Rendezvous-South Atlantic

by Douglas Reeman

  He stared at her, still fearful it would suddenly end. `We've had no mail except local letters.'

  `And you thought I was in Canada!' She laughed, her eyes shining with sudden tears. `There was a last minute mix-up. My medical report got confused with another Wren's, and by the time it was sorted out the convoy had sailed without me. So they sent me here instead. I'll bet they're laughing like hell about it in Canada.'

  She reached up to touch his face. `You're like ice! Tell me, what happened?'

  `The convoy.' He could feel his body trembling violently. `Itwas attacked. The ship with the Wrens aboard was destroyed. I was there. I saw it.' He felt her hair with his fingers. `Burning. I tried to find you.' He broke down and whispered, `To bring you back.'

  A policeman shouted, `What's going on here?'

  The other Wren replied just as loudly, `Get a taxi and don't be a bloody fool!'

  Lindsay heard all of it but was conscious only of the girl pressed against his body. He had to hold on to her. Otherwise...

  She asked, `Is the taxi coming, Marion? We must get him to his ship quickly. He's ill.' She touched his face again, her hand very gentle. `It'll be all right now. My poor darling, I'm so sorry!'

  `Here's the taxi!'

  Lindsay remembered very little of the journey. There was some sort of argument at the dockyard gates, a pause while the other Wren hurried away to make a telephone call.

  Then she said, `We can't come any further. Regulations. We've been on four days leave: Should have been back hours ago.' She pulled his head down on to her shoulder, speaking very softly. 'Or else I would have knownyou were here. Would have seen your ship come in.'

  The other girl came back and peered. into the taxi. She said vehemently, `I spoke to the Third Officer and explained. Silly cow!'

  Eve whispered, `You'd never believe her father was a lord, would you?' She was half laughing, half crying,

  The other Wren added, `Then I got the sentry to put me through to the ship. Just as you said. I wouldn't speak fo anyone else but him.'

  Feet scraped in the darkness and Jupp loomed above the girl's shoulder.

  'Ah, there you are, sir!' He saw the girl and nodded gravely. `I'm so glad for you, Miss. For you both.'

  She said, `Take good care of him.' As Lindsay tried to keep hold of her arm she added, `It will be all right, darling. I shall see you tomorrow. I promise.'

  'Come along, sir.'

  Jupp helped him from the taxi, the driver of which was watching with fixed fascination until the Wren whose father was a lord snapped, `Our quarters, and double quick!'

  Lindsay realised they had reached the brow. At the far end of it he could see the same quartermaster. The same blue light.

  Jupp said evenly, `Just a few more paces.' He moved back. `On your own, sir.' He followed Lindsay, his eyes fixed on his shoulders, willing him up the endless length of brow.

  The quartermaster had been joined by the O.O:D. It was Stannard. He saw Lindsay and Jupp's set face behind him and snapped,'The captain's coming aboard!' Then he

  stepped between the quartermaster and the entry portand said quietly, `Welcome back, sir.'

  Jupp smiled but kept his eyes on Lindsay.

  `I think some 'ot soup might do the trick, sir.' Stannard watched them fade into the shadows. Paget had been O.O.D., but when Jupp had come to him to ask for his help he had sent the lieutenant away, although hecould not recall what for. He had been in his cabin drink ing ing with Dancy at the time: Not talking, just drinking in companionable silence.

  He was touched in some strange way that Jupp had chosen him. Had trusted him to share his secret.

  Paget came back breathing fast. `I couldn't find it, Pilot.' `What?'

  `What you sent me for.' Paget stared at the gangway log.

  `The captain's aboard then?'

  'Yeh.'

  `And I missed him.' Paget sounded cheated.

  `Shame, isn't it?' Stannard walked towards his own quarters whistling quietly to himself.

  Jupp had succeeded in getting Lindsay to his cabin without meeting anyone else.

  He waited until he had dropped on to his bunk and then said, `I'll fetch the soup, sir.'

  Lindsay's eyes were closed. `Don't bother. I'm all right.' `I 'ad it ready. It's no bother.' He saw the readinglamp shining directly across Lindsay's face. `I'll switch it off.'

  `No. Leave it.' He opened his eyes. `You saw her, didn't you?'

  `Course I did, sir!' He grinned broadly. `Don't you worry, light or no light, she'll see you tomorrow, if I'ave to fetch 'er meself, an' that's a fact!'

  Lindsay's eyes closed again. `There was this Turk. He made me stay there. Said it wasn't time. Something about fate. I wanted to go and yet I couldn't move. Kept on about the time and the Dardanelles.'

  Jupp waited as Lindsay's words grew quieter and his features became more relaxed.

  `Was trying to find some matches. And then I heard her call my name.' His voice trailed away.

  `That's right, sir.' Jupp watched- him sadly. `I don't understand a word of it but I'm sure you're right.' He snapped off the light and padded from the cabin.

  In his pantry he sat down on a stool and stared at the soup which was simmering on a small heater. He'll not be wanting it now. He cocked his head to listen but heard nothing. Just the creak of steel, the muffled sounds of a sentry's regular footsteps.

  Then he groped into a locker and took out a bottle of Drambuie. It was his one weakness for special occasions. He wiped a clean, glass and held it to the light before pouring himself a generous measure.

  For to Jupp it was a very special occasion indeed.

  17

  The house by the sea

  Petty Officer Ritchie waited until he heard Lindsay's voice and then stepped into the cabin.

  `Good mornin', sir.' He placed his signal pad on the desk and then handed him a sealed envelope. 'Just arrived from H.Q., sir.'

  As Lindsay slit open the envelope Ritchie darted a quick glance at Jupp. He had already heard about Lindsay's return on board. Jupp had awakened him just before dawn to tell him. He saw the untouched breakfast on the cabin table and Jupp's obvious anxiety.

  Lindsay said, `Orders. You'd better ask Number One to come and see me as soon' as he's finished with Morning Colours.'. He stared at the carefully worded instructions. Four days time. It was not long.

  The bulkhead telephone buzzed, and he made himself sit very still until Jupp announced, `Just the O.O.D. About requestmen an' defaulters.'

  `I see.'

  He tried to hide the disappointment and to concentrate on his written orders. Work, was to be completed before sailing time but leave for the ship's' company could continue at the captain's discretion. Further information would be forthcoming etc. etc. etc.

  Beyond the cabin a bugle blared the `Alert