The Mahogany Ship (Sam Reilly Book 2) Read online

  He looked at Michael’s eyes. They were hardened and focused on the rowing, his jaw clenched, and he was only concentrating on his breathing. Otherwise, his mind could have been a million miles away.

  You take your time Michael – it seems I’ve got all day…

  After an hour of hard work, Michael finally obliged.

  “Let’s have some lunch.”

  “Sounds good,” Sam said.

  “Have you ever heard of the Mahogany Ship?”

  “Which one?”

  “Come on, Sam… you know the one I’m referring to…”

  “The Australian legend of the Mahogany Ship?” Sam laughed and regarded the somber expression on Michael’s face.

  Is this seriously what today’s sailing trip was all about? He’s interested in an old myth of a shipwreck?

  “Of course I have. My mother’s Australian – moved to the states with my dad before I was born, but in heart, I still see myself as an Australian.”

  “Some say it’s a myth. Others, like myself, still believe her to be out there, resting somewhere, waiting to be found, with answers for humanity.”

  “If it ever was there, it’s now long gone.”

  “Is it?” Michael’s face was almost curious.

  “Yeah, the last reference to it was in 1812, when it was found high up on the sand inland somewhere. Now, ships much older than that have been found to survive in sea water, but not fresh water, and never on dry land. No, if she did exist, and she was out of the water, she’s long gone…”

  “Would you like to bet on that?” Michael’s lips twitched into an almost crooked smile.

  “I’m not much of a gambling man, but sure. What’s the price?”

  Michael reached into his pocket, and pulled something out of his pocket. “How about this gold coin I recently found in Australia?”

  Sam examined the coin.

  It was a golden ducat with the picture of King Charles the V at the front and a Spanish shield at the back. At the bottom of the coin was the date, still clearly marked: 1518.

  “The year Ferdinand Magellan left Spain in his attempt to circumnavigate the world,” Sam identified.

  “Ah, so you know your history? Good man.”

  “Magellan was a fantastic sailor.”

  “Yes. Now, did you know that Magellan was born in Portugal, and only came to the King of Spain when his own king had snubbed the voyage? And that the King of Spain, Charles the V, who was eager to challenge the Portuguese dominance of trade routes to India by finding a western route across the Pacific Ocean, offered to fund him?”

  “I’ve read a little about the story. How come?”

  “As well as providing him five ships, King Charles V had more than 200 gold ducats minted, specifically for his voyage, in 1518.”

  Sam didn’t bother to hide his now rising interest. “And you think this gold is one of those 200 ducats?”

  Michael ignored the question and continued with his history lesson. “This is what we know about the five ships that Magellan was given to achieve his task. The ‘San Antonio’ was wrecked off the coast of South America, while the ‘Santiago’ mutinied and returned to Spain. After the death of Magellan in the Philippines, the remaining three ships became too cumbersome for the few sailors who remained. Consequently, the ‘Conception,’ the largest of the carracks, was abandoned, and the ‘Trinidad’ and ‘Victoria’ attempted to return to Spain. The ‘Victoria’ was captured by Portugal, of course, and the ‘Trinidad’ became the only one to achieve the circumnavigation and return.”

  Sam nodded his head, as though he were enjoying the story. “But the ‘Conception,’ the largest of the five ships, was never seen again.”

  “Exactly,” Michael sounded excited as he spoke. “Lost, without a trace. But I think you and I have an idea about its fate, don’t we?”

  Sam ran his hand gently over the old coin. “Where, exactly, did you say you found it?”

  “It was discovered on a cattle property in central Victoria, Australia, by one of my company’s geologists, who was drilling core samples in search of deep alluvial gold.”

  Sam took the bait, “Okay, you have my attention, Michael. What would you like from me?”

  “I want proof that Spaniards were the first Europeans to discover Australia, which I am convinced they were. I need you to find the final resting place of the Mahogany Ship and her treasure.”

