Core Beliefs - Chapter 56 - Seal the Deal

Core Beliefs – Chapter 56 - Seal the Deal.

February 12th was a fun day. Matt’s family, Joe and Cynthia, Chris’s clan, Suchet with his family, and Charley and Charlie had flown to San Diego.

Charlotte had contracted an older ocean-going yacht, 225 feet long, with a crew. The accommodations were 1960’s luxury and, importantly, an accessible storage hold.

Nine crates and sixteen people loaded and settled in for a sea cruise.

Shortly after sunset, the captain ordered the lines cast off, and the classically elegant vessel slipped into the harbor and headed for open water.

The first hour of the cruise was a delight as the ship slipped quietly through calmer waters, but soon they passed from the harbor into the Pacific Ocean; waves mounted and rolled the yacht and Joe developed seasickness and begged Matt to turn toward port. The steward dosed him with Dramamine, and by day three, he had his sea legs.

For eighteen days, they cruised toward their destination. Charlotte’s route allowed them to enjoy a couple of exotic stops along the way.

As agreed, on Thursday, March 1st, they dropped anchor a hundred yards from another larger, newer yacht in the caldera just off the big island.

An invitation soon arrived and at five in the evening local time, the launch from the yacht took Matt, Ling, Joe, and Cynthia to the other vessel belonging to the family from Malaysia.

For a while, the two groups just chatted. Matt knew not to rush things.

Joe let Matt know that the members of the Malaysian family on board included those with the authority to transact the sale.

“You are prepared to purchase these islands?” A younger member of the Malaysian family asked.

“We enjoy the scenery very much,” Matt smiled, “and your hospitality has been superb, but I do believe that is why we both are here.”

“What do you plan to do with the island?” one asked.

“It is already paradise,” Matt replied, “how can you improve on that?”

“Then you are not going to build tourist resorts and such?” the patriarch of the family asked.

“No, there are enough places like that,” Matt replied.

Several of the Malaysians broke into grins.

“I assume you have the payment with you?” the patriarch asked.

“Yes, we’ve also brought a sample,” Matt said.

Joe pulled a small bar wrapped in a handkerchief and placed it on the table in front of the gentleman.

“The balance,” Matt said, “will be available in the morning. I suggest, because of the quantity and weight, that you might wish to use both launches to ferry it safely.”

Matt leaned closer and whispered, “I expect that you will want to sample and test bars, and I want you to know that you may choose any and as many as you wish. We are not in a hurry. Your satisfaction is our goal.”

The patriarch extended his hand. “I have had many dealings in my life. I must say it is indeed a pleasure to conduct business with you. May this enterprise be blessed.”

The Malaysians extended an invitation for supper, but Matt suggested they could feast on the island the following evening in celebration of everyone’s happiness. This was immediately accepted.

***

The transfer started at 9:00 a.m. the following morning, and all went smoothly. The captain of the yacht Charlotte had leased was curious and concerned about the transfer. He said he wanted to make sure it wasn’t drugs or contraband.

Joe showed him one of the bars, “We’re buying the islands. There’s a bonus for you and the crew when we get back to San Diego, provided you maintain confidentiality.”

The purchase required 235 bars at 20 pounds per bar, 24 Karat pure. They ferried them in quantities of twenty, equaling four hundred pounds per trip, taking a dozen trips to complete the transaction. The Malaysians took random samples and tested them, finding each to be pure.

Matt stood on the deck of the Malaysian yacht with Ling as the last of the bars were placed safely in a lockbox the Malaysians had provided.

Matt, Joe, the Patriarch, and two other family representatives signed the papers, and a judge, who had accompanied the Malaysians, certified and sealed the documents.

One set went to Matt and Joe. One set went with the family. The third set was retained by the judge for recording.

They held a feast on the beach that night. Both groups had a marvelous time. Matt and the Patriarch sat and talked about life and the world. Matt described the medical products he manufactured. The patriarch said he would be delighted to assist in marketing for Southeast Asia.

***

Early morning, the Malaysian yacht left, and Matt and his gang had the islands to themselves. The yacht crew broke out sea bikes and an inflatable boat. Soon, everyone was jetting about and having a blast, particularly the twins.

That is, everyone except Charley, Charlie, Chris, and Suchet, who didn’t get to play. The four spent the day shifting crates to the launch and ferrying them to the island. Charlie pointed out the cove that led to the shortest route to the cave.

It was a rocky shore, but they managed to locate a gravel bar and pulled the launch up. It only took minutes to realize the gear was too heavy to carry up the slope.

Charlie asked if the toolbox could make a road like it made tunnels. Chris was concerned about exposure until Charlie pointed out that only about 10 feet lacked forest cover.

They uncrated the toolbox. Chris reprogrammed some features and put the bot under manual control. They pointed it in the proper direction, and within a few minutes, the little unit was crawling up the hill as needed, molding the ragged stone into what appeared to be water-washed lava.

Chris constantly adjusted the unit’s pitch and direction to follow the terrain and minimize ground disturbance. Charlie and Charley took the launch back to the yacht to grab food and drink and brought Matt up to date. He, like Chris, had some concern, but after trying to spot anything with binoculars, agreed the risk was minimal.

Back with the food, Suchet took over while Chris ate. The toolbox never stopped climbing. They reached a knoll and, directly ahead, spotted the cliff that ran for a two hundred yards to the left and a hundred fifty yards to the right. Almost directly ahead yawned the entrance to the cave. They continued forward, but now Chris used the beam only when he had no other option but to remove an obstacle. It was almost four in the afternoon when the toolbox crawled into the cave.

Charlie gazed down the hill and spun to Charley. “I know I’m not in Kansas now.”

Chris energized the unit and maneuvered it into the cave, activating the beam minimally.

Rotating the unit, they paused while Chris changed to the programmed mode. Retreating outside they watched as the unit bored into the rock, the air shimmered and stirred as matter changed leaving a titanium shell around the tunnel. In two minutes, it was out of sight, and in five minutes, it couldn’t be heard as it continued its designated program of carving tunnels and rooms per Charley’s design.

Hiking back to the bottom of the hill they opened the remaining crates. These contained camping supplies, food, and more equipment. Charlie and Charley were going to stay on the island for a month and monitor the toolbox’s progress. It didn’t take long to hike the rest of the gear to the cave and stow it at the entrance of the tunnel.

They made their way to the launch and reached the yacht just in time for dinner.

The next morning, they moved the rest of the gear for Charlie and Charley.

Charley was a tad embarrassed that his mother cried as they said goodbye. The launch pulled away.

***

Charlie thought of the card and note Joe and Cynthia had given her for Christmas. She found herself misty-eyed for several minutes.