فصل 20

20

The Gold Depository

In spite of the violence of their landing, only a few dozen of the Pulse’s soldiers were injured, and the forward hull of the Pulse was completely intact. Enele got on the boat’s radio and called in their location to the Proton. As the Proton was the slowest of the fleet, they had loaded it with the fewest soldiers, which meant there was room to carry almost half of the stranded soldiers. Enele instructed the Proton’s captain to load up with weapons and soldiers as Enele and a contingency of men went to check out the Elgen’s Plutus facility.

Four of the Regulator’s life rafts were still intact. Enele and twenty of his best soldiers, including Adam and Raphe, dressed in Elgen uniforms, loaded as many arms as they could, and then sailed back to the opening in the atoll’s lagoon. It took them only a half hour to reach the massive Plutus depository that Hatch was building.

“What is that?” one of the soldiers asked.

“That’s the Elgen’s own Fort Knox.”

“What’s Fort Knox?”

“It’s the Americans’ gold depository. The Elgen plan to fill this building up with gold.” The man shook his head. “I’m in the wrong business.” In the darkness, they ran the raft up onto the beach, then quickly moved up toward the still incomplete fortification.

The gold depository that Hatch was building was smaller than Fort Knox, only because there wasn’t the land to build one larger. The building was designed to be a fortification as much as a vault. The walls were four feet of reinforced concrete, enough to withstand a direct missile strike. When it was complete, it would be six stories high and windowless, looking from a distance like a large concrete cube rising out of the ocean. There were also three levels built belowground, but they had been rendered useless, then concreted over, when seawater kept seeping in through the foundation. Around the base of the cube was a level of security and living quarters.

The structure was a little more than half-built. The bottom floor and first two levels were structurally complete and, in part, functional. Hatch had already started moving gold into the first-level vault, one of twelve independent vaults to be built.

There were three layers of chain-link fences around the building, with a guardhouse at each opening. Enele didn’t expect to find the compound unguarded like on the other two islands he’d approached. If there was gold inside, Hatch would leave his troops there. Enele gathered with his men. “We’ll never shoot our way into here. If they close up this place, there’s no touching them. So act like Elgen.” As they approached the first checkpoint, Enele was surprised to hear the guard shout out to him in a thick Australian accent. “You’re late, mate.” The greeting took Enele a little off guard. He spoke with his best Aussie accent. “We had a detour, mate. Didn’t you see the explosion?” “Sure did,” the guard said. “They said over the radio some Toovoo rebels had stolen ships.” “They did. Three of them agriculture ships from Demeter. We took care of them. Now they’re fried Toovoos.” The man laughed. “How many you got with you?” “Twelve.”

“Twelve? You’re short six.”

“Everyone’s short these days. Since the battle.” The man shook his head. “Ain’t that the truth. We’ve been pulling double shifts. Everyone has.” “We’re going to be pulling doubles?” Enele asked, doing his best to look agitated.

“Oh yeah,” the man said with a grin. “No one told you?” “No, they left that out.”

“Course they did.”

“Maybe we should just go back.”

“Nothing doing. I’m off two hours ago. Who’s taking my place?” After a brief hesitation Enele pointed at Raphe and said, “That man.” The guard looked him over. “You’re new.”

“We’re all new,” Enele said. “We’re part of the New Zealand corps.” “Of course. That’s why you’re all brown. Well, get in here.” Raphe stepped into the room, and the guard came out. “There’s an esky in the corner there; help yourself. It’s full of beer. Sorry, just lite stuff.” He shut the door, then turned back to Enele. “I’ll show the rest of you where to check in.” “What about me?” Raphe asked.

“You stay put, mate. I’ll check in for you.” “Anyone ever come here?”

“What do you mean? We’re here every day.” “I mean try to get in?”

“Nah. Before everyone went to battle, I’d get some lookie-loo guards on R & R, wanting to see the gold. Like that’s going to happen. I’ve only seen it once myself, and I’ve been here four months.” “None of the . . . brown skins?”

“Toovoos? There hasn’t been one of them on the island since the tradies arrived and we started construction. It’s the one place we don’t use the slaves. The general don’t want them to know a thing about this place. Word is, it’s open season on Toovoos, mate. There’s a twenty-five redback on Toovoo hide.” “That’s a lot of money,” Enele said, wanting to club the man. “Anyone ever collect?” “One bloke tried. Turned out the guy he shot was a lost Samoan. Doesn’t count.” “What about all the Toovoos we just fried?” “Were they on island?”

