Come! Vin Baker's overalls were pristine blue, but the bandage around
his head was smeared with engine grease, and he had recovered all the
bounce and swagger that Nick had banged out of him against the
engine-room windows.
Jesus! he said. I hear you just flipped. I hear you blew your mind
and jumped overboard - and when they fished you out, you up and went
Open Form on a bomber that's beating herself to death on Cape Alarm. I'd
explain it to you offered Nick solemnly, only I don't know enough words
of one syllable. The Chief Engineer grinned wickedly at that and Nick
went on quickly, Just believe me when I tell you that I'm playing with
someone else's chips. I'm not risking anything I haven't lost already.
That's good business/ the Australian agreed handsomely, and helped
himself to one of Nick's precious cheroots.
Your share of 21.2% of daily hire is peanuts and apple jelly/Nick went
on.
Too right/Vin Baker agreed, and hoisted at his waistline with his
elbows.
But if we snatch Golden Adventurer and if we can plug her and pump her
out, and if we can keep her afloat for three thousand miles, there will
be a couple of big lim'sil and that's beef and potatoes. You know
something/ Vin Baker grunted. For a Pommy, I'm beginning to like the
sound of your voice. He said it reluctantly and shook his head, as if
he didn't really believe it.
All I want from you now, Nick told him, are your plans for getting power
on to Golden Adventurer's pumps and anchor-winch. If she's up on the
beach, we will have to kedge her off and we won't have much time.
Kedging off was the technique of using a ship's own anchor and power
winch to assist the pull of the tug dragging her off a stranding.
Vin Baker waved the cheroot airily. Don't worry about that, I'm here.
And at that moment the Trog put his head through the doorway again, this
time without knocking.
I have an urgent and personal for you, Skipper. He brandished the telex
flimsy like a royal flush in spades.
Nick glanced through it once, then read it aloud:'
Master of Warlock from Christy Marine. Your offer Lloyd's Open Form 'No
cure no pay' accepted. Stop.
You are hereby appointed main salvage contractor for wreck of Golden
Adventurer. ENDS. Nick grinned with that rare wide irresistible flash
of very white teeth. And so, gentlemen, it looks as though we are still
in business - but the devil knows for just how much longer. Warlock
rounded the headland, where the three black pillars of serpentine rock
stood into a lazy green sea, across which low oily swells marched in
orderly ranks to push in gently against the black cliffs.
They came round to the sudden vista of the wide, ice choked bay.
The abandoned hulk of Golden Adventurer was so majestic, so tall and
beautiful that not even the savage mountains could belittle her. She
looked like an illustration from a child's book of fairy tales, a lovely
ice ship, glistening and glittering in the yellow sunlight.
She's a beauty/ whispered the Chief Engineer, and his voice captured the
