As he walked towards the door the others stood up, as if to some secret signal, and followed him into the bright sunlight. They seemed unwilling for him to leave. That by staying together they might forestall any additional disaster.
Hammond asked, “What about the steering? Can we get on the slipway after Prawn?”
Trewin shrugged. “I will find out.” He forced a grin. “I’m as eager as you to get mobile again.”
As he sat in the motor boat he stared back at the ship with a sense of shock. Her hull was streaked with dirt and rust, and it was impossible to visualise her as she had been when he had first seen her. Then she had looked like a yacht. Now she was showing the signs of wear and survival, like the men who served her.
At the landing stage he found freshly erected sandbag barriers and helmeted soldiers with machine-guns. The whole area seemed swamped with military police and armed troops.
An army lieutenant met him at the barrier and glanced briefly at his papers. He said, “Can’t be too careful. The place is crawling with saboteurs and spies.” He glanced across at the Porcupine. “I hope you’re staying well out at anchor. We’ve already had several riots with our brave citizens fighting or bribing their way aboard anything still afloat.” He smiled bitterly. “A few days ago any soldier was treated like dirt around here. Now he could become a millionaire in exchange for a pass aboard some ship, any bloody ship.” He signalled to a camouflaged car. “He’ll take you to the airfield, or what there is left of it!”
Trewin did not trust himself to reply. As the car nudged out into the street he was immediately aware of the changes all around him. The crowds of silent Malays and Chinese. Of abandoned vehicles and bomb-blasted buildings. Several times he saw corpses piled at the side of the road, only barely covered by sacking and crawling with flies. The driver did not even glance at them, and Trewin saw that he had a revolver resting across his legs as he steered through the streets at breakneck speed.
Trewin asked, “Much trouble here?”
The soldier grimaced. “It’s not safe to go out alone at nights. Some of our lads have been done up by the locals recently.”
Trewin remembered the friendly faces he had seen before, the air of gentle tolerance and patience.
The soldier added, “They think we’ve let ’em down. That we should be protecting ’em from the Japs.” He laughed angrily. “Protect them!”
“It’s as bad as that, is it?” Trewin saw the man’s eyes harden.
“Yeh, it’s a bloody sight worse by now, I expect. The Japs are supposed to have taken Timah Hill, the highest point on the whole ruddy island.” He cocked his head sideways. “That’s only about five miles from the city’s perimeter, for God’s sake!”
He swung the wheel and skidded the car through the barbed-wire gate and braked outside the familiar concrete bunker. Then he leaned on the wheel and added softly, “Protect those bastards? We can’t even protect our bleeding selves!”
Trewin climbed down and stared at him. The soldier had a plain, ordinary face. He seemed to personify every soldier he had ever seen. He said, “Maybe they’ll be able to hold them yet.”
The man pulled a cigarette from beneath his helmet and squinted against the harsh sunlight. “Save it, sir. I’ve been a squaddie too long to believe that sort of thing. They drop you into one mess after another. I was in Greece before this.”
Trewin looked away. “So was I.”
The man lit his cigarette and leaned back comfortably. “Well, you know then, don’t you?” He smiled. “Fair makes you want to throw up, don’t it?”
Trewin walked into the cool confines of the bunker and was almost knocked over by some marine orderlies who were manhandling a large steel filing cabinet out of the entrance. Inside the operations room the telephones were silent and unmanned, and only the map table remained as before, a colourful mockery in the middle of chaos.
The admiral was sitting in a canvas chair dictating a signal to his flag-lieutenant. At the far end of the room staff officers were bundling files into cases or throwing papers into a large incinerator beside which stood a can of petrol.
Fairfax-Loring looked up and nodded calmly. “You always seem to be dropping in for a visit, Trewin.” He looked at Hughes. “Pass that to all sections and then carry on with my order.” He pulled out his gold case and lit a cigarette. “Fact is, Trewin, things are getting a bit dicey here.”
A telephone buzzed impatiently, but a staff officer lifted the receiver and then laid it on the table and continued with his work. Trewin stared at the telephone. At the other end there was probably some wretched junior officer like himself. Perhaps out of fuel or ammunition, and wanting help and instructions.
