Manila Harbour by Martin Granger

Author:Martin Granger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RedDoor
Published: 2015-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

The blue and white-hulled Sunseeker motor-yacht tore up the waters of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. Peter Ramos and Nick Coburn watched the trail of foam rock the cluster of the more sedate antiquated vessels from the shadow of City Hall. The surly-faced Chinese pilot pulled up at Queen’s Pier with an arrogant flourish and, without tying up, gestured for the two men to get on board. Peter and Nick demonstrated how unimpressed they were with this show by nimbly stepping on without a word. They sat back and took in the view as the prow lifted into the air, the craft gathering speed towards Yau Tong Harbour.

Peter recognised the silhouette of the Lily Star from a distance, the classic shape of a four-crane Ultra Handymax. He thought back to the time when Nathalie had shown him the forged papers that she had photographed in Cosmos headquarters. He was sure that this was the ship that he was waiting for all night by Manila’s North Harbour.

The tide was high, but even so, the forty-nine foot-long motorboat was dwarfed by the pier wall that towered above them. Nick gestured towards a rusty iron ladder that was bolted to the wall near the rear of the ship. The Chinaman spun the wheel and deftly ferry-glided the Sunseeker into position. Peter held onto a metal ring protruding from the wall while Nick climbed the ladder. After swinging onto the ladder himself he turned to the motor-yacht pilot to thank him, but the boat was already churning water and spinning back into the harbour.

‘Nice man,’ he said to Nick.

‘Yes. I know the ride was free but, next time, I’ll tell the shipping company to send a taxi driver with manners,’ Nick replied, dusting off the rust from his chinos. ‘I hope the watchman that they’ve left with the ship is more communicative. He has instructions to show us around.’

They found the watchman squatting by the gangplank of the Lily Star. He was wearing faded cut-off French navy-blue trousers and sported a straw conical hat. As they approached he jumped up and offered them his hand. A wide grin spread across his face as he introduced himself.

‘Ching Lee. Pleased to meet you Mr Nick and ..?’ he paused as he turned to Peter.

‘Mr Peter,’ said Ramos, shaking his hand. ‘Thanks for being here to let us aboard.’

‘No problem,’ said Ching Lee, stereotypically pronouncing his ‘R’ like an ‘L’. ‘I have to be here anyway to make sure no-one unauthorised boards the ship. Where do you want to start?’

‘If you don’t mind I’ll begin with the captain’s cabin and then make my way through the ship,’ replied Peter, delving for his camera and notebook in his bag. ‘I’m familiar with the layout of these Handymax’s. I may be a little while so if you and Mr Nick want a tea break, please feel free.’

‘Tea would be good but my instruction’s to stay with the ship,’ said Ching Lee, taking a sideways glance at Nick.

Nick could see that

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