Just a little snippet of “They Said it would be Easy” raw – unedited

The yard manager stood and stared, unbelieving, at the boarded up ports and hastily patched holes.
“We had a spot of trouble,” Li admitted, walking along after the man as he continued along the deck looking at the damage.
“I’m concerned my yard may be considered complicit in this ‘spot of trouble’ if the authorities come around looking for a boat with a lot of bullet holes. For all I know you have been engaged in piracy,” the manager said. “Unless you filed a police report already, as the victimized party?”
“Actually we were threatened. And they intended to board us. But it happened far off in the North Pacific. Not even in this hemisphere, so there is no report with any authorities you could call. I don’t think anyone is looking for us. If they are, well, it didn’t happen in Australia’s jurisdiction. In fact, it really did happen in international waters.”
The man looked at him hard. “And what of this other boat? What happened to it? Did you manage to outrun it?” he inquired.
“Best not to ask about that,” Li admitted.
“Tell me why I should get involved in this massive… can of worms?” he asked.
“We can pay in gold,” Li said.
The shipyard manager stood frowning, looking down at a cluster of thirty caliber holes awhile.
“That must have been one hell of a hail storm,” he said.