He said coldly, “Prawn is on the slip, sir. I think we should get Porcupine’s rudder seen to immediately.”
The admiral watched him through the smoke. “Quite so. Actually I have already got it in hand. Prawn’s damage is not too bad. When she’s pumped out and so forth she should be able to get steam up again. Pity about your steering though. I could have used the Porcupine right now.”
“I understand that Beaver has already gone, sir? Is Commander Corbett still here?”
“Of course he is, Trewin!” The admiral frowned. “He is the senior officer of the group. What did you expect?” Then he yawned. “I’m about bushed, but there’s a lot to do yet.” He eyed Trewin thoughtfully. “You’ll hear soon enough, so it might as well be from me. The Army is in a bad way. They are mounting a counter-attack as of now, but if that fails I’m afraid we can’t hope for much. The Japs are almost at the reservoirs, and some of the other water supply has already been poisoned,” he shrugged, “so it’s just a matter of time.”
Trewin felt the room closing in on him. He said, “But the troops, sir? Surely they’re not going to leave the whole lot to be killed or captured?”
The admiral leaned over the map, then took a paper knife and scored a deep line right across it. “They’ve got half the island, Trewin! In less than forty-eight hours they cut the bloody place in two!” He threw the knife aside. “There’s nothing we can do about it. Nothing anyone can do at the moment!”
Trewin thought of the soldier in the car outside and replied bitterly, “The stupid, incompetent bastards!”
The admiral smiled dryly. “There’s more to fighting a war than just one campaign, my lad. You’ll learn that if you live long enough.”
Hughes reappeared at the door. “Car’s ready, sir.” He glanced at Trewin and gave a small shrug.
Fairfax-Loring stood up and picked his briefcase from the table. “I am sending Prawn after the Beaver as soon as I can, Trewin. She’ll probably be the last ship to go of any size, and I want every available person crammed aboard. Hughes has a list, and I’ve got my people rounding them up right now.” He became vague. “Some nurses, a few wives, and so forth. All those who did not take advantage of the more comfortable transport last week.”
Trewin could not withhold his anger. “Perhaps they were stupid enough to believe the bulletins, sir! Maybe they really trusted the people in authority who promised their safety and final victory!”
Fairfax-Loring watched him unmoved. “Corbett will be sending his wife and child with the Prawn. You had better see that Massey’s daughter goes, too.” He looked around the bunker. “Ah well, one command post is much like another!”
As he crossed to the entrance the admiral added calmly, “You can send your people ashore if you like. Those you can trust. It’ll be your responsibility of course. Some of them may want to make sure their homes are in order and so on. But get them back aboard as soon as you can, so that the ship can be repaired while there’s still time.” He showed his teeth. “You don’t want to be stuck here all alone, do you?”
Trewin wanted to hit him. You smug, hypocritical bastard! You don’t really give a damn about anyone, do you?
He said quietly, “How long have we got, sir?”
“Two or three days.” The admiral studied him as i
f surprised by the question. “Not much more.” He added suddenly, “But if you need any help I shall be ready to do what I can.”
Trewin replaced his cap and then replied bitterly, “No, sir. I don’t want anything, thank you.”
He walked back to the car and leaned for several seconds against the warm metal. He could hear the rumble of guns and the unending murmur of voices in the street beyond the gates. It was like a new nightmare.
The admiral had said nothing about his disobeying Corbett’s signal. It was surprising how little it mattered any more. One thing stood out foremost in his mind. Clare must be got out as soon as possible. He would check with Prawn’s captain and then fetch her himself. When the final battle started it would be something to know that she was safe.
The soldier looked down at him and grinned. “All done, sir?”
Trewin climbed into his seat and stared straight ahead. “Yes. All done.” He saw a polished staff car with a rear-admiral’s flag on its bonnet nosing through the compound towards the bunker.
The soldier let in the clutch and said, “Well, at least we’ve got the harbour intact. The Navy’ll lift us out, like they always do, eh?” He was looking at the road and did not see the despair on Trewin’s face.
