Santorini

'No.'

Myers was alone in the radio-room. 'Another message to Rome,' Talbot said. 'Again Code B. To Vice-Admiral Hawkins. Message received. Strongly advise that you come soonest. Tonight. Report repeated two and a half second ticking sounds from plane. Could be timing device. Please phone immediately.'

'A ticking sound, possibly a timing device, Talbot says.' Vice-Admiral Hawkins was standing by Carson's chair as the general read and re-read the slip of paper Hawkins had just handed him.

'A timing device. We don't have to discuss the implications of this.' From his high-rise office Carson looked out over the roofs of Rome, then at the colonel across the desk, then finally up at Hawkins. He pressed a button on his desk.

'Get me the Pentagon.'

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was also standing as the man behind the desk read the slip of paper he had just been handed. He read it three times, laid it down carefully on the desk, smoothed it out and looked across at the Chairman. His face looked drawn and tired and old.

'We know what this means, or what it could mean. If anything goes wrong the international repercussions will be enormous, General.'

'I'm afraid I'm fully aware of that, sir. Apart from the universal condemnation, we will become the pariah dog, the outcasts of the world.'

'And no hint of any Soviet involvement.'

'None whatsoever. No proof, direct or indirect. As far as the world is concerned, they are blameless. My first reaction is that they are indeed blameless. My second thoughts are exactly the same. I can see no way they are linked with this. We bear the burden, sir.'

'We bear the burden. And will stand condemned before the court of mankind.' The General made no reply. 'The Chiefs have no suggestions?'

'None that I regard as very useful. In short, bluntly, none. We have to rely on our people out there. Carte blanche, sir?'

'We have no option. How good are your men in the Mediterranean?'

'The very best. No rhetoric, sir. I mean it.'

'And this British vessel on the spot?'

'The frigate Ariadne? A very special vessel indeed, I am given to understand. Whether or not it can cope with this, no one can say. There are too many imponderables.'

'Do we pull it out?'

'That's not for my decision, sir.'

'I know it's not.' He was silent for a long moment then said: 'It may be our only hope. It stays.'

'Yes, Mr President.'

Talbot was alone with Van Gelder on the bridge when the radio-room called.

'I have voice contact with Rome, sir. Where will you take it?'

'Here.' He gestured to Van Gelder to take up a listening phone. 'Talbot here.'

'Hawkins. I'm leaving shortly with two civilians for Athens. You'll have a phone call from there letting you know our estimated time of arrival. We'll be landing on TheraIsland. Have a launch standing by to meet us.'

'Yes, sir. Take a taxi down to Athinio — there's a new quay about two miles south of the Thira Village anchorage.'

'My map shows that the Thira anchorage is nearer.'

'What your map may not show is that the only way down to Thira anchorage is by mule-track down a precipitous cliff. A seven-hundred-foot cliff, to be precise.'

'Thank you, Talbot. A life saved. You have not forgotten my twin betes noires, my fatal flaws. Till this evening, then.'

'What betes noires? Van Gelder said. 'What flaws?'

'He hates horses. I would imagine the detestation extends to mules. And he suffers from acrophobia.'

'That sounds a very nasty thing to suffer from. And what might that be?'

'Vertigo. A fear of heights. Almost got him disbarred from entry to the Navy. He had a powerful aversion to climbing up rigging.'

'You know him well, then?'

'Pretty well. Now, this evening. I'd normally send young Henri to pick anybody up but Vice-Admiral Hawkins and the two no doubt equally distinguished civilians who are with him are not anybody. So we do it in style. A Lieutenant-Commander, I thought.'

'My pleasure, sir.'

'And tell them all you know about the plane, the Delos and the survivors. Also our suspicions about the survivors. Saves the time when they get here.' I'll do that. Speaking about the survivors, when I go ashore do you want me to take them along and dump them?'

'You are unwell, Number One?'

'I'm fine. Didn't for a moment think you'd want them out of your sight. And we couldn't very well abandon the two young ladies on that barren rock there.'

'It's as well the islanders can't hear you. There's fourteen hundred people in the Thira township and there's a fair amount of tourist accommodation. And speaking again of the survivors, not to mention our three other visitors, we'll have to find sleeping accommodation for them. The Admiral can have the admiral's cabin — it'll be the first time an admiral has slept there. There are three empty cabins. You can have mine, I'll sleep here or in the chart- room. The rest, well, you fix it.'

'Five minutes, said he confidently.'

He was back in forty-five.

'Took me a little longer than I thought. Ticklish problems.'

'Who's got my cabin?'

'Irene. Eugenia has mine.'

'It took you three-quarters of an hour to arrange that?'

'Decisions, decisions. Calls for a little delicacy and a modicum of finesse.'

'My word, you do do yourselves well, Commander,' Andropulos said. He sipped some claret. 'Or is this a special treat for us?'

'Standard fare, I assure you.' Andropulos, whom Grierson had reported as having a remarkable affinity for scotch, seemed relaxed to the point of garrulity. Talbot would have taken long odds that he was cold sober. He talked freely about quite a number of subjects, but had not once broached

the question of being sent ashore. It was clear that he and Talbot had at least one thing in common — the wish that he remain aboard the Ariadne.

Jenkins came in and spoke softly to Van Gelder, who looked at Talbot.

'Call from the radio-room. Shall I take it?' Talbot nodded. Van Gelder left and returned within half a minute.

'Call was delayed, sir. Difficulty in contacting us. They will be there in less than half an hour. I'd better go now.'

'I'm expecting visitors later this evening,' Talbot said. 'I shall have to ask you not to come to the wardroom for some time after they come. Not for too long. Twenty minutes at the most.'

'Visitors?' Andropulos said. 'At-this time of the evening. Who on earth are they?'

'I'm sorry, Mr Andropulos. This is a naval vessel. There are certain things I can't discuss with civilians.'

Chapter 3

Vice-Admiral Hawkins was the first up the gangway. He shook Talbot's hand warmly. The Admiral didn't go in much for saluting.

'Delighted to see you again, John. Or I would be if it weren't for the circumstances. And how are you, my boy?'