Red Hawk Rising

they headed out to sea and said another prayer for her husband’s safe return before turning over and going back to sleep, as she had done so many nights in the past. Berin joined Walmar in the wheelhouse. They would watch the echo sounder and fish close to the sandbanks to catch the shoals as they came into deeper water with the falling tide. The trick was to drift out with the falling tide. Walmar switched the radio on and Berin tuned it into the wavelength for them to receive the instructions that would come through at 23.00 hours GMT. Berin had brought a flask of hot soup and he poured two cups which they sipped as they waited for the clock hands to reach the appointed time. Walmar decided that it would be better to wait until after the broadcast to start fishing. He steered the boat toward the open sea where they wouldn’t have to worry about depth. The lights of the other boats were moving off in different directions as each went to their preferred fishing spot. Well out into the deeper waters, Walmar cut back the revs to barely having way on the vessel. The tide was at full and there would be no worry about the boat being carried either way by a running tide. There was a slight chop that night with the wind from the east. The waves made a slapping sound on the hull of the boat. There was patchy cloud moving across the sky. While they waited for 23.00 hours, they checked the nets and cables and ensured everything was in order for the fishing. There was the sound of heavy engines and a bow wave being created. Berin saw a freighter coming up from the south-east and indicated to Walmar. He went into the wheelhouse and pulled the cord to sound the boat’s horn, spun the wheel anti-clockwise and turned the bows toward the shore. He realised that they must have gone farther out to the seaway than he had intended. He grumbled to himself about having to adjust his fishing to suit the faceless men in Moscow. He was getting tired of having to live a double life and wanted to be like the others in the village. Walmar thought of his Penny Jane and their two children and decided that they were more important now than loyalty to a communist cause. In the dim light of the wheelhouse instruments, he could make out the photo of his family that he kept on top of the console and felt a surge of emotion.

Berin looked at his watch and flicked his half-smoked cigarette over the side and headed into the wheelhouse. It was 22.55 hours and nearly time for the broadcast. Walmar decided that they should drop anchor while they listened for instructions and told Berin to take the wheel while he went out and released it. The chain rattled as it ran out of the locker and then it was still. Berin put the vessel into reverse to prevent the anchor from dragging, felt the anchor bite and put the motor into neutral. Walmar came back into the wheelhouse and put the light on. Berin switched a small tape recorder on as the time reached 23.00 hours and got pen and pad ready. The recording would allow him to play the broadcast back at his leisure and identify the instructions in it for himself. The programme was about different sports teams and their scores and tactics in play. Some were real but others were imaginary and they all contained messages for different agents. As the announcer talked, Berin made notes. Walmar also listened to what was being said. He turned to look out of the wheelhouse with his back to Berin and made a grimace. They had to make a delivery on the Friday. Berin had to go and collect it. He would have to take Walmar’s van. Berin’s code mentioned again, remove someone. Further orders to be given. There hadn’t been anything like this before. Walmar didn’t like it. The broadcast ended and music came on. Walmar turned and suggested that they get on with the fishing as the tide had turned. Berin nodded and left the wheelhouse to raise the anchor. Walmar hit the starter button for the engine. It coughed a couple of times and then fired. He increased the revs and signalled Berin to engage the clutch to haul up the anchor. There was a small thud as it engaged and then the rattle of chain being wound in. Walmar engaged the driveshaft and the propeller started to spin and drive the vessel forward. They moved towards the shore, Walmar keeping an eye on the depth sounder. As they neared their fishing location, Walmar reduced the revs and Berin swung the boom out and, at Walmar’s signal, started to let the net run out. Now they would both have to concentrate on the task in hand and put the other instructions out of their minds for the time being. As they worked, others slept.

***

Eddy Dennis woke from sleep and checked the time. It was 5.25 a.m. (Wednesday 5th). He would have to get up soon as he had a 7.00 a.m. departure from the factory. His overnight bag was already packed to take with him. He was looking forward to the trip. It would be a change from some of his other driving duties. His wife was still sound asleep. He wouldn’t want to disturb her until he was nearly ready to go. Eddy decided to get up anyway and climbed out of bed. There was a nip in the air and he quickly reached for his dressing gown to put on over his pyjamas. He was still wearing his cotton summer pyjamas and he decided that it was time to change to winter pyjamas. Eddy picked up his clothes from the chair and padded out of the bedroom. He headed down