“He should be fine for now. His biggest problem will be avoiding infection in this stink hole.”
Pitt saw in the dim light that Simpson had a bruise on his cheekbone. “What happened to you?”
“Got jumped in the corridor on my way to watch. Bugger hit me with a chain. I was luckier than some of the guys.”
Pitt looked around the bay, which was lit by a single flickering overhead lamp. The Coast Guard team sat nearby, while another group, members of the Adelaide’s real crew, was sprinkled about the rear of the compartment. Two oblong shapes, wrapped in canvas and positioned off to one side, were responsible for the horrible odor.
“The captain and another man,” Simpson said. “Killed in the assault before we came along.”
Pitt nodded, then turned his attention to the Coast Guard team. They all bore wounds and bruises. Plugrad sat among the men with his back to a bulkhead, a vacant look in his eye.
“How’s Plugrad?”
“They knocked the lieutenant upside the head pretty good,” Simpson said. “He’s got a concussion but otherwise appears okay.”
Pitt stepped across the bay to the other group. They appeared weary but unhurt. A broad-shouldered man with a thick gray mustache rose and introduced himself.
“Frank Livingston, executive officer,” he said with a thick Australian accent. “How’s your comrade?”
“Gunshot wound to the leg. Lost some blood, but the medic thinks he’ll be okay.”
“Sorry I couldn’t help. Our chief bosun was the ship’s medic. He’s over there with the captain.” He pointed toward the canvas-covered bodies.
“How’d they take the ship?”
“A fast freighter came alongside on the evening watch three nights ago. Pulled right alongside our beam, scaring the dickens out of the helmsman. When they didn’t respond on the radio, the captain went on deck with the chief bosun. The vessel fired up some sort of radar device amidships that killed them both.” His mouth tightening into a grimace. “Never seen anything like it. Almost as if they were cooked alive. The freighter sent over an armed boarding party shortly after. There wasn’t much we could do. We’ve been cooped up in here ever since.”
“I’m sorry we were late to the scene,” Pitt said. “I guess they were tipped off to our arrival and came after you early.”
Livingston’s tired eyes flared with vengeance. “Who are they?”
Pitt shook his head. “They’re part of a ring we believe has hijacked a number of bulk carriers transporting rare earth elements.”
“We’re loaded with something called monazite,” Livingston said. “Guess they got what they came for. Any idea where we’re headed?”
Pitt looked around to make sure none of the other men were listening. “We think they usually transfer the cargo at sea, then scuttle the ships. At least two other carriers were sunk in these waters.”
Livingston nodded, but not with the look of a man sentenced to die aboard a sinking ship. “Tell me, Mr. Pitt, how large were those other hijacked carriers?”
“Not large. They were older dry bulk carriers, maybe ten thousand tons. Why do you ask?”
“The Adelaide is rated at forty thousand tons. I got a good look at the attacking freighter before being tossed in here. She’s a runt compared to us, capable of carrying no more than half our cargo.”
“Your entire cargo is monazite?”
“Every last ounce. No, sir, I don’t think they’ll scuttle the Adelaide. Not just yet anyway. What we’re carrying is just too valuable.”
Pitt glanced at the hurt and haggard men scattered around the fetid prison bay.
“Mr. Livingston, I certainly hope you speak the truth.”
42
IT TOOK ONLY A FEW SECONDS FOR ANN TO PANIC.
Str
iking the water cleanly, she kicked hard, with her hands outstretched in front of her, driving deep into the Ohio River. The water was warmer than she expected, easily in the seventies. Reaching a comfortable culmination point, she arched her torso and tried to stroke with her hands. But with her wrists bound by the cuffs, she couldn’t do it.