Hacking away the kunai grass, they dug two level pads at the waterline and manhandled the two massive 100 mm pumps into position. The rolls of PVC pipe became malleable in the blazing sun and, under the watchful eye of Singkepe’s sharpshooters, they swam them out to create intakes in deeper water, using rocks and plastic floats to prevent them blocking with mud or drawing air. Nash fashioned jet nozzles using spacers and reducers to concentrate each pump’s powerful flow rate into a high-velocity water jet, and incorporated a ball valve to regulate the force.

‘So, what were you planning to do with all this shit?’ he asked Boerman casually while tightening a fitting. ‘Pump out a sunken vessel? Locate a black box?’

The Afrikaner made no reply, but the flexing of his mighty jaw made it clear he loathed being questioned.

Nash had already suggested to Kaboro he should search Shangri-La’s cabins as a matter of urgency, but the lieutenant was getting cold feet. Although he agreed the Indonesians had engaged in deception, there was no proof of a crime. If they refloated the ship, Kaboro suggested they make for the nearest major port of Wewak, a couple of hours north of the Sepik’s mouth. Otherwise, they would use the helicopter to ferry all personnel to Pagwi and call headquarters. At this point Nash had laughed. If not under arrest, the Indonesians would simply fly out when it suited them, leaving two dead fishermen – and accountability for their actions – behind. But as he was learning, out here a different set of rules, or lack thereof, applied.

‘OK.’ He nodded at Boerman. ‘Let’s give it a test.’

The big man fired up the left-side pump as Nash backed into the murk. Within a few seconds the flexible fire hose on the outlet went rigid. As Nash turned on the valve, the hose reared back like a giant snake, trying to flail and lash. The powerful water jet sliced through the mud with ease.

‘Works a treat!’ he yelled to Boerman, who was watching with hands on hips. ‘But point it the wrong way and it’ll take out your eyes.’

Nash didn’t want Boerman anywhere near him underwater, but he couldn’t do too much damage on the other side of the ship, so he equipped them both with umbilical dive hoses running to his air compressor on the foredeck. Noting Ricki Hartono taking an interest, Nash had a quiet word with Kaboro, who posted a guard to watch over him.