  Sam smiled. “First of all, if your geologist has truly found this coin deep underground in Australian soil, and you believe it was once from the Mahogany Ship, then surely all your geologist has to do is dig a little. I mean, it’s unlikely that the coin and the ship separated that much, if they were both underground.”

  Sam waited, expecting the man to argue this point. When he didn’t, he continued, “As for proving that Spain was the first European country to reach Australia, it’s really kind of moot now, isn’t it? After all, The Mahogany Ship never returned to Spanish soil and the British took ownership of Australia in 1778 through colonization.”

  A slight breeze rocked their boat for a moment. Both men raised their heads as if scenting the strength and measure of wind. They smiled and shrugged at the false alarm.

  “The British considered Australia terra nullius meaning ‘nobody's land,’ Sam said. “As you can imagine, this didn’t please the natives who had been living there for the past 40,000 years. Not that they could disagree or have much say. Hard to carry on an argument when you have spears and your opponents have guns.” A wry grin came over Sam’s lips. “Besides, I’m not a treasure hunter.”

  “I know that – you think I didn’t do some research on you before I came here today? It’s precisely because you’re not a foolhardy treasure hunter that I want you. After your work on the recovery of the Magdalena, I knew you were the one I needed. The last grand airship now rests at the Smithsonian institute for millions of people to see each year and not locked away in some billionaire’s private exhibition, because of you. Besides, this isn’t about the treasure. I think I have a fair idea what makes someone like you excited, because, like me, you don’t need the treasure. You yearn for something else entirely. You want answers to questions centuries old.”

  Sam smiled. This rich stranger had worked him out. He didn’t care about the treasure, and he sure as shit didn’t care which European country wanted to credit themselves with the first discovery of an island that had been occupied by natives, who also had most likely come by boats centuries ago.

  “And what questions, exactly, would they be?” Sam asked.

  “Could such an engineering marvel as the Mahogany Ship have ever really existed? And if so, who built her?”

  “Okay, I’m interested. So, why didn’t you just take some big ass bulldozers and dig some more?”

  “I already did.”

  “Oh yeah, what did you find?”

  “An intricate system of underground caves, primarily filled with water.”

  “And you believe the coin came from one of those caves?”

  “Sure do. Would you like to go exploring?”

  “Are you aware the Australian Shipwreck Act prevents looting?”

  “I am, but this isn’t about the treasure. It’s about answers. How did such an exquisite ship ever end its seafaring days in the middle of a desert? Who built it? And how in the world did such a monstrosity sail using only wood?”

  “Okay, partner,” Sam said, mimicking Michael’s friendly tone. “You can count me in. When do you want to start?”

  “Let me know what you need and I’ll have it flown with you on board my jet, tomorrow.”

  “Okay, but I’ll have to leave the Director of Operations in charge of the cleanup here, including the archeological exploration.”

  “Do what you have to, but join me tomorrow.”

  “Done,” Sam replied, never one to be indecisive. He shook his head, knowing he’d been railroaded, yet he smiled good-naturedly when he agreed.

  “That’s great,” Michae
l said and flicked a switch behind his seat. A small motor kicked into life, and the Mayan boat started to cruise towards the beach. He gave Sam a slightly sheepish laugh before saying, “I had it put in, years ago, when I discovered the capricious nature of our winds here.”

  Sam joined him with his laugh, and wondered fleetingly whether he had just joined partnership with the devil.

  *

  Sam caught Tom in the galley, eating his way through a family-sized pizza. The smell of pepperoni filled the air as he explained that he had somewhere else to be right now. Tom couldn’t believe his friend would abandon him at the point of such an amazing archaeological discovery.

  “You want to leave me to conduct the most important project of our career, while you go off looking for a shipwreck that you already think is probably a myth?” Tom’s threw his pizza slice down in disgust, while his voice betrayed his incredulity. “This is your project – you’re the only one who’s even heard of the Master Builders.”

