Death Diamonds of Bermudez Read online

  Graham got his wits back and said, “Wait, there’s more.” He reached into the pouch and pulled out another tattered map. But before anyone could look at the map they all heard a commotion up where Portagee and Sam were. Michael grabbed the pouch spilling out several diamonds. The other two Spinners ran towards their friend in need only to find pistols being pointed at them.

  Sam screamed out, “Run! Get out of here! We’ll be okay.”

  The two hesitated for a minute, but then Lynch fired a couple of bullets at their feet to scare them. Meanwhile Michael climbed out of the hole, tripped and fell back in. As Keno ran by, Michael flipped him the leather pouch. Keno and Graham cleared the cemetery wall in seconds making a bee line for their boat in the hidden cove. Two of the South Africans went in pursuit of them, but they had too big of a head start. Even with their tracking skills the Spinners were out into the Great Sound before the South Africans could find the hidden cove.

  The two Spinners had made their escape, but Lynch had a death grip on the necks of Portagee and Sam while another thug had grabbed Michael in the hole. Van Eck walked over to the digging and picked up the three diamonds that the Spinners had dropped. He knew that this was just a clue and not where the real hiding place was. He didn’t have the map, but he had three hostages which were as good as gold to him. He looked at Sam, Michael and Portage and said, “My little friends, these are the largest Death Diamonds I have ever seen. There must be thousands of them in Bermuda, and we will have them all. By the way, they are called Death Diamonds because whenever diamonds like these are found they leave a trail of greed and death. Sam, Michael and Portagee said nothing. They just looked at each other hoping their friends would rescue them.

  Clues from the Dead

  The Spinners had made it back to Albouy’s Point and were getting ready to head back to St. George’s to make plans to free Portagee, Michael, and Sam. Before they could leave, Inspector Savage and Storm pulled up by them in an unmarked police car. Savage rolled down the window and said, “Hi, boys! What are you guys up to tonight?” The boys all went dead silent. A bit concerned, Savage looked around and noticed Sam’s and Michael’s scooter sitting there empty. He turned to Storm and said, “Wait here. There’s something wrong.” He got out of his car and went over to the boys saying, “Alright guys, I’m not stupid. What’s up and where’s my daughter, Michael and Portagee?”

  Keno spoke up first, “Well, sir, we were out on Long Island this afternoon.”

  Savage interrupted Michael saying, “Did you say you kids were out on Long Island this afternoon?” By now Storm was also out of the car standing next to Savage.

  Graham stepped forward, “Sir, we saw everything that happened with you and Van Eck and his thugs today.”

  Both Storm and Savage were surprised to say the least. Savage added, “So where are they? Tell me right now.”

  Graham trembling a little said, “Sir, after you and the South Africans left we came out of the bushes and figured out the hiding place on the map. It was in plot fifty-four. We found these.” He pulled out the pouch full of diamonds. The South Africans called them Death Diamonds. They caught us in the act of digging them up and captured Portagee, Sam and Michael. They fired shots at us so we escaped through the bushes.”

  Savage said, “Alright, guys. Thanks for your honesty. Get on back to St. Georges, and we’ll take it from here.”

  The two boys jumped on their scooters, but before they could leave Storm yelled at them, “Hey, give me one of those Death Diamonds.” Graham threw one to Savage then they spun off on their scooters.

  Savage was waiting in the boat for Storm. Storm jumped in the boat and said, “These diamonds must be worth millions.”

  Savage said, “I know, but all that matters now is my daughter and the boys.”

  Storm replied, “I understand. Let’s go get those bastards.” Savage threw the throttle forward and the boat surged away from the dock. They would be at Long Island in a matter of minutes.

  Meanwhile on Long Island Van Eck and his thugs were back at the Boer War cemetery with Sam, Michael and Portagee. Lynch threw them down into the hole and yelled, “Start digging , you punks, and let’s see what else you can find.”

  Portagee yelled back, “There’s nothing down here. Our friends already got everything.”

  Lynch yelled back, “Well in that case, keep digging; because it’s going to be your grave.”

  Sam nudged Portagee and Michael whispering, “Don’t agitate that monster or he’ll kill us.” Portagee and Michael agreed and kept digging.

