Look at it from the other point of view-from Tyler's. A signal reaches New London submarine HQ from Tyler saying the Vice-President has been snatched by-' he grinned at us-' by a couple of Red agents. Meantime, should a plain signal, without my special code, also come in, that would smell to high heaven! If I were the President in such circumstances, that, plus Tyler's statements, would certainly add up to a kidnapping.'
As we spoke, Peace was becoming more restive. He said sharply, ' MKG, I don't think the others know just how much Little Bear and the SNAP project mean to us. You're still going along with it, aren't you?'
MKG nodded. Provided all is above-board with the White House. I'm willing to keep the secret tight before Tyler shoots off his mouth and ruins everything.'
' Good!' exclaimed Peace. But there'll be no signalling while I dodge Tyler. One radio emissioin will give Tyler a fix which will enable him to pinpoint us within a couple of miles. Today is February 6th; on February 16th we will launch Little Bear, as scheduled.'
MKG seemed taken aback at Peace's tone. There is one exception to what you're saying, Commander. My signal to the White House goes out each day at sunset, irrespective.'
I now recalled Peace's attitude when the DNI had insisted on the one reservation in the mission as far as MKG was concerned, namely, that he had the right at any time to call it off if he felt it was prejudicing his high office or the nation. We seemed to be stumbling over the same obstacle again.
' We'll get it off somehow,' he replied, so perfunctorily that all my doubts remained. Would he dare? Not even Peace, I told myself, for all his faith and devotion to Little Bear and its enormous implications for the future of two great navies, would dare run counter to MKG'S express wishes.
' Bob, John,' went on Peace, changing the subject abruptly, ' look at this chart-'
Peters broke in, If you're trying to evade Willowtrack, why are you going full ahead now and kicking up such a racket that she's bound to hear it, if she hasn't done so already?'
The old thrill of the chase was upon me. Peters was vibrating with interest. MKG became excited, controlled, as 110
Peace outlined his escape plan. It was, I believe, the point at which he failed to appreciate Peace's deadly single-mindedness about Little Bear and SNAP. At the moment I'm manufacturing a " knuckle " of sound,' he said. I'll lead Willowtrack on.'
I too was carried away. I've sailed with this foxy bastard.' I grinned across at Peace. He's laying a false trail right now. I'd say that Willowtrack at this moment is picking up on her sonar a confused but distinguishable echo-on a steady line, heading deep. That echo, however, won't be clear enough-' Peace nodded confirmation of my outline of his tactics-' for her to be sure that it's Devastation, but it's strong enough to give Tyler a pretty fair hunch. Then, suddenly, Devastation will go full astern-'
Hard astern after full ahead makes a sort of " solid sound ". Willowtrack will come right up against a wall of sound while we go ultra-quiet-every blasted thing off which makes a noise, the men without their shoes, even-and we sneak away up the coastline. We stay close to the barrier reef so that the seas breaking against it mask our getaway.'
Are breaking seas enough?' asked MKG.
These waves on St Brandon reef will sound like all hell on sonar,' Peace added. Heavy as a Force Six sea.'
What's the weather up to?' I asked.
Peters smiled at Adele. When I last had access to the radio-room, met. at Chagos reported a big cyclone build-up beginning.'
MKG's eyes again screwed up. Little Bear is an act of faith with me,' he said tersely. The rest of us stared, under the spell of the man. ' I have to take that space-ride. It's not only the weapon; science is the faith which put me where I am today, and Little Bear is its supreme justification'
My eyes were on Peace. The hard mouth softened a little and his eyes glowed. Peace would stop at nothing to launch
Little Bear.
If you give Revs the slip, Commander, what then?' asked MKG.
Semittante' exclaimed Peace. ' I must have Semitiante' MKG held up his hand. The moment Tyler misses you, don't you think he won't go for exactly the same target Semitiante? She's as important as I am in this hunt, perhaps even more so, for if he can locate Semittante, he can put paid to the mission without crossing swords with me. Tyler will sanitize the ocean between here and Love-Apple Crossing.
