Sea of Fire

Chapter Seventy-Nine

Although the Singaporean patrol ship was not a fully equipped salvage vessel, it did carry air buoyancy bags. These were to be deployed in the event the ship itself suffered a critical breach. Descending well before sunrise, divers placed the bags in the higher stern section of the Hosannah. It was a difficult salvage, due to the darkness. However, Lieutenant Kumar did not want to risk the boat sinking further. The air compressor filled the bags one at a time. Finally, with six bags inflated, the aft section of the Hosannah broke the surface.

However, with the ship's return came something else. Something the crew did not expect.

A body.

The divers recovered the remains. Kumar went to the cabin, where several of the rescued seamen were being kept. He asked the young man Marcus Darling to come to sick bay and identify the body.

Marcus seemed numb and pale as he looked at the still-damp, slightly bloated corpse on the gurney.

"Who is he?" Kumar asked.

"That is Captain Kannaday," Marcus said softly.

"Was he part of the ring?" Kumar asked.

"At first," Marcus Darling said. "Then… something happened."

"What happened?"

"He changed," Marcus said. "He turned on Mr. Hawke."

"I see." Kumar motioned to the medical officer. The man handed him a white towel. The lieutenant opened it gingerly and showed it to Marcus.

"We found this tangled in the ropes beside him," Kumar said. "Did it belong to him?"

"No," Marcus said. "That belonged to Hawke."

"What is it?"

"A weapon," Marcus told him. "A wommera. You use it to throw darts."

"That might explain the wounds on his body," the medic interjected. "Was there a struggle, Mr. Darling?"

"I don't know," Marcus told him. "We were in the water."

Kumar covered the weapon and set it on the gurney. "It appears as though Mr. Hawke may earn himself a murder charge as well."

Marcus snickered. "That's funny. Hawke was always so careful. They all were."

"All it takes is one active conscience to undermine the cleverest criminal plot," Kumar said.

"Well, I'm sure that is a real comfort to Kannaday here," Marcus said. "Instead of being wealthy, he's dead."

Kumar looked disdainfully at the man beside him. "I believe it must have been a significant comfort to him. Buddhism teaches that the quality of a moment can be valued more than corrupt longevity. The ripples are felt throughout the world and time."

"Thanks for the lesson," Marcus said.

"In fact, Mr. Darling, it was advice."

"Was it?"

"Yes," Kumar said. "We have reason to believe that you were one of the men who shot at the sampan."

"I did what? I don't even know how to fire a gun!"

"You can tell that to the chief interviewer in the Maximum Security Changi Prison in Singapore," Kumar replied.

"Changi? You're not taking me to the logs," Marcus said.

"I have consulted with my superior, who is with representatives of your government. They agree that it is within our rights to ascertain your innocence," Kumar replied.

"This is wrong!" he shouted. "I want a lawyer!"

"You will have one, though it may be a few days before he can see you," Kumar said. "Singapore's courts are always very busy."

"I want one of my uncle's lawyers!"

"I'm told they are going to be fully engaged as well," Kumar said. "May I suggest a compromise, however?"

Marcus asked what that would be.

"Tell us who your captain dealt with," Kumar said. "Do that, and we will return you to Cairns."

"I thought this was about shooting the sampan," Marcus said.

"It can be," Kumar said.

"You bloody bullock," Marcus said.

"I am not bloody," Kumar replied. "Not yet."

Marcus huffed for a moment, then said he would have to think about it. On the way back to the cabin, he agreed to cooperate with Kumar. The lieutenant radioed to inform FNO Loh that he had a successful chat with Marcus Darling. The young man seemed willing to cooperate. Kumar also told Loh that they had located the real Peter Kannaday.

Back in sick bay, the medical officer finished cleaning the body of the seaweed that had collected on it. He picked it away carefully, using long tweezers and cotton swabs. Then he covered the body with a sheet and left it on the gurney. There was nothing else he could do. The body could not be touched until an autopsy had been performed onshore. He turned off the light and locked the door. It had been a long night of caring for the half-drowned sailors. He needed to rest.

Captain Peter Kannaday was alone. He was at sea, where he belonged.

And one thing more.

He was at peace.