“Hmm, quite so,” mused Wright, and walked out on to the steps again.
A naval bus drew up by the gates, with a squeal of brakes, and Wright smiled, as about twenty Wrens climbed down, and made their way to the dockside canteen.
The pensioner driver called lustily after them: “Nah don’t you be long, my cherubs. ’Alf an hour fer breakfast, an’ we’re off.”
He noted with surprise that one of the girls had detached herself from the group, and was walking uncertainly in his direction. As she drew close, his smile of admiration was replaced by one of recognition. She saluted, and he noted warmly how her jaunty cap had difficulty in controlling her delightful curls.
“And a very good morning to you, my dear,” he boomed jovially. “A Happy New Year, too.”
“Good morning, sir.” Her smile transformed her face. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve got something to send over to Lieutenant Royce’s boat.”
He saw she was holding a brown paper parcel.
“We’re just passing through, you see,” she explained. “Going to the new Signals School.”
Wright grinned roguishly. “He told me you were coming down. The lucky young devil! But I’m afraid he’s out on Ops at the moment. Should be back any time. Then you can give him the parcel yourself.”
Her face clouded, and her eyes glanced fearfully to the vacant buoys by the Royston. “Nothing too dangerous, is it, sir?” There was an edge to her voice.
“’Course not, my dear. Now you come into the S.D.O. and have a cup of tea, and I’ll send someone to fetch you something to eat. Then we can wait for him together.”
She smiled gratefully, but he saw the haunted look in her eyes. As he leafed through the signals, he watched her standing by the windows, her slim body taut. He shook his head and sighed. If he had a girl like that, now—a bell jangled harshly.
“Captain C-F on the phone, sir,” said a rating, his hand over the mouthpiece.
“What the devil—oh, all right.” He took the instrument and listened intently.
The Captain’s voice was crisp. “Had a signal from Coastal Command. You’ll be getting it about now, but I can’t wait. One of the boats has bought it, so you’d better arrange for all the usual stuff.”
“Was there some trouble then, sir? I thought the operation was pretty clear cut.”
The girl turned from the window, stiffening, her face white.
“Don’t know anything else yet, Commander. But inform the hospital at once to get ready.”
The line went dead, and he slowly replaced the receiver. “Bad news, isn’t it?” Her voice was hoarse.
“We don’t know yet,” he said grimly. “Come on, we’ll get up to the main jetty where they come in.”
In silence they hurried along the foreshore, the plump, red-faced Commander, and the small Wren at his side, until they arrived at the old harbour entrance. There was a strong smell of seaweed and fuel oil.
Wright tensed, a string of flags rose to the yard of the boom vessel. “Damn my eyes! They must be able to see the boats. Can you see ’em, girl?” He gripped her arm tightly.
The sea was smooth and glassy, and in the far distance she saw the fast-moving craft sweeping defiantly across the early-morning stillness, ploughing up great rollers of crested foam. The air trembled and slowly filled with the vicious snarl of the racing engines, until all other sounds were swamped, and the very wharf seemed to vibrate under their feet. Nearer and nearer they came, in a perfect formation, the ensigns flapping wildly, making a splash of colour against the sombre grey hulls.
Wright was counting, “Five, six, seven. Just one missing.”
She clenched her hands until the nails bit into her palms. It mustn’t be, it can’t be, her heart cried out. Not now. Oh God, spare him. Her eyes smarted, so that she could hardly see the slim shapes as they roared round the headland and into the harbour reach. The first boat bore a line of scars along her fo’c’sle, and two still shapes lay on her stained deck, covered by their blankets.
Good old Benjy, thought Wright, he’s made it again.
One by one they nosed up to the jetty, where the ambulances stood patiently.
“By God!” roared Wright deafeningly. “There he is! There’s your boy!”
M.T.B. 9779 screeched alongside the rubber fenders of the jetty, and the ropes snaked ashore to the waiting hands. The engines sighed away to stillness as the stretcher-bearers went aboard.
She was running now, blindly stumbling over the slimy, uneven stones, her eyes bright, and her lips parted.
Royce stepped slowly on to the jetty, his waterproof suit stained and blackened, his shoulders heavy, as he watched the wounded survivors going away.
Then, with a gasp of dazed recognition, he saw her. She didn’t stop running until she fell breathless into his outstretched arms.
“Julia, what are you doing here?”
He held her tightly, shielding her from the scene behind him.
“I brought you your present, darling.” There was a sob in her voice, as she pulled the parcel from under her arm. “You’re safe, you’re safe,” she murmured.
With his free hand he tore open the parcel. It was a bright yellow scarf. He laughed and wrapped it round his neck, then, gently, he lifted her chin, and studied her face seriously.
“Are you happy now, darling?”
She nodded, and together they walked up the jetty.
Behind them, the little ships lay quiet and still.
