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Chapter 10
Liam felt his mouth drop open. 'Now I really do feel an idiot. How the hell did you know that’?
The other man laughed. 'I was raised in England, spent the first fifteen years of my life there. We lived just outside Manchester, so I recognise a Scouser when I hear one. Not that I have met any others here, you’re the first.’
Liam offered his hand. Liam Casey, and this is my lady friend Angela.’
The Carib shook the proffered hands. 'Thank you for shooting the pig, they can be pretty dangerous when they are wounded.’
Liam shrugged his shoulders. 'No big deal, just glad we were here and I could help out.’
'Just what are you doing here anyway? I gather that you are off that ship down there. It doesn't look like a tourist cruise ship.’
Liam pondered a while before answering the question. 'No it's not a cruise ship, and we're not tourists. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to tell you anything else, apart from the fact that we are here legally. You will have to wait to see the owners to find out any more.’
The Carib, whose name was Elvis, his mother having been a number one fan of the legendary performer, did not seem in the slightest put out by Liam's limited information, just smiled.
'I think that I can guess why you are here, I may be living on a small island in the middle of the Caribbean, but I do keep abreast with what goes on in the outside world.’
'Is that a fact, then tell me why are we here.’
Elvis took Liam by the arm. 'Come over here, I don't want my friends to overhear, they don't know what I know. Your here for the Spanish galleons, aren't you?' Liam looked at him in amazement. 'What do you know about Spanish galleons, if that is what we are after? Not that I'm saying that we are.’
Elvis started to laugh. 'I am not some uneducated savage you know. I went to school in Manchester, then on to the Liverpool University. Then we returned here because my mother could not stand the British weather. I finished my education at a university in America, where I gained a Ph.D. Then I came back here. I wanted to help my people. I have also researched the history of the island since my people first landed here, so I know all about the Spanish wrecks.’
Liam realised that Elvis kept saying galleons, not galleon. Joe McKay had only mentioned one. Was he being careful about how much information he gave out, or did he really have knowledge of only one.
Liam decided to take a chance, he realised that this guy was no fool, and maybe he could supply valuable information about the galleons.
'Ok, I'll level with you; you obviously know the score anyway. Yes we are here to conduct search and salvage for the Spanish plate wrecks. We of course have full permission from your government, and any help that you can give will be welcome, and although I can't promise anything, I should imagine that there would be some sort of reward for your help. I will arrange for you to meet the boss of the outfit whenever is convenient to you and your head man, or whatever you call him.’
Elvis smiled. 'He is called the Mayor, and you have already met him. I have the honour to hold the post. I do think it a good idea to meet, and yes, I may be able to help. I can certainly smooth out any problems you might have with the rest of my people.
One suggestion is to move your vessel. I know it looks pretty sheltered where you are anchored, but the wind can change very rapidly here, and you could end up on a lee shore, then you could be salvaging your own ship. There is a river at the south end of the island, close to our village, it’s called Spanish River, it should be deep enough to take your vessel, and it's completely safe in anything short of a hurricane.’
Liam was feeling pleased with himself, this was turning out to be a very fortuitous meeting.
'Well there is nothing more to be said for the moment. Angela and I will get back to the ship and set things in motion.’
He offered his hand. Elvis shook it, a big smile lighting up his face.
'Thanks again for the pig, and I've just had a thought. We will be having a feast tonight, and you and your lady would be most welcome, and for that matter any of your friends from the ship who care to come along. It won't be quite like a party in England but I feel sure you will enjoy it.'
Liam looked to Angela. 'What do you think?’ She nodded enthusiastically.
'Sounds good to me. I think we could all do with a break, trouble is the crew will eat you out of house and home, and drink you dry.’
'That's settled then,’ Elvis laughed. 'Just come when your ready, the more the merrier, and don't worry about the food and drink. There will be plenty to go round, just be careful with the booze, it's home brew rum, and it can be deadly when you’re not used to it.’
After they had returned to the ship, and Liam had brought Joe and the Captain up to date with the news, it was decided to take Elvis's advice, and move the ship to Spanish River.
As they neared the headland where the Carib village was situated, Liam and Angela were on the bridge with the skipper and Joe
Ahead of them, they could see a mangrove lined, wide mouthed estuary. Situated on the right hand bank was the Carib village.
Liam was surprised to see neat little bungalows, all painted in a variety of pastel shades. He had expected mud huts, or at best, corrugated iron roofed shacks.
Below the village was an ancient, but substantial looking stone built jetty. It was a relic of the days when the Spanish and the English had used the island. Standing on the jetty accompanied by some of the villagers, was Elvis. He signalled them to approach.
Jock was taking no chances. He had a man in the bow taking soundings with an old fashioned lead line. He was not relying solely on the modern electronics of his depth sounder.
Joe started laughing. 'Thousands of pounds worth of the latest and best equipment that money can buy, and you rely on a length of rope and a lead weight, why did I bother.'
Jock ignored him as he carefully brought the ship alongside the stone jetty. Lines thrown by the crew were caught and fastened to the old stone bollards by the waiting Caribs. Jock signalled stop engines and a relative quiet descended on the ship.
