“I’ll go first. He swarmed up somehow like a monkey and disappeared
over the bulwarks. Ian followed and then I came up, finding that they
were using a rope ladder that hung just above our dinghy. My eyes had
got used to the darkness and with the help of the waning moon and the
dim glow of the riding lights I found I could see fairly well. There
was no one about on deck, but a low murmur of voices came from aft.
Someone moved to join us and Bill’s voice said, soft and unexpectedly
close, “I’ve copped one of ’em.” “What have you done with him?”
Geordie asked.
.”Nothing much.” There was joy in Bill’s voice. “He won’t wake up for
a longish time.” others had arrived on deck and Geordie said, “Split
into pairs – I’ll take Mike. We’ll do the old backward-forward
trick.”
“What’s that?” I asked, trying to pitch my voice low as he had done.
“Quiet! Someone’s coming. Jim and Taffy – you take him.” I watched
the two figures snake across the deck and vanish into the shadows.
Then I heard what Geordie’s quicker ear had caught much earlier – the
measured pace of footsteps coming along the deck from aft. The man
came in sight round the corner of the deck-house; he was carrying a mug
in his hand, being careful not to spill it – probably coffee for
someone up in the. bows.
Suddenly, to my surprise, a black shape arose quite openly in front of
him and Taffy’s voice said gently, “Well now, that’s a nice thought
bringing me coffee.” The man stopped and backed up in amazement. He
was about to speak when something flickered in front of his face and he
raised his hands to claw at his neck. Taffy expertly caught the
falling mug.
The man seemed to be fighting nothing. He staggered two paces along
the deck and then collapsed. I saw Jim crouch over him and then they
both dragged him over to us, Taffy using only one hand.
“Anyone want some hot coffee?” he said. “Not a drop spilled.” “Stop
playing the fool,” Geordie growled.
“What happened?” I asked.
“It’ll keep. That’s two – how many more do you reckon, Bill?”
“There were five on deck when I was here before. But I dunno about
below.”
Jim and Taffy were gagging and trussing up their victim.
Geordie said,”We’ll finish that. You lot go aft and clear up the
deck.” They drifted away like wreathes of smoke and I helped Geordie
finish the job. The man was flaccid and quite unconscious and I
whispered, “What the hell did Jim do to him?” “A silk cloth with a
weight in one corner. We learned that one from an Indian instructor,
old thuggee trick. But at least Jim hasn’t strangled this one – he’ll
recover okay.” There was a muffled thump from aft and he clicked his
Someone’s being careless. Come on, I want to see if tongue.” Bill’s
done his job properly.”
He rose and walked unconcernedly forward, not troubling to hide. He
stopped at the forehatch and tested it with his hand. “Bill’s a good
workman. No one can come from below this way.”
He then searched about until he found what he was looking for – the
prone and unconscious body of the after watch. He rolled the limp body
over and began to tie the hands. “Not that I don’t trust Bill’s
judgement,” he said. “But it’s nice to be safe and tidy. You take his
feet – use his shoelaces.” It was all a little bit dreamlike. Geordie
was expertly tying the crewman’s hands and conversing matter-of-factly
as any good craftsman might as he worked on his bench. “Sorry to.
keep you out of the fun, Mike. But you’re dead inexperienced.
You’ve only got to do the wrong thing once on a lark like this and the
cat’s out of the bag.” I looked at Geordie’s bulk in the semidarkness
and realized something I’d never thought of consciously before.
He had been trained as a professional killer, and my father had had a
hand in his training. He had been taught perhaps a couple of dozen
ways of putting a man out of action, temporarily or permanently, and he
had the professional’s amused contempt for the dilettante. I thought
for the first time that something of Mark’s ruthless streak, albeit
turned in a strange and distasteful manner, had been inherited from my
father.
