Officer. He had guts as well as brains.
The Mate was right, of course. There was only one thing to consider
now, the conservation of human life.
Nick looked up at the top of the ice cliff and saw the low cloud tearing
off it, rolling and swirling in the wind, pouring down over the edge
like boiling milk frothing from the lip of a great pot.
He had to send now. La Mouette had won the contest of silence. Nick
stared up at the cloud and composed the message he would send. He must
reassure the Master, urge him to delay his decision to abandon ship and
give Warlock the time to close the gap, perhaps even reach her before
she struck on Cape Alarm.
The silence on the bridge was deepened by the absence of wind. They were
all watching him now, waiting for the decision, and in that silence the
carrier beam of Channel 16 hummed and throbbed.
Then suddenly a rich Gallic accent poured into the silent bridge, a full
fruity voice that Nick remembered so clearly, even after all the years.
Master of Golden Adventurer this is the Master of salvage tug La
Mouette. I am proceeding at best speed your assistance. Do you accept
Lloyd's Open Form 'No cure no pay Nick kept his face from showing any
emotion, but his heart barged wildly against his ribs. Jules Levoisin
had broken silence.
Plot his position report/ he said quietly.
God! She's inside us/ David Allen's face was stricken as he marked La
Mouette's reported position or. the chart.
She's a hundred miles ahead of us. No/Nick shook his head, He's lying.
Sir? He's lying. He always lies. Nick lit a cheroot and when it was
drawing evenly, he spoke again to his radio officer.
Did you get a bearing? and the Trog looked up from his radio
direction-finding compass on which he was tracing La Mouette's
transmissions.
I have only one coordinate, you won't get a fix But Nick interrupted
him, We'll use his best course from Golfo San Jorge for a fix. He
turned back to David Allen. Plot that. There's a difference of over
three hundred nautical miles. Yes/ Nick nodded. 'That old pirate
wouldn't broadcast an accurate position to all the world. We are inside
him and running five knots better, we'll put a line over Golden
Adventurer before he's in radar contact. Are you going to open contact
with Christy Marine now, sir? No, Mr. Allen. 'But they will do a deal
with La Mouette - unless we bid now. I don't think so/ Nick murmured,
and almost went on to say, Duncan Alexander won't settle for Lloyd's
Open Form while he is the underwriter, and his ship is free and
floating. He'll fight for dailyy hire and bonus, and Jules Levoisin
won't buy that package. He'll hold out for the big plum. They won't do
a deal until the two ships are in visual contact - and by that time I'll
have her in tow and I'll fight the bastard in the awards court for
twenty-five percent of her value But he did not say it. Steady as she
goes, Mr. Allen/was all he said, as he left the bridge.
He closed the door of his day cabin and leaned back against it, shutting
his eyes tightly as he gathered himself.