The Captain turned to Joe, a look of superiority on his bearded face.
'Typical landlubber,’ he grinned. 'For your education Mr McKay. You may have noticed the mangrove trees on each side of this river. They usually denote a muddy bottom, and a muddy bottom can confuse the best depth sounder, whereas the old fashioned lead line works every time. That is why I used it, not wanting to go aground and be a laughing stock with the natives.'
Joe had the decency to blush slightly. 'Touché Skipper, I stand corrected, and chastened, I'll keep my landlubberish remarks to myself in future,' he said, bowing, as if to royalty.
'I'll forgive you if you buy us all a drink,' Jock replied.
'My pleasure skipper, and may I suggest that we have Molly serve them here. I would like to admire the view, and go over my plans for the next stage of the operation.'
After the steward had served the drinks, Joe led them into the chartroom at the rear of the bridge. Unlocking a safe, he produced a chart of the island and surrounding sea.
'This is where it gets serious,' Joe stated. 'All our research to date leads us to believe that the wreck we are after is here.' He pointed to a small reef outcrop; it was about two hundred yards off the main reef that surrounded the island.
'If our researchers have it right, the galleon was driven onto the reef outcrop at the height of the hurricane. It would have ripped her bottom out, but it’s doubtful that she would have stayed there. We think that the wind and water would have carried her off the reef again.
Now between that outcrop and the main reef the bottom drops away to about eighty feet, maybe a bit less. Unfortunately, this chart is not the most reliable. It was produced last century, and they never got round to updating it.’
He looked at Liam. 'This guy Elvis might have a better idea; we will go ashore soon and meet him. You reckon he's the headman here, so it's best to get him on our side.’ Liam nodded his agreement.
'Something I haven't had chance to tell you Joe, is that Elvis was talking about wrecks, not wreck. I never said anything about our information. As I told you, he already knew what we are after. The man’s no fool.'
Joe looked thoughtful. 'Even more reason to have him on our side. He could, if he is willing, organise his villagers to help us. Being fishermen, they will probably have a good idea of the best place to start our search. We know roughly were our wreck is, but if they know of others, we want that information from them. I'll leave it to you Liam to arrange a meeting, ok?'
Liam nodded. 'No problem there, we have all been invited to a party tonight. It could be the best way to meet everybody. Good PR. in fact.'
'Fine by me,' Joe agreed. 'But we'll keep the numbers down. I think that it will be best if just the four of us go tonight. From tomorrow, the crew can go ashore, but before they do Jock, I want you to read them the riot act; they must not upset the locals. The last thing we need is to alienate any of them.'
If Liam had been expecting jungle drums and grass skirts, he was to be very disillusioned. As they small party neared the village the sound of ‘Bob Marley’ filled the air, it was coming from a huge Getto Blaster that was suspended from the branch of a mango tree.
Trestle tables had been set up. On them was laid out a huge variety of local fruits, plus platters of fish and crab, both sea and land, lobster, fresh water crayfish and some things that he could not put a name too.
In all is was a sumptuous spread. The centrepiece was the wild pig. On it, a sign had been placed, it read. ‘As supplied by our good friend, Liam ‘Billy the Kid’ Casey.
Liam felt a trifle embarrassed as the villagers gave him a round of applause as he walked into the square.
‘You seem to have made a good impression already,’ Joe smiled.
‘Oh it was nothing really, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. They would have killed the beast anyway; I just did it a bit quicker, that’s all’.
Elvis walked over to the group and Liam made the introductions.
‘Welcome to our island gentlemen,’ Elvis said with a broad white smile. ‘If you will come with me, I would like you to meet the elders of our village, one in particular I think you will find most interesting. He is the oldest of the elders, and the oral historian.
For centuries we had no written language, so as in similar cultures, tribal history was handed down by word of mouth. In my own research of island history, I have found his knowledge to be extremely accurate. He may even be able to assist you with the history of the galleons you are looking for.’
Elvis led the group over to where an old, very wizened white haired man was sitting. Liam tried not to stare, the man looked old enough to have sailed on a Spanish ship, and even his wrinkles had wrinkles.
The old man motioned for them to sit with him.
‘So, you are the ones who have come to look for the Spanish ships’. His voice was surprisingly strong, not weak and quivery as Liam had expected. And his eyes gleamed with an obvious intelligence.
Joe smiled. ‘Yes, that is just what we are about. May I also assure you that everything is above board, I have entered into a contract to search and salvage any wrecks we may find’.
The old man nodded his head. ‘I do not doubt that you are honourable men, unfortunately we do not have any say in the running of our island being the minority race. It’s the descendants of the African slave who are in charge, but no doubt you have already realised this’.
Joe nodded. ‘Yes I have realised this, having met with your Prime Minister and his advisors; in fact they made it quite clear to me how little say you have in the affairs of the island.
However, I like to be straight with people, if you can help us find what we are after I promise you that you and your people will be well rewarded. Furthermore, if there is any way we can be of help to you while se are here just ask. If we can, we will’.
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