CHAPTER 6.
HIJACK, AND THE SHIP GOES MISSING.
The sun rose early next morning, and after a while the sun's rays shone into Robin's room. Shadows from a leafy branch outside the window, moving in the slight breeze flickered across Robin's closed eyes. He had been dreaming about the hang gliders, and for a moment he thought that the shadows were a part of his dream, until with a start, he came fully awake, and remembered the day before.
"Today is the day". he said to himself, "I wonder what will happen".
He climbed out of bed, and went to the window. When he looked out, he could only see the tops of the trees, as an early morning mist was lying thickly on the ground. As he watched, the sun was warming the air, drying the damp air, and thinning it, bit by bit, until he could see the houses down by the Railway Station.
He remembered Uncle Josh telling him that this meant it would be a fine day, because the old time sailors had a saying that 'When the mist takes to the open sea, fair weather, shipmate, it will be'.
At that moment he heard Mother's alarm clock go off, and soon heard the sound of voices, and clattering plates as Auntie Amy and Mother talked as they laid places for breakfast. Later the delicious smell of bacon frying wafted up the stairs and tickled his nose.
He dressed quickly, and after a rapid visit to the bathroom, ran down stairs to find the table laid.
"Ah" said Auntie Amy, as he came through the door. "Go and wake our guests, and tell them breakfast is ready".
Robin ran back up the stairs to the spare room, and knocked on the door. After he heard Lofty say that he was awake, he turned to go, but as he did, he heard Shorty say
"I hope there will be no killing, today"
Robin froze, hardly daring to breathe.
"No chance ". replied Lofty, and after a pause added darkly.
"Provided everyone does exactly as they are told".
Robin opened Robina's door, and slipped in. He closed the door, until he could just see through a crack. Across the landing, he could see the door to the spare room. That soon opened, and the two strangers came out, and went down stairs.
"What's going on?" asked Robina, who had woken up, and was sitting in bed with her arms round bended knees. Her hair was tousled, but her eyes were bright with curiosity.
Robin told her what he had overheard, and they decided that they would have to keep an even closer watch on the strangers now.
“We’ll say we are going down to the harbour", said Robin. "That way they will think that we are well away from them, but we will follow wherever they go. We will have to be very careful that we are not seen, but there are lots of hedges that we can hide behind. Perhaps if we can get close enough, we might be able to overhear what they are saying".
"I suppose you are right". replied Robina doubtfully, knowing as she did her brother's ability to get into trouble wherever he went.
"At least we will have the medallion if things go badly wrong, and we can call Rhes to help us".
"Come on now", said Robina. "I'll see you downstairs for breakfast.
During breakfast, Lofty and Shorty laughed and joked as if they hadn't a care in the world. The twins had a hard time believing that they had heard the strangers plotting some crime, and that they had really seen the gun lying on the bed.
Lofty asked Auntie Amy if they could have some sandwiches to take out with them, as they expected to be away for some time.
"What about you two?" Mother asked the twins. "What are you doing today?"
"We'll be down at the harbour, or on the beach until the tide comes in enough to float the SANNOX." replied Robin, with a straight face, even though he knew he was telling a lie.
He had to make the strangers think that they would not be any where near the cliff tops, watching what was going on later in the day. He was sorry about telling a fib, because that was something he never did, especially to his mother, but this time he felt he had to.
The strangers collected their lunch packs from the kitchen, and with a wave and a cheery 'See you later', off they went down the path.
"Sooner, rather than later." muttered Robin so that only Robina could hear.
When the strangers had started their car, and driven off, Robin and Robina also said goodbye, grabbed their bikes, and set off in pursuit of their target. They knew where the strangers would park, and as they were well ahead, it was not necessary to take too much care. They had also memorised the car number. Sure enough, when they pedaled carefully up to the last corner and peered round, there was the car, but its occupants were nowhere in sight.
They hid their bikes, passed the gate into a field, and set out along beside the high hedges, and at the top crept along , well hidden, until they saw the strangers who had settled down to wait. The twins managed to crawl along in the long grass beside the hedge, until they were opposite Lofty and Shorty.