I said, “That’s all right, Geordie. You’re doing fine. I’m.
content to look and learn.” From the stern came the lowest, breathiest
of whistles and”,” Geordie cocked his head. “They’re finished. Let’s
go and see what the bag’s like.” We went forward, walking as though
the ship belor us. As we went, Geordie said softly, “Never dodge when
there’s no need. Nothing looks more suspic mean, suppose someone’s
watching the deck right no could be any pair of the crew.” He slowed
as he came to the deckhouse where a stream of light splashed on the
deck from the door. He peered cautiously round the edge of the door,
then snorted. “I might have known,” he said resignedly. “It’s Taffy
the gutser. What do you think you’re doing, Taff?” He stepped into
the deckhouse and I followed to find that led straight into the
galley.
Taffy was sawing at a loaf of breath “Making myself a sandwich,
skipper,” he said.
“You bloody cormorant. How many did you get?” “Three.” “Kane?
Hadley?”
“Not a sign. If they’re aboard, they’re below. But they’ll be safe we
battened down the hatches.” “Well, we’ll unbatten them and clean up
below,” said Geordie. “It only needs one of ’em to decide he’d like a
nice breath of sea air and find he can’t get on deck. When you’ve
finished your supper, Mr Morgan, we’d all be grateful if you got back
on the job. And before you leave the galley clean up – and then find
the flour bin and tip the salt into it.” “Yes, sergeant,”said Taffy.
We went to the wheelhouse and found the others. Ian was unscrewing the
central holding bolt of the wheel-bearing with an adjustable spanner.
He looked up at Geordie and said solemnly, “Might as well cause a bit
of inconvenience while we’re here.” He withdrew the bolt and casually
tossed it overboard, then spun the wheel. “They’ll have a wee bit of
trouble in their steering, I’m thinking.” “Very nice, but a little
premature,” said Geordie. “Let’s get the job finished-first. Mike and
I will take the forehatch and clean out the fo’c’s’le- Ian and Bill,
take this hatch here.
Jim, you’ll find Taffy stuffing his guts in the galley – you take
amidships. Got your stuff ?” “I’ve got it, skipper.” Right. We’ll
all go down simultaneously. I’ll give the signal and try not to make
too much noise. Come on, Mike.” When we got to the forehatch Geordie
paused. “We’ll give them a minute to get ready.” He shook his head
sadly. “That bloody Welshman.” I looked aft along the deck. It was
very quiet and there was nothing to be seen, and I thought how easy it
had all been – so far. These e x-commandoes seemed to take it all as a
joke, as I suppose it was to men who had tackled alert Germans.
But I wasn’t deceived; it was their very competence that made it seem
easy.
Geordie startled me by uttering that same hollow whistle I’d heard
before. “Come on,”he said softly. The first.” He lifted up the hatch
gently and went down the companionway. The forecastle was dimly lit by
a single lamp and appeared full of shadowy shapes. When I got to the
bottom of the steps I found Geordie fastening the door which led to the
midships accommodation by means of a small wooden wedge which he took
from his pocket. The door fastened, he turned to look round the
forecastle. Tiers of bunks, three high, lined the triangular space
formed by the bows of the ship. They pack the bastards in like
sardines, I thought. There was a snoring noise and Geordie looked
round. quickly, put his fingers to his lips for my benefit and crept
forward very gently, and then waved me forward. He was looking at a
middle berth upon which was sleeping a villainously unshaven seaman.
He put his lips close to my ear and said, “Check the other bunks.” I
tiptoed round the forecastle, looking into every bunk, but found no one
else. I got back to Geordie and shook my head.
He said loudly, “All right, let’s wake up the sleeping beauty.”
The man snored again, drawing back his upper lip.
Geordie shook him by the shoulder. “Come on, chum.
Prepare to meet thy doom.” The man opened his eyes and looked up
uncomprehendingly and then Geordie hit him on The chin with a fist like
a hammer.
He rubbed his knuckles and said, a little apologetically, “I never like