‘So, of course,’ Talbot said, ‘you consulted the chart and arrived at the conclusion that he was heading for some place. What place?’
Tobruk.’
‘And you also arrived at the conclusion that he wouldn’t be coming back from there?’
‘Allowing for the vagaries of human nature, sir, I would not have thought so. Greek Intelligence have also established the fact that the vanishing minister, if minister he was, held an account at the same Athens bank that Philip Trypanis honours with his custom. It would appear, to coin a phrase, that they are now hot on the trail of Mr Trypanis. Whether they nab Mr Trypanis or not hardly seems a matter of concern for us.’
‘I would think,’ Hawkins said, ‘if our philanthropist friend in the wardroom knew of the fate of his pal in government here and those of A and B – or X and Y – in Washington his humour might be in marked abeyance by now. And if he knew that we knew of the Taormina and that its home ba|¯ was Tobruk, he would be downright thoughtful. Was that all, Van Gelder?’
‘On that subject, sir, yes. Captain Montgomery, Professor Wotherspoon and I have been discussing the weather.’
‘You have?’ Hawkins looked at him in suspicion. ‘Don’t tell me that Cassandra has you in her clutches again?’
‘Certainly not, sir. The Euros has died away. Completely. We suspect it will only be a matter of time before the weather returns to normal. A very short time. Latest met. reports confirm that. The Angelina, at the present moment, is lying between our ship and the Kilcharran, facing north-west. If the Meltemi starts up — also from the north-west, of course – we won’t be able to sail her out of her present position. It might be wise to tow her alongside us now.’
‘Of course,’ Talbot said. ‘See to it now, would you, Number One. After that, let us foregather for the last supper.’
Van Gelder looked through the opened doorway, ‘It’s
already getting dark, sir. You don’t feel like waiting for the
dawn before we take off?’
‘Nothing I’d like better than to wait for the dawn. But we have this duty to our fellow man.’
‘We have to be brave, noble and self-sacrificing?’
‘The sooner we take off, the easier will lie the heads along the Potomac. Not to mention, of course, those on the ; Kilcharran and Ariadne.’
Denholm looked from Talbot to Van Gelder. His face registered an expression of near incredulity.
‘Am I to understand, Captain, that you and Lieutenant-Commander Van Gelder are sailing on the Angelina?’
Talbot shook his head. ‘I suppose it had to come to this, Number One. Junior officers questioning our nautical expertise.’
‘I don’t understand, sir. Why on earth are you and Number One going along on the Angelina? I mean — ‘
‘We are not going along on the Angelina. We are taking the Angelina. Professor Wotherspoon and his wife are the people who are not going. They don’t know that yet, of course. The good Professor is going to be very wroth but it’s difficult to please everybody.’
‘I see, sir. Yes, I see. I should have guessed. I’d like to come along, sir.’
‘Yes and no. You shall come along, but not on the Angelina. You will take the launch. You won’t start up the engine until we’re at least three miles clear. We don’t want, you understand, to precipitate any premature big bangs.’
‘And then we follow you at that distance?’
‘Not so much follow us as circle us at, of course, the same prudent distance of three miles. Your purpose, again, of course, is to ward off and warn off any unsuspecting vessels that come too close.’
‘And then help tow you back here?’
‘When we’ve dumped the mine and sailed on a sufficiently safe distance, we’ll start the engine and head back. A tow would help. Or perhaps the Admiral will fetch us in the Ariadne. We haven’t decided yet and at the moment it’s not important. But what I’m about to say is important.
‘You will take along with you Chief Petty Officer McKenzie, Marine Sergeant Brown and Petty Officer Myers to operate the radio. Most importantly, you will also take with you, suitably wrapped in plastic, the krytron detonating device and conceal it well. I suggest under the floorboards of the wheelhouse. You will instruct Petty Officer Myers to take along the smallest portable transceiver he can lay hands on and conceal it in the same place. Make sure the floorboards are securely nailed down afterwards.’
‘May I ask the reason for this excessive secrecy, sir?’
‘You may not for the excellent reason that I have no reason to give you. The best I can do is to wave a vague hand and say that I am preparing for unforeseen eventualities. The trouble with the unforeseen is that it is unforeseeable. You understand?’
‘I think so, sir.’
‘I suggest you go now and alert your crew. And for God’s sake don’t let anyone see you wandering around with the krytron under your arm.’
Lieutenant Denholm left. Hawkins said: ‘There are times, Captain, when I feel I have to say, with regret of course, that the truth is not always with you. I mean the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.’
‘I agree, sir,’ Van Gelder said. ‘Sets a very bad example for junior officers.’
Talbot smiled. ‘Be ye as pure as snow ye shall not escape calumny. Something like that. We captains become inured to such injustices. I have the odd feeling — all right, all right, Vincent, let’s settle for just a few microscopic traces of Highland blood – that Andropulos is going to be asking the odd casual question at table tonight. I suggest we have Dr Wickram up here.’
Andropulos did indeed have the odd casual question to ask at table that night but he was in no hurry to introduce them.
It was not until after they had finished the main course that he said: ‘We do not wish to pry, Captain, nor ask questions about purely naval matters which should be none of our concern. But whatever is happening surely does concern us, whether directly or indirectly, and we are but human and very, very curious. We can all see that the Angelina is alongside with that highly suspect atomic mine lashed down in its cradle on the deck. I thought the intention was to sail it away with all possible speed?’
‘We shall be doing just that, Mr Andropulos. In the fullness of time, by which I mean after we’ve finished dinner. You will not be happy until it is gone?’
‘I confess I will feel a considerable degree of relief when I see the Angelina disappearing over the horizon, and with a clear sky and an almost full moon we should be able to see that. Selfish? Cowardly? Maybe, maybe not.’ Andropulos sighed. ‘I do not see myself in the role of hero.’
‘I don’t see myself as such. No sensible person does.’
‘But, surely — well, that atomic mine is still highly unstable, is it not?’
‘I don’t think it’s quite so highly dangerous as it was. But why ask me? You’re sitting next to the expert.’
‘Of course. Dr Wickram. How do you see things now, sir?’
‘The Captain is right, or I hope he is. The radioactive emanations of the hydrogen missiles, from which of course the atomic mine is now separated, have an extremely limited range. They are no longer affecting the mine which should be now slowly beginning to stabilize itself. But I have to emphasize that it’s a slow process.’
‘How long will it be before it has fully stabilized itself? By which I mean when will it reach a condition when a passing vessel’s engines will have no effect on it?’
‘Ah. Well, now.’ Wickram’s tone was the verbal equivalent of a shrug. ‘As I’ve said, we’re in the realms of the unknown, die untested, but I have been making some calculations.
Difficult calculations involving some rather advanced mathematics so I won’t bother you with those, but my estimate is that the mine should be quite safe in twelve hours at the most Possibly even in six hours. At a lesser time than that — well. the risk would be unacceptably high.’
‘Damn you to hell, Talbot,’ Wotherspoon said. His voice was low and controlled but the ivory-knuckled fists showed the depths of his anger. ‘It’s my boat you’re talking about. It’s not the property of your damned Navy!’
‘I am aware of that, Professor, and I’m most damnably sorry about it.’ Talbot was with Hawkins, Wotherspoon and his wife in the admiral’s cabin. ‘But you are not coming along Did you honestly imagine that the Royal Navy would idly stand by and let you, civilians, risk your lives for us?’ Talbot smiled. ‘It’s not only our duty but we’re getting paid for it.’