Chapter 4

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"This is Admiral Jim Sandecker speaking." Sandecker said

"Hello Admiral, my name is Andrew Morgan."

"Yeah I know, you had a run in with my boys two days ago about a job I believe?"

"That's correct, only problem is that your boys didn't show up and I asked them to specifically do so."

"I'm sure they had their reasons. What kind of job is it?"

"A job I'm sure you would be interested in."

"Look Mr. Morgan, I don't know what kind of business you're involved with, but whatever it is, we won't have anything to do with it."

Dirk listened to the conversation. He could hear some of what Mr. Morgan was saying across the line but only vaguely. He seemed to be desperate to get them to do the job for him and it was clearly something very important.

"I know your boys found the American gold on the Texas last year, I've done my homework. I know they're not afraid of challenges and I need people like that for this job. I've asked around and no one else will do it. You're the last ones I can ask. It's nothing criminal I can assure you and you will be paid for it." Morgan told him

"Exactly what kind of job is this Mr. Morgan?" Sandecker asked

"It's hard to tell you over the phone. I need your boys to hear it too. I was thinking we could meet somewhere, quite soon."

"We're busy."

"I don't mind the lady hearing it too."

Sandecker turned around and looked at Jasmine. How did Morgan know that she was here? He didn't like the sound of things but he had a feeling that they weren't getting away from him. Dirk saw the look he gave Jasmine and wondered what was really going on. Sandecker sighed; half annoyed and decided to give in.

"When and where?" He asked

"I have a villa a couple of minutes from your ship. I'll meet you there in half an hour. And I meant what I said about not minding the lady hearing. Even if she is a little too young to be called lady. I'll see you in a while then Admiral, your boys have the address."

Sandecker put away the satellite phone and turned around to the others who were obviously waiting eagerly to hear what Morgan had told him. Judging the look on his face, he was worried and Dirk, Al and Rudi knew that when he was worried it was never a good thing.

"He knew Jasmine was here." Sandecker told them

"Okay, who is this guy and how did he know I was here?" Jasmine asked

"Al and I ran into him on our way from the dinner party. He talked about some job he wanted us to do for him because oh the incident last year and we told him no. Guess he didn't like it too much. What did say about Jasmine?" Dirk explained

"He said he didn't mine her coming along. In fact it sounded as if that's what he wanted." Sandecker said

"Okay, that's scary." Jasmine stated

"When did he want to see us?" Al asked

"In half an hour, he has a villa close by; he said you guys have the address." Sandecker replied

Dirk looked in the pocket of his pants and took out the card he had given him during the encounter and handed it to Sandecker. The adventurer wasn't so sure he liked the idea of going there, especially since he didn't know how Morgan had known Jasmine was there. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happened to her while they were there.

"Let's get ourselves ready shall we. He wanted us to be there in half an hour. It can't take that long to walk there." Sandecker told them


Somewhere in the Indian jungle

The two men were walking fast through the jungle; they didn't want anyone else to see them there. If someone did then they were going to be in a lot of trouble and that was something they would not risk happening. This was their duty and it was an honourable one as well, failing the task would bring disgrace and shame to their tribe and they would never be welcomed back. Their wives would leave them and their children would never talk to them. It was also a very difficult task and of that they were sure. One mistake could be fatal. One mistake could make a very big difference. They couldn't risk it. They weren't allowed to.


They found the house rather quickly and Jasmine figured that whoever this guy was, he had a lot of money and knew how to spend it. It scared her when she found out that he had known she was there. The group entered the house and the 19 year old hoped that the meeting would go well because they couldn't know what to expect from their so called 'host'. As they entered the lounge a man walked down stairs and Jasmine assumed it was Andrew Morgan.

"Welcome to my home. I'm glad you could come and I apologize for the other day." Morgan told them

"Don't worry; we get guns pointed at us all the time." Al said

"Please sit."

"What exactly is this about?" Dirk asked

Morgan sat down on a sofa. He had gotten them to come this far, which meant that they were curious so he was going to tell them the truth. "Alright, you've been patient so I'm going to tell you."

