Zara's Game by Jo Black

Author:Jo Black [Black, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Label Fiction

39

The towering white hull of the 180 metre long superyacht shimmered in the sun as the little fishing trawler bobbed towards it, old blue paint flaking off its tired wooden hull. Asad suddenly felt slightly ashamed of his meagre vessel by comparison to the multi-hundred million dollar floating palace. Alex, stood slightly behind Asad, sensed his envy and patted him on the shoulder. ‘Your boat has a soul, that one does not. It speaks to Masato.’

Asad looked at Alex with surprise, then at Masato (The Ninja). Masato bowed politely.

‘What does it say?’ Asad asked.

‘You are a good captain, and it looks out for you. Perhaps it is your golden boat, and you simply don’t see it. Peace be upon you brother Asad. May Allah bless your journey, wherever it may take you.’

‘Thank you brother Alex, peace be upon you.’

Alex left the wheelhouse. Masato bowed to Asad and then followed Alex up to the front of the deck. They stared out at Charles Vane: stood waiting on the lower stern deck of the superyacht. Alex’s eyes dotted round the multiple private military contractors patrolling the decks. ‘It is well guarded, is it not?’ Masato said.

‘It’ll still sink as easily as any other boat, no matter how many guns he puts aboard her.’ They watched as the crew of the superyacht put her V.I.P tender into the water. Vane boarded it with a pair of armed guards and the tender’s crew before it sped across to where the fishing boat had anchored some thousand metres away. It reached the boat and a member of Asad’s crew tossed a line aboard to haul the tender in. Vane stepped aboard, his eyes met Alex’s.

‘Alex.’

‘Charles.’ They shook hands. ‘My captain: Asad, is a fan of one of your ancestors. Asad!’ Asad emerged from the wheelhouse and walked over. ‘Come and meet Charles Vane, Junior. I believe you may have read of his ancestor’s exploits.’

‘The Charles Vane?’ Asad asked.

‘One and the same,’ Vane replied.

‘My captain would like to have been a pirate,’ Alex said with a smile.

‘We don’t like to think of him as a pirate, more of a freelance mariner of opportunity.’

‘It’s a great honour,’ Assad said, he wiped his oily hand on a rag and offered it. Vane shook it.

‘Likewise. I like your boat. It has honesty about it. Which is more than can be said for that monstrosity.’ Vane nodded across at the superyacht.

‘All the same I would gladly swap,’ Asad replied.

‘If my great-great-great grandfather was around, he’d take it for you. Stick to your fishing boat Asad. Fishing is a noble profession, arms dealing is not.’ Vane turned his attention back to Alex. ‘I must speak with you before we board. You are in grave danger Alex. Smythe has no intention of honouring this bargain.’

‘You imagine this is news to me?’

‘No, I imagine it is not, but I am troubled by it none the less.’

Alex walked to the end of the boat with Vane. ‘Is she on board?’

‘She is. And she is

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