it's Golden Dawn, isn't it? Has Christy Marine got any other vessels in
the area? Not as far as I know. Then that was a bloody stupid
question. Take it easy, Nicholas. I'm sorry. Nicholas touched his
arm. My boy's on that pig, He took a deep draw on the cheroot, held it
a moment, and then slowly exhaled. His voice was calm and businesslike,
as he went on: What's our weather and Wind at 060 and knots. Cloud
three eighths stratocumulus at four thousand feet.
Long-range projection, no change. Steady trade winds again/ Nicholas
nodded. Thank God for all small mercies. There is a hurricane warning
out, as you know, but on its present position and track, it will blow
itself out to sea a thousand miles south of Grand Bahama.
'Good , Nicholas nodded again. Please ask both Warlock and Sea Witch to
report their positions, course, speed and fuel-conditions. Bernard had
the two telex flimsies for him within twenty minutes.
Warlock has made a good run of it/ Nicholas murmured, as the position of
the tug was marked on the plot.
She crossed the equator three days ago, said Bernard.
And Sea Witch will reach Charleston late tomorrow, Nicholas observed.
Are any of the opposition inside us? Bernard shook his head. McCormick
has one in New York and Wittezee is halfway back to Rotterdam., We are
in good shape/ Nicholas decided, as he balanced the triangles of
relative speeds and distances between the vessels.
Is there another chopper available on the island to get me out to
Warlock? I No/ Bernard shook his head. The 6iN is the only one based
on Bermuda. Can you arrange bunkering for Warlock, I mean immediate
bunkering - here in Hamilton? We can have her tanks filled an hour
after she comes in. Nicholas paused and then made the decision. Please
telex David Allen on Warlock, TO MASTER WARLOCK FROM BERG IMMEDIATE AND
URGENT NEW SPEED TOP OF THE GREEN NEW COURSE HAMILTON HARBOUR BERMUDA
ISLAND DIRECT REPORT EXPECTED TIME OF ARRIVAL ENDS.
You're going to run, then? Bernard asked. You are going to run with
both your ships? Yes, Nicholas nodded. I'm running with everything
I've got. Golden Dawn wallowed with the dead heavy weight of one
million tons of crude oil. Her motion was that of a waterlogged hulk.
Broadside to the set of the swells, her tank decks were almost awash.
The low seas broke against her starboard rail and the occasional crest
flopped over and spread like pretty patches of white lace-work over the
green plastic-coated decks.
She had been drifting powerlessly for four days now.
The main bearing of the single propeller shaft had begun to run hot
forty-eight hours after crossing the equator, and the Chief Engineer had
asked for shut-down to inspect the bearing and effect any repairs.
Duncan Alexander had forbidden any shut-down, over-riding the good
judgement of both his Master and Chief Engineer, and had only grudgingly
agreed to a reduction in the ship's speed.
He ordered the Chief Engineer to trace any fault and to effect what
repairs he could, while under reduced power.
Within four hours, the Chief had traced the damaged and leaking gland in
the pump that force-lubricated the bearing, but even the running under