  Storm and Savage landed at the hidden cove. They both jumped into the shallow water. Savage tied up the boat and Storm quickly ran up the steps that had been cut into the limestone years ago. Once at the top he cocked back his revolver and waited for Savage. The two silently, but at a fast pace made their way up to the top of the hill that overlooked the cemetery. The two could see that Lynch was yelling and waving a pistol at someone who could not be seen in the pit.

  Savage whispered to Storm, “I bet the kids are down in that pit digging for diamonds.” While they were watching, Van Eck signaled Lynch over to him. Another thug quickly replaced him watching the Spinners digging.

  Storm replied back to Savage, “We better not wait any longer. No telling how long before these bad asses will lose their patience.” They both agreed to move out and get as close to the cemetery as possible without being seen. However, if the South Africans did spot them Storm would shoot first and ask questions later.

  Storm and Savage silently weaved their way through the bushes. They were within fifty yards of the cemetery when all of a sudden one of the thugs began yelling and pointing in the direction of Storm and Savage. Savage looked at Storm and said, “Mate, you take out the ones with the guns, and I’ll get the kids.” Storm nodded his head, and the two split up in different directions. Both men were zig- zagging down the hill taking fire from the South Africans. Storm reached the stone wall that surrounded the cemetery first and began returning fire. Shortly after, he could see that Savage was also at the wall, but about twenty feet away from him.

  Van Eck yelled to his man closest to the Spinners, “Throw a grenade at those intruders.” At the same moment that the South African pulled the pin from the grenade, Storm fired off a round striking him through the chest.

  Meanwhile at the same moment down in the pit, Michael struck the dirt beneath him with the stick as hard as he could. The large stick broke through the ground falling out of sight. Michael looked up at Sam and Portagee and yelled, “Oh, crap!” Before any of them could say anything else the ground beneath them collapsed. The three vanished from sight in a second. The earth around the pit collapsed in on top of the pit filling it in.

  The South African fell in the same spot where the pit had been with the live grenade locked in his hand. As he hit the ground the grenade exploded. Another pit was created instantly in the same spot, and the South African was vaporized in the explosion.

  Van Eck yelled to his men to back off. They quickly left the cemetery. Storm and Savage moved to the area of the pit. To their surprise the pit was empty. Storm looked at Savage saying, “Thank God the kids weren’t in the pit.” All they could see were some blood stains from the South African.

  With relief Savage said, “My heart dropped thinking the kids were in the pit when the grenade exploded.” He went on to say, “Where the hell are the kids?”

  Storm replied, “Van Eck must have them back at the cottage. Let’s catch up to them before they get away.” The two jumped over the pit and ran after the South Africans. Storm and Savage had no idea that the Spinners were buried beneath the cemetery.

  What Lies Beneath

  Storm and Savage made it to the cottage just in time to see Van Eck and his thugs speeding away in a boat. It was almost dusk, and there was no chance of going back across Long Island to their boat and catching up to them. Savage slammed his fist on the side of the cottage and yelled out, “Those bloody bastards got awa
y with my daughter and her friends.”

  Storm gave Savage a pat on the back saying, “Don’t worry, friend, we’ll catch up to those bastards.”

  Savage replied, “You’re right. We’d better call the Commissioner, and let him know what’s going on.”

  It was pitch black, and Sam couldn’t hear or see anything. Finally she whispered out, “Michael, Portagee, are you here? Can you hear me?” She waited for what seemed to be an eternity, and finally she heard something moving next to her. She heard a moan. Sam screamed, “Please let that be you Michael.” Someone touched Sam on the arm.

  A voice spoke out, “Hi, baby cakes. It’s me, Michael.” Sam reached out and gave Michael a big hug. Michael catching his breath said, “I’m fine. Thanks for caring.”

  Sam quickly asked, “Where’s Portagee?”

  Michael replied, “He’s next to me. I think he’s still out cold from the fall.”

  Sam asked, “Are you sure he’s fine?”

  Another voice answered, “Yeah, I’m fine, but could someone turn on the lights?”

  Sam replied, “I wish we could.”

  Michael added, “It’s clear we’re not dead. There has to be a way out of here. We just have to hang on to each other and try to find a way out of this black hole. ” Michael opened his cell phone which gave a little light so they could now see each other. Sam and Portagee did the same.

  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 speak
ing first, “Boys, you both know I’m very concerned about the whereabouts of Sam, Michael, and Portagee.”