Don't underestimate Tyler.'
Tyler-you heard him say it himself-hasn't any forward briefing on the mission beyond the St Brandon rendezvous,'
Peace replied. That was his main cause for suspicion. He is unaware of two vital points of information: where Semitiante is, or where the launch is to take place. He's got a hell of a lot of ocean to sift, either way.'
At thirty knots, plus all her search equipment, Willow- track will pick up Semitiante before we do,' MKG said. Revs knows-you told him-that Semitiante had cleared Mauritius a few days ago.'
Let me send Semittante a bogus radio message in French and arrange a rendezvous between ourselves and her,' Adele suggested.
No,' replied Peace. One radio emission-' he drew his hand across his throat-' and we've had it. Another thing I know that Tyler doesn't: since the days of my piratical ancestor Sir John Peace, and the corsair Surcouf, the seas round St Brandon have had a bad name, especially the eastern coastline where we're now headed. I'm certain that Semitiante will avoid the east and take the western side of St Brandon. It's more likely still, seeing the weather is deteriorating.' Peace rounded on Peters. Bob, once we've shaken off Willowtrack, Devastation will become a liability to the launch. From then on, you take over command from me.'
Peters looked disappointed, puzzled. Aye aye, sir. But what about you?' he asked MKG. I'd like to be there to see you safely launched, sir.'
We-myself, MKG, John Adele-will trans-ship from
Devastation to my yacht Bellatrix. I gave Trevor-Davis his orders and I know exactly where to intercept her.
I pored over the chart, Adele with me. As I see it,' I said, we are at the moment about three hundred miles from the original rendezvous-point with Semitiante.
Correct,' said Peace. That rendezvous was a hundred miles south of Love-Apple Crossing.'
Peace pulled out another, smaller-scale chart and I did a quick calculation. I stabbed at a point north of Love-Apple Crossing. Bellatrix's route lies between Love-Apple Crossing and Agalega; the two islands are about fifty miles apart. Bellatrix's course is a constant factor in our plans.'
The intercom broke in imperatively. Peace listened, slapped it down. Willowtrack's closing. We've work to do.'
Peace, MKG and Peters hurried out. I waited behind for a moment. I smoothed Adele's sun-bleached hair. She raised her face to mine. Peace can't win,' she said softly. ' I don't believe MKG will go through with it. Remember what the DNI said-if MKG'S secret were known, Tyler would call in the whole of the Seventh Fleet.
I half-opened my mouth to tell her my fears about Peace, but stopped. ' I've sailed with him before,' I replied slowly, and when I thought he was dead, I still said to the petty officer in the DNI's garden, Peace is a brave, dangerous, ruthless bastard who has killed more men than he can remember.'
9 CORAL POLYNYA
Peace was at the diving-stand when we went through to the
Control Centre, the eerie light enhancing his black clothes. Adele pressed my hand and went to make her peace with
Williams, the radio operator. The ballast-control petty officer had his hands out like a pianist waiting for the conductor's baton as he watched Peace. One planesman was in charge, which meant that Peace intended to change depth and course rapidly and suddenly-it is easier to manoeuvre fast with one man instead of two. He glanced nervously at the gyro compass repeater and rudder-angle indicator above his head and ran his tongue round his lips. The diving officer, instead of sitting in his normal languid position behind the divingstand, was swinging on his toes, feeling the ship. Peace was balancing Devastation-taking advantage of the layer of denser water which had masked our getaway-by sitting' on it. As she hung, he ordered a slight intake into the auxiliary tanks. It told me we had entered a layer of cold water: Peace would play' that to the utmost. I glanced at the bug' of light under the glass-topped chart table. We were about a mile off the southern extremity of St Brandon. As I came close, Peace turned to the dead-reckoning tracer-the instrument which shows a goblin's' movements – and increased the volume of the sonar sound-reproducer.