Voyage into Slavery. Chapter 17
Grimly, Jennings made his way towards Captain Liu’s personal quarters. He was constantly thinking of Louise, but he had to concentrate on this job forced onto him. Sarah had detected the signals of the planted explosives, and he’d remembered what Kieko had told him, about the hidden lift in Liu’s room. That would lead him down to all the kidnapped girls. Kieko was certain of that. He was also certain that Takachi’s word was not to be trusted. Jennings just prayed that he would be able to disarm all the bombs and rescue Louise and Kieko.
He finally reached Liu’s personal room, and immediately saw the mass of bodies here. Checking Liu’s unmoving form, he found that the Captain was still alive. His pulse was faint, but still there. Yee was also still alive, and in the same condition. It was then, that he saw the small bottle that Takachi had left, on the drinks tray. Gently
sniffing it, he winced in distaste.
Sarah made contact, asking for an
update.
’I’m in the Captain’s quarters, he’s been drugged with plenty of
others. They won’t recover from this, for quite some time.’he replied.
Sarah then asked him,’Did you find the hidden lift?’ Jennings went straight for
Liu’s desk, and felt under it. He found the switch, and pressed it. Sure enough, the wall moved.
’ Found it.’ He entered the lift, and it took him down.
Sarah’s voice was full of worry, as she informed him,’John, there are two armed men waiting to ambush you, in the cargo hold.’
Jennings responded that he understood, and brought out his own weapon, a semi-automatic pistol. He flicked off the safety, as the lift came to a stop. As the lift doors opened, there was a savage burst of gunfire. A hail of bullets slammed into the lift, then stopped after a few moments. One of Takachi’s men slowly rose from his firing position, and advanced carefully up to the now bullet strewn lift. He peered inside, and was puzzled to see no sign of Jennings’ body. However, Jennings suddenly slammed into the man’s torso, kicking his feet into him. He’d hidden on top of the lift, and achieved complete suprise on his opponent. The man went flying back to collapse in a heap. He saw the door that would probably lead him to the girls, but as he moved towards it, the second man then made his move, firing madly in his direction. However, Jennings knew these men were just hired muscle. They didn’t have his long experiences, as a professional
soldier. He easily rolled out of the man’s line of fire, and fired his own weapon at him. With grim satisfaction, he watched the second man become a bloody corpse.
Sarah’s voice was practically screaming at him in his headset,
’John! Are you alright? Answer me! John!’
He did answer her,
’Sarah, I’m okay, moving in to cargo bay 2.’He distinctly heard her sigh of relief, then she told him,’I’m picking up electronic detonation signatures in the hold itself. Whoever set them there, made sure it was done with remote control in mind.’
Jennings thought back to Takachi holding the detonator over Louise. His reply was grim.
’Yeah, so I’ve noticed.’
He saw the entrance was locked, but easily forced his way in. He stood stunned, as he saw the many large cages, that held a single bound and gagged woman. Every one of them was staring at him, moaning against their gags, and desperately appealing to him for help.
Jennings couldn’t move for a few moments, he was simply overwhelmed by the stunning beauty of the tied up women.
He snapped himself back to reality, when he saw the first bomb. It had been placed right next to a Chinese woman dressed in the uniform of the’Eastern Princess.’Jennings recognised her from the photos Kieko had given him earlier.
’Miss Lee?’he asked, then felt a fool, as he remembered the girl was gagged. She couldn’t reply. Yet, she did. Angela Lee nodded her head, her eyes grateful and warm, over her black tape gag. She knew instantly, that this was Jennings, the English girl’s brother. She slithered over, due to her own tight ropes secured all over her.
The man was examining the bomb. He glanced up at her, and smiled reassuringly,’Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.’He went back to examining the bomb.
Angela’s morale soared. It looked as if his words had a positive impact on them all. They mumbled through their gags, for him to release them, but for the moment, he couldn’t help them. The bomb threat had to be dealt with first. He was very grateful he’d attended the bomb disposal course back home. It took him a few minutes to disarm it, but he did, and sighed with relief.
’Sarah, bomb disarmed,’he told his younger sister,’I’m going to help these girls.’
