Death Diamonds of Bermudez (6 page)

Sam spoke up as she tried to call her dad, “We have no connection down here. It must be pretty solid rock above us.” Both Portagee and Michael tried to make a call with the same bad results. Sam added, “I think we should put away our phones and only use them for light if we have to.”

Portagee replied, “You’re right, Sam. These phones may come in handy later.”

A bit sarcastic, Michael said, “This doesn’t remind anyone of the Bermuda Triangle, does it?”

Portagee added, “You’re right except we do have some friends there that would help us.” All went quiet for awhile. After about ten minutes without the light of the cell phones, the Spinners had been in the dark long enough that their eyes were adjusting to the darkness.

Sam yelled out, “Look off in the distance! I can see a glimmer of light.”

Back on the surface Van Eck and his thugs had made their escape. The trio abandoned the speed boat at Spanish Point where a van was waiting for them. Apparently more of Van Eck’s men had arrived on the island. As the van left Spanish Point Van Eck showed the driver the Death Diamond and said, “This is proof that the Death Diamonds exist. Now we have to find those two blasted kids that got away with the map. I’m sure the clues are on the map that will lead us to the Mother Load.”

Lynch leaned up from the back seat to ask Van Eck, ”Boss, won’t the bloody cops be looking for us now?”

Van Eck replied, “You’re right. Now we will have to dress like Bermudians and tourists to blend in, and that brings up another point, Lynch.”

Lynch asked, “What’s that, boss?”

Van Eck continued, “Lynch, even if you’re dressed like a tourist the cops will spot you a mile away because of your size. For that reason you’re confined to our new living quarters during the daylight hours. At night you will be far less conspicuous.” The van drove off to an undisclosed secret location.

Storm and Savage had now made it back to Albouy’s Point. Both men were frustrated. They thought Sam, Michael and Portagee were being held hostages. Van Eck and his thugs had made a clean getaway. The only bit of evidence they had was one of the diamonds. Somehow everything tied back to the Boer War and the prisoner of war camp in Bermuda. The two crime fighters climbed into Savage’s car made a bee-line towards St. George’s in hopes that Keno and Graham could shed more light on the case.

Meanwhile, back in the dark tunnel the three Spinners were slowly making their way towards the flickering light. The tunnel was extremely uneven with sharp rocks everywhere. The downward angle of the tunnel made the trek even more dangerous. The tunnel was at least several hundred yards long. An hour later the Spinners had only progressed two hundred feet down the tunnel. Scratched and scraped from falling, tripping and bumping into jagged rocks they were all ready to take a break.

Michael was first to speak saying, “Are you guys alright? I think my head is bleeding.”

Portagee replied, “I’ve tripped over so many rocks I don’t know if my legs can take it much more.”

Sam added, “Come on, boys. You’re tougher than that. By the way I wouldn’t be so concerned about the rocks. I would be worried about the water.”

Portagee snapped back, “What water!”

Sam calmly added, “The water over your head, silly. I’m sure we’re under the Great Sound by now based on the distance we’ve covered.”

Surprised, Michael said, “Oh great, what next? That glimmer we’re seeing at the other end of the tunnel must be volcanic lava.”

Portagee added, “Or the fires of Hell.”

Sam said, “Get a grip, guys. Let’s get off our butts and keep moving.” The three Spinners got up and kept moving slowly but surely in the direction of the glimmering light.

It took the Spinners over six hours to find their way to what appeared to be an entryway into a room or cavern from where the light was coming. There was only one problem; the entrance was mostly blocked by rocks, wood planks, and old dead brush from flood waters over the years.

Michael looked at the others and said, “Well, I’m not going back the way we came so let’s get this junk cleared out of the way.“ Portagee and Sam both started ripping out brush and rocks from the debris that was blocking them from continuing.

After an hour of clearing Sam said, “I’m beginning to think we’re going to be trapped in this tunnel forever.”

Michael turned to Sam and said, “Not to worry.” He turned to Portagee saying, ”Give me a hand with this big old plank.” Portagee grabbed one side of the plank while Michael grabbed the other. At the count of three both jerked the plank as hard as they could. Almost instantly the rocks and planks began collapsing all around them. Soon all three of the Spinners were covered by the fallen debris. With the cloud of dust formed from the collapsed rocks and planks they could not see their own hands in front of their faces. One after another the Spinners climbed out from under the debris.

As the dust cleared Portagee yelled out, “Holy crap! Where are we?”

Michael chimed in, “Well, I know it’s not the Bermuda Triangle.”

Sam added, “If I didn’t know better I’d say we were in the City of Atlantis.” The three walked a couple of hundred feet into the mammoth cavern. The walls and ceiling of the cavern were lined with quartz crystals. There were veins of what appeared to be silver and gold running throughout the cavern. The floor of the cavern was littered with diamonds and other precious stones.

Sam may have been more right than wrong. For thousands of years philosophers and historians have believed that Atlantis could have been located somewhere in Bermuda or the Bermuda Triangle vicinity.

Also in recent years scientists had predicted that rare earth elements including
diamonds, gold, platinum, uranium and other precious minerals
were buried beneath Bermuda and the surrounding ocean floor.

The three sat down on the cavern floor in amazement. Michael thought to himself for awhile and then said, “I’m starting to get a sinking feeling about our predicament.”

Sam asked, “Why’s that, Michael?”

Michael replied, “If there really was another way out of here, don’t you think someone would have made this discovery before?” Sam and Portagee did not reply to Michael, but his comment gave them plenty of food for thought.

