'Please give the court an account of the events surrounding your collision with the Danish cruiser Leif Eriksson/'
Ryan started into a diatribe against the whale hunt. Speaking in a firm voice, the magistrate asked him to keep his remarks confined to the collision. Ryan apologized and described how the Sea Sentinel had suddenly veered toward the cruiser, striking it.
'Captain Ryan,' Lundgren said with unconcealed amusement. 'Do you mean to tell me that your ship attached and rammed the Leif Eriksson of its own accord?'
For the first time since he'd started testifying, Ryan lost his aplomb. 'Uh, no, sir. I'm telling you that the controls of my ship did not respond.'
'Let me see if I understand this clearly,' said a woman on the board of inquiry. 'You are saying that the ship took control of itself and went off on its merry way.'
There was a ripple of laughter in the audience. 'It seems so,' Ryan conceded.
His admission opened the doors for a round of probing questions. The hearing may not have been adversarial, Austin thought, but the court was nibbling Ryan apart like a flock of hungry ducks. Ryan did his best to parry the questions, but with each reply, his case became weaker. Finally he lifted his hands, as if to say enough.
'I realize that my explanation raises more questions than it an- swers. But let me say this unequivocally, so there is no misunder- standing. We did not deliberately ram the Danish ship. I have witnesses who can back me up. You can check with Captain Pe- tersen. He'll tell you that I warned him.'
'How long before the collision did this warning occur?' Lundgren asked.
Ryan took a deep breath and let it out. 'Less than a minute before we hit.'
Lundgren asked no further questions. Ryan was excused, and the female reporter from CNN took the stand. She was calm during her recounting of the collision, but she broke down and glared at Ryan with accusing eyes when she described the death other cameraman.
Lundgren signaled a court officer to insert a videotape into a TV set that had been set off to one side where everyone had a good view of the screen. The tape began to roll. It showed Ryan standing on the deck of his ship surrounded by reporters and photographers. There was some joking about rough seas, then the reporter's voice saying:
'Just make sure the story is worth all the damned Dramamine I swallowed.'
The camera executed a close-up of Ryan's grinning face as he replied: 'I can almost guarantee that you'll see action.' As the cam- era followed his finger pointing toward the Danish cruiser, there was a muttering in the audience. That's it, Austin thought. Ryan is toast.
The tape ended, and Lundgren asked the reporter one question. 'Was that your voice on the tape?'
When the reporter replied in the affirmative, Ryan sprang to his feet.
'That's unfair. You're using my comment completely out of con- text !'
'Please be seated, Mr. Ryan,' Lundgren said, a bemused expres- sion on his face.
Ryan realized his outburst would bolster the image of a hothead capable of ramming a ship. He regained his composure. 'My apolo- gies, sir. I was not told that the video would be introduced into evi- dence. I hope I will have the chance to comment on it.'
'This is not an American court of law, but you will have every op- portunity to make your side known before this hearing is adjourned. The board will hear from Captain Petersen and his crew as soon as they are able. You will remain in protective custody at the police sta- tion until then. We will do our best to expedite the process.'
Ryan thanked the court. Then, escorted by the policemen, he left the room.
'Is that all?' Austin asked Becker.
'Apparently so. I expected they might ask you back to the stand, but it appears they don't need you anymore. I hope your plans haven't been disrupted.'
Austin assured Becker that it was no problem. He sat in his chair as the room began to empty, chewing over Ryan's testimony. Either the man was telling the truth or he was a very good actor. That would be for wiser men to decide. First a good, stiff cup of coffee, then he would check out earlier flights to Copenhagen. From there, he'd fly back to Washington.
'Mr. Austin.'
A woman was walking toward him, her face wreathed in a bright smile. Austin noticed her athletic and well- proportioned figure, the chestnut hair that fell to her shoulders, the unblemished skin and
alert eyes. She was dressed in a white Icelandic wool jumper known as a lopapesya.
They shook hands. 'My name is Therri Weld,' she said, in a voice
that was mellow and warm. 'I'm a legal advisor with the SOS or- ganization.'
'Nice to meet you, Ms. Weld. What can I do for you?' Therri had been watching Austin's serious expression as he gave his testimony, and she was unprepared for his devastating smile. With his broad shoulders, burnished features and blue-green eyes, he reminded her of a buccaneer captain in a pirate movie. She almost
forgot what she was going to say, but quickly regained her mental footing.
'I wonder if you could spare a few minutes of your time,' she said.
'I was about to look for a cup of coffee. You're welcome to join me.
'Thanks. There's a pretty decent cafe around the corner.' They found a quiet table and ordered two cappuccinos.
'Your testimony was fascinating,' she said, as they sipped their coffee.
'Your Captain Ryan was the star of the day. My words paled by comparison with his story.'
Therri laughed softly. Her laughter had a musical lilt that Austin liked. 'Today wasn't his finest hour, I'm afraid. Usually he can be
quite eloquent, particularly on those subjects he's most passionate about.'
'Tough trying to explain to a bunch of skeptics that your ship was possessed by evil spirits. The reporter's testimony and the video didn't help.'
'I agree, which is why I wanted to meet with you.'
Austin gave her his best country-boy grin. 'Aw, shucks, I had hoped you found yourself hopelessly attracted by my animal mag- netism.'
Therri raised a finely arched brow. 'That goes without saying,' she said. 'But the main reason I wanted to talk was to see if you could help SOS.'
'To begin with, Ms. Weld-'
'Therri. And may I call you Kurt?'
Austin nodded. 'I've got a couple of problems right off the bat, Therri. First of all, I don't know how I can help you. And second, I don't know if I want to help your organization. I'm not in favor of whale slaughter, but I don't endorse radical nutcases.'
Therri skewered Austin with a leveled gaze of her laser-bright eyes. 'Henry David Thoreau, John Muir and Edward Abbey were considered radical nut cases in their times. But I concede your point. SOS tends to be too activist for the taste of many. Okay, you say you don't endorse radicals. Do you endorse injustice, because that's exactly what's involved here.'
'In what way?'
'Marcus did not ram that Danish ship on purpose. I was in the pilot- house when it happened. He and the others did everything they could to avoid that collision.'
'Have you told this to the Danish authorities?'
'Yes. They said they didn't need me to testify and told me to leave the country.'
'Okay,' Austin said. 'I believe you.'
'Just like that? You don't seem like someone who accepts the world at face value.'
'I don't know what else to say without offending you.'
'Nothing you say can offend me.'
'Glad to hear that. But what gives you the idea that I would care whether the case against Ryan is just or not?'
'I'm not asking you to care about Marcus.' Therri's tone hinted that there was a bit of hard steel behind her soft features. Austin suppressed a smile. 'What exactly do you want from me, Therri?'
She brushed a lock of hair out other face and said, 'I'd like you to make a dive on the Sea Sentinel'
'What purpose would a dive serve?'
