It was an attractive prospect. With Aliceat his side, all that a political wife should be, he could enjoy a busy andprosperous existence. He would also be known in his country – that might beattractive, he admitted.
“All I have to do is survive the war, sir,and my future is made.”
“You could leave Harwich, take a positionin the Admiralty, Simon. Or at Scapa Flow, perhaps?”
He shook his head brusquely.
“No, sir. I have work to do in the boats.I cannot leave the job undone, step back to allow a lesser man to stand in myplace. It sounds arrogant perhaps, sir. It is. I am still one of the best ofthe destroyermen and performing a task that others could not do so well. Duty,sir, drilled into me by the Navy and part of my very existence. I cannot refusethe task allotted to me.”
“I can only cry ‘well done’, Simon, andwish that you were less of a man. No, withdraw that, how could you be? You arewhat you are and I admire you for it. Your grandfather wishes to speak to youthis week. Shall I arrange for Thursday?”
The old gentleman was as alert and uprightas ever. Simon had a suspicion that he would die still at the height of his mentalpowers, sat at his desk having just completed a piece of work and able to givehis attention to mortality, to accept that his heart had stopped.
“Coffee, Simon? My congratulations on yourforthcoming marriage, my boy! A sound family, the Parretts. I have instructedmy people to speak with their managers, give them a pointer or two to bringthem into the circle of those who know what’s going on.”
Simon suspected that his father bymarriage was about to become far richer. Not a bad thing.
“Your uncle suggests that you are thinkingof a political existence, after the war that is.”
“It seems a sensible idea, sir. The Navywill have little for me, for having achieved too many promotions, too young. Iam certain to become Commander within two years. Far too young for thepeacetime sailors. I could expect ten years of polishing the brasswork andindulging in futility if I remained in the service. Post captain at thirty-fiveand then what to do with me? Five years to the command of a capital ship andten to rear admiral, all the time giving orders to older men with many more yearsof service and regarding me as an upstart who had a lucky war. Better to enter anothercareer entirely, sir.”
The old gentleman accepted the argument.
“Well thought. I agree. Better you shouldsit as a Conservative – not much difference between the major parties, afterall, and I can find a good safe seat for you. There will be an election soonafter the war ends. I shall see you become a Member then. If not me, in person,whoever sits in this chair will deal with the matter. My sons are aware of mymind on this. You will need a place in Town – more convenient than hiring roomswhile the House is sitting. I shall see to that, and another in your constituency.Always goes down better if the MP is a local man, or appears to be for livingin the area.”
Simon felt much as if he had stood in frontof a steamroller. His life had just been packaged up neatly and tidily for him.All he had to do was show his face at the right place and correct time.
“Funny, sir. On my bridge, I am lord andmaster of all and command their comings and their goings…”
“And here, young man, you obediently say ‘ayeaye, sir’ and do as you are told. I understand that I am somewhat brief in my ways.You have permission to tell me so, when necessary. As a Minister of the Crown,which you will certainly be before too many years have passed, you will have aduty to King and Country, Simon. I will make my voice heard, do not doubt that,but the final decisions must be yours. I shall not disown you in a fit of piqueif you decide it is better to go against me.”
“I had worried about that, sir.”
“Do not. I may be a king of finance, I donot consider myself to be a Pope as well, infallible and to be blindly obeyed.Now then, Miss Alice Parrett, what sort of betrothal gift should I send her?”
Simon had not the slightest idea.
“As I suspected. Leave it to me. Anecklace will never come amiss, in my experience of the female! What does theNavy most need in Belgium, do you think?”
The sudden change of topic flustered Simonfor a few seconds. He was able to find a reply.
“Bigger and faster destroyers and somemeans of locating submarines under the sea. More minesweepers, designed for thejob. Some imagination amongst the admirals.”
“I can do nothing about the latter, I fear.I will pass the word on the other three items.”
Scapa Flow was tedious. Black Prince satat her mooring for weeks on end, waiting at eight hours notice for steam, hercrew busily polishing themselves and everything else they could find. Every fewdays a warning notice for sailing arrived as it seemed possible that the GermanHigh Seas Fleet was moving; it was inevitably cancelled within a few hours andthe stokers were told to stand down.
Life was particularly boring for ChristopherAdams. As Navigating Officer he had no other responsibilities, no division ofmen, no section of
