Not exactly, I just borrowed it from his cabin Well done, David/ Nick
chuckled. Please put it in my day cabin. He felt himself warming more
and more to the younger Captain, sir/ the Trog sang out suddenly. I'm
getting another transmission. It's only strength one, and it's on 121,5
Mega Hertz. Oh, shit! David Allen paused in the entrance to the
Captain's day cabin. Oh, shit! he repeated, and his expression was
stricken. It's that bloody missing life-raft. 'Relative bearing!
snapped Nick angrily.
She bears 2800 relative and 045 magnetic/ the Trog answered instantly,
and Nick felt his anger flare again.
The life-raft was somewhere out on their port beam, eighty degrees off
their direct course to the Golden Adventurer.
The consternation on the bridge was carried in a babble of voices, that
Nick silenced with a single black glance and they stared at the plot in
dismayed hush.
The position of each of the tugs was flagged with a coloured pin and
there was another, a red flag, for the position of the Golden
Adventurer. It was so close ahead of them now, and their lead over La
Mouette so slender, that one of the younger officers could not remain
silent.
If we go to the raft, we'll be handing it to the bloody frog on a plate.
The words ended the restraint and they began to argue again, but in soft
controlled tones. Nick Berg did not look up at them, but remained bowed
over the chart, with his fist on the table-top bunched so fiercely that
the knuckles were ivory white.
Christ, they have probably all had it by now. We'd be throwing it all
away for a bunch of frozen stiffs. There is no telling how far off
course they are, those sets have a range of a hundred miles. La Mouette
will waltz away with it. We could pick them up later - after we put a
line on Golden Adventurer. Nick straightened slowly and took the
cheroot out of his mouth. He looked across at David Allen and spoke
levelly, without change of expression.
Number One, will you please instruct your junior officers in the rule of
the sea. David Allen was silent for a moment, then he answered softly
The preservation of human life at sea takes precedent over all other
considerations. Very well, Mr. Allen/ Nick nodded. Alter 8o to port
and maintain a homing course on the emergency transmission. He turned
away to his cabin. He could control his anger until he was alone, and
then he turned and crashed his fist into the panel above his desk.
Out on the navigation bridge behind him nobody spoke nor moved for fully
thirty seconds, then the Third Officer protested weakly.
But we are so close! David Allen roused himself, and spoke angrily to
the helmsman.
New course 045 magnetic. And as Warlock heeled to the change, he flung
the armful of clothing bitterly on to the chart-table and went to stand
beside the Trog.
Corrections for course to intercept? he asked.
Bring her on to 050V the Trog instructed, and then cackled without
mirth. First you call him an ice-water pisser - now you squeal like a
