care for it either. He had never before spent so much time on the canvas in any fight. Lynch flipped the stalactite around holding it at the fat end and pointing the sharp end at Savage. He stomped over to Savage and screamed out, “Die, you bastard!” As he started to slam the stalactite into Savage’s chest, Savage kicked Lynch as hard as he could in the groin. Lynch dropped the stalactite missing Savage by a few inches. As he stepped backwards in agonizing pain, Savage jumped up saying, “Well, mate, there’s at least one area of you that’s not made out of stone.” Savage stepped forward hitting Lynch with a left and then a right punch into his stomach. Lynch groaned in pain. As Savage was about to give him a round house right Lynch hit Savage with a back hand knocking him back against the jagged rock cave wall.

Lynch turned around looking for the stalactite, but to his surprise Keno had picked it up. Keno looked at Lynch and said, “Sorry, brother, you’re on your own.” Keno flipped the stalactite into the pool.

By the time Lynch turned around Savage finally tagged him with a round house right. Although Savage was bleeding almost everywhere he still felt a small victory when he saw that Lynch was now bleeding from the mouth. Lynch reached up and grabbed Savage by the arm slinging him into the pool. As he walked towards the pool the Spinners tried to get in his way, but Lynch just shoved them out of the way like they were nothing. Savage climbed out of the pool as quickly as he could. He knew if Lynch caught him in the pool he would be at a huge disadvantage. Lynch yelled out, ‘What’s the matter? Are you scared to die, copper?”

A bit out of wind, Savage said, “That’s not going to happen in your lifetime, mate.”

Lynch snapped back, “We’ll see.” Lynch took a wild swing at Savage who ducked causing Lynch to miss him. Savage hit Lynch with a double left jab in his kidney. Lynch flinched and then elbowed Savage in the side of the head. Savage stumbled back a few feet and just waited for the next attack by the giant. The wait was not for long. Lynch had enough. He came at Savage with his arms stretched out. He was going to pick him up and snap Savage in half. Savage could tell this was it; time was about to run out for him. Savage charged Lynch, but before he could strike him Lynch had him in his grasp. With all his might Lynch tried to jerk Savage over his head. In the same split second that Lynch was jerking him into the air, Savage threw the hardest upper cut punch he could muster. The combination of his heavy blow to Lynch’s jaw with the extreme force of Lynch jerking him magnified Savage’s punch tenfold. Both men went flying through the air. Lynch hit first with Savage flying over his head and landing face down on the cave floor. Savage heard Lynch moaning and gasping for air. When he rolled over he saw that Lynch was impaled on a stalagmite protruding up from the cave floor. Lynch died within seconds. Sam and Michael ran over to help Savage get back on his feet. As they helped Savage back over to the pool, he stopped and turned around limping back to Lynch. He reached into Lynch’s pocket pulling out the GPS communicator. Next he grabbed the pistol from the rock ledge. In a very weak voice he said, “I think we may need these items.”

Storm’s eyesight was slowly getting better. He walked over to Savage and slapped him on the back saying, ”You’re the champ in my book!”

Savage replied, “Thanks, mate.” Savage handed Storm the pistol and added, “Here, you keep this.” Storm took the pistol placing it between his belt and his pants.

Savage sat down by the pool while Sam tried to clean the blood off of him with water from the pool.

After about twenty minutes the group was ready to continue their journey. They felt that this underwater passage would be much the same as the last passage they went through. Portagee scouted ahead just far enough to discover the same cricket ball sized stones for directions. Once again Portagee led the way with Storm and Savage bringing up the rear. This passage was longer than the previous one and was in an upwardly direction. Finally the tunnel opened up into what appeared to be a very large pool. This one was different as it was lit. To Savage’s surprise as he drew close to the surface he could see the Spinners’ legs treading water. He thought to himself, “Oh Lord, what now?” As he and Storm surfaced he was as shocked as the Spinners. They had just arrived in Crystal Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in the world.

They had surfaced right in the middle of a cave tour. The tour guide was in the process of showing the tourists the underwater stalagmites and remarking how unusual they were being underwater. The tourists were standing on a floating walkway that was over fifty feet long spanning over the deep pool in the cave.

Treading water Savage looked at the tourists who were snapping picture after picture of the new arrivals. He said, “This young man is an excellent tour guide. He really knows his stuff. Don’t pay any attention to us; we’re just a bunch of tourists taking the underwater tour.”

One of the tourists in the group turned to the tour guide asking, “How do we sign up for that tour?” The tour guide was speechless.

Savage broke the guide’s silence by asking, “Would you folks mind helping us up on the pontoon? The water is beginning to get a little chilly in here.” One after another the tourists helped each of the Spinners, Storm, and Savage up on the walkway. Savage noticed that a few of the tourists were gasping after see the state that Storm and Savage were in. Savage patted Storm on the back and said, “Not to worry, mates. We got tangled up with a shark a couple of hundred feet down in the cave.”