Red Hawk Rising

that he needed to get a report to Lutterworth and also talk to Jamie. Fortunately, the others hadn’t come back from the airfield and Andy was able to have a shower and quietly relax for a little while. He still felt sore over much of his body from the incident in the car park and concluded that he may have a few bruises by morning but was relieved that no bones were broken. Andy also realised that he had better telephone Alice before she read the newspaper accounts of what had happened. He decided to do that before going down to the village. There was a tramping of feet and doors opening and shutting along the corridor. The others were back from work. Andy decided to head down to the mess for the evening meal before he was bailed up by his friends.

***

Out at sea, the Penny Jane and its crew had finished the fishing and were sailing to a pre-arranged reference point outside the three-mile limit. It was already dark and the riding lights were lit. When they reached the location, the anchor was dropped and they decided to eat the meal that Penny Walmar had prepared. It would be another hour before the transfer could take place. At 19.00 hours, Berin went and hung two red lights at the stern of the vessel. Shortly after that a light flashed from about fifty yards away. Walmar got his Aldis lamp and flashed the recognition code in reply. Soon there was the sound of bow-waves coming towards them and then they saw the phosphorescence of the waves below a large dark bulk. It came alongside almost silently, towering well above the fishing vessel. It was a Soviet submarine. ‘John Matheson’ called out a recognition statement and the right reply came back. Walmar and Berin threw ropes up for men to hold the vessel steady against the submarine while the transfer was made. At ‘Matheson’s’ request a rope came down to attach his metal case to and it was hauled up. He gave his thanks to Walmar and Berin and then climbed up the rungs on the side of the submarine. A moment later the ropes landed on the deck and the submarine pulled away. It was rapidly swallowed up in the night. Berin went aft and took down the two extra lights. They both went into the wheelhouse and Walmar set a course for Parfleet St Peter. They would have to wait until the tide was high enough for them to get into the harbour but that would be fine.

At The Hound and Pheasant in West Sanby village, Jamie Rogerson was busy looking after the bar. He was thinking about two things; one was the letter he had received from Yvonne that afternoon and the other was about telephoning Andy Hill. Yvonne had expressed an interest in seeing more of Jamie and wanted to know his days off so they could meet. She had also given him a telephone number. He felt flattered but wondered about starting something that he didn’t expect to last long. As he thought about it in between serving customers and washing glasses, Andy walked in with Lance and Dan. They ordered their drinks and Jamie gave Andy a look that said they needed to talk. Andy inclined his head to say that he understood before going over to a table with Lance and Dan. They talked about arrangements for the following weekend. Outside the base they would not discuss the incidents of the last two days. It appeared that Lance and Dan had made their arrangements with Anne and Margaret respectively. Having been away, Andy hadn’t had the chance to do the same. He had written to Alice but had not received a reply. Andy said that he would telephone her. He wondered if it would be wise to be going away with recent events as they were. Andy had been told about the MLT being missing and then turning up a day later. It seemed suspicious to him. With the attempted hijack of the truck with the launcher he wondered what the next attempt would be. The missile and control unit were due to be delivered in the near future. Lance and Dan had started to argue over the English and Welsh rugby teams so Andy excused himself and went across to the bar to speak to Jamie. Being a Friday, the bar had a lot of customers and the hubbub of voices hid their conversation. Jamie told Andy of his new instructions and about a friend of Bill Enderby going onto Walmar’s fishing boat with a large metal case. He said that it could have photographic equipment in it, as the explanation went, but it seemed unusual. “Buy a packet of crisps and I’ll give you a film under it that needs to be developed urgently and sent to Lutterworth. It will also be safer if I don’t have it,” said Jamie. Andy nodded and pulled some money out to pay for the crisps, sliding the film into his pocket with the change. They were interrupted as Jamie served a customer. When he came back, Andy told him to read the paper tomorrow. He expected that there would be something of interest to Jamie and what they were both doing.

With that, Andy went back to the table and his friends. He told them he was going to telephone Alice and went to the public telephone in the corridor. When he got through to the Waltons, John Walton answered the ‘phone and asked him how the trip to Luton had gone. “Pretty quiet down there, sir,” replied Andy.

“I’ll get Alice for you,” John Walton said and put the ‘phone down. A few moments later Alice picked up the ‘phone and they were able to talk together.

“Are you coming up with Lance and Dan next weekend?” she asked.

“I hope to,” Andy replied, “but it will depend on duties