“Almost.”

“Almost don’t count,” he said. The guard stopped at the next checkpoint. It was unmanned.

“Why is no one here?” Enele asked. “This should be guarded.” “No drama, mate. We’re only guarding from ourselves. Foreigners don’t get anywhere near here before they’re sunk. Besides, like you said, we’re short. There’s only sixteen of us. And one of them’s in the brig.” He opened the second gate, and they walked through.

Enele processed the information. Sixteen guards, one in jail, one other with them. “Why is that?” “Why is what?”

“Why is he in the brig?”

“He’s waiting transport.” He looked at Enele. “Oh, you want the skinny. He was caught where he shouldn’t be. Restricted area. Like I said, we’re only guarding from ourselves. I tell you, gold fever is a real thing. I’ve seen people here go crackers.” They walked on past the third checkpoint. It was also unmanned, even though the lights were on and there was music playing. They walked another sixty feet to the main door. Enele looked at it in wonder. It was solid steel with heavy bolts surrounding it.

“That’s some security.”

“Bloody oath. That door can take a direct hit from a tank; it won’t even scratch it.” Enele understood why the elder had directed them to this place. The guard held his key up to a pad, then pushed his fingerprint onto a screen.

“Where do we get our keys?”

“I’m taking you there, mate. Then I’m going to grab a Scotch and go to bed.” “Drinking’s allowed?”

“Was it allowed where you came from?”

“No.”

“Did you still drink?”

Enele pretended to be embarrassed. “Sometimes.” The man shook his head and laughed. “Sometimes.” The door opened, revealing the hydraulics employed to operate it. “Like I said, ain’t no one coming in through that door.” The inside was marble tile and virtually without decoration of any kind. Not even furniture. Their footsteps echoed down the long corridor.

“Place could use a rug,” Enele said. “Or two.” “You’ll get used to it.”

“Where is everyone?”

“It’s night. They’re in bed. Half of us should be on, but with everyone gone, we’re covering for each other. I expect the same from you. We don’t like troublemakers. Don’t make us look bad, or you might find yourself accidentally locked in a vault for life.” “I wouldn’t dream of causing trouble,” Enele said. “So how many of us are on?” “After I go to bed, just you and your man Louis.” “Who’s Louis?”

“You’re about to meet him.” The guard led them to a small, darkened room filled with monitors. “Louis, here’s our replacements.” The man turned around. He was bald with Maori tattoos across his face. “Replacements? The replacements were canceled,” Louis said. His accent was American. “Who are you?” Enele pulled his gun, and the other Tuvaluans followed suit. “Like the man said, we’re your replacement. Get away from the console. Now.” Louis stood. He was shorter than he appeared when sitting down, barely five feet tall. “What have you done, Oliver?” “Your name is Oliver?” Enele said.

“Oh, buggers,” Oliver said. “I’m in the dunny now. This is gonna get me fed to the rats.” “Only if the Elgen win,” Enele said.

They handcuffed the two men and made them lie facedown on the floor of the room. Enele put the gun to Oliver’s head. “Everyone else is in the bedroom?” “Yeah, mate.”

“Where is that?”

“Just straight down the hall, mate.”

“Where’s the brig?”

“Opposite end. Door at the end, down the stairs.” “Peter,” Enele said to one of his soldiers, “check out the brig. The rest of you come with me.” The men walked out of the room, leaving just one soldier behind with Oliver and Louis. Enele and his men could have found the sleeping quarters from the snoring. It was seismic. As they positioned themselves outside the door, Peter returned. “I found the brig,” he said. “The keys to the cells are in the control room.” “How many cells are there?”

“Three.”

“Good. That’s where we’ll put them. Go get the keys. I’m sure that Louis will know where they are.” “Got it.”

“Ready?” Enele asked his men. He opened the door, then turned on the lights.

Someone immediately groaned. “Put out the light, you wanker.” Enele fired one round into the ceiling. The bullet ricocheted, striking the metal frames of one of the beds and ringing like a bell. Everyone woke.

“To your feet! Now! We don’t have time to waste. Any erratic movement, and we shoot!” The men, still groggy, stood.

“Take it easy, mate,” one of them said. “Just getting a little shut-eye.” “We’re not your mates,” Enele said. “We’re Toovoos.” The men were suddenly afraid.

“Get in line, hands on head. We’re taking you down the hall.” As they lined up, Enele counted the men. “There’s only twelve. We’re missing someone.” He pointed his gun at the men in line. “Where’s the missing man?” “He’s in the dunny,” one of the men said.

