Would you like to come along with us?” I watched them all for their
reactions. Campbell had already put on an avuncular act towards her
and looked smug, as if it was his idea – Geordie merely looked
resigned
– now he had two women on board, and even less space to spare. Clare
was the problem, but I saw that while she was being rather formal
with
Paula she wasn’t showing any overt hostility, and she appeared to take
my suggestion calmly enough, even adding a civil rider of her own.
“Why not? It would be nice for me too, I think: Paula looked
dumbfounded. Her big dark eyes swept all of us and came back to me,
and I could see that she was almost unable to conceive of the notion.
“Think about it. Have you sailed before?” “Yes, a little. Just
locally hereabouts. I was on the Pearl once, with – with a friend.”
“You can buy what you need here. It’s not too rough, we eat well and
you won’t have to sleep in a hammock,” I said encouragingly. I also
felt that she was probably the only one of us who had faith that Mark
wasn’t an utter bastard. It would be good to have someone along who
was completely on his side.
“What do we do about Kane?” Geordie asked.
“Keep him on ice – we take him with us, if he asks to go.
Which he will. Then after I’ve talked to Schouten we ask him some
pointed questions. Until then you just watch him, Geordie.” “That’ll
be easy,” Geordie said. “It’s not too big a boat, you know.”
Chapter Five
We sailed the next day for the Tuamotus, after announcing that we were
heading for Indonesia in slow stages. This was not only for the
benefit of Kane, who had reacted as predicted by asking to come along
on our next leg, but lest MacDonald get wind through the harbour
officials that I was going to interview his precious Dr Schouten – he
might have objected. V We sailed through the pass in the reef and out
into the open sea, continuing west until we were out of sight of
land.
Then Geordie gave the order to change course northwards. Kane happened
to be on the wheel and accepted the order without comment, but a couple
of hours later when relieved and with the new helmsman setting a course
easterly, he said to me, “We’re going the wrong way for New Britain, Mr
Trevelyan.” “Who said we were going to New Britain?” He had slipped
up;
New Britain specifically had never been mentioned in his hearing, but I
knew he was probably thinking of Ramirez.
He covered it up well – “Oh, I thought you’d drop anchor in Rabaul for
refuelling. It’s a prime spot for it,” he said easily.
“The boss has some unfinished business here,” I said briefly, and he
left it at that, although I could see he was thinking hard.
I pouldn’t help goading him. “I thought your pal Hadley was going to
be waiting in Papeete!
“Yair, he’s a fine cobber now, isn’t he? But he left a message for me
– said he couldn’t wait. Anyway, I don’t mind giving you a hand,” he
said with an air of largesse Kane certainly had a nerve – now he was
helping us!
Geordie was careful in going through the Tuamotus, careful to the point
of keeping Kane off the wheel. We still didn’t know what his game was,
but we didn’t feel like being run ashore deliberately. Geordie kept a
sharp eye on the charts and picked a way through the thousand and one
islands in the archipelago, always heading for Tanakabu, away on the
further side Clare liked the Tuamotus. “It’s just like a movie,” she
said happily as she viewed an atoll on the horizon.
“Couldn’t we go in closer, and have a look?” I took her elbow. “Come
here. I’d like to show you something.” In the chartroom I pointed out
our position. “Here’s that atoll – you see the marks here, extending
out about three miles from the island. Do you know what they are?” Oh
God, yes of course. Coral reefs round every one,” she said.
“Nasty and sharp,”I agreed. “I’m as near to that atoll now as I’d like
to be. We only touch on the ones with mapped entrances, otherwise it’s
all local knowledge hereabouts.” And I thought of Hadley, somewhere
out there in Pearl. Was he following us?
“I hope we’re not making a mistake,” Clare said soberly, catching my
mood. “We must find out something useful. Pop was mad enough over the
fiasco at Minerva.” “We may not find out anything concerning
managanese nodules, but I hope we’ll find out something about Mark.
And one thing may lead to another.” I changed the subject. How are
you getting on with Paula?” Clare was silent for a moment, then said,
“I thought I wouldn’t like her – you know, two of Mark’s popsies shou I
I’d be wanting to scratch each others’ eyes out.” “Don’t throw that in
my teeth again.” “I find I do like her, though. I’ve discovered that
I never was in love with Mark, it was infatuation, and when I found out
what a lousy creep he could be it all died. That isn’t love.
Paula knew what he was and it made no difference to her – she still
loved him in spite of it. That takes real love – I never had it.
We’re not rivals any more.” That was a relief. Two women at
daggers’point can cause a hell of a lot of trouble, and especially in a
small ship.
As for Paula, she was relaxed and enjoying herself thoroughly.
Easily at home among the men and for once away from both danger and
professional competition, she had become yet another of Esmerelda’s
growing assets as far as the crew went. Occasionally she sang for us
in the evenings and took pleasure in her small touch of limelight
Campbell seemed to have adopted her as an unusual, but welcome,
honorary niece.
When we left the main clutter of islands Geordie was able to set a
course for Tanakabu without worrying overmuch about grounding. Kane
was aware of this manoeuvre and again spoke to me about it. “Where are
we heading for, more research grounds?” he asked me.
I said, “Maybe the boss wants another look at Minerva.” He looked up
at the sun. “Making a bit too much northing for that, ain’t we?”
“Or maybe he wants to have a look at Tanakabu?” I suggested, twisting
the knife. It was dangerous but he’d find out soon enough.
Kane’s eyes shifted. “Has this anything to do. with your brother?” I
raised my eyebrows. “Why should it? “Well, old Schouten lives on
Tanakabu.” “Does he?” “Yes, but I suppose the old bloke’s dead by
now.
He was hitting the bottle pretty hard when I saw him. A proper old
rum-dum, he was.” I said, “He’s still alive, as far as I know.” I was
tempted to play him further but fought it down.
Kane didn’t say anything more, but withdrew thoughtfully, and a few
minutes later I saw him heading below apparently for some more private
cogitation in his cabin, which he shared with two others who were both
presently on deck.
We made good time although now we were beating closehauled against the
trade wind and on the evening of the third day we were closing
Tanakabu. The sun was dipping into the sea as Geordie scanned the reef
with binoculars and then referred to the chart. “We’ll go in under
power. The pass is a bit too narrow for comfort under sail. Stand by
to hand the sails, Ian.” He was still looking hard at the sea-pounded
reef when Shorty Powell, his radio man, came up. “I picked up a funny
transmission, skipper,” he said, then glanced at me. Geordie said,
“It’s okay, carry on. What was funny about it? “It mentioned us.” I
pricked up my ears and Geordie swung round. Nentioned us by name?”
“The name of the ship,”said Shorty. “Esmerelda.” I said, “What did
they say about us?” Shorty grimaced painfully. “That’s it, I don’t
know. I was spinning the dial and caught it in passing, and by the
time I’d got brack to where I thought it was the transmission had
stopped I just caught a few words- on board Esmerelda. She’s. . ..”
I tell you one thing, though. I’d lay ten to one it was an Australian
talking.”
Geordie said, “I think we’d better get Mr Campbell in on this.” So we
called him up and poor Shorty got the grilling of his life. At last
Campbell said,”Well, how far away do you think it was?” Shorty
shrugged.
“You can’t tell that, not unless you’ve got two directional fixes on
the station. But when you spend half your life listening out you get a