‘Thanks, Flamingo-One-Two. Thought we all were for it, then. Beers are on me, back at base.’
Hornsby assumed the ground radar at Akrotiri had tracked the Greek planes as they headed for the area, and the Lightnings had been scrambled to intercept.
Swan also studied the black vapour trails left by the American-built fighters. ‘They must have thought we are responsible for the sinking of that sub, which they probably believe is one of theirs.’ He turned to Reynolds. ‘Looks as though you could be right, David, regarding your deception theory. The Greeks seemed to have fallen for it, hook, line and sinker.’
As the Greek air force jets faded into the distance, Hornsby checked the damage sustained by the attack. On each wing, two sets of contra-rotating propellers were slowly feathering to a stop. It was then that he knew things weren’t looking good, and swore loudly.
‘We’ve lost two engines, and the oil pressure on a third is not looking too good.’
‘So, what does that mean, exactly?’ Rowse asked.
‘It means that we might not make it, Jack!’
‘Do we have an option?’ asked Swan.
‘I could take her up to altitude, so that you three have a chance of bailing out.’
Jack Rowse suddenly felt his stomach collapse. ‘What? You mean jump?’
‘That’s what he means, Jack,’ confirmed Reynolds.
‘But I’ve never jumped out of an aeroplane in my life!’ complained Rowse.
‘If you don’t jump from this one, you won’t have a life,’ shouted Reynolds. ‘What about you, Alex, have you ever jumped before?’
Swan nodded. ‘Only once, David, into northern France during the war to help capture parts of a German radar called a Wurzburg. But I was even younger than you, then.’
Reynolds smiled. ‘Don’t worry Alex, my old CO still likes to jump, and he’s sixty-eight.’
Swan gave Reynolds a cynical stare. ‘Thanks, David, but that’s still not very reassuring.’
Hornsby interrupted. ‘Okay, gents, that other engine may pack up any minute. I’m taking her up. You’ll find the chutes and life jackets on a rack near the exit door.’
Reynolds climbed out of the co-pilot’s seat and walked with Swan and Rowse to the back of the aircraft, while Hornsby contacted the Royal Navy to inform them of their plan.
At the back of the aircraft, Reynolds helped the two men with their parachutes, giving them instructions for their operation. He checked the harness on Rowse was secure. He also attached the small briefcase, which Rowse hoped would not get too wet. Inside it, was the document, the very reason he was here, and was now having to jump from a plane.
Reynolds grabbed his attention. ‘So, remember Jack, as soon as you’re clear, pull this D ring. You’ll feel a jolt, and then begin to go upwards for a few seconds, after that you can just enjoy the view on the way down.’
Hornsby communicated through the speaker.
‘Just had confirmation, the Navy will be waiting to pick you out of the water.’
Swan looked at Rowse. ‘Well, that’s it then, Jack. Looks like we’re going.’
Hornsby hollered through the speaker again.
‘Hold on folks, I’m taking her up.’
He pulled on the controls and with a struggle, the plane began to claw its way higher into the air.
As it levelled out, Reynolds walked over and opened up the exit door.
‘Okay chaps, get ready.’
They heard Hornsby again. ‘After you have jumped, I’ll circle around and drop the Lindholme raft for you to climb into. Thank goddess, it’s still in place in the bomb bay.’
Rowse looked at the blue sea through the open exit. He could not believe this. After taking off from a perfectly safe runway, he was now having to jump for his life. Reynolds beckoned him over to the exit.
‘Come on, Jack. There’s no choice, mate. You’ll be fine, I promise.’
Rowse stood frozen to his spot, starting to shake. Reynolds called out to him again.
‘Jack, there’s no more time. It’s now or never.’
The man from the Foreign Office looked up at the mercenary, and then to everyone’s relief, began to shuffle himself forward as Reynolds gestured with his arms.
‘That’s right, Jack. Keep on coming.’
Rowse edged to the exit, the wind lashing his face. He stood at the step and looked out at the blue Mediterranean. Like little toys in the water, Jack easily picked out the ships of the Royal Navy Task Force.
Reynolds took a hold of Rowse’s hand, placing it on the D ring of the parachute harness.
‘Just keep your hand on this as you jump, okay, Jack?’
The growling of the four Griffon engines had prevented Rowse from hearing what the British mercenary had said to him.
‘What did you just say?’
He then felt a jolt, as he was pushed unexpectedly from the aircraft.
Swan and Reynolds watched as Rowse, with arms flailing in panic, fumbled for the ring and suddenly disappeared under the white flower of silk. His parachute had opened.
Back inside the aircraft, Reynolds looked at Swan.
‘You’re next, Alex.’
As Swan moved towards the doorway, something occurred to him. ‘What about your chute?’
Reynolds shook his head. ‘I’m not leaving poor John on his own. We still may have a chance to get back to Nicosia and if I give him a hand, we could make it. Besides, I have a score to settle with a certain senator — and locking me up for an illegal operation is not going to be much help with that.’ He looked through the open exit. ‘Now, get going!’
Swan leaned over and looked down, picking out the white parachute of Rowse, hovering over the flotilla of ships. He suddenly thought of how his wife, and some of her antics over this past week, had surprised him; her cracking of the number codes, her shooting. Then he decided what he was about to do, would beat her hands down.
He placed his hands on the walls of the exit and turned to Reynolds.
‘Goodbye, David, and good luck to both of you.’
Reynolds smiled. ‘Happy landings, Alex. Now do you also need a shove, or do I just…?’
Swan had not waited for him to finish, and plummeted into the air outside the plane. Suddenly, it all came back to him, he was over the French coast again and as he pulled his D ring, felt the same jolt he had felt in late 1943, as the canopy opened above, forcing him upwards, and then afterwards, the peaceful calm as he slowly descended towards the embracing sea.
Looking down, he saw the other parachute slowly approaching the water. Swan was turned in the wind and could now view the island.
Two thousand feet above him, the Shackleton was starting its wide circle, a trail of black smoke coming from two engines, while further out, he made out the shapes of the two Lightnings as they held out above the main ships in the task force. The anti-submarine helicopter was returning to the carrier having had no success in tracking the mystery submarine which had put an abrupt end to the roaming rogue.
Swan saw Jack Rowse hit the water with a splash, then saw him bobbing in the waves after his life jacket had inflated around his neck.
Swan braced himself as he neared the water, then with a heavy plunge, produced a splash that took him briefly under. Temporarily disoriented, he pulled on his life jacket, and suddenly he saw sky again, as he bobbed up and down at the mercy of the waves.
Then, turning his head, he saw the Shackleton approaching at low level. The bomb bay opened and out dropped three bullet-shaped objects at the ends of small parachutes. They splashed into the water a few feet from his position, one of them opening up into a canopy-covered inflatable raft. As the aircraft passed over them, Hornsby waggled the wings in a farewell.
Swan climbed into the raft and waved at the plane in response. He followed it as it disappeared over the rocky cliff, hoping in his heart that Hornsby and Reynolds would be successful in getting Doris safely back to the airport. Then, overhead, the roar of the two Lightnings deafened him, as they chased after the lumbering Shackleton to form an escort to what could well be her final landing.