  “Calm down. I won’t be gone long,” Sam said, picking up the last slice. “Two weeks, max. In that time your recovery and exploration of the pyramid will still be in its infancy. I’m barely allowing you to lay down the groundwork.”

  “Something’s not right, Sam. I don’t buy this story.” The slightest of creases formed between his brows, displaying a concern he rarely visibly displayed.

  “Don’t you want to run the show?” Sam asked, shrugging off Tom’s concern and taking a bite of a hot and fresh pizza. Sam shut his eyes for a moment, savoring the taste.

  “You know I don’t have a problem with that. It’s the other thing that I’m not happy about…”

  “What?”

  “Sam. You and I have been best friends since I became the first person to ever beat the hell out of you at the 400-meter swimming meet in junior high school.” He frowned with disgust. “Then your dad let you skip school, so you could train every day until you beat me at the finals, bastard.”

  Sam laughed, in recollection of good times.

  “We have very few secrets between us, Sam. Heck, I even gave you the heads up that I was about to call off my engagement to Sarah. The only secret you’ve ever kept from me is what the hell happened in Afghanistan. Now, on the discovery of a ruin, which you tell me has something to do with an ancient race of Master Builders, and that has to do with the secret that you discovered in Afghanistan, you’re not even going to wait and run the archeological dive? Just so you can have a look at some old ship, which, if legend is correct, was never carrying anything of value and was left to dilapidate. Besides, it most likely had its timbers cut for firewood. No way. I don’t believe it…”

  “It is precisely because of that secret, that I have to go…” Sam replied mysteriously. “I’ll return in two weeks, at the most. Soon, you’ll understand.”

  “If the Mahogany Ship was so important to you, why don’t we both go after it, when we complete this job? Then you can put the full force of Deep Sea Expeditions behind the search.”

  “The Mahogany Ship was the first shipwreck hunt I ever went on with my father and Danny. We got close, too. There were a number of legitimate leads, but after two months, the three of us had to concede that it didn’t exist. But I always knew it was out there, and there’s no way I’m going to let some rich kid, who inherited the earth – or at least half the valuable ores held beneath it, to literally stumble upon it by chance. No, this is my find. I want to make certain it’s done right!”

  Tom could see Sam was emphatic. “Okay, and what about you?”

  “What about me?” Sam asked.

  “How are you going to dive on your own? Who are you going to use for your support crew?”

  “Rodriguez is going to dive it himself, and there’s an Australian commercial diver on his team, as well as a geologist. Also, Rodriguez has a team of riggers who will provide topside support.”

  “Do you even remember how much trouble you got into the last time I left you alone on a treasure hunt? I mean, you nearly died without my help, searching for that missing airship, the Magdalena.”

  “The Magdalena was loaded with treasures of immense value.”

  “And, you think the Mahogany Ship wasn’t?

  “It may have been once, but by the time the first westerners arrived in Australia and laid their eyes upon it, the treasures were long gone, or else stolen.”

  Tom pushed back from the table. Not a scrap of pizza remained. “What about the Spanish coin?”

  “There may be a treasure chest worth of Spanish gold coins, but that sort of money isn’t anything worth interesting a man like Rodriguez about. I mean this guy has personal worth in excess of 25 billion U.S. dollars. He has no family, making him unencumbered, as well as one of the richest individuals on the planet.”

  Tom wasn’t convinced. “In my meagre experience of treasure hunting, things that stay missing have a way of making people go crazy with desire and lust. Have you considered why such a billionaire is even interested in the damn ship?”

  “He already told me. It’s a matter of national pride. He wants to prove that one of Magellan’s ships was the first to find Australia.”

  A concerned frown marred Tom’s face.

  “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay, but I’m going to need an archeologist to get a better idea of what we’ve found,” Tom said.

  “I agree, and I’ve already contacted just the right one.”

  “Really? Who?”

  “Bill – one of the best archeologists alive. I’ve wanted Bill on board with Deep Sea Expeditions ever since my dad suggested the program years ago. I’ve already made the call... Bill will be here in the morning.”