"Finally." Al muttered

"In the early 1950s an archaeological discovery was made that was kept very quiet because the team didn't want the word to get out. They found a treasure, one that people have been searching for thousands of years."

"What treasure?" Sandecker asked

"Agamemnon's treasure."

Jasmine looked up at him surprised. Agamemnon's treasure had been one people had been searching for a long time and it had been found by a German archaeologist and he had taken it out of Turkey. It couldn't be that treasure, it just wasn't possible.

"You know about Troy?" Morgan asked her

"I know a German archaeologist said he found it in Turkey and he also found Agamemnon's treasure and took it out of the country." Jasmine replied

"That's not necessarily true. What Schliemann found wasn't Troy and it certainly was not Agamemnon's treasure. No, the treasure of Troy would be much bigger or else Homer wouldn't have made such a big deal out of it. In order to keep their discovery a secret, the team decided to smuggle the gold out of the country in order to keep it to themselves, but things didn't go as planned. The plane the gold was on crashed, the pilots died and the gold has gone missing."

"What do you mean missing? Did someone steal it?" Sandecker asked

"That's what we think. But we're not sure who did it yet."

"And you want us to find out who did it?" Dirk guessed

"Precisely."

"Why us?" Al asked

"Because I've heard that you're the only ones fit enough for the job and you will get paid for it. I can assure you that."

"What do you get out of it?" Sandecker asked

"I don't want to keep the treasure for myself if that's what you're asking. I'm donating it to the Turkish government where it belongs. I know you're suspicious and I don't blame you, but I am offering you a deal. Find the treasure, let me know where it is and I'll donate money to your next dive. You are looking for that old warship aren't you? You need the money and I need the help."

Sandecker thought for a while. It was true that they needed the money but he didn't want to put Dirk and Al's lives on the line just because of a treasure. He faced towards the two friends to see what they had to say about it. Dirk was always up for an adventure but even this time he seemed a little suspicious.

"Do you have any idea of where the gold might be?" Dirk asked

"The plane crashed somewhere in the Indian jungle. That's all I know. The rest is up to you to find out." Morgan replied

"How, when and where?" Al asked

"I have a plane that will take you to Turkey in a few hours where I have a friend who's an archaeologist. He will explain things a little better and he will take you to the dig site."

"Can't we leave tomorrow? My aunt won't be back until later tonight and there's no way I'm leaving Jasmine alone on this island." Dirk said. Not with people like you around he added to himself

"Then take her with you." Morgan suggested

"Are you kidding me? How am I gonna explain that one to my mom?"

"Jasmine, can I talk to you for a minute alone?" Dirk asked

"Sure."

Dirk and Jasmine left the room. He didn't trust Morgan but he knew that NUMA needed the money and if the treasure really was going to go to the Turkish government he would go along with it but he wasn't leaving Jasmine alone around him, even if Sandecker would look out for her. Not to mention that Kay would kill him if she found out that he had just left.

"Jasmine, I am not leaving you alone in this town around that guy. I'm gonna do this for NUMA because we need the money and if the treasure goes to the Turkish government then it's a good deed but either way, you're gonna have to come with us." Dirk told her

"And tell my mom what? That I decided to go treasure hunting with you? She's gonna freak out." Jasmine said

"No. I'll have Sandecker tell her what's going on so she doesn't have to worry. Besides, look at it as an adventure. What do you say?"

Jasmine thought for a few seconds and hoped that Morgan was telling the truth and that they weren't going to get into trouble or leading them on a wild goose chase. Knowing her mom, she was going to freak out either way. She sighed and decided to go along with it. She nodded and the two of them walked back into the living room.

"What do you say Al? Are you with us?" Dirk asked

"I can't let you do anything stupid now can I." Al replied

"So it's all settled then?" Morgan asked

"It is. But if this is a trick, you'll be sorry you asked us in the first place." Dirk told him

"It's not a trick. I give you my word."

TBC…


There you go, they're going to Turkey. It should be rather interesting right? And now you have the explanation to why Jasmine goes along with them. Read the next chapter please.