of the islands. Samantha's replies were quick.
'Nicholas is betting on it. I'll go along with that then, Tom grunted.
The Straits are a hundred miles wide I know what you're going to say/
Samantha smiled, and turned to one of the other girls.
'Sally-Anne will answer that one. You all know my brother is in the
Coast Guard - all traffic through the Straits reports to Fort
Lauderdale/ she explained. And the coastguard aircraft patrol out as
far as Grand Bahama. We'll have a fix on her immediately she enters the
Straits - we've got the whole U.S. Coast Guard rooting for us.
They argued and discussed for ten minutes more, before Tom Parker
slapped an open palm on the desk in front of him and they subsided
reluctantly into silence.
Okay/ he said. Do I understand the proposal to be that this chapter of
Green-Peace intercepts the tanker carrying cad-rich crudes before it
enters American territorial waters and attempts to delay or divert the
ship? That's exactly it/ Samantha nodded, and looked about her for
support. They were all nodding and murmuring agreement.
What are we trying to achieve? Do we truly believe that we will be able
to hold up the delivery of toxic crudes to the refinery at Galveston?
Let's define our objectives, Tom insisted.
In order for evil men to triumph it is necessary only that good men do
nothing. We are doing something. Bullshit, Sam/ Tom growled.
'Let's cut down on the rhetoric - it's one of the things that does us
more harm than good. You talk like a nut and you discredit yourself
before you have begun. All right/ Samantha grinned. We are publicizing
the dangers, and our opposition to them. Okay/ Tom nodded. That's
better. What are our other objectives? They discussed that for twenty
minutes more, and then Tom Parker took over again.
Fine, now how do we get out there in the Straits to confront this vessel
- do we put on our water-wings and swim? Even Samantha looked sheepish
now. She glanced around for support, but the others were studying their
fingernails or gazing with sudden fascination out of the windows.
Well/ Samantha began, and then hesitated. We thought - Go on/ Tom
encouraged her. Of course, you weren't thinking of using University
property, were you? There is actually a law in this country against
taking other people's ships - it's called piracy.
As a matter of fact -'Samantha gave a helpless shrug.
And as a senior and highly respected member of the faculty, you would
not expect me to be party to a criminal act. They were all silent,
watching Samantha, for she was their leader, but for once she was at a
loss.
On the other hand, if a party of graduate researchers put in a
requisition, through the proper channels, I would be quite happy to
authorize an extended field expedition across the Straits to Grand
Bahama on board the Dicky.
Tom, you're a darling/ said Samantha.
That's a hell of a way to speak to your Professor/ said Tom, and scowled
happily at her.
They came in on the British Airways flight from Heathrow yesterday