“The toilet,” one of the soldiers translated.

“Go get him,” Enele said to the soldier closest to him.

A minute later the soldier came back with a handcuffed man. The man looked terrified.

“Let’s move out,” Enele said.

Peter met Enele as he came out into the hall. “I’ve got the keys.” “Let’s lock them up.”

They marched the men down to the brig, locking four or five in each cell. A few minutes later Oliver and Louis were brought down as well.

“Oliver was on guard,” one of the Elgen said. “You the one who let these blokes in?” “He’s the man,” Louis said. “Waltzed them right in here and offered them dinner.” “Shut up,” Oliver said.

“Shut yourself up,” Louis said. “You done us in.” Oliver turned to Enele. “You can’t put me in with them, mate. They’ll bloody kill me. You’re right in what you said. The only chance I got is if you win. So let me help you win. I know this place inside and out. I know all the codes and tricks. There are things you won’t know without me.” “Listen to the snivelin’ traitor,” one of the guards said. “Let us ‘ave him, mate. We’ll take good care of him.” Enele looked at Oliver for a moment, then said, “You give us any reason to doubt you, you die. If we’re overrun by the Elgen, you’re the first to go. You join us, you’re burning the boat . . . mate.” “My boat’s already burned, mate,” Oliver said back. “I’m thrown in with you.” Enele thought a minute more, then said, “All right. Lock Louis up with the rest. You, Vete, have the brig. If anyone tries anything, don’t wait; shoot. If they try to mess with the door or give you any trouble, shoot them, then shoot everyone else in the cell with them. Everyone. We’ll see if they can police themselves.” Enele walked back upstairs with the rest of the men. He turned to his fifth-in-command, a short, muscular man named Satini. “Go tell Raphe to radio Nazil and tell him we’re in. Start transporting the weapons and supplies. I want this place locked down before the sun comes up. Then relieve Raphe up front, lock the gates, and have him report to me immediately.” “Yes, sir.”

Enele turned to Oliver. “As soon as my men get here, I’m going to have you give us a look around.” * * *

Oliver took Enele, Raphe, Adam, and three other soldiers around the building, first to the vaults, then up the stairs to the third floor. The third floor was complete, though without tile flooring or windows, and the plumbing and wiring were still visible.

“This is where they stopped work when the battle started,” Oliver said. “This room is secure.” “What’s above us?”

“The fourth floor. It’s still open.”

“What do you mean, open?”

“It’s not finished. I’ll show you.” They walked up a flight of stairs to the next floor. Oliver unlocked then opened a door, and a rush of moist air enveloped them. The walls and beams of the building were mostly up but there was no roof; the sky visible above them. “Like I said, it’s still open.” Enele went to one side and looked out a ten-inch opening. He could see all around the island for miles as the moon rippled off the dark waters below them. Then he went up to the north wall and looked out. He could see the Proton flanked by several rafts, making its way toward the compound. He turned back to Adam. “We’ll put our machine guns up here.” Then he added, “Too bad we didn’t have a place like this in Hades. We might still be fighting.” He turned back to Oliver. “Where is our electric power coming from?” “There’s a mini Starxource plant in the basement. The power is self-contained.” “Where do we stand on water and food?”

“This place was designed to withstand a siege. There’s no natural springs in the Hatch islands, so our water comes from rainwater. We have a five-thousand-gallon tank and rainwater catchment on the roof. Also, a three-thousand-gallon storage tank on the second floor. How many men do you have?” “A little more than five hundred.”

“Even if they take out the water tank on top, we’ll still have enough water for a month. Maybe more.” “What about food?”

“There’s a café and a huge pantry on the main floor. It’s practically a supermarket. There’s additional food storage in the basement. Nothing you’ll grow fat on, mostly dry foods and rations.” “We can hunker down,” Enele said. He stifled a yawn.

“You need to get some sleep,” Adam said.

“We all need sleep, but not until we’re locked up,” Enele replied. “Raphe, I want you to pick twenty-five soldiers and have them sleep for the next four hours.” “Four hours?”

“That’s about how long it’s going to take us to unload the boats.” “Yes, sir.” Raphe hurried off. Enele turned to Oliver. “Where do you bring in shipments?” “Around the east side.”

“Are there any trucks or vehicles we can use to transport things inside?” “Around the side are cargo doors. There are two flatbed trucks.” “Keys?”

“We usually just leave them in the ignition.” “Take us there.” He turned to Adam. “The Proton just arrived. Let’s help them unload.”