Without You I Have Nothing (70 page)

_{That night a banquet
was prepared in the dining room and Bill, Susie, Mark, Joe and Joe's wife,
Maria, were honored guests. Two special guests were invited - Ted and Bob.}

_{During the meal,
Susie whispered to Peter that the two babysitters had tossed her out of the
baby's room and had made up beds in his room to look after James all night. It
was as though the girls intended keeping a 24/7 watch on him. The meal
eventually ended and two Gurkhas moved to guard the door guaranteeing absolute
privacy,}

_{Andrew stood. Hesitating,
he looked over the eager faces, and then began to address the crowd.}

_{"Friends, it's
my sister who's been kidnapped. It's Peter's wife who's been stolen and,” he
proceeded to outline Peter's background. The welcome visitors from Malaysia,
Singapore and the Gurkhas all knew Peter's history, but of the others, only
Susie had a vague outline. Ted and Bob were flummoxed.}

_{He finalized his talk
with the brief words, "There'll only be five involved in the planning to
rescue Jennifer. Peter, Joe, the RSM, Bill and I.}

_{"Susie, will you
arrange accommodation for Maria, as she'll be staying here for a while. Peter,
Joe and I have to work. I think Peter has an evil plan for me to get blisters
on my hands tonight as he says I don't know what hard work is.}

_{"Mark, Bob and
Ted are to be our smokescreen people. You're to confer closely with the RSM,
Bill and Peter so the smokescreen is extremely dense and most effective.}

_{"Now everyone
sleep well. There's plenty of wine and beer here so enjoy yourselves. Have a
party but no sore heads. Okay, Peter let's go. Come on Joe, I believe I'm your
apprentice. I'll make you earn your money tonight."}

_{With Joe and Peter as
passengers, Andrew drove the tourist coach into the workshop where
advertisements announcing Little One's Australasian Tours replaced the Blake
Pastoral signs on the sides and rear. Andrew under Joe's guidance unscrewed the
Mercedes insignia and grunted when assisting in the removal of the bull bar.}

_{The new bull bar and
Scania signs were in place when, knowing that it was not the cleanest of jobs,
Joe made Andrew crawl under the bus. He was to hold the air hose in place and
increase the pressure in the air bags so the extra weight on the Mercedes'
chassis would not be noticeable.}

_{"If the Germans
could camouflage a destroyer as an ordinary tramp steamer then we can disguise
this coach.”  Peter tried to encourage them.}

_{The three men even
changed the registration plates before being satisfied. When all was completed,
Joe drove the disguised coach to the motel where he joined Maria although there
was not much left of the night for sleep.}

_{Slowly Andrew walked
back to the motel accompanying Peter. He wondered how his hands would recover
from their blisters as he collapsed on the bed and slept in his clothes.}

_{Week   1}

_{That Fateful Thursday}

_{On Thursday morning
the moment breakfast was finished, Andrew, Joe, The Commander, the RSM, one
Chinese, one Tamil and Peter walked to Bill's office for a Council of War. A
Gurkha stood guard and Peter smiled ruefully knowing they would not be
disturbed.}

_{Breathless and
fussing about everyone's health, Susie walked in. Before sitting, she had
checked that breakfast had been to their tastes. Laughing, she explained that
her Italian cook had learnt to share his kitchen with one Tamil and one Chinese
and the three had prepared breakfasts for their own contingent. She had left
the three of them discussing recipes and exchanging tips.}

_{"Those guests
can stay anytime. They're so polite and thoughtful. A certain husband, here,
had better take care else they may be taking me back with them.”  She ruffled
Bill's hair as she sat beside Peter.}

_{Even the surprise of
her late arrival did not cut into Peter's intense anger and he made his
feelings obvious, demanding they attack Dingo and his mob immediately.}

_{An intense debate
followed with everyone vigorously advancing ideas and the volume had risen to
an alarming level.}

_{The calm, confident
voice of the RSM halted all disputes. "Peter, in the jungle, it was the
patient attack that succeeded. How many times did we attack and completely rout
the enemy with no loss of any of our men. You stop and think. Why were we so
successful?"}

_{Awaiting an answer,
he paused and stared at Peter before continuing positively. "We must
prepare for a battle that will come, and, it will come, make no mistake. These
people will not give Jennifer up willingly.}

_{"We cannot storm
their castle.}

_{"Police would
arrive and we would lose men needlessly. Slowly, slowly - surprise and stealth
will be our allies.}

_{"First we must
send out our scouts."}

_{Peter clenched his
fists as he rose to interject although instinctively he knew that the RSM was correct.}

_{The Commander leant
across to pull Peter back down to his seat. "Come on Peter be rational. What's
the sense in having Jennifer free if you're dead?}

_{"Your RSM's a
military man and is planning a military style operation.}

_{"The navy says
hoist the mainsails, heave to and fire a broadside. Yet we are not at sea so we
use camouflage and smokescreens to deceive the enemy.}

_{"We're aiming at
the complete destruction of Dingo. You may be surprised that my conflict with
Dingo goes back a long way. I also have some scores to settle so sit and listen
to some common sense."}

_{"But,” Peter
tried to interject.}

_{"But - bloody
nothing!  Just shut up and listen.”  Bill, the ex-naval Commander had lost
patience. "You may not be willing to admit it but we are all in this together."}

_{Methodically the RSM
continued. "To succeed, this must be a military style operation. Last
night while you and your wicked workman wore out the poor little farmer, Bill,
Susie, your two tourists here and I made plans for today.”  He nodded at the
Tamil and the Chinese trying to lighten the atmosphere. It was imperative that
Peter realize they would gain nothing rushing ahead to attack the criminals.}

