The Golden Octopus E-Book

alastair macleod

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

While the immigration crisis in the Mediterranean rages on, a war between the rival organised crime syndicates is inevitable.

Peppino Spada finds himself caught in the tentacles of his own organisation.

How can he free himself from the Octopus?

Leseprobe

Alastair Macleod

The Golden Octopus

To that ancient sea the Mediterranean and the men who fish her waters. Photo credit: Niko Vukelic, Adriatic octopus in net. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. BookRix GmbH & Co. KG81371 Munich

The Golden Octopus

The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

That night the air was warm, filled with a salty tang. The Tropea, an ageing fishing boat, gently rose and fell against the dock in Reggio Calabria.

Across the harbour the large patrol boat of the Guardia Costiera kicked into life, lines were cast off and she made off into the straits, leaving a large wake that rocked other ships.

Peppino Spada watched from the Tropea’s wheelhouse. This part of Calabria had a commanding position on the Straits of Messina – all shipping heading North for Naples passed through here and conversely ships heading south to Libya, or the eastern Mediterranean made their way through the straits. Navigation lights winked their warnings but tonight Etna was kicking off again.

A red glow high up on the other side pulsed as lava bombs shot into the air.

The Tropea used to fish for swordfish. She still went to sea, but she no longer sported the tall lookout tower for swordfish spotting. While the Italian coastguard was preoccupied with migrants flooding across the Mediterranean the Ndrangeta could employ the Tropea on its own errands.

“Shall I start the engine?” Said Cesare Bocco, first mate.

“Si, start her up,” Peppino slid open the bridge window.

“Luigi, cast off.” The figure of Luigi Nobile could be seen nimbly freeing the lines.

The eight meters long vessel eased away from its mooring, its one engine pushing dark smoke into the sky.

Peppino owed a hefty sum still to the Ndrangeta for this boat. He had been warned about slow payments already.

Earlier;

“Ahoy the ship,” a voice from the pier yelled.

“It’s Rita,” said Peppino.

A slim young woman climbed aboard carrying a hamper.

“Dinner” she announced.

The men eyed her greedily. A dark complexion, a curvy figure, Rita Manicotti was Peppino’s squeeze.

Squisito she was, una bella ragazza.

She set out the food.

Calamari frito, insalata mista, two bottles of red wine.

“I hear the Barracuda is operating in our waters.”

“What?” said Luigi.

“Si, and she has brought a big haul of migrants into Naples. I heard from Clelia Pellagra.

Clelia was married to a Camorra man so this was likely true.

Rita left.

Peppino watched the curve of her bottom as it made its way along the pier.

This new news further depressed him.

His mobile rang. It was Gianni Forzano.

“Peppino you must go out now. We cannot allow the Camorra to make money out of this migrant scum. Its tainting Italy.”

Forzano was a racist and anti-migrant. He also resented the money the Camorra was making from this trade. He had said to Peppino that they get paid in gold and drugs and that that never comes ashore, it is kept on board the Barracuda. They were also armed to the teeth, Kalashnikovs, RPG’s, machine guns.