The cinema of my dreams – I always wanted to go on a treasure hunt – Episode 9

Here’s the thing.

Every time I close my eyes, I see something different.

I’d like to think the cinema of my dreams is playing a double feature but it’s a bit like a comedy cartoon night on Fox.

But these dreams are nothing to laugh about.

Once again there’s a new instalment of an old feature, and back on the treasure hunt.

Nadia Cossatino was the one girl Alex Benderby couldn’t have for obvious reasons. The Cossatinos and the Benderby’s were sworn enemies, each running the more nefarious activities in their parts of the city.

Of the two, it was widely known if you crossed a Cossatino, then you were dead, or worse. Nadia’s older brother Vince was the most feared kid in school, and people like Boggs and I kept well out of his way.

That being said, there was one occasion when we had been caught in the crossfire, and present, accidentally, at a showdown between Alex and Vince, over Nadia. Alex, as he was wont to do, pushed his luck too far, and found himself on the end of an ultimatum.

Which usually meant a fight in one of the old wharf sheds.

Boggs and I just happened to be in the shed, looking for anything that might have been left behind, when the two warring parties turned up. Vince and four members of his gang, including Nadia, arrived and Alex with several of his shortly after.

As soon as he saw Vince, Boggs bolted, leaving me like a deer staring into headlights. I tried to hide in one of the old offices, but Nadia, not one to sit still, not probably interested in the beating Vince was going to hand Alex, came wandering in.

I prayed she wouldn’t see me.

Prayers: unanswered.

“Who is that?” She knew someone was in the room.

I poked my head above the dusty desk.

She seemed unsurprised to find me there. “Smidge. That’s what Alex calls you, isn’t it?”

I shook my head. Even she was calling me by that name.

“No, It’s Sam.”

“Smidge sounds better. What are you doing here? Come to see the fight?”

“No. Just looking around, plenty of history in this old building.”

“It’s just a dump.”

“Perhaps I should go. I doubt Vince will want any witnesses.”

“You a friend of Alex?”

I thought we went to the same school, but perhaps I was wrong. Maybe this was Nadia’s twin. I was going to set her straight but remembered Vince was just downstairs, and after he dealt with Alex, maybe he’d want another hapless soul to beat up.

But as usual, my mouth got the better of me.

“You know as well as I do, I avoid both Alex, Vince, and you like the plague. I’ve seen what happens to people who simply glance in your direction.”

“So Smidge has a backbone. And not a friend of Alex, obviously. Good to know. Keep your nose clean and out of matters that don’t concern you. Leave. You were never here.”

She was right. I was never there.

Searching for locations: Mount Ngauruhoe, New Zealand

Mount Ngauruhoe is apparently still an active volcano, has been for 2,500 years or so, and last erupted on 19th February 1975, and reportedly has erupted around 70 times since 1839.

The mountain is usually climbed from the western side, from the Mangatepopo track.

This photo was taken in summer from the Chateau Tongariro carpark.

In late autumn, on one of our many visits to the area, the mountain was covered with a light sprinkling of snow and ice.

On our most recent visit, this year, in winter, it was fully covered in snow.

It can be a breathtaking sight from the distance.

The cinema of my dreams – I always wanted to go on a treasure hunt – Episode 8

Here’s the thing.

Every time I close my eyes, I see something different.

I’d like to think the cinema of my dreams is playing a double feature but it’s a bit like a comedy cartoon night on Fox.

But these dreams are nothing to laugh about.

Once again there’s a new installment of an old feature, and back on the treasure hunt.

I lasted the week in the warehouse, and, surprising myself, I actually liked it.

And, had I been like all the other workers employed there, keeping their heads down and getting on with the job, everything would have remained the same.

My problem, it seemed, was Alex Benderby. He had been a bully at school, and he was a bully in the workplace, hiding behind his father’s name and reputation, not that his father was much better, just a little more discreet.

Day 2, Alex discovered I was working in the warehouse, his domain. For some reason it amused him that I should be there, working for the Benderby’s, something I’d been very vocal about it not working for them, even if, he reminded me, they were the last people on earth.

He confronted me with two of his bully friends. Alex was not someone to walk around alone. He knew what would happen if he did.

“What changed, Smidge.”

The nickname he gave me, though I never quite understood why. English and language had never been his strong point.

