he thought. Who are you really? He sat there, the AK in his lap, watching Muller, occasionally glancing up at the light in the wheelhouse, and waited.
KEOGH CAME AWAKE VrlTH A START, RYAN’S hand on his shoulder. He checked his watch and saw that it was midnight. “You should have wakened me, Michael. You need your sleep too.” “Less than you do. I’m older. Will you look over
Keogh saw the lighi at once flickering out there in the darkness. “Would that be the Calf of Man7” “That’s right and we’re dead on course. I’ve checked with the compass.” “So far so good, then. I’ll just step out for a moment.
Call of nature.” He opened the door and stepped down, the wind so strong that it bounced against him. It was Dolan on duty again and Keogh waved cheerfully.
“Try to smile, you miserable sod,” he called and relieved himself at the side of the truck.
He climbed back inside and Ryan said, “Now me,” and got out on his side.
Tully, watching all this from the stem window of the wheelhouse, suddenly clenched his fist, excitement surging through him. “That’s it. Christ, that’s it.” He turned to Muller. I’ll take the wheel. Relieve Dolan. Tell him to get up here. Go on, it’s important.” Muller did as he was told and afew moments later Dolan came in, water streaming from his oilskins.
“What’s up.’? I only did an hour.” “I think I’ve got it,” Tully said. “That girl is going to want to go to the toilet again, she’s bound to.” “So what?” “Well, try this for size. Keogh held Muller at gunpoint while she went in?” “That’s right.” “What would happen if there was someone waiting in there with a shooter? Someone who’d bring her out with the barrel under her elfin? What would Mr.
Bloody Keogh do, what could he do?” “My God, it’s a thought,” Dolan sai.
“Yes, well you can’t do it. They’ll miss you if you’re off the deck too long, so get down to.the engine room and get Fox. Grant will have to manage on his own. Tell Fox to get his shooter and go to that toilet now. He can sit there and wait.” “How long for?” “As long as it bloody well takes. Now get out of here,” and he hung on to the wheel as a sudden squall hit the Irish Rose from the north.
HO IT WAS JUST AFTER Th,VO, THE’ WIND VERY strong now, and Ryan checked his watch. “We must be close. Three o’clock was a fair arrival time.” Kathleen came awake with a groan and sat up.
“Jesus, I feel awful. What time is it?” Ryan told her and she swung her legs to the floor. “I’ll have to go to the toilet again.” “All fight. Give me a minute.” He called Tully.
“What do you want.’?” Tully replied.
“My niece needs the toilet. We’ll handle it’the same as last time.” “That’s okay,” Tully replied, then shaking with excitement he got the two guns from the chart table drawer and passed one to Muller. “When the fight moment comes, put the wheel on the chain lock.” “In this weather?” the German asked.
;’It’ll only be for a moment.” Tully whistled down the voice pipe, and when Grant answered he said, “Jodk, we’re in business. Get your gun and wait at the top of the engine room companionway. The going to the toilet.” I’ll be there,” Grant answered.
Tully punched the chart table with one fist. “It’ll work, it bloody well has to.”
DOLAN WENT DOWN THE COMPANIONWAY AND stood sullenly under the threat of Keogh’s AK. “I shan’t be long,” Kathleen said.
Fox, hearing the voices, had moved into the shower, pulling the curtain closed. She went into the toilet cubicle and he waited, pouncing when she came
out, twisting her left wrist behind her back, and ramming the muzzle of his pistol into her neck.
“Now then, you bitch, get that door open.”
She cried out, “Martin, watch yourselfl” and Fox released her wrist, got the door open, and pushed her out between Keogh and Dolan, his pistol still against her neck.
“Give that rifle to Dolan,” he ordered. “Go on, do it!”