AS THE MOTOR BOAT DARTED alongside the landing stage Trewin sensed that Corbett had returned to the Porcupine before him. Both the coxswain and the bowman were in spotless whites, and in spite of the wired-off jetty being deserted but for two sentries they went through the full drill of getting the boat neatly laid by the stone steps, as if they were under the eye of the commander-in-chief.
Trewin saw Hammond waiting at the gangway, and as he climbed from the boat he asked, “Well, Sub, why the anxious look?” Even his attempt at humour sounded hollow. His mind was still buzzing with thoughts and impressions he had gained on his short visit ashore. The admiral’s casual acceptance of defeat, the grim-faced soldiers and the thought of Clare Massey waiting for someone to help her.
Hammond said, “Thank God, I was beginning to think you were making a day of it, Number One.” He dropped his voice. “The captain came aboard just after you’d gone. He’s been yelling for you every other minute. He tried to get through to H.Q., but some joker said that the lines are all disconnected.”
Trewin frowned and glanced at the bridge. “That was no joke, Sub.” He looked along the deck where men were busy with hoses and scrubbers and Dancy was instructing some Chinese seamen in the art of repairing a torn awning. “What the hell is happening?”
“Captain’s orders. He went right over the ship as soon as he returned. Every deck and flat, even the boiler room. He’s had the people hard at it all forenoon so far.”
Trewin thought of the tired, unshaven faces in the dawn light. The empty expressions of men too weary even to feel relief at their return or to find pride in seeing the Prawn towed to safety. Now Corbett had them all at work, as if the ship was about to receive a full inspection.
He said flatly, “I’ll go and see him.” He ran up the bridge ladder and stared with disbelief at the deserted wheelhouse. The brass telegraphs gleamed like gold, the helmsman’s grating was still damp from scrubbing, and there was even a smell of new varnish in the air.
He walked down the connecting passageway and rapped on Corbett’s door. Corbett was sitting behind his desk writing slowly in his order book. Trewin said, “I’ve just come aboard, sir.”
Corbett did not look up. “Yes. I heard you talking with Hammond. I wondered when you might get to me.”
Trewin gripped his trousers by the seams and tried to control the remains of his patience. “As temporary officer in charge I went to see the rear-admiral, sir. I wanted fresh orders.”
Corbett replaced the pen on a silver stand and raised his eyes. They looked cold and dangerous. “Never mind that, Trewin! When I came aboard I expected to find you here. With an explanation in writing. I’d have thought that as an ex-journalist you’d not have found that too difficult?” He did not wait for a comment. “In all my experience I have never seen a ship, any ship in such a pot-mess! Had I behaved as you did, I would certainly have tried to present some front of efficiency, if only for decency’s sake!”
Trewin eyed him warily. “Have you finished, sir?”
Corbett stood up. “No, I have not finished, and be good enough to pay attention!” He was breathing quickly and the nervous tick had appeared below one eye. “The night before last you disobeyed my signal. The result of which is obvious, even to you. This ship is disabled, and the fault is entirely yours! Ever since you came aboard I have tried to tolerate your lack of experience, and to guide you towards a chance of making yourself useful in the future. And this is how I am repaid!”
Trewin said quietly, “The Prawn had to be saved, sir. The enemy were already close to that part of the coast. They would have taken her as soon as it was daylight.”
Corbett stared at him as if he had uttered some obscenity. “Do you think I don’t know all that? My responsibility is to the group, Trewin. God knows, I don’t want to lose men, some of whom are dear friends of mine. But I’m not permitted to think of that sort of thing, and neither are you. The group must stay intact. Porcupine and Beaver are the two biggest ships in the group. And now, thanks to you, there is only the Beaver. When she returns we may still be stuck here waiting for the dockyard idlers to carry out our repairs. Prawn will never be any use as a first-line ship. She has always been the lame dog, and now it looks as if she will be the only one here in commission until Beaver comes back!”
Trewin replied, “She’s not coming back, sir.”