“The poverty line. Sometimes people have to swallow their pride. It’s not a big deal, Alex.”

“Is to me, to see how the mighty have fallen. I’ve got my eye on you Smidge. One wrong foot, and, well, we shall see.”

The salacious grin, as he walked away, was the key. He could and no doubt would hold my job over me like he did with countless others. At that moment I think I made a promise to myself, to help Boggs find the treasure, and bury Alex in a hoe so deep not even he, or his father’s money and influence could save him.

Hours later, still rankling over the confrontation, I nearly ran into Alex again, just managing to avoid him by slipping behind the shelving to wait until he passed by.

When he didn’t, I decided to wait till he walked past, and then head in the other direction. But, after a few minutes and he hadn’t appeared, I peered around the corner of the shelving and saw him sitting on a half-emptied pallet of boxes.

Waiting.

Waiting for what, or more to the point, whom?

Five minutes later I found out. A long, cool woman in a tall black dress, a woman I’d seen before but couldn’t quite place.

“Nadia.”

“Alex. What do you want?” Her tone was far from conciliatory, and if she was not happy about being there, why was she?

“A favor.”

“You’ve run out of favors Alex.”

“Then how about I tell your father exactly what you were doing when you were doing something else?”

A moment’s silence before the fury. “We had an agreement.”

“I need a favor. You’re the only one I can trust. After this, I promise, we’re done.”

Another quick look around the corner of the shelves. One person looking smug, the other looking very, very angry.

But, it appeared, Alex had the leverage.

“What is it?”

“Rico has a map. I want it. You bring it to me, you’re off the hook.”

She gave him a long hard stare. “I deliver the map, and I see you again, you’re a dead man. Your father might think he runs this part of town, but I can assure you there are far scarier people than him and his henchmen. Remember that Alex.”

If she had a gun I think she might have shot him, but instead left him with a latent threat. It was good to see that he was, for once, the one with the worried look.

The cinema of my dreams – I never wanted to go to Africa – Episode 46

Our hero knows he’s in serious trouble.

The problem is, there are familiar faces and a question of who is a friend and who is foe made all the more difficult because of the enemy, if it was the enemy, simply because it didn’t look or sound or act like the enemy.

Now, it appears, his problems stem from another operation he participated in, and because of it, he has now been roped into what might be called a suicide mission.

…

It took longer, as everything does when you’re in a hurry.

The plane was loaded, the fuel truck had just disconnected the final hose, and was leaving the field, and Davies was firing up the engines.

Everyone was on board and strapped in. I gave my thanks to the Colonel and shut the door before joining Davies in the cockpit.

Looking at her cool, calm demeanor gave me confidence. If anyone could get us out of here in one piece, she could.

I put the headphones on and put on the seat belt, just as she revved the engines, saw the wave from the ground crewman who removed the wheel chocks, and we started moving.

15 minutes to spare. Would it be enough?

The Colonel had said that it was possible the helicopter might be one of those belonging to the air force and might have missiles that could shoot us down. Not a good thought. At the very least it would have a cannon, and if the bullets hit us, it could make an awful mess of the fuselage.

He didn’t have any good news though.

I was hoping it would just be a commercial helicopter with a couple of thugs with handguns shooting at us.

At the top of the runway, she didn’t waste time going to full throttle, and we started rumbling down the runway. Unfortunately, the wind had changed and to take off we had to initially fly towards Congo airspace before turning towards our destination.

Then we lifted off and started gaining altitude.

Then I heard Davies mutter, “Fuck.”

Trouble. I saw what elicited the curse. The helicopter, heading towards us.

“Military,” she added.

Not that I had any idea what I was looking for, but it didn’t seem to have rockets, but it did have a cannon barrel under the fuselage.

“Brace yourself,” she said. “We’re about to get on the roller coaster.”

Still climbing we were getting closer, and I could just see the cannon move. If it was shooting rounds, they didn’t hit us, not from such a distance, but they were getting closer because we were still flying towards them.

Then, suddenly, she turned the planes to the right and down, a plunge so quick that my stomach was in my mouth. I hate to think what it would be like for those in the back.

Aside from the fact my hearing was blocked by the headphones, I could still hear several mini-explosions coming from behind me.

Another curse, rather longer this time, from Davies and she twisted the plane back in the opposite direction, and heading around towards the airfield again, much lower down this time, with the helicopter in hot pursuit.

