Story becomes a bit clearer from here on ... I hope!


Base Camp

"Do you think we look suitably ordinary?" asked Jack. He had orientated them so that they were at right angles to the sea, with the beach in front of them and the rising headland behind. They could still see the water and salvage boat but it was not in their obvious line of sight. The position was also ideal for relaxing as it sheltered them from the breeze and from prying eyes.

"Seems a bit exposed. We're the only ones here," she replied.

"Good. That's Captain Jack's third rule of sneaky: hide in plain sight." She groaned. Jack opened the picnic hamper which had a mixture of items inside. He took out a small radio and tuned it to an easy-listening station.

"Music while we work?" asked Toshiko, smiling.

Jack smiled back, "Not quite. It's also a perimeter alarm. If anyone gets to within 50 metres of us it'll give out a signal to alert us."

"Clever," she acknowledged. She pointed to her laptop, resting in the hamper where she had put it, "Pass me that," she said, holding out her hand.

"No. It would look just a bit ridiculous, don't you think? You can, however, use it while it's still in the hamper." He smiled across at her, "The hamper also acts as a power source."

"You think of everything," she conceded, moving over to sit next to the hamper. She opened the laptop and logged on, checking all was well.

"Run a scan on the boat, it should be in range. I'd like to know why they've been at that spot, on and off, for the past two weeks. There's been no wrecks or spillages from cargo ships so what's so interesting?" Jack leant back on his hands, face turned up to the sky. He looked like someone just enjoying the sunshine. "That, by the way, is my fourth rule of sneaky: use all the technology you've got to make the job easier."

"I like that one!" she laughed.

"Thought you would."

Toshiko set up her scan. "It'll take a little while," she said, looking over at him.

"Then close the hamper, your laptop'll be okay, and lie down here next to me. Relax." He lay down, with one arm above his head, the other across his middle. "That is my fifth rule: enjoy yourself at every opportunity 'cos you never know what'll happen next."

Toshiko smiled and did as she was bid. It seemed odd not to take a more pro-active approach but if Jack wanted to operate this way she was not going to argue. She found a comfortable position and closed her eyes.