“Don’t change the subject!” Corbett was shouting. “I want to know why you disobeyed my signal!” He swung round. “What did you say?”
Trewin repeated, “Beaver’s not returning, sir. Not soon. Not ever!”
“I don’t believe it!” Corbett sat down at his desk and stared at the neat piles of signals. “Even the admiral would not jeopardise efficiency like that!”
“It was the admiral who told me, sir.” Trewin waited a few more seconds. “And the Prawn is to leave Singapore as soon as she’s able with the last available evacuees. There should be a signal about it already. He said that you should get your wife and son to the slipway as soon as you can, sir.”
Corbett was still staring at his desk. “I don’t believe it,” he said again.
Trewin leaned over the desk and turned over the top clip of signals. “It should be here if…”
Corbett knocked his hand away. “I can look, Trewin! I’m not a damn cripple!” In his sudden anger his sleeve caught his open book and knocked it aside. Before he could replace it Trewin saw a large magnifying glass lying underneath. It was so powerful that the wording on a sheet of typed paper looked about an inch high.
Trewin looked away, holding down the embarrassment and pity, and forced himself to say, “The admiral told me that it’s nearly over. We’re finished. The powers that be are going to surrender and drop the whole army in the bag!” He could no longer conceal his anger. “So it doesn’t really matter what we do now, does it?”
Corbett did not speak for several seconds, and from the ship and beyond Trewin could hear the familiar sounds as if from another world. The sluice of water alongside, the patter of feet on the battery deck, and over all the steady murmur of guns.
Then Corbett said, “I’ve been over the whole ship myself. There’s a lot to do to get her back to shape.” He seemed to be talking to himself. “But she’s a sturdy ship. She can take this sort of trouble, and a lot more beside.”
“I know that, sir.”
Corbett lifted his gaze, his eyes empty of expression. “You only think you know. You just look on a ship as a piece of equipment, a means to an end. But you’re wrong, believe me!” He slewed round in his chair and looked across the cabin. “The size and power of a ship does not matter. It’s the heart of a ship that counts. If the ship is treated badly so will she react.” He shook his head. “Because you’ve seen war
it does not make you some sort of super being, Trewin!” He glanced up at him briefly. “You had better go ashore and fetch my wife and son. Dr. Massey’s daughter will accompany them in Prawn.”
He fixed Trewin with a cold stare. “I would go myself, but I have work to do. This ship will return to normal duty as soon as possible. You don’t get that sort of standard by allowing our people to lounge about like a lot of damn vagrants, or by letting the ship get in a state of filth.”
Trewin said, “Very well, sir. I’ll go now.”
“And when you return I will want a full written report about your disobeyance of orders. When I write mine I shall not be slow to point out to the admiral your better achievements also. They will be taken into full consideration at the enquiry. To you, the Navy’s ways are still strange, perhaps. But they are fair and just, notwithstanding what you may or may not believe.” He picked up his pen. “Now go and see Adair and arrange for my wife to go aboard when Prawn is ready.” He dropped his eyes. “She seems to like you well enough, so you should be able to manage that all right!”
Trewin left the cabin, knowing that it was useless to start into a head-on row at this moment. It would be just like Corbett to relieve him of his duties entirely. And there was still Clare’s safety to consider.
He walked to the gangway and beckoned to the motor boat. To Hammond he said quietly, “There’s to be local leave for those with responsibilities ashore, Sub. Tell Guns to take O.O.D. and get ashore yourself.” He shot him a meaning glance. “Just between us, the Prawn is pulling out with the last organised evacuees.” He saw Hammond’s eyes cloud over. “I suggest you put your Jacqui aboard. By force if necessary!” Then to the coxswain he shouted, “The slipway, as quick as you can!”
Lieutenant Adair, the Prawn’s commanding officer, was an extremely tall man, all arms and legs, and with a cluster of large, protruding teeth which seemed to give him a permanent grin. Trewin found him on the slipway squinting up at his ship’s weed-encrusted hull, his cap on the back of his head and his shirt as filthy as any of his men’s.
Pride and the Anguish Page 21