Now we couldn’t see it, but it would have a good view of our engines and tail.

If any of the bullets hit, we’d be in big trouble.

I was bracing myself for disaster.

Davies was coaxing the plane upwards, but it seemed sluggish.

Nothing happened.

“Gun’s jammed.” She said. “If you don’t maintain your equipment…”

That statement was cut off by a huge explosion and turning as far as I could in my seat I just saw the remnants of a firewall, what was once a helicopter.

“Ground to air rocket. The Colonel must have some interesting toys at his disposal.” Davies sounded very relieved.

I started breathing again.

“Are we damaged?” It was a valid question. The plane seemed like it was flying awkwardly.

“I’d say so., Those explosions. Cannon fire hitting the fuselage. Probably took out some controls, or failing that, since there’s still maneuverability, probably just a few holes creating drag.”

She was a matter of fact like, but that was more because she was fighting the controls to keep us moving in the right direction.

Away from trouble.

“Go check it out,” she said.

At the head of the cabin, I saw the problem, a row of neat holes carved from one window through to halfway along the fuselage, going down. We’d be lucky if one of the bullets hadn’t struck one of the wires that drove the flaps/

There was a hell of a noise from the air coming in through the holes.

By the second window, slumped forward, was Shurl. There was blood and blood spatter on the floor. Monroe came up to me and yelled in my ear.

“Damned good flying, and only one casualty. We were incredibly lucky. Shurl wasn’t quick enough to get on the floor. Other than that, we’re still in the air, and I’m guessing someone shot the helo down?”

“Ground to air missile. Any sooner, that would have been us. Try and sit back, rest, and enjoy the in-flight service. Oh, and a prayer or two might help.”

The cinema of my dreams – I always wanted to go on a treasure hunt – Episode 7

Here’s the thing.

Every time I close my eyes, I see something different.

I’d like to think the cinema of my dreams is playing a double feature but it’s a bit like a comedy cartoon night on Fox.

But these dreams are nothing to laugh about.

Once again there’s a new installment of an old feature, and back on the treasure hunt.

My mother was happy that I’d been given a job, and when I relayed Benderby’s message, she said she would have to call and thank him.

It was in a tone that surprised me, and if I had not known better, I was left with the impression she might actually go out with him. Aside from the fact Benderby was married, he also hit on every woman he could, especially those at work.

I shrugged. My mother was old enough to look after herself.

Boggs came around, having realized I was not going to answer his calls and demanded to know what my problem was.

“Some of us have to work, Boggs. It’s taken a while but I realize my mother cannot do it on her own.”

“But working for Benderby, that’s like selling out to Satan.”

“It’s one of the few places where there still is work. Besides, I’m not shoveling the shit, just taking inventory of it. Pencil pusher. I have to make this work so anything we do will have to be outside working hours.” Then, another thought came to me, one that might appease Boggs. “In fact, you could think of me as your inside man. Working there, I should be able to keep an eye on the Benderby’s and finds out what they know, and are doing, if anything. Don’t you think?”

He looked both skeptical and reluctant, but, saying it out aloud made some sort of sense.

“I’m not putting the treasure hunt on hold, Sam,” he said, in that sulky tone he used when he didn’t get his way.

“Don’t expect you to, but I wouldn’t get to carried away with it. I heard Rico trying to sell Alex Benderby the map this morning.”

“Where?”

“In the employee car park. Alex reckons the map is a load a bunk. You still got it?”

I saw his hand go over his back pocket. “It’s safe.”

“And you reckon it’s real. Maybe that was not the sort of thing you should be talking about in front of Rico. He wants it, but peddling it to Alex wasn’t his best play. You know what’ll happen if he gets his hands on it.”

“Rico will get cut out.

“So will you.”

“Not if I keep a copy and sell him the original. We’re going to need money to carry out our own search.”

I shook my head. “You will not come out ahead. The Benderby’s of this world always win and the likes of us always lose.”

“That may or may not be the case, but we have to take control of this. At least it will take Rico out of the equation. I’ll work on a plan. Thanks for the tip. And, as you say, you can be my inside man. That way we might be able to keep one step ahead of them.”

If they decided to be players. But, would be no stopping him.

I sighed. This whole map thing was going to end badly.

© Charles Heath 2019-2021