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ALEXANDER KENT
___ Midshipman Bolitho
0-935526-41-2 • 240 pp., $13.95
___ Stand Into Danger
0-935526-42-0 • 288 pp., $13.95
___ In Gallant Company
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___ Sloop of War
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___ To Glory We Steer
0-935526-49-8 • 352 pp., $15.95
___ Command a King’s Ship
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___ Passage to Mutiny
0-935526-58-7 • 352 pp., $15.95
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0-935526-61-7 • 320 pp., $14.95
___ Form Line of Battle!
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0-935526-60-9 • 368 pp., $15.95
___ The Flag Captain
0-935526-66-8 • 384 pp., $15.95
___ Signal – Close Action!
0-935526-67-6 • 368 pp., $15.95
___ The Inshore Squadron
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___ A Tradition of Victory
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___ Success to the Brave
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___ Colours Aloft!
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___ Honour This Day
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___ The Only Victor
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___ Beyond the Reef
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___ The Darkening Sea
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___ For My Country’s Freedom
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___ Cross of St George
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___ Sword of Honour
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___ Second to None
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___ Relentless Pursuit
1-59013-026-X • 368 pp., $16.95
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___ Man of War (HC)
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-066-9 • 320 pp., $24.95
DOUGLAS REEMAN
Royal Marines Saga
___ Badge of Glory
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___ The First to Land
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___ The Horizon
1-59013-027-8 • 368 pp., $15.95
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Modern Naval Fiction Library
___ Twelve Seconds to Live
1-59013-044-8 • 368 pp., $15.95
___ Battlecruiser
1-59013-043-X • 320 pp., $15.95
___ The White Guns
1-59013-083-9 • 368 pp., $15.95
___ A Prayer for the Ship
1-59013-097-9 • 288 pp., $15.95
DEWEY LAMBDIN
___ The French Admiral
1-59013-021-9 • 448 pp., $17.95
___ Jester’s Fortune
1-59013-034-0 • 432 pp., $17.95
DUDLEY POPE
___ Ramage
0-935526-76-5 • 320 pp., $14.95
___ Ramage & the Drumbeat
0-935526-77-3 • 288 pp., $14.95
___ Ramage & the Freebooters
0-935526-78-1 • 384 pp., $15.95
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___ Ramage & the Rebels
0-935526-91-9 • 320 pp., $15.95
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1-59013-007-3 • 272 pp., $15.95
___ Ramage’s Signal
1-59013-008-1 • 288 pp., $15.95
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1-59013-009-X • 320 pp., $15.95
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1-59013-010-3 • 320 pp., $15.95
___ Ramage’s Trial
1-59013-011-1 • 320 pp., $15.95
___ Ramage’s Challenge
1-59013-012-X • 352 pp., $15.95
___ Ramage at Trafalgar
1-59013-022-7 • 256 pp., $14.95
___ Ramage & the Saracens
1-59013-023-5 • 304 pp., $15.95
___ Ramage & the Dido
1-59013-024-3 • 272 pp., $15.95
ALEXANDER FULLERTON
___ Storm Force to Narvik
1-59013-092-8 • 256 pp., $13.95
JAMES L. NELSON
___ The Only Life That Mattered
1-59013-060-X • 416 pp., $13.95
PHILIP McCUTCHAN
___ Halfhyde at the Bight of Benin
1-59013-078-2 • 228 pp., $13.95
___ Halfhyde’s Island
1-59013-079-0 • 228 pp., $13.95
___ Halfhyde and the Guns of Arrest
1-59013-067-7 • 256 pp., $13.95
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1-59013-068-5 • 240 pp., $13.95
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1-59013-069-3 • 256 pp., $14.95
___ Halfhyde Ordered South
1-59013-071-5 • 256 pp., $14.95
DAVID DONACHIE
The Privateersman Mysteries
___ The Devil’s Own Luck
1-59013-004-9 • 302 pp., $15.95
1-59013-003-0 • 320 pp., $23.95 HC
___ The Dying Trade
1-59013-006-5 • 384 pp., $16.95
1-59013-005-7 • 400 pp., $24.95 HC
___ A Hanging Matter
1-59013-016-2 • 416 pp., $16.95
___ An Element of Chance
1-59013-017-0 • 448 pp., $17.95
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___ On A Making Tide
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___ Tested By Fate
1-59013-042-1 • 416 pp., $17.95
___ Breaking the Line
1-59013-090-0 • 368 pp., $16.95
V.A. STUART
Alexander Sheridan Adventures
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___ A Fine Boy for Killing
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___ The Spithead Nymph
1-59013-077-4 • 288 pp., $14.95
IRV C. ROGERS
___ Motoo Eetee
1-59013-018-9 • 400 pp., $18.95 HC
NICHOLAS NICASTRO
___ The Eighteenth Captain
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___ Between Two Fires
1-59013-033-2 • 384 pp., $16.95
C. NORTHCOTE PARKINSON
___ The Guernseyman
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___ Devil to Pay
1-59013-002-2 • 288 pp., $14.95
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1-59013-015-4 • 208 pp., $13.95
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The Naval Officer
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___ Porto Bello Gold
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RAFAEL SABATINI
___ Captain Blood
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MICHAEL SCOTT
___ Tom Cringle’s Log
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WILLIAM CLARK RUSSELL
___ The Yarn of Old Harbour Town
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___ Seven Men of Gascony
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___ Too Few for Drums
0-935526-96-X • 256 pp., $14.95
A Prayer for the Ship Page 26
