He could see the outlines of what appeared to be a sunken ship. It looked to be big.

"This has to be it," he said to the screen.

Dennis typed 'Tangipito' into the laptop and brought up the one known image of the freighter on a search engine. He moved the laptop next to the monitor. They all studied the contours. There were similarities.

"You know," Hutchinson said, "Some years ago Turkish fighter jets flew over mount Ararat and photographed what appeared to be a massive boat like shape on the mountain's slopes."

Ali nodded.

"They now think that is the resting place of Noah's ark from the bible."

Dennis looked at them both.

"Now that would make a story."

Hutchinson was about to tell them to stick to the matter iin hand when the radio crackled and a female voice cut in.

"Jim I think we've found something."

Hutchinson picked up the headset and spoke into the microphone.

"Hutchinson here. What have you found Natalie?"

"At first guess George thinks it's a freighter."

The excitement on the 'Volante' bridge quickened.

"Are you able to read a name?"

"No there's too much gunk and stuff covering it but George thinks it looks a lot like your photograph. He's giving me the thumbs up down here big time."

Hutchinson felt himself breaking out into a sweat. He loosened his tie and undid the top button on his shirt.

"Can you use your head cams?"

"It's very murky Jim. I'll put mine on now. Don't think you're going to get much. It's on now."

Hutchinson nudged Ali to search for the images.

"We've got something," Hutchinson said, "It's not very clear down there. Is that George next to you now?"

"Yes."

"And where is the subject?"

Natalie turned her head towards the shipwreck. They could barely make out the hull.

"It's not very clear."

"Hang on a second."

Natalie reached up a gloved hand and wiped the camera lens.

"Is that any clearer?"

"A little. Nat can you and your team make your way to the stern."

"Will do Jim."

Dennis looked up at Hutchinson.

"Will that take them a minute or two?"

"Probably."

"I'll take this advantage of a toilet break."

Hutchinson nodded without taking his eyes off the computer images.

Dennis rinsed his hands under the hot tap and dried them on a towel. He left the toilet just as one of the crew was just passing with a tray of cups, coffee steaming pleasantly. Dennis side stepped to move out of the way but the crew member insisted the guest go first. Dennis was about to when something caught his eye. He moved to the railings at the ship's side. The coffee left a brief aroma as it disappeared around the corner.

The *Wavecrest' had just left the harbour and was moving slowly towards them. Dennis watched it for a minute or so as it got slowly bigger on the horizon. Finally Dennis turned away and walked to the bottom of the stairs that led to the bridge. He stopped as the unmistakeable sound of a helicopter came across to him. He put his hand above his eyes to block out the sun but he couldn't see it near the approaching ship. Then he caught movement out of the corner of his eye and saw it against the horizon. It was travelling at a right angle from the *Wavecrest'. Then it turned quickly and was heading for the *Volante'. Dennis raced for the bridge and burst through the door.

"We've got visitors," he said rushing back outside. Ali and Jim right behind.

The Lynx was moving low across the water and fast. It rushed by the *Volante' before banking high and to the right. The turbine screamed as it gained height and then it came back past. Dennis could see the bulk of Danilov next to the pilot. He felt the Russian's eyes boring into him.

The Lynx slowed and finally stopped one thousand metres from the *Volante'. It hovered fifty metres above the sea and all the while Dennis felt Danilov staring at them. Ali rushed back inside the bridge and returned moments later with binoculars.

"What are they doing?" Hutchinson asked.

They all saw something fall from the helicopter and make a splash.

"They've just dropped a buoy into the sea."

"A buoy?"

"Yes."

They could see the buoy, a light flashing from its top.

"Is that to warn of divers in the water?" Dennis asked aware that Natalie and her team could be at risk if the *Wavecrest' had men in the water. Especially Danilov.

"No it looks like a satellite receiving buoy. It's definitely for communications."

"Could they have found the wreck?"

Hutchinson watched the flashing light one hundred and fifty feet below the helicopter. The rotor blades making a perfect pattern on the water.

"No I don't think so," Hutchinson answered, "I think they're just happy to sit back and wait for us to find it. Though I don't understand why."

"Could they have any sort of special claim over it?"

"No more than anyone else."

The helicopter dipped its nose as it powered up and began to move forward. It flew past the 'Volante' once more and was gone.

Hutchinson went back to the screens.

"Come in Natalie," he said into the headset.

She answered instantly.

"Jim is everything all right. What was that noise overhead. It didn't sound like a boat."

"No it was the Lynx helicopter from the 'Wavecrest'. It's nothing to worry about. They just dropped a communications buoy into the water."

"What does that mean for us?"

"Nothing. They have a lot of state of the art equipment on board. It's probably to do with that. Natalie are you ok? Your voice sounds different."

"I'm fine Jim. Yours sounds different also, sort of croaky. Must be something to do with that buoy. Maybe it's sonar."

Hutchinson stayed quiet for a minute, thinking.

"Did you hear me Jim?" I said maybe it's a sonar buoy."

"Yes maybe Nat," Hutchinson said, but he wasn't happy. He clicked his fingers to Dennis who was still watching the 'Wavecrest'.

"Do you want to see what you can find out about buoys with the laptop. I don't trust them for one moment."

Dennis jumped into the chair and tapped on a laptop keyboard.

"I'm on it."

"Natalie have you reached the stern yet?"

"Yes Jim," she replied, "Take a look at this."

She turned her head down. Hutchinson could see her feet in flippers. Then nothing.

"What is it?"

"The stern of the ship is balancing off the edge of a cliff."

"How far does it go down?"

"I don't know. Can't see the bottom but it's deep."

"Is the ship safe?"

"I would think so. There's at least three quarters of it on a sand bar. The stern is in one big mess. Most of it has been ripped outa.George has just told me. It's the 'Tangipito.'

There was excitement in her voice.

"Jim we've found it."

A cheer went up on the bridge of the 'Volante' Dennis and Hutchinson shook hands with each other and then both with Ali.

"Is it time to break open the champagne?" the journalist asked.

"Not yet," Hutchinson replied. He could hardly contain himself when he asked his next question.

"Natalie the sarcophagus. Can you see the sarcophagus?"

There was an agonising silence for a minute then her voice came back.

"No. No sign of the sarcophagus. Not yet anyway."

Hutchinson felt his excitement drop.

"You are sure it's the 'Tangipito' aren't you."

"Yes I can read the name clearly. It's about the only bit of the stern still recognisable."

"Nat it's Peter. Is the damage jagged. The freighter was torpedoed."

"Yes the whole rear of the ship has been ripped out."

Natalie swam to the edge of the large gaping wound in the vessel's stern. It was completely dark inside. The lights on her helmet not penetrating the gloom.

Hutchinson checked his watch. The team had fifteen minutes of air left.

"Natalie you have a quarter of an hour left. Can you go inside?"

"Yes Jim but I don't know how much we will be able to see. It's pitch black inside."

"Ok but please be careful. Don't put anyone at risk."

"I know. I know."

The six divers positioned themselves at the hole and slowly one by one with George leading they entered the wrecked hull of the 'Tangipito'. Natalie was directly behind George. He was no more than four feet in front. She stopped and turned her head. It was too dark to see anything. The others stopped behind her. When she looked forward again George was gone.

"Can anyone see anything?" she asked.

No one replied.

"Natalie what's going on down there?"