Tomb of the Lost (85 page)

“
I
’
m glad she
’
s ok. I would have hated to see anything happen to her. To them!
”

“
Yes. These seismic events can be extremely dangerous for underwater teams. Thankfully over the years I have never lost anyone under my employ. Natalie and George are the best divers I
’
ve ever known or owned.
”

Dennis gave an understanding smile.

“
I would like to thank you though for your concern over their safety. Your offer to go in despite your current condition
…
.
”
Hutchinson glanced at Dennis
’
bruising,
“…
.was noble to say the least.
”

“
I just wanted to help.
”

“
I thank you for that. However,
”
Hutchinson drew a breath, trying to think diplomatically,
“
However. When something like this happens and the dive team are in trouble, or could be in trouble, the procedure is for people to remain at their stations. The last thing we do is send more divers into a dangerous situation. We wait.
”

“
I understand. I was just concerned about your people. I wanted to help in any way I can.
”

“
You
’
ve already been a great help. But risking your life wouldn
’
t have helped at all. I need you my friend, if I may call you that, to continue doing what you
’
ve been doing. You
’
ve provided great support to the team and this mission. God knows you
’
ve even got yourself beaten up for it.
”

Dennis gently rubbed his injured ribs.

There was a minute of silence between them as each man sipped his beer. Then Dennis said.

“
Natalie mentioned that she thought she saw something, something that could have been the sarcophagus. Has she said anymore?
”

“
I haven
’
t spoken to her. We
’
ll talk tonight over dinner. I
’
ve booked a restaurant in town for us
…
.
”

Hutchinson
’
s mobile began ringing in his pocket. He took it out and read the display screen.

“…
.It
’
s my wife,
”
he looked at the screen puzzled,
“
She only ever rings me if it
’
s an emergency. Would you excuse me for a moment.
”

Hutchinson got up and went to peer out of the porthole in Dennis
’
cabin.

“
Hello Carol.
”

Dennis could hear her voice on the other end but couldn
’
t hear what was being said but she was talking very fast. Her voice sounded excited, no, not excited, more, desperate.

At the porthole Hutchinson
’
s eyes widened at the news he was hearing.

“
Carol are you sure?
”

She repeated what she said. Slowly he turned to face Dennis. His face had gone pale.

“
Yes. Thank you Carol. Yes I know. Thank you for ringing me. I love you too.
”

He pushed the red button on his phone and continued staring at it for a few moments.

“
Jim what
’
s wrong?
”

Slowly Hutchinson looked up.

“
My partners,
”
his voice was croaky and he cleared it,
“
My wife has just told me,
”
he continued once he could compose himself better,
“
That my partner
’
s, our sponsors, have been hit by the current recession and have had to withdraw their financial support
…
.
”
Hutchinson stopped, clearly stunned. Dennis knew what this meant.

“
They
’
re pulling the plug aren
’
t they.
”

Shakily Hutchinson nodded.

“
What about our mission here?
”

Jim continued to stare at his phone in disbelief. Then slowly he looked up at Dennis.

“
I
’
m sorry what did you say?
”

“
I asked you where that left us.
”

“
I don
’
t know,
”
Hutchinson was at a loss,
”
I
…
.uh
…
.I need to make a phone call.
”

At the door he turned back.

“
Peter don
’
t breathe a word of this to anyone please. I don
’
t want them to find out yet. I
’
m going to try to work something out.
”

“
Scouts honour.
”

“
What?
”

“
I promise.
”

Dennis waited until the door had clicked closed then he went into his phonebook, found the number for his editor and pressed call. After a few rings he heard the other end answer and the familiar voice of Tom Rogerson.

“
Hi Peter.
”

“
Tom.
”

“
How
’
s it going down there in Tunisia? Have you found it yet?

“
We
’
re not sure Tom. Possibly. We
’
ve had an earthquake that
’
s put us on hold for the day.
”

“
Yeah I saw it on the news. Are you all right?
”

“
We
’
re fine. We
’
re just waiting for the dust to settle as it were.
”

“
So if you
’
re not ringing me with good news is this just a social call?
”
Rogerson asked with friendliness in his voice.

