Skeleton Coast

“Juan,” she said, startled by his sudden appearance and his deadly serious look.

“How sure are you about the diamonds being aboard theRove ?” he asked brusquely. For what he intended even the considerable financial resources of the Corporation weren’t enough, and he doubted he could get the CIA to fund his plan appropriately.

“I’m sorry?”

“TheRove . How sure are you that the diamonds are aboard her?”

“I’m not sure what you—”

“If you were placing a bet what would be the odds? A hundred to one? A thousand to one? What?”

She composed herself for a second. “H. A. Ryder was the best guide in Africa at the time and he knew the desert better than anyone. I know as sure as I’m standing here that he got those men across the Kalahari. They had the stones when they reached the coast.”

“So they are on theRove , then.”

“Yes.”

“You’re sure.”

“Positive.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

He turned to go but Sloane placed a hand on his arm to stop him. “What’s this all about? Why are you asking about the diamonds?”

“Because I’m going to promise them to someone if he helps me out.”

“You don’t know where theRove is. It might take years to find her.”

Juan gave her a wolfish grin. “I’ve got someone who owes me a favor who’s going to find her for me.”

“Who are you giving the diamonds to and why?” Caught up by Juan’s determination Sloane had forgotten for a moment who she worked for and what had brought her to Namibia in the first place.

“Wait just a second. Those stones don’t belong to you. They belong to my company.”

“According to maritime law they belong to whoever finds them. As for why I want them, come with me.”

Juan stopped first at his cabin to get an item out of his safe. When they reached the guest suite, Juan knocked and entered. Moses Ndebele was sitting on the floor in the living room talking with four of his men. All of them were heavily bandaged. Canes and crutches littered the floor like a giant version of a children’s game of pickup sticks. But none of it mattered. They were all smiling that their leader was back.

Moses made to get to his feet but Juan waved him down. “Your Doctor Huxley tells me that there is no need for me to be shopping for a new leg,” Ndebele said.

“I’m glad to hear it. I can function with one but I sure as hell wish I still had ’em both.” Juan said as they shook hands. “May I speak to you in private?”

“Of course, Captain.” He said a few words to his followers and they slowly got up from the floor and hobbled to the bedroom.

Juan waited until the door was closed before speaking.

“What are the chances of you ever overthrowing your government and returning prosperity to Zimbabwe?”

“You are a man, so we will speak as men. I have eager fighters but few weapons, and if the people rise up to support a poorly armed revolt they will be gu

“What would it take to topple them?”

“It is the same for any problem. Money and time.”

“I can’t do anything about the time, but what if I could fund your movement?”

“Captain, I know you are a brave and honorable man but you are talking about tens of millions of dollars.”

“Mr. Ndebele, I’m talking about hundreds of millions of dollars, actually.” Juan paused a beat to let that sink in, and then added, “And it’s yours but I’m going to need something from you in return.”

“For now I will not ask about the money,” Moses said. “Friends do not discuss such matters. What is the favor you seek?”

“I need a hundred of your best fighters,” Cabrillo told him. He then explained the situation. Ndebele listened wordlessly, although Sloane gasped when he described a hurricane laden with poison bearing down on the United States, most likely gu

“My people are willing to sacrifice themselves for their children and the future of our country,” Ndebele said when Juan had finished. “You are asking me to send them into a battle for which they reap nothing and risk all. For what you have done for me I would fight by your side anywhere you asked. But I ca

“But they are fighting for their country,” Juan countered. “By doing this you will secure the financial resources to oust your government and return Zimbabwe to the democracy you all fought for when you first gained independence. I’m not going to lie to you and say that all of them will be coming back.

Because they won’t. But their sacrifice will be the rally cry for your followers. Explain to them what they will achieve and they will do it for you, for your country, and, most important, for themselves.”

Ndebele said nothing for a few moments as he looked into Cabrillo’s eyes.

“I will take this to anindaba , a council of my men.” He waved at the closed bedroom door. “And I will let them decide.”

“I can ask for nothing more,” Juan said and shook Ndebele’s hand again. He withdrew a pouch from his pocket and turned Ndebele’s hand flat. Onto his open palm he poured the rough diamonds they had received in exchange for the weapons. “Consider this a good-faith gesture. They’re yours no matter the decision. There’s an intercom on the desk. The communications officer who answers will be able to find me.”

Out in the hall Sloane grabbed Juan’s hand. “Is that all true? And where did you get those diamonds.”

“Unfortunately, it is. Daniel Singer has had years to plan this and we only have a couple of days to stop it. As to where those diamonds come from, it’s a rather long story that brings this whole mess full circle.”

“I guess I’ll have to wait to hear that one, too.”

“Sorry, yes. I have to get back to the meeting. There’s a lot we have to go over.”

Sloane released his hand. “I want you to know that I’ll help you in any way I can.”

“Good, because once we find theRove you’re going to help me blackmail your bosses into buying those diamonds.”

“That,” she said with a grin, “will be my pleasure.”

Before returning to the boardroom Cabrillo went back to his cabin to place a ship-to-shore call. It was early morning on the East Coast, but he suspected the man he wanted to reach would be in his office.

Juan had the direct number and when the phone was picked up he said without preamble, “You owe me a leg but I’ll call us even if you lend me a hand.”

“It’s been awhile, Chairman Cabrillo,” Dirk Pitt replied from his office high atop the NUMA building overlooking Washington, D.C. “What can I do for you?”

25

THEOregoncoursed northward like a greyhound, driven by her phenomenal engines and the impatience of her crew. There was activity in nearly every section of the ship. There were five men in the armory unpacking the weapons that would be carried by Moses Ndebele’s men, cleaning them of Cosmoline and loading hundreds of magazines. Other armorers were checking over the vessel’s defensive systems, making certain that ammunition bins were fully stocked and that the salt air hadn’t corroded the machine guns, Gatlings, and autoca

Down in the moon pool technicians were inspecting theOregon ’s two submersibles. Gear was being stripped out of both and extra CO2scrubbers installed to increase the number of people each could carry. They also touched up the anechoic coating that made the two craft almost undetectable when submerged. Over the sound of their work roared an air compressor filling dozens of scuba tanks in case they were needed.

In the kitchen every chef and assistant was on duty preparing combat rations while the dining staff sealed the food in airtight packages as soon as it came out of the galley. In medical, Julia Huxley and her staff were setting up the OR for an influx of casualties.