His look was questioning, though, when he shook me strongly by the hand, as if to try and place me in the Little Bear project.
John Garland,' explained Peace. One of the finest navigators afloat. He's coming with us.'
We don't need a navigator,' said Tyler curtly. With this ship's instruments, I can find anything, anywhere. My instrumentation's better than any Limey sub's. MKG said quietly, The inertial navigation-it's one hundred per cent now, Revs.' He, too, seemed to be seeking neutral ground. I checked it over. The gyros and accelerometers are just dandy now.'
He hadn't Revs's long drawl, but a quicker, shorter accent, reminding me of President Kennedy's when I had heard him broadcast.
Tyler tried to soothe the unease in the cabin. Coffee? It's 89 the one thing we never run short of. Navy Nectar.' He picked up the intercom. MKG'S eyes were on Peace, waiting for him to make the opening.
Tyler went on. They're always trying out new shapes of coffee makers to see which gives the best-we've had cylinder shapes, round, square, even a triangular one with a shot of cream from a gadget in the side.'
It was MKG himself, however, who started the ball rolling.
He looked penetratingly at Peace. ' Is Semittante safe, Commander?'
Are we to start talking shop right from first base before the coffee comes?' asked Tyler.
The rapport between MKG and Peace was clear to see. I felt like a supernumerary, especially in the light of Tyler's antagonism towards me.
Semittante refuelled, in Mauritius and left on schedule,'
Peace replied. We should pick her up according to plan.'
The platitudes were not lost on Tyler. He frowned. See here, I got personal orders from the Secretary for the Navy himself. The Vice-President of the United States is entrusted to my special care. That cargo of mine is more explosive than a salvo of Polaris missiles. I mean to keep it that way. I don't go for cryptograms like that.'
It happens to be my responsibility to test-fire Little Bear, Revs,' said MKG levelly. I don't have to remind you that you are under my orders.'
Tyler looked truculent. I know my orders. I have to rendezvous with the British submarine Devastation at St Brandon, Indian Ocean. If she answers the code signal Brickbat. Zero One, she's okay. If not-' His smile was icy. She did. All I know is that I am to receive a new briefing from this point onwards.'
The prickly American skipper went on, as if he had been waiting to have his say: I can't make out why the Limeys have to come in on this mission at all. It's an American missile, a United States project and, goddam it, we've shown ourselves quite capable of looking after ourselves in two wars over seven seas.'
MKG remained unruffled at his outburst. Little Bear is a joint American-British effort. Revs. The motor, the key to the whole thing, is British-sNAP. It's good, or else I wouldn't be sitting here half-way across the world from the United States to prove the missile.'
Davis and Acton-' began Tyler. mkgs voice took on a strange resonance. I'm glad you mentioned them; it's just the sort of tragedy that SNAP can 90 prevent in future. Davis and Acton could have homed okay if they hadn't lost their power at the critical moment. Here is something you and the rest of the world haven't yet heard, Revs: as you know, Davis and Acton went into a shaliow orbit round the earth on their return from the moon. When the power from their solar cells started to fail, there was no chance of a space-liaise with Santa Fe and they knew it was only a matter of time before they were cremated in the earth's atmosphere. I spoke to Davis before his radio finally packed up. Know what he said? " It's not the thought that we are going to die so soon-it's pretty beautiful up here but that we nearly made home base. We would have done, except for the power." I tried to get him again, but the radio was dead. Dead, Revs, for want of the sort of power SNAP can give the next generation of missiles.' He added slowly, Davis and Acton were dead, too.'
A steward tapped and came in carrying coffee in the traditional United States Navy blue-trimmed crockery. The wait while he set out the cups seemed endless. How would Peace break the news to Tyler that the operation from St Brandon onwards would exclude him?
The steward went and Tyler poured coffee. He said impatiently, ' I don't want to gripe about security arrangements, but this whole thing seems a bit lopsided to me. First, we send Little Bear out in a French freighter. The u.s. Navy is quite capable of flying it out and looking after it en route. Or I could have brought it out myself in one of
Willowtrack's Polaris silos.'
That would have meant too many others being brought into the know on the project,' said MKG. No, the fewer people who are aware of Little Bear, the better. This was very carefully thought out. Semittante was the best and most unobtrusive way to transport Little Bear.'
Tyler rode the rebuke. ' I get a new briefing from St Brandon onwards. From whom? Where do we go for the test-fire?'
MKG, I'd like a word with you alone,' said Peace.
Tyler reddened. "This is my ship and I'm in sole command. Anything you have to say can be said in front of me. Nothing behind my back.'
Peace checked his anger. Very well. The plan has been changed because there has been a security leak. There is a new schedule from St Brandon onwards. MKG comes with, me in Devastation.'
The hell he does,' snapped Tyler. Just like that. You give me the orders. The Vice-President comes with me. 91
He glared at us and thumped the table with his fist. ' I take my orders from the United States Navy. On this mission, I take 'em only from the Secretary for the Navy. I don't aliow the Vice-President to go off with two Limeys who come aboard my ship and say the plan is changed, the Vice-President comes with us. Nor do I like the look of a submarine with her identification numbers painted out and her sail damaged!'
We ran into a devil-fish in the Saya de Malha!' said
Peace.
Fish!' snorted Tyler. Don't give me that bull!'
You can check-' began Peace, but Tyler would not listen. What happens to Willowtrack?'
You go home,' said Peace roughly. ' Your job's done.'
MKG stood up between the two tough skippers. Sit down, both of you,' he said. There was steel beneath his quiet tones. Order some more coffee, Revs,' he went on. We all need it.'
Tyler picked up an intercom. ' Dan! Come here-damn' quick!'
I told you to order coffee; Dan's the radio operator,' intervened MKG.
Tyler picked up one of the plastic coffee spoons which had fallen on the table. He jabbed it down on the surface. The snap of its shaft sounded like a pistol shot. He swept his hand towards the intercoms.
I got four telephones and two speakers,' he said tightly. I can pick up anyone. I can signal anyone, anywhere, in the world. I can start a nuclear war with that one, see? I am the captain, a Navy captain entrusted with the responsibility of the person of the Vice-President of the United States, and I don't buck my duty. And I don't simply hand over the Vicepresident to two guys who come aboard without credentials, from a suspicious ship.'
Willowtrack's crew certainly knew how to jump when they heard that note in Tyler's voice, for before MKG could reply, Dan had arrived. The boy looked scared.
Dan,' ordered Tyler. Send this signal-'
MKG stopped him. Revs, I am the Vice-President'
Sure, sure,' replied Revs. ' It's a responsibility I take seriously.'
No signals whatsoever are to be sent until I authorize them,' said MKG. Get that, Dan?'
The boy glanced uncertainly from mKG to Tyler. Yes, sir,
I mean, Mister Vice-President.'
'Get out!' snapped Tyler. Get the hell outa here!'