Master of Adventurer from Christy Marine.  22.22 GMT.

Standing by.

The next message from the recording tape was flagged nearly two hours

later, but was printed out almost continuously from the Trog's

recording.

Christy Marine from Master of Adventurer.  0005 GMT.

72 18 S - 32 05 W.  Water contained.  Restarted mains.

New course CAPE TOWN direct.  Speed 8 knots.  Stand by.

Dave Allen worked swiftly with parallel rulers and protractor.

While she was without power she drifted thirty-four nautical miles,

south-southeast - there is a hell of a wind or big current setting down

there/ he said, and the other deck officers were silent and strained.

Although none of them would dare crowd the Master at the Decca, yet in

order of seniority they had taken up vantage points around the bridge

best suited to follow the drama of a great ship in distress.

The next message ran straight out from the computer, despite the fact

that it had been dispatched many hours later.

Christy Marine from Master of Adventurer.  0546 GMT.

72 16 S.  32 12 W.  Explosion in flooded area.  Emergency shutdown all.

Water gaining.  Request your clearance to issue all ships signify.

Standing by.

Master of Adventurer from Christy Marine.  0547 GMT.

You are cleared to issue signify.  Break.  Break.  Break.

You are expressly forbidden to contract tow or salvage without reference

Christy Marine.  Acknowledge.

Duncan was not even putting in the old chestnut, except in the event of

danger to human life.

The reason was too apparent.  Christy Marine underwrote most of its own

bottoms through another of its subsidiaries.  The London and European

Insurance and Finance Company, The self-insurance scheme had been the

brain-child of Alexander Duncan himself when first he arrived at Christy

Marine.  Nick Berg had opposed the scheme bitterly, and now he might

live to see his reasoning being justified.

Are we going to signify?  David Allen asked quietly.

Radio silence/snapped Nick irritably, and began to pace the bridge, the

crack of his heels muted by the cork coating on the deck.

Is this my wave?  Nick demanded of himself, applying the old rule he had

set for himself long ago, the rule of deliberate thought first, action

after.

The Golden Adventurer was drifting in the ice-fields two thousand and

more miles south of Cape Town, five days and nights of hard running for

the Warlock.  If he made the go decision, by the time he reached her,

she might have effected repairs and restarted, she might be under her

own command again.  Again, even if she was still helpless, Warlock might

reach her to find another salvage tug had beaten her to the scene.  So

now it was time to call the roll.

He stopped his pacing at the door to the radio room and spoke quietly to

the Trog.

Open the telex line and send to Bach Wackie in Bermuda quote call the

Вы читаете Hungry as the Sea
Добавить отзыв
ВСЕ ОТЗЫВЫ О КНИГЕ В ИЗБРАННОЕ

0

Вы можете отметить интересные вам фрагменты текста, которые будут доступны по уникальной ссылке в адресной строке браузера.

Отметить Добавить цитату