Nicholas tried to imagine the chaos that would result if a million tons
of toxic crude oil was driven ashore on a littoral already ravaged by
hurricane winds. It baulked his imagination, and he left the radar and
moved to the front of the bridge. He stood staring down the narrow
throat of water at a horizon that concealed all the terrors and
desperate alarms that his imagination could conjure up.
The door to the radio shack was open and the bridge was quiet, so that
they all heard it clearly; they could even catch the hiss of breath as
the speaker paused between each sentence, and the urgency of his tone
was not covered by the slight distortion of the VHF carrier beam.
Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! This is the bulk oil carrier Golden Dawn. Our
position is 79 50'WeSt 2 5 43'North. Before Nicholas reached the
chart-table, he knew she was still a hundred miles ahead of them, and,
as he pored over the table, he saw his estimate confirmed, 'We have lost
our propeller with main shaft failure and we are drifting out of
control. Nicholas head flinched as though he had been hit in the face.
He could imagine no more dangerous condition and position for a ship of
that size - and Peter was on board.
,This is Golden Dawn calling the United States Coast Guard service or
any ship in a position to afford assistance - Nicholas reached the radio
shack with three long strides, and the Trog handed him the microphone
and nodded.
Golden Dawn this is the salvage tug Warlock. I will be in a position to
render assistance within four hours Damn the rule of silence, Peter was
on board her.
,- Tell Alexander I am offering Lloyd's Open Form and I want immediate
acceptance. He dropped the microphone and stormed back on to the
bridge, his voice clipped and harsh as he caught David Allen's arm.
Interception course and push her through the gate/ he ordered grimly.
Tell Beauty Baker to open all the taps. He dropped David's arm and spun
back to the radio room.
Telex Levoisin on Sea Witch. I want him to give me a time to reach
Golden Dawn at his best possible speed/ and he wondered briefly if even
the two tugs would be able to control the crippled and powerless Golden
Dawn in the winds of a hurricane.
Jules replied almost immediately. He had hunkered at Charleston, and
cleared harbour six hours previously. He was running hard now and he
gave a time to Golden Dawn's position for noon the next day, which was
also the forecast time of passage of the Straits for hurricane Lorna,
according to the meteorological up-date they had got from Miami two
hours before, Nicholas thought as he read the telex and turned to David
Allen.
David, there is no precedent for this that I know of but with my son on
board Golden Dawn I just have to assume command of this ship, on a
temporary basis, of course. I'd be honoured to act as your First
Officer again, sir/ David told him quietly, and Nicholas could see he
meant it.
If there is a good salvage, the Master's share will still be yours,
Nicholas promised him, and thanked him with a touch on the arm. Would
