Tomb of the Lost (77 page)

“
Yes and worse. Sometimes you had to turn over stones.
”

She looked at him in disgust now.

“
Are you serious?
”

“
Yep,
”
he said,
“
Worms.
”

She put her hand over her mouth.

“
Worm omelettes,
”
he said.

“
Oh shut up! You
’
re making me feel sick!
”

Then a thought crossed her mind and she very nearly was sick.

’
Oh God! I
’
ve just kissed him
’

She had to stop herself from vomiting. When she could take her hand away she fanned her face with it.

“
Seriously please, shut up! It
’
s disgusting!
”

“
Not if you want to survive it
’
s not.
”

“
Really it is. I couldn
’
t bring myself to do it.
”

“
Oh it wasn
’
t that bad. I must admit I
’
ve seen them wriggling about since and probably couldn
’
t do it again. But when you
’
re surrounded by tough, fighting, men who are laughing at you for hesitating, well
…
.
”
He threw his arms out to the sides,
“
You
’
ve just got to do it. Still one thing they did do was teach me to fire every weapon they had. Turns out I
’
m quite a good shot too.
”

“
George would keep a gun if I let him.
”

“
I take it you don
’
t approve.
”

“
There is no need for them.
”

“
Boys and their toys huh!
”

“
Yes. But as far as my work goes there is no use for them. Some of the sites I
’
ve worked on in Egypt have had armed guards but never near the archaeologists themselves.
”

“
They must be man
’
s worst invention right.
”

“
No that would be cigarettes.
”

“
Ah I thought I saw disapproval when George was smoking near you.
”

“
To be honest I hate it. But most men in the Mediterranean world smoke and to be honest I can
’
t make personal choices for him. He knows I don
’
t like it and he does stay away from me when he smokes.
”

“
You
’
re his boss, surely you could forbid him.
”

“
Sorry I don
’
t believe I have the right.
”

“
My grandfather used to smoke but of course most if not all soldiers during the second world war did. They didn
’
t have much else in the way of luxuries. It would be almost another forty years before he would give up.
”

“
What did he die of? Sorry if that
’
s not personal. Well it is
…
.I
…
.Sorry,
”
Natalie fell silent, embarrassed.

“
Many things, Emphysemia, Angina, taking a bullet through his shoulder probably didn
’
t help bless him. They said at the time that his lungs weren
’
t injured but he suffered with his breathing in old age. Did I mention he was ninety when he died
…
.
”

She shook her head.

“…
.And just old age. He worked hard all his life to provide for his wife and four children and many grandchildren. I am the second oldest. There are ten of us and now five great grandchildren,
”
Dennis paused for a moment staring out to sea,
“
I only hope we make him proud,
”
he continued looking up at the heavens,
“
Because we are so proud of him.
”

They both sensed Hutchinson returning.

“
We
’
ve got our port clearances,
”
he said handing back their passports. Natalie opened hers at the photo page, looked again as she recognised Dennis in the picture and offered it to him.

“
I think this may be yours,
”
she said.

He checked the one he was holding.

“
My hair has never been that long,
”
he said giving her hers.

“
Are we leaving Tunisian waters Jim?
”

“
No Peter it
’
s just routine that they check all on board have current passports. Everything is in order. Everyone to me please.
”

They gathered in a circle around him, Natalie, Peter Dennis, George, Jack, Tom and Alex the Frenchman. The driver of the people carrier presented a clipboard which Hutchinson signed and returned. The driver thanked him and placed it on the front passenger seat. He opened all the doors and began unloading all the luggage and placing it on the quayside. The driver of the other hired vehicle did the same. The two vehicles left.

“
If you
’
d like to collect your belongings and follow me to the ship. If you have any queries crew members are on hand to help.
”

Hutchinson set off at a brisk pace. The others throwing bags over shoulders and wheeling cases behind him. Once on board they were shown to their cabins by the crew. Natalie was given a cabin all to herself. Dennis rapped his fingers on her door.

“
Hello,
”
she said.

He poked his head into the room.

“
Hi just thought I
’
d check to see if you
’
re ok.
”

“
Yes I
’
m fine thank you. You can come in.
”

He entered the cabin. It was bigger than his, which was just down the corridor. He looked out of the port hole window. The water was ten feet below. A tug boat was maneuvering into position.

