this.”
Mufasa laughed.
“You should not have insisted we sail when you did. With none of your Germans on board,” Mufasa turned to Domingo, “Tie them all up.”
“What do you want?” Von Brest asked as a crew member bound his hands behind his back.
“I told you we want a cut. Our share of the bounty.”
“What bounty? What are you talking about?”
“Doctor we may seem like simple people to you but we are not stupid. We know you’ve got something in this stone crate….”
“This is the tomb of Alex….”
“You expect us to believe some cock and bull story about Mr Hitler wanting this as a gift. Look at it. What could he possibly want with it? No….” Mufasa held Von Brest’s face with both hands and stared into his eyes, “He wants what’s inside.”
“You’ve got it all wrong Mufasa. There is nothing inside to interest you or your men. I swear it.”
“We’ll see when I open it.”
Von Brest was horrified.
“No Mufasa you mustn’t open it. I beg you! I’ll triple your salary.”
“Not enough. Take them topside,” he ordered one of his men.
“When we get to Malta they’ll hang you,” Von Brest shouted as he was bundled up the stairs, “You’ll not get away with this.”
“I’m afraid my dear Doctor that I already have.”
Domingo waited until they were gone.
“What he says is true Captain. They’ll hang us for sure.”
Mufasa thought for a moment. Then made a decision.
“Get up to the bridge. We sail for Algiers. Plot the course for the helmsman then get back here and help me to open this.”
Once on deck Domingo saw the three captives were sitting in a group huddled against the biting, cold, wind. The Doctor appeared to still be complaining about their situation. Domingo watched as the dead body was brought up and tossed over the side.
“Any trouble from them?” he asked a crewman watching over the captives with an old rifle.
“The Doctor is complaining endlessly.”
“Herr Doctor just remember that the Captain spared your lives. Or if you would prefer you can feed the fishes,” Domingo said, his voice accompanied by the laughter of his crewmen.
Von Brest shut his mouth and sulked.
“That’s better,” Domingo waved his gun and put it in his pocket, “You’ll get no more trouble from him. Now I must report to the bridge.”
The man at the helm turned as Domingo opened the door and stepped onto the bridge. The helmsman had the chart out in front of him. Domingo followed a line with his finger until it came to a stop on the island of Malta.
“Malta Domingo! Malta! And for us money, real cash. This will be the most we’ve ever earned. I’m going to spend mine on the best whore money can buy.”
“We’re not going to Malta.”
“Eh?”
“The captain has taken the German’s prisoner. There is gold in that box of theirs. The Captain is convinced. A ton of gold.”
The helmsman’s eyes lit up at the prospect. Then a dark thought.
“The Germans will kill us,” he said instinctively feeling for the pistol in his waistband.
“Not where we’re going my boy.”
Domingo pointed on the chart. The helmsman pushed Domingo’s finger out of the way so he could read the place name.
“Algiers? Algiers is good.”
Domingo put crosses on the chart.
“Turn when you reach these points. We’ll keep close to the coastline.”
“Yes Sir.”
Domingo noticed some black dots on the window. He wiped his hand across it to smear the dirt away. The black dots remained. What was more they appeared to be moving. Domingo stepped outside and surveyed the horizon. The black dots were still there. There could be no mistaking it. They were aircraft. A crewman watching over the Germans edged closer. The aircraft engines could be heard.
“Do you think they maybe German planes?”
Domingo looked at the German flag fluttering from the ship.
“Let’s hope so. Man the machine guns just in case.”
“In case they’re enemy planes?”
“I think after this everyone will be our enemy.”
Domingo strode to the stairs and descended to the hold.
Mufasa was walking around the sarcophagus with a crowbar in his hand. He was stooped, peering under the lid and every time he thought he saw an advantage he jammed the end of the crowbar in. So far he hadn’t managed to move the lid. Domingo came in and pulled the heavy door to. Mufasa saw him.
“Grab that crowbar and help me. There has got to be a way in here somewhere. Whoever sealed it up didn’t want anyone breaking into it in a hurry. That’s good,” Mufasa said brandishing the crowbar, “That means