  “William? What’s his last name?”

  “No, it’s just Bill.”

  Tom racked his mind to recall where he’d heard that name before, but he didn’t think he had. Somehow, Sam had never mentioned a man named Bill.

  *

  Michael Rodriguez smiled as he examined the list of requirements for his special project. It was long, detailed, and expensive. None of which mattered to him. Sam had asked him for the day to think about what would be required, and if he could leave his crew to help manage their current project.

  Precisely two hours after being returned to the Maria Helena, he had written back with his demands. He wondered how Sam had procured such an extensive list in such a short time.

  Yes, I’ve found just the right person to serve my needs, Michael mused.

  Chapter Seven

  The massive, purpose built cargo jet landed at Sydney International Airport with a rough jolt. It was technically an Airbus A380, but despite the original airframe, it resembled a supersized military cargo jet, crossed with the extravagant luxuries more often associated with a Columbian drug lord.

  Sam’s eyes caught the sun from outside the window, and he turned his head to avoid it.

  “Is it nice to be home, Mr. Reilly?” Rodriguez asked.

  “Home? No, I was born stateside. This is my mother’s country… but it does feel like home, sometimes,” Sam replied. “Now that we’re here, are you going to tell me where you discovered that Spanish coin?”

  “In some hills, west of a country town called Bendigo. Customs will clear us shortly, and then we will be on our way.”

  Fifteen minutes later the ship was back in the air.

  “You bribed customs?” Sam mused.

  The Spaniard smirked. “No, of course not, but men of means have their ways.”

  An hour later, the A380 landed on the small dirt runway, near Bendigo. It was a feat Rodriguez had told him cost him millions in engineering modifications to reduce the landing and takeoff distance for the monstrous aircraft to less than an average Airbus.

  Even so, the massive aircraft used up every inch of the tiny runway, whose owners could have never predicted that such a mammoth plane would ever have need of it.

  The engines, thrown into reverse to assist in braking, threw giant plumes
of dirt up into the air, before the expert pilots turned her at the end of the runway. The aircraft then made its way along an open field to the side of the runway and made its final stop. It would sit in the open for the next few weeks.

  Sam casually strolled down the plane’s automatic stairs.

  A rusty sign read ‘Welcome to Bendigo.’

  At the rear of the aircraft, the giant loading ramp below the high-mounted tail was retracted. More than ten tons of dive equipment, cables, and drills were already being loaded onto the five Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG SUV six-wheel drives. Each vehicle was then driven off the aircraft.

  Sam walked toward the cars.

  This was the sort of flamboyant finesse that his father would put on such a vehicle. He had requested a robust four-wheel drive SUV for use on this trip, given the location of the drill site. But only Rodriguez and his own father would have purchased five million-dollar plus luxury SUVs, which looked more like military hardware.

  Still, he couldn’t help but admire their raw beauty.

  “Do you like them?” Rodriguez asked.

  “Certainly. What’s not to like? It’s a sports car, built for a battlefield.”

  “And the Australian bush is a battlefield. Come, let me take you for a drive.”

  Sam sat in the driver’s seat of the massive SUV. The steering wheel was on the left hand side, having been built for Americans, but that wouldn’t cause any problem where they were headed. The front windscreen was raw in its vertical beauty, and not only bulletproof, but it was Pilkington blast resistant glass.

  Rodriguez directed Sam out of the town, towards the east. After ten minutes the blacktop road turned to dirt. Another ten minutes later and any semblance of road disappeared completely, only to be replaced by the rugged bushland of his mother’s land.

  Sam put his foot down and the brutal 5.5 liter, bi-turbo V8 roared into life.

  The bush was dry, and large eucalyptus trees spotted the otherwise barren horizon. After an hour’s drive, Rodriguez pointed toward a hill in the distance.

  “It’s up there?” Sam asked.

  “I know what you’re thinking. The cave system is obviously below the height of the mountain, but that’s where we found the Spanish ducat.”