"Call the boss, and tell him we're in position" ordered Lofty, and seconds later the twins heard the radio click on.
"Come in Number 1.Come in Number 1.
"Number 1 here” Came the immediate reply. "We're in position now. The time is 10 minutes to 12. The ship should be in sight soon".
"Right. Report the ship in sight and I'll call the birds".
"What birds is he talking about?" whispered Robina.
"I don't know" replied Robin also whispering, "But we'll soon know".
The minutes dragged by, until Shorty said, "There she is. Look through the telescope, and you can see the name quite clearly."
"You're right said Lofty after a pause while he checked with the telescope. "Call the boss, and tell him to get the birds into the air".
"She's in sight now." said Shorty into the radio,. "Right" came the reply. "The birds are on their way."
Again time dragged on, until the twins heard a faint buzzing. Soon it got louder, and the twins risked a look through the top branches of the hedge. There, in a line were the hang gliders, coming towards them. The twins carefully eased themselves into the hedge so that they couldn't be seen from the air. The gliders passed overhead, and the leader swooped down and flew low over the strangers, Lofty stood with his arm pointing straight out to sea as though he was a signpost for the gliders to follow.
This was true, for the other pilots lined up, looking just like a flight of geese, and flew out to sea, following the leader until they were lost from sight.
"They'll be about an hour". said Lofty, "Time for us to have our lunch."
Robin crept away back down the hedge, beckoning for Robina to follow him. When they were some distance away Robin said.
"We can't be seen or heard here. No wonder they said they were bird watchers. They meant hang gliders, not proper birds."
"Yes" agreed Robina, "But what are they doing now?"
"I don't know yet," said Robin. "But we'll soon find out. They must be meeting the ship out there. Perhaps they are smugglers, like in the old days. Maybe they'll land a cargo of Brandy or Whisky, and creep through Port Erin in the dead of night on the way to Douglas to sell their booty".
They chattered on, each trying to outdo the other with wild ideas, until Robin glanced at his watch and said.
"Come on now, be serious. The hour has passed, and it's time for us to get back and watch. They crept back, and when they gently opened a small gap in the branches, they saw a small ship, close in, with all the hang gliders bunched together on the deck, looking for all the world like some colourful flower.
Just then they heard Lofty say.
"Come on. Time to meet the birds".
They stood up, and walked past, so close that the twins could have reached out and touched them, but Lofty and Shorty never looked from side to side, or even back. Soon they vanished down a steep path to the rocks far below. The twins followed carefully, until they were hidden behind a large gorse bush, but could see through it, to where the path met the rocks far below.
As they watched, the ship came in and stopped almost touching the rock
s. Lofty and Shorty caught ropes thrown to them from the ship, and tied them securely to rocks that looked as if they had been made for the job. A gangway was lowered from the ship, and Lofty and Shorty disappeard on board.
Time passed, and then the pilots came out and pulled a big net from a nearby cave, and spread it out over the ship. The net had patches of grass twined in it, and here and there were pieces of what looked like cardboard painted to resemble rocks. When it was finished, the ship had vanished. The twins could hardly believe their eyes.
"Golly". They breathed together. "Perhaps they are smugglers after all."
"Whoops, let's go." said Robin, as he saw Lofty and Shorty start to climb the path up the cliff. They backed away quickly, and as they went away, they tried to make sense of what they had seen.
"This is silly." puffed Robina, who was getting a bit out of breath, as they were almost running. "Who would want to park a boat in that bay, and go to the trouble of hiding a net in a cave, and then hide a boat, when all you have to do is sail into our harbour like anyone else. Unless they are criminals".
"That's what we have to find out." panted Robin. "We're safely out of sight now, and if we do meet them we can say we have come from the harbour".
And so saying, he slowed to a walk. They collected their bikes and pedalled thoughtfully home.
Lofty and Shorty returned to the house just before tea. During the meal they both looked very excited. The twins were still a bit glum.
"What's up?" asked Lofty. "You two look as if you've lost a pound and found a penny".
"It's nothing, really". replied Robina, "We" she started to say, but Robin kicked her none too gently under the table.