_{"Our first
sortie will be this afternoon at 2 o'clock. By then Dingo will believe that
after receiving that wonderfully kind parcel Peter, in a blind craven panic,
has decided to do nothing. Dingo will be expecting no trouble.}

_{"We'll have a
tourist coach full of two platoons of our tourists. One platoon will be Tamil,
the other Chinese. This is the first sortie of the war. We'll have an excellent
driver, Andrew, and we'll have a charming tourist coach guide in Susie.}

_{"On the coach
will also be our sergeant and two communications specialists. They will enjoy a
tour!”  He gave a toothy grin showing that he was delighted to reveal the
extensive expertise of this little army.}

_{"The tour will
be of Sydney and will include the residential suburb of Hunters Hill. Perhaps a
certain mansion will be a focal point of the tour,” and he elaborated on the
plan. "It'll be a full afternoon and after returning the tourists to the
Motel to change, the coach hostess and the Chinese tourists will be having a
Chinese meal at the nightclub, Red Jade. The Tamil platoon will accompany them
but, with Andrew, will be investigating the streets and laneways around the
nightclub.}

_{"I'm sure that
in spite of Susie's words Bill won't object to Susie dancing at the club with
the tourists.”  The RSM had a wicked gleam in his eyes. "The driver will
return the tourists to the motel late after an evening of exploration, dancing
and good food."}

_{Further discussion
was impossible as the shrill jangling of the phone broke into their thoughts.}

_{"Bill speaking -
yes certainly. One moment,” and he beckoned Joe to the phone.}

_{Terrified that it was
bad news, Peter sagged and the fight left him.}

_{Aware of his
distress, Susie slid an arm around his shoulders and she whispered into his ear.
"Peter, bear up!  The war has started. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor
will be nothing compared to what we'll achieve. No bombs, no collateral damage
just a lot of fear and destruction to some unwanted people.”  She kissed him on
the cheek.}

_{Breathlessly, still
holding the phone but with the mouthpiece covered, Joe announced, "The
bastards had a deep water anchorage at the rear of the Hunters Hill mansion and
they've taken off in a huge, pleasure craft called 'The Pony Stable'.}

_{"They're
travelling slowly as if showing two Arabs in their national dress the sights of
Lane Cove River. A water taxi is following. He asks if there are any
suggestions.}

_{"He told me that
a TV news boat is presently dropping the cast of Sydney Harbor Rats at our
local yacht club."}

_{Laughing, he
commented, "It must be Italians' day out on the harbor.}

_{"The master of
the boat and the camera men are all part of his family and he knows they're
desperately trying to bring Dingo down because of the murder of their young
relations.”  Joe stopped and looked expectantly around.}

_{Again, Peter sagged
and seemed defeated - feeling all his plans had come to naught.}

_{Bill took over. "Well,
well!  Sergeant Major step back, it's time for the Navy to take over!”  He
considered his expertise was required at last. His grim face showed he was once
more The Commander in charge of a naval operation.}

_{"That's the boat
we suspected was being used in drug running, but it was so fast we could never
prove a thing. Well now, thanks to Little One Cleansing Company they're about
to come adrift.”  He laughed heartily knowing how successful they would be. He'd
not been a Commander in the navy without having some friends.}

_{"Joe, radio that
water taxi to keep following. Tell that driver to inform the TV news vessel
that Commander Bill Williams and party will be passengers in a short while. Yes,”
he grinned at Peter, "they know me. No, I was not a film star in Sydney
Harbor Rats. I'm far too tall and too ugly.”}

_{He laughed at Susie's
denial.}

_{"Tell the crew
they could be on a huge news scoop but they are to keep their mouths shut or
they'll end up swimming with sharks.”  His laughter belied the severity of his
words.}

_{"I was their
naval liaison officer. Now Peter and Joe, we're off for a morning on the high
seas.”  His air of quiet confidence was enough to ease Peter's distress.}

_{The meeting broke up
quietly.}

_{Susie dropped behind
to give Peter a hug and her husband a kiss with the advice. "Be careful,
James and I love and need you."}

_{Andrew and Susie with
their two Asian guests quietly made their way back to the motel.}

_{The Pony Stable
crawled its way out of Lane Cover River past the Woolwich headland into the
Parramatta River and even more slowly made its way towards Balmain Wharf.}

_{Two shadows trailed
behind.}

_{The news crew kept
their cameras rolling and Peter standing alongside told them he wanted every
face visible for his own inspection. However, they were close enough for Peter
to recognize Dingo, Pretty Boy and the two Arabs, recognizable only by their
dress.}

_{Peter's knuckles were
white with tension as he gripped the rail while he stared at Dingo's boat.}

_{It took the RSM's
words, "Control yourself Little One; this is the Commander's patrol,” to
stop Peter from hurling himself overboard in the hope of rescuing Jennifer.}

_{Waiting on the wharf
were some women passengers, one of whom had red hair.}

_{None too gently, the
six men on the wharf herded the women aboard 'The Pony Stable.'  Although the
bodyguards were rough in the control of the women, they were guarding them most
carefully.}

_{"The bastards
aren't going out to sea with those women,” was The Commander's comment. He
reached for the radio and tuned into the restricted naval frequency.}

_{Quietly he spoke into
the hand piece. "This is urgent!  Put me through to the Fleet Commander's
Office. Yes, this is,” turning away, he dropped his voice even lower as if to
conceal his plans from the others.}

_{Eventually he
readjusted the frequency and told Joe to send the water taxi to Garden Island
to collect two navy divers and their gear.}

_{His excuse seemed
credible. "There are some naval maneuvers and the navy is short of
maritime transport. The divers will tell the taxi operator what they want to do
but he must be trust worthy and able to keep his mouth shut."}