“Good,” replied Berin, “then we should be able to tune in to see if there any new instructions and also allow me to send a message to Moscow.” The wavelength they transmitted on was different to the one they listened in to for instructions. They were unaware that the British intelligence services had identified the wavelengths and listened in. Messages were coded and the code was changed regularly. So far, they had not been cracked by British Intelligence because of the frequency of change.
They finished drinking the soup and Walmar said, “Okay, let’s get the net in.” He locked the rudder and they both went out to bring the net in and sort the fish into boxes and put them in the hold. An hour later they went back into the wheelhouse and tuned in to the radio frequency to check for instructions. There were none and Berin then changed frequency and started sending his message. It was a pre-prepared message in Morse code and it was able to be run through at a faster rate than Morse could be tapped out or a voice message given. It meant a shorter period of time for transmission and therefore harder for listening stations to pick up. However, knowing the approximate time of previous transmissions, two British listening posts were tuned in. Once again, the RDF (radio direction finder) located the transmission to be somewhere off the North Lincolnshire coast but within the three-mile limit. They needed a third bearing but there was not a set pattern of nights to be able to have a vessel out in the North Sea to take that bearing. Walmar shut down the radio and set a course for where he had dropped his cray pots. They travelled at a slow speed and, to keep occupied, they started gutting some of the catch. They reached the location of the pots and Walmar switched on the spotlight to pick up the floats. Berin went forward with the boathook and hooked each one aboard as it was caught in the beam of light. They had some good crayfish and Walmar thought they would bring a good price in Louth from his hotel customers. With the tide running in strongly they decided to head for home.
CHAPTER 11
It was Sunday morning (9th) and Andy was in the telephone box calling Alice. The operator connected the call and Alice’s father answered the ‘phone. The operator’s voice said, “You’re through, caller, press button A and commence.”
“Good morning, Mr Walton. How are you?” Andy said.
“Fine,” was the reply. “I’ll call Alice but I want to speak to you first. Your father said that you were looking to buy a car. Well, I’m buying a new Rover and the old one might suit you. I’ll sell it to you at trade-in price. What do you think?”
Andy responded with, “That sounds good, Mr Walton, but I’d like to have a test drive and also talk to my father first.”
“Fine, Andy,” said John Walton. “I understand you’re coming up next weekend. Why don’t you use it to go up to Alnwick and then decide? I’ll call Alice, and you can have an extra three minutes on me.” Andy barely had time to thank him when he heard the receiver being put down and John Walton calling Alice. Alice picked up the receiver and started chatting. Alice asked about the coming weekend and going up to Alnwick. He told her it was fine for her to go with him and they could go up on the Friday evening. His parents would stay up until they arrived. Now that her father had offered the car it would be easier. Alice was excited at the thought of them driving up to Alnwick together.
The operator interrupted with a “Your three minutes is up. Do you wish to extend?” Alice said they did and to reverse the charges. They continued talking, the tone of their voices indicating to each the feelings they had for each other. Too soon the three minutes were up and Andy promised to telephone again mid-week. They hung up, Alice going to get ready for church and Andy then putting three pence in the box to ‘phone Jamie Rogerson.
Bob, the publican, answered and Andy pressed button A, gave his name and asked to speak to Jamie. Bob told him to hold on and went off to get Jamie. Within a minute, Jamie picked up the ‘phone with, “Hi! Andy. Thanks for ‘phoning. What are your plans today? We need to compare notes.”
“I could be there in half an hour, if you are able to talk. It might be better than waiting until opening time,” was Andy’s response.
“Do that,” said Jamie. “We’ll have a tea-break and talk.”
“Okay. See you soon,” said Andy and hung up the ‘phone. He went back to the barrack block, got changed into civvies and headed for the village, thinking that a good brisk walk would do him good. As he walked, he thought about the offer from the Chinaman, Mr Lee. Andy wasn’t familiar with Shaolin martial art but he was impressed with what he saw Mr Lee do and thought it could be useful to learn it. As Mr Lee said, it would keep him fit. More importantly, thought Andy, it would keep his reflexes good. He could keep fit at the base but he knew that his responses would slow without others testing him. There was a cool breeze and Andy quickened his pace. They would soon be having frosts again as autumn turned to winter. Already the few trees along the road were losing their leaves which lay scattered along the side of the road. The leaves still on the