Sarah was over the moon, but kept calm, as she acknowledged him.
Jennings rose to examine the padlock on Angela’s cage, then glanced back at her.
’Did those two men have a key on them?’
Angela could only shake her head, and mumble an uintelligible response. The tape gag still did its job very effectively over her mouth.
’Get back,’he ordered her, as he produced his pistol, and aimed it, at the padlock. He broke it with a single shot. Then, opening the cage door, he gently pulled Angela out, and then peeled away the tape. After taking out the balled up cloth from her mouth, he was concerned to see her gasp, as she begged him for a drink. Fortunately, he was carrying a bottle of water, and he held it to her lips, as she drank from it.
’Take it easy, Miss Lee,’he told her politely,’don’t gulp it.’
Angela nodded. It was just so good to be free from being gagged.
Jennings then cut away her ropes, with his knife. Once she was free, Angela promptly collapsed, but he caught her.
’Better sit down, Miss’ he helped her do that,’try to get your circulation back, okay?’he gave her another warm smile, before he then went to free another bound and gagged woman.
All of them seemed to be imploring him, to come and help them first. He then saw Su. Her eyes pleaded at him, and he raced over, shot the lock away, and pulled her out.
Jennings again, took away her gag, and started to cut away her many loops of ropes that had been tied around her.
When Su was finally free, she hugged Jennings lovingly and rewarded him, with a really nice kiss.
’I never thought you would give up on me.’Su told him, still holding her arms around his neck.
He smiled back,’Well, you helped me. It’s only fair that I return the favour.’
Su kissed him again. Jennings did enjoy it, but he knew time was against him. He gestured at Angela, who was painfully massaging her wrists.
’Will you help Angela, please? I don’t have much time.’
Su looked worried as he said that, but knew what he meant.
’Your sister?’
Jennings nodded. ’Japanese Yakuza man has her. I can’t wait to get my hands on him.’
Su noticed the brief anger flash in his eyes, and believed him.
’Is there anything I can do to help?’she asked him gently.
He gestured again at Angela,’please go and help her.’
Su did so, as he went on to free all the other women locked up. It took a while, but finally he did it. He’d also untied them all, and they’d all given him huge hugs and kisses, when he’d removed their gags. He expressed his own thanks back to them all.
He waited for them all to recover, then he’d get them out of here.
In Captain Liu’s quarters, Liu himself was now slowly starting to come round. His First Officer, Yee did likewise. The others remained unmoving. Both men struggled to recover from the effects of the drug Takachi had used on them. That seemed to be the first thought they both had.
’That sneaky Japanese. . . .’Yee couldn’t finish it.. Liu however, did seem to get his wits back, more sharply than his friend. He poured them a much needed glass of water each, and they slowly sipped it.
’He’ll pay for that,’Liu was adamant,’and I’ll be glad to dish it out.’
It was then that both of them noticed the hidden lift, and the blindingly obvious many bullet holes, that had been fired into it. Both men glanced at each other, a mixed reaction of concern and anger on their faces. Liu instantly activated the hidden camera, he used so frequently to leer at his female captives. They were both stunned to see Jennings surrounded by all the women he’d just freed.
’So,’Liu finally managed to speak, and it wasn’t friendly,’ Our brave English hero seems to have saved the day.’
Yee wasn’t pleased either, but he did remind his Captain,’We’d better find Takachi. Who knows what he’s done, whilst we’ve been out. He could have sabotaged the ship.’
Liu nodded in agreement, his brain was razor sharp in plotting the counter attack, as he ordered,’Get some of our most trusted men here. We’ll get all those girls back to where we want them. There’s no way we are going to lose our special cargo, are we?’
Liu knew precisely what to do, as he also ordered,’Have the security detail check the CCTV footage. I want Jennings’ and Takachi’s movements brought to me, got that?’
Yee nodded, as he left the room.
Liu stared at the image in the cargo bay. He smiled menacingly at them all, even though they couldn’t see him.
’Enjoy your moment, Jennings,’he almost hissed,’I promise you, it’s not going to last.’
He then remembered his sister, and scanned the bay for her. There was no sign of her.