Hanley asked, How big were these ships?
Over three hundred feet, with a crew of four hundred.
Max gave a low whistle, impressed with medieval Chinese naval architecture.
Does he say the nature of this evil?
No. The whole purpose of the pit, though, was to give a clue as to the ship's location. He wrote that the evil surrounding it should never be approached, but he was also a pragmatist. There were untold riches aboard her, treasure they had planned to barter with any natives they came across.
Tsai left two markers, one honoring the gods of the underworld the one in the pit and another to honor the gods in heaven.
Something underground and something above, Juan mused aloud. What is the second marker?
Tsai only writes that it can be seen from the heavens. And that they left it two hundred days from the Treasure Pit.
Two hundred days? Max groused. What the hell is that?
I assume, Eddie said evenly, ignoring Max's sarcasm, that it means two hundred days' sailing south of Pine Island. Obviously, the Ronish brothers thought it was around the twenty-fifth parallel.
Hold on a second, Juan said. If they were looking for a marker left by a Chinese Admiral, what were they doing so far inland? Whatever the marker was, surely it would be near the coast.
I don't know.
We need to work on those papers you found at the crash site, Max suggested. The answer could be in their log.
We need to learn more about this Admiral Tsai. This came from Eric Stone, who had been sitting at the helm station but had walked around the op center so that he stood behind Eddie. And what was aboard his ship. This could be a significant archaeological find.
Actually, Max said, we need to ask ourselves if this is worth pursuing further. What's this to us, anyway?
I think the answer is pretty clear, Stone replied. This is something of interest to the Argentine government, a regime currently at odds with the United States. Whatever their agenda, it can't be good.
I agree, the Chairman said. The Generalissimos have an interest in this thing, and until we know their angle we should keep at it. What about the drawing of that cove or inlet?
That is the outline of the area where their ship was sunk, and, before you ask, I've already got Eric here running a computer match of South America's coastline, including all couple hundred islands that make up Tierra del Fuego. It's going to take some time.
Okay. What's the latest on Linda and her team?
They're still in the snowcat. You're not going to believe what they found. What was supposed to be a small Argentine research station turns out to be a full-blown oil field.
A what?
You heard me. They're drilling for oil off the Antarctic Peninsula.
The news rocked Cabrillo, and he blurted stupidly, But that's illegal.
Well, yeah. Apparently they don't care.
Have you reported this to Overholt?
Not yet. Linda said she snapped some pictures. She wants to include them with her report.
This is getting weirder and weirder, Max said. They're taking a hell of a risk pulling a stunt like that.
Not really, Eric Stone countered. They're already an international pariah, so what's a little more bad will?
Bad will, my butt. The U.S. is going to send an armada down there. It'll be like the Falklands War all over again.
Are you sure? Stone asked, one eyebrow arched.
Hanley opened his mouth to reply but thought better of it because he wasn't sure. With the U.S. military spread thin around the world and the current occupant of the White House more focused on domestic issues, it was possible that the government's response would be weak protests and another round of UN sanctions.
Now we have to ask ourselves if a six-hundred-year-old Chinese ship has anything to do with current global events, Eric said.
If things hold true to form, Juan replied, we can count on it.
Eddie asked, What do you want us to do once Linda returns? Should we stay down here or start heading north?
Cabrillo considered the options and came to a quick decision. Get the ship out of there. We have no idea what the Argentines are planning in Antarctica, but if the balloon goes up and war breaks out I want the Oregon clear. Also, we need to get into position for the Kuwaiti Emir's visit to South Africa. He's hired us as additional security, and that's one lucrative contract.
You got it, Eddie said. They should be back in a couple of hours and then we'll head northward again.
Call me when they're back. I want to hear Linda's full r eport.
Juan killed the connection and brought up his electronic Rolodex. There were more than a thousand names listed, from the direct lines of heads of state to some of the most shadowy characters in the world. He thought it ironic that when listed alphabetically, Langston Overholt's entry was next to a French pimp who also trafficked in information.
It was three hours earlier on the East Coast, so he wasn't worried about the time difference. A deep baritone answered on the second ring. Hello?
Mr. Perlmutter, this is Juan Cabrillo.
The infamous Chairman. How are you?
Though the two had never met and had spoken on the phone only once, each was well aware of the other's reputation. St. Julian Perlmutter was a living encyclopedia of all things maritime and owned the largest private collection of books, manuscripts, and folios about the history of ships and shipping. His Georgetown home was quite literally packed to the rafters with his well-thumbed trove.
It had been one of Perlmutter's research projects a few months back that eventually sent the crew of the Oregon to Libya and led to the rescue of the Secretary of State, Fiona Katamora.
Fine, sir. Yourself?
A bit peckish, as the Brits might say. Dinner's still in the oven, and the aroma is mouthwatering. Perlmutter's second-greatest love was food, and to meet him one could see he dined with gusto. Tell me you're here in the States, and I can finally get a tour of your ship.
Max Hanley and I are here, as a matter of fact, but the Oregon's at sea. There was no reason not to tell Perlmutter where the ship was other than that Juan didn't know if the other man's phones were clean. I was wondering if I could pick your brain.
Good God, man, you're starting to sound like Dirk. All he ever calls for is information. At least his kids have the decency to bring me a little something when they come to pump their old uncle St. Julian for his knowledge.
Max and I are in Washington State, we'll send you some of their famous apples.
Make it Dungeness crab instead, and you have a deal. What do you need to know?
The Chinese Treasure Fleet.
Ah, Admiral Zheng. What about it?
Actually, I'm talking about Admiral Tsai Song.
I'm afraid that's a myth, Perlmutter started, and then stopped speaking for a moment. Did you find evidence that he really existed? He's real?
Are you familiar with the Pine Island Treasure Pit?
Yes, of course, Perlmutter's voice suddenly shot up a couple of octaves. My God. That was Tsai?
There's a secret chamber off the main shaft. He left a plaque there, giving a hint to where they abandoned one of their other ships.
So it wasn't pirate loot at all. I never believed it was, but this is fantastic. Tsai Song's voyage was thought to be nothing more than a story, most likely invented in the eighteenth century as a way of claiming national pride when China was in the throes of unrest due to British meddling.
