B u t P e a c e p o i n t e d t o t h e s u p e r s c r i p t i o n t o t h e s i g n a l. '
These are inter-Navy signals and I expect, from my knowledge of official channels, that the White House hadn't had time to step in before Thornton acted on his own initiative, in the light of the seriousness of Willowtrack's appeal. After all, it is less than twelve hours since you let the President know you were safe.'
Auto didn't seem convinced. I, too, wondered whether 141
Peace wasn't trying over-hard to rationalize every adverse fact in order to keep the mission going. Perhaps MKG felt so also, because he gave Peace a long, appraising look before he said, There would be a red-hot line from Naval Operations to the White House on news like this. The operation could have been called off within an hour. This is top priority, by any standards.'
There was a long silence, broken only by the crunch of the seas under the cutter's planks.
Then MKG said, You're sure the President got my signal via the DNI, Commander?'
Peace met his gaze squarely. I give you my word of honour. Until you yourself revealed what Washington meant in your secret code, none of us had the slightest idea. It could have been the recall, for all we knew.'
Yes,' admitted the Vice-President, that is correct. But you can't have the whole of the Seventh Fleet racing out of base on an unexplained mission and expecting no one to ask why. And once they ask why, the story of the kidnapping and the space-shot must come out.'
Peace broke in, as if to steer his thought away from these graver implications, There was no mention of the spaceshot. No mention of Semittante: Tyler is not going to put that on the air before he's seen Thornton personally,' replied MKG. It's too big, coming hard on the heels of his other news.' There was another pause, broken only by a sputter of static from the radio. Commander,' said MKG, your heart is in this mission and so is mine, or else I wouldn't be sitting in an open boat in the middle of the ocean. But the mere fact of the Seventh Fleet being brought into this may be enough for me to decide that the time has come to call off Little Bear. The decision was to rest at all times with the President and myself. This whole thing may well be construed as endangering my office and my responsibility to the Presidency. I cannot decide this alone. I must signal the President for full assurance. I must have his approval.'
Peace motioned towards the radio set. We haven't a transmitter, only that.'
MKG nodded. I want your word that as soon as we pick up Bellatrix, you will send a signal.'
Peace's jaw tightened. And give our position away again?'
You may choose your own time,' said MKG, but it must be soon after we reach Bellatrix.'
And meanwhile?'
The Vice-President gave a wry smile. I'll be a very interested spectator of the Commander dodging a hunterkiller force in a small boat-if he can.' He glanced into the lightening sky as the cutter hurried through the long seas. Tyler has sure goosed them into action and this-his eyes were sombre now-' has become an aseptic area as far as the United States Navy is concerned.'
His reserve brought a restrained air to breakfast. Andre fried some fish on a paraffin stove under the forward decking. He also produced a gunny-sack of salted sea-birds-he gave them a Creole name, but Adele told us they were glossy ibis. Adele herself sat with a headphone over one ear, listening in case either Thornton or Tyler should break silence. We munched the salted ibis and drank hot, steaming coffee.
Peace threw the dregs of his cup overside. I must know what the hunter-killer force is up to.
Not a chirp,' replied Adele.
What will they throw at us?' I asked.
' The standard! MK force in the u.s. Navy consists of carriers, destroyers and a couple of nuclear subs,' explained MKG, as if glad to talk. The carriers operate dunking helos and search aircraft. Blimps, too-but in this sort of weather they're not a proposition. Subs are really best for tracking subs, but only in co-operation with cowboys and helos.'
Adele looked up from her radio dials. It's like the soundtrack of a Western!'
MKG laughed for the first time that morning. ' That's what they call them-destroyers are cowboys, subs are goblins, a dunking helo is a helicopter which hovers and lowers a sonar ball into the water.' He stretched himself. With a day and a boat like this, it's a shame that the world's trying to get on my back.' His easy charm relieved the earlier tension and brought almost a holiday excursion air to the boat. – Peace' s thoughts, however, were obviously on the massive build-up over the horizon. They'll use a grid pattern search.'
They must have a datum point for a grid search,' replied MKG.
Seahorse Sound,' I said.
Despite his reservations, I think MKG was infected with the thrill of the chase. Only after the HUK force has located Devastation.
That won't take the Seventh Fleet long.'
Peace said, half to himself, ' Eight days from now-almost to the hour-the Little Bear launch is scheduled.'
MKG touched Peace on the shoulder. I wish this thing hadn't gotten snarled up, Commander. All I need is the President to say it's okay.'
'143
Peace said, I wish the eight days were past.' He glanced a t t h e h o r i z o n, a s i f h e h a l f e x p e c t e d t o s e e h i s v i c t i m: Semittante! I must have Semittante!'
MKG smiled. The Navy has a word for a ship like her, an enemy surface ship-we call it a skunk.'
Our skunk will be in everybody's mind after Tyler's call,'
I said.
Thornton doesn't know her significance in relation to the VicePresident-yet,' replied Peace. Tyler isn't going lo foul his own doorstep by sending off what would appear to be a fantastic message. My bet is that he'll wait to meet Thornton to tell him.'
I rather agree with you, Commander, and that gives me hope still for the mission. Tyler's a regular guy, a tough guy, but he knows the form.' Some of his earlier mood returned.
Guessing's fine, Commander, but wait until the squeal comes in when Thornton and Tyler meet. Tyler won't play this so cosy once he knows Thornton believes him.'
P e a c e g l a n c e d a g a i n a t t h e s k y. N o r w i l l t h e S e v e n t h Fleet.'
A d o l l o p o f s e a m a d e P e a c e g r a b a t a s t a y t o k e e p h i s f e e t. H e n o d d e d o v e r s i d e. B u t w e ' r e g e t t i n g a b i g a l l y – soon.'
' The sea?'
Chagos has issued a gale warning, possible cyclone,' replied Peace. We can find Bellatrix under cover of it without the Seventh Fleet being able to spot us.'
Chagos is eight hundred miles away,' I said.
Peace turned to MKG. John knows the cyclone pattern as w e l l a s I d o. T h i s o n e c o u l d b e p e r f e c t c o v e r f o r u s . Cyclones originate round Chagos and then shoot across the o c e a n i n a s o u t h – w e s t e r l y d i r e c t i o n u n t i l t h e y h i t t h e S t Brandon area. They either blow themselves out there or race for Madagascar and the Mozambique Channel.'
' Assuming, that it does just that,' asked MKG. How long will a cyclone take to reach us?'
Three-four days,' answered Peace. ' I'd say that already the Seventh Fleet Navy aviators are casting anxious glances eastwards.'
The morning remained brilliantly clear, but on the eastern horizon there was a curious opaqueness.
Peace said to Adele, who sat hugging her knees on the thwart next to me. Ask Andre what he thinks of it'
Andre had been fussing with the lateen-like sail. trimming it to the wind, which had now changed its steady thrust to intermittent, heavier gusts.
'He says, the great cyclone of 1947, when St. Brandon was completely submerged, began on a clear day like this.' ` What was the wind-velocity?'