Marinetti reversed the vehicle into a shed a full berth away from that designated for the returning freighter, manoeuvring it into the shadow of a high wall. He killed the lights and then wound down the window.
“Put yours down too,” he ordered the lawyer.
“What for?” said Grearson.
“Noises,” said the soldier. “You can always hear before you can see.”
Grearson did what he was told. Far beyond the waiting berth there was the glow of the active section of the docks and he could just detect the distant whine of machinery and the water slapping gently against the sea wall. Unseen in the darkness there was a scuffling movement and Grearson shifted uncomfortably, knowing it was foraging rats.
Marinetti saw the lorries first. “There!” he said softly, pointing.
Leiberwitz was in the lead lorry, with Kahane and Greening beside him in the cab. Katz, Sela and Habel were in the second vehicle immediately behind.
“It’s not here yet,” said Kahane unnecessarily.
“It’s not scheduled for another two hours,” said Leiberwitz. He had got in the parting shot but the anger still burned through him over the confrontation with Levy.
“Nice and quiet,” said Greening. “It’ll be easy to unload.”
Kahane peered at his watch. “Wonder how long it’ll be before Shimeon gets here?”
“Depends how difficult it is for him to get out of bed,” said Leiberwitz.
“Haven’t we had enough of that?” said Kahane wearily.
“He doesn’t seem to.” said Leiberwitz.
All three reacted nervously to the noise, then relaxed when they realized it was Katz and Sela, who had drawn up behind in their lorry and were now standing on the dock.
Leiberwitz wound down the window.
“What happens if Levy doesn’t show up?”
“We go ahead,” said Leiberwitz.
“That isn’t what was agreed,” said Katz.
“Have you got a better idea?”
There was no challenge from either Katz or Kahane.
Katz moved away from the lorry, going farther towards the water’s edge. From their vantage point Marinetti said, “I count five but 1 think one stayed in that second lorry.”
“Tewfik?” said Grearson.
“No,” said Marinetti. “The arrangement set out on the tape was a clever one. 1 don’t think it was a bluff. It would be too much of a risk for them to take, bringing him with them.”
“I wonder if there’s been any contact with the ship,” said the lawyer.
“More people,” hissed Marinetti, ignoring the question.
“Where?” said Grearson, squinting into the darkness.
“In the shadows, by the shed. See that broken crane,” said Marinetti. “They’re very good-they know how to use cover.”
Swart was in the lead car with four men, the rest of the group in the one that followed. They had had to move too quickly for any consultation with Muller, and Swart was uneasy at having to make the decision on the spot. And Deaken’s disappearance was an additional complication. The order had been to stop the lawyer doing anything that might embarrass his father. He was glad that at least he had covered the house where the woman was being held. He gazed across the intervening water towards the lorries and the men beside them.
“This is where we intercept,” said Swart.
“What about the French authorities?” asked one of the men in the back.
“They’ve let out two shipments,” said Swart. “I’m not risking a third.”
Where the Israelis expected the ship to dock, Katz, who was nearest the water, realized that what he had imagined to be stationary navigation lights were moving. He hurried back to the first lorry and said, “Something’s coming.”
“Where’s Shimeon?” said the loyal Kahane nervously.
“Where do you think!” said Leiberwitz. He never gave up.
“He said to wait,” insisted Kahane.
Aboard the freighter, Harvey Evans stepped from the bridge ladder onto the foredeck. The assembled men turned at his approach and Sneider said, “Looks quiet enough ashore.”
“There’s plenty of time yet,” said Evans.
“Wonder where Marinetti is?” said Melvin, peering towards the deserted dockside. “Unless he’s got the boy, there won’t be any action.”
“The money’s just as good,” said Sneider. “Why get our asses shot off if we don’t have to?”
“There’s an awful lot of crew around,” said Evans.
“According to my count,” said Bartlett, “we’re each of us being covered by at least two.” He spoke looking towards the hatch area, where twelve crewmen were attempting to look busy heaving tarpaulin off the metal hatch covers.
Evans nodded. “And I’ve just had another lecture from the captain about the safety of his ship.”
“Always had him pegged as a sneaky little bastard,” said Sneider.
Evans looked to Hinkler and Bartlett. He said, “I want you two against the offshore rail. Just watch our backs. If we have to move and there’s any attempt to stop us, give them a burst over their heads. I don’t want to kill anyone-just frighten them.”
“What happens if they don’t stop?” said Hinkler.
“No one is to be killed,” repeated Evans. “Take them out at the legs.”
“There she goes,” said Jones. The mooring lines snaked out from the ship, to be collected by the escort tender and ferried in to the shore bollards. Fore and aft the engine whined, bringing the freighter gently in against the quay wall. There was an imperceptible bump and they rocked slightly. Hinkler and Bartlett picked up their gunny sacks and moved away to the far rail, and Evans watched as four of the hatchmen detached themselves and followed. He decided the Greek captain was a bloody fool.
Ashore Kahane could not quell a sense of deepening anxiety.
“It’s early,” he insisted. “It wasn’t due for another hour… more than another hour.”
“What the hell does that matter?” said Greening. “It’s here. And Shimeon isn’t.”
“He said wait,” said Kahane.
“You want a vote!” said Leiberwitz. “So let’s vote. I say we move.”
“With you in charge?” demanded Kahane.
“Somebody’s got to be,” said Leiberwitz. “Somebody who accepts responsibility.”
“I say move,” supported Greening.
Leiberwitz stared at Katz and Sela. The men looked at each other, clearly feeling uncomfortable, and Katz said, “I don’t see why we should wait; it seems pointless.”
Sela shrugged. “The quicker we get it over, the quicker we can be away.”
“You’re outnumbered,” said Leiberwitz to Kahane.
“Habel hasn’t voted,” said Kahane. He knew it was pointless but it would mean a further delay, no matter how slight.
To Sela Leiberwitz said, “Go and tell him what’s happened… what we’re deciding.”
Ahead of them the freighter’s derrick stirred into action, swinging the gangway over the side and then manoeuvring it into position through the split rail.
“They don’t want to wait,” said Leiberwitz.
“They don’t have a choice,” said Kahane.
“Neither do we!”
Sela came back to the first vehicle and said, “He thinks we should wait.”
“Four against two,” said Leiberwitz. He looked contemptuously to Kahane and said, “If you want to sit here wetting yourself, you’re welcome.”
He climbed out of the lorry, leaving the door ajar for Greening to follow. On the quayside the four of them stood for a moment, uncertain what to do next, looking to Leiberwitz for a lead.
