the quicksand effect of beach and ice, and La Mouette could build up a
mere nine thousand horse-power.
It would mean throwing out ground-tackle, putting power on Adventurer's
pumps - the problems and solutions passed in review through Nick's mind.
It was going to be a tough one, but Warlock had twenty-two thousand
rated horse-power and a dozen other high cards.
He glanced at his gold Rolex Oyster, and he saw that Jules had set a
two-hour ultimatum.
Radio Officer/ he said quietly, and every man on the bridge stiffened
and swayed closer, so as not to miss a word.
Open the telex line direct to Christy Marine, London, and send quote
'Personal for Duncan Alexander from Nicholas Berg Master of Warlock.
Stop. I will be alongside Golden Adventurer in one hour forty minutes.
Stop. I make firm offer Lloyd's Open Form Contract Salvage. Stop.
Offer closes 1300 GMT'. The Trog looked up at him startled, and blinked
his pink eyes swiftly.
Read it back/ snapped Nick, and the Trog did it in a high penetrating
voice and when he finished, waited quizzically, as if expecting Nick to
cancel.
Send it/ said Nick, and rose to his feet. Mr. Allen, he turned to
David, I want you and the Chief Engineer in MY day cabin right away. The
buzz of excitement and speculation began before Nick had closed the door
behind him.
David knocked and followed him three minutes later, and Nick looked up
from the notes he was making.
What are they saying? Nick asked. That I am crazy? They're just kids/
shrugged David. What do they know? They know plenty, and they're
right. I am crazy to go Open Form on a site unseen! But it's the
craziness of a man with no other option. Sit down, David.
When I made the decision to leave Cape Town on the chance of this job -
that was when I did the crazy thing., Nick could no longer keep the
steely silence. He had to say it, to talk it out. I was throwing dice
for my whole bundle. When I turned down the Esso tow, that was when I
went on the line for the whole company, Warlock and her sister the whole
thing depended on the cash from the Esso tow I see/ muttered David, and
his colour was pink and high, embarrassed by this confidence from Nick
Berg.
What I am doing now is risking nothing. If I lose now, if I fail to
pull Golden Adventurer out of there, I have lost nothing that is not
already forfeit. We could have offered daily hire at a better rate than
La Mouette, David suggested.
No. Duncan Alexander is my enemy. The only way I can get the contract
is to make it so attractive, that he has no alternative. If he refuses
my offer of Open Form, I will take him up before Lloyd's Committee and
his own shareholders. I will make a rope of his own guts and hoist it
around his neck. He has to go with me - whereas, if I had offered daily
hire at a few thousand dollars less than La Mouette. Nick broke off,
reached for the box of cheroots on the corner of his desk, then arrested
the gesture and swivelled in his chair at the heavy knock on the cabin
door.