Michael had a good theory, but he was wrong. There was at least one other person who was aware of this cavern. It was Fritz Duquesne, the Boer War prisoner.

The Heat is on

The next day Graham and Keno met with Storm and Savage at the St. George’s police station briefing room. The four sat down at the conference table with Savage speaking first, “Boys, you both know I’m very concerned about the whereabouts of Sam, Michael, and Portagee.”

Graham replied, “We know you are, and so are we.”

Keno added, “Inspector Savage, what can we do to help?”

Storm spoke up, “I know neither of you know me, but I’m a good friend of Inspector Savage. Let me take a look at that leather pouch you dug up in the Boer War Cemetery.” Graham handed the pouch to Storm. Storm opened up the pouch and dumped it out on the table. Several diamonds fell out on the table along with a fragile yellowed paper.

Savage reached over to pick it up. He quickly unfolded the paper. After looking at the paper he frowned and said as he pulled out a pair of glasses from his pocket, “Sorry, guys, but the combination of this stained document and my eyesight makes me need these.” He looked over the document saying, “Boy, did our old buddy Fritz hate the British. Listen to this.” He went on to say, “I guess this is a clue. Here’s what it says, ‘The bloody British were not the first to land here. They were invaders and oppressors here as in South Africa. Find who was here first, and you’ll find our future.’ Now what do you think this clue means?”

Storm shook his head and said, “Don’t look at me.”

Savage looked at Graham and Keno and asked, “Does it make any sense to you two?”

Graham replied, “No sir, but I’ll give it some thought.”

Savage added, “Good, let us know if you have any ideas. In the mean time we’ve got all available police officers scouring every acre of Bermuda for the South Africans and the kids. You two stay close to home just in case we need you.”

Keno replied, “Yes sir.” Keno and Graham both got up and left the briefing room. On their way down the hallway Keno whispered to Graham, “Why did you say no?”

Graham replied, “I’ll tell you when we get outside.” The two quickly left the police station.

Once they were down the street a short distance Keno asked, “We both know the clue leads to Spanish Rock at Spittal Pond. Why didn’t you tell the Inspector?”

Graham replied, “The Spinners stick together. We’ll follow the clue and leave a trail for the Inspector and Storm to follow. Let’s go get our scooters and head for Spittle Pond.” Within minutes the two Spinners were zooming off towards Spittal Pond.

The Spinners failed to notice that as they left St. George’s they were being followed by two of Van Eck’s thugs on tourist scooters.

Meanwhile back at the police station Savage and Storm were still in the briefing room. Savage looked over at Storm and commented, “Those kids know more than what they’re letting on.”

Storm asked, “I thought you trusted these kids?”

Savage replied, “I do trust them. You have to understand that the Spinners have a bond that’s very unique. They’ll let us know what their thinking in due time. In the meantime we’ll put out an A.P.B. and see if we can find out where they went.” The two left the room and went down to the Front desk sergeant to request the A.P.B..

The Spinners made their way to the east end of the Spittal Pond Nature Reserve. Hoping not to be noticed they hid their scooters in some heavy vine growth just inside the entrance. Graham said to Keno, “The Inspector is a very sharp man. It won’t take him long to figure out the clue.” Keno nodded his head as they both headed down one of the trails that would lead them to Spanish Rock.

The Spittal Pond Nature Reserve is a pristine, well-preserved spot in Bermuda that captures the true state of Bermuda over two hundred years ago. A very large pond is located in the centre of the reserve surrounded by walking trails. The pond is well stocked with fish and frogs. One can always see geese, ducks, and flamingos relaxing on the pond and raising their families there. The southern border of the reserve is a rocky cliff area that butts up to the ocean. Trails wind throughout the reserve finding their way through the wooded hills, rocky shoreline, and around the pond.

Van Eck’s thugs, Axel and Klaw, had already arrived in time to see Graham and Keno disappear down the narrow hillside trail. Axel, a good sized man with dark black hair and piercing black eyes, pointed down the hillside as he noticed that the trail split at the bottom of the hill. One trail ran along the pond’s shoreline and the other trail led up into the jagged rocks. Axel barked out, “Klaw, you follow the trail that runs along the pond, and I’ll follow the other trail through the rocks.” Klaw was an expert tracker, and he knew that the Spinners probably knew the terrain whereas he and Axel did not. He was sure if he missed the kids then Klaw would surely find them. As Klaw walked along the pond he pulled out two large serrated hunting knives. He used knives as claws the same way that large predatory animals would. Thus his nickname name Klaw. Graham and Keno would not want to run into this man.

Savage and Storm were now standing in front of the St. George’s police station. Both men were frustrated. Not a single lead to follow, and they were still baffled by the Boer clue. All of a sudden Savage yelled out, “I’ve got it. The damn clue is at Spittal Pond. It’s somewhere around Spanish Rock.”

Storm slapped Savage on the back and said, “Well, let’s get the hell out of here and get to this Spanish Rock.” Both men ran to Savage’s car and were off in a minute heading towards Spittal Pond.

Meanwhile Graham and Keno had made their way to Spanish Rock. They both stood there staring at the replica’s markings. The original stone that had been carved hundreds of years ago had long ago been destroyed by Mother Nature and mankind. Keno was first to speak asking Graham, “Why do all the history books say the inscription on the rock is ‘RP 1543’? To me it’s clearly ‘TF 1543’.”