“
It looks like we are leaving straight away.
”

Natalie had just placed her holdall on the mattress of the bottom bunk.

“
Well Jim never likes to waste time.
”

“
That
’
s what I came to see you for. Jim has asked that we be on deck near the crane at 11am. He wants you to go over the equipment and give the safety talk.
”

She looked at her watch.

“
An hour and fifteen minutes.
”

Dennis sat down on a small stool.

“
Do you mind,
”
she said,
“
I
’
m waiting to unpack my things.
”

“
Don
’
t mind me,
”
he said not taking the hint.

“
Most of it is my underwear,
”
she said opening a small drawer in the bedside table.

He jumped to his feet.

“
I
’
m sorry.
”

The ship lurched sideways as the tug boat pulled it away from the dock causing her to stumble into Dennis
’
arms as he caught her. The closeness of the embrace felt good to them both.

“
What was that?
”
she asked.

“
I guess we
’
re leaving port,
”
he replied.

She felt that she should pull away from him. She
’
d hugged men before of course in relationships but somehow this felt different to her. Kind of exciting. Suddenly he was kissing her hard, pulling her towards him, still holding her arms. She responded, the tip of her tongue touching his teeth. The kiss went on and on and she pulled his shirt out of his trousers and ran her hands up and over his chest. She felt his nipples harden under her touch. Her own felt very hard. He unbuttoned the shirt and shook it off. She pulled away from the kiss to admire his muscled torso.

“
Close the door,
”
she said.

He went to it.

“
I don
’
t normally do this with people I
’
ve not known very long.
”

“
Neither do I,
”
he replied.

She took her vest off, her bra candy pink. Next she was unzipping her jeans. He gawped at her. She had a fantastic body. Then a bad thought crossed his mind.

’
We have to work together and I respect her!
’

He looked at her perfect body. He
’
d never wanted a girl so much.

“
Natalie maybe we shouldn
’
t. I mean we do have to work together and I don
‘
t want to upset your boss.
”

She kicked her jeans off. Her thong matched her bra. She made it to him in two steps and grabbed him by the neck, pressing her body hard against his.

“
Shut up and kiss me.
”

He felt the lace of her underwear against his body and it stirred him. He reached behind for the latch on the door.

Afterwards they lay in each others arms in the cramped bunk. She gently stroked his chest with her fingertips. There was a knock on the door. Natalie lifted her head off Dennis chest.

“
Who is it?
”

“
It
’
s Jim Nat. Just checking to make sure Peter gave you that message.
”

Dennis held his breath in case Hutchinson heard him.

“
Yes he did.
”

“
Have you seen him?
”

Natalie put her hand in front of her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

“
No I haven
’
t Jim. Have you tried his cabin?
”

“
Yes. He wasn
’
t there.
”

“
I don
’
t know where he could be then.
”

“
I
’
ll see you on deck then Natalie.
”

“
Give me five minutes. I
’
ll be there.
”

“
Thank you Natalie,
”
Hutchinson was about to walk away when he knocked the door again.

“
Mr Dennis I
’
d like you to come as well.
”

The ship was out to sea by the time they grouped on deck. The feel of it familiar to Natalie and her group once again. Peter Dennis leaning against the side. The untoward motion of the ship alien to him.

Hutchinson finished his briefing before handing over to the ship
’
s Captain.

“
Good morning lady and gentlemen,
”
he said introducing himself in heavily accented English,
“
I am Captain Ali Hakan. Please call me Ali. I am from North Cyprus,
”
he continued looking at George,
“
I would be interested in learning where you are from my friend.
”

George nodded the minimal of politeness. The Greeks loathed the Turks and Northern Cypriots. He could never conceive of being friends with any of them. He or any of his people.

“
My crew,
“
Ali continued,
“
Are mainly Turkish, two Russians, an American and Greeks. We
’
ll be sailing approximately two miles, to this location.
”

Ali pointed on a map, outspread on some oil drums. He gestured for Hutchinson to take over.

“
Yes. The island you see here is Djerba. This is Gabes,
”
Hutchinson pointed back to the port they
’
d left earlier that day, now on the horizon,
“
That is Djerba ahead. Somewhere on the line we are following is our prize. It
’
s up to us to find it.
”