“
Uh. No Tom. I need a favour.
”

“
What sort of favour?
”

“
Are you sitting down Tom?
”

“
I am now. How much?
”

“
Fifteen thousand a day.
”

“
Fifteen thousand a day. What are you doing? Starting your own museum?
”

There was a short pause, then.

“
Pounds?
”

“
Dollars. U.S. dollars.
”

Another pause.

“
That
’
s an awful lot of money Pete. I don
’
t know if I can
…
.
”

“
Can the magazine afford it?
”

“
No.
”

“
The group can.
”

“
Well yes, the group can.
”

“
How many newspapers do you own now?
”

“
Two. But they don
’
t make a great deal of money. Not like the nationals.
”

“
But you
’
re doing ok.
”

“
Well yes but, come on Pete, I
’
m gonna need some time to think about this.
”

“
Think about it.
”

“
I will Peter
…
.
”

“
Think about the riches it could bring,
”
Dennis cut him off,
“
If you sponsored the expedition. You could have, will have, exclusive rights to all photographs and media coverage.
”

“
How do we know that someone won
’
t step up and claim it?
”

“
Like who?
”

“
The Tunisians.
”

“
I doubt it. They haven
’
t even named the wrecks on their charts. They
’
re not interested.
“

“
Well then what about the Greeks? I mean what if Alexander has some long lost relatives suddenly pop up.
”

“
Are you serious? He
’
s been dead for two thousand three hundred years. How the hell could anyone realistically claim descendency now. Maybe you
’
d like to add the Romans. I mean they were the last ones to have him, technically.
”

“
Yes I suppose you
’
re right. I don
’
t know Peter. Fifteen thousand
’
s a lot of money. Can they not get another patron, another sponsor?
”

“
They need the money now Tom. I
’
m sure Jim Hutchinson can probably raise it somehow but it
’
s a question of time. They need it now.
”

“
I
’
d need to speak to my patrons. I just can
’
t make a decision of this scale just like that.
”

“
There
’
s another team Tom, more modern, much better equipped and they
’
re breathing down our necks.
”

There was another pause.

“
Like I said. You
’
d have sole rights to every picture, copyrights to everything. Anyone wants to print anything and they have to go through you first. You
’
ll make millions Tom.
”

“
How close are you to finding it? Truthfully.
”

“
I
’
m fairly sure Natalie has found it.
”

“
Natalie? She one of the team?
”

“
Yes Natalie Feltham.
”

There was another very long pause.

“
Are you still there Tom?
”

“
What? Oh yes. What about the Germans. I mean could they have claim to it?
”
Rogerson asked, the article written by Dennis open on his desk in front of him.

“
Hitler
’
s Nazi regime you mean?
”

“
Technically yes. I mean they did discover it back in nineteen forty three didn
’
t they?
”

“
They were all killed in the battle at Gabes or went down with the ship Tom. It
’
s there for the taking. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that we could never have predicted come our way. Your magazine and newspapers exclusive rights Tom.
”

“
Just give me a minute Pete. Hold the line. I
’
m going to pour myself some coffee.
”

“
Take as long as you like,
”
Dennis said, he was sure he had almost clinched the deal.

‘
I
’
ve known Tom a long time,
’
he said to himself,
‘
I
’
m sure he
’
ll go along with it.
’

He waited at the phone for a minute, then another, the waiting was agonising. Then he heard the words.

“
Ok Pete you
’
ve got your money.
”

Peter Dennis punched the air.

“
Thanks Tom. You won
’
t regret this.
”

“
I hope for your sake not,
”
Rogerson replied not meaning it,
“
I must be mad.
”

“
Most madmen are geniuses.
”

“
Shut up.
”

“
Tom you won
’
t regret this I promise.
”

“
Don
’
t give me time to. Find that bloody sarcophagus, if you haven
’
t already. Oh and Pete, you
’
d better fax me through everything you know or have done so far. It
’
ll help lessen the blow when I tell my partners. I
’
m counting on you Pete. Don
’
t let me down here because we
’
ve just put our heads on the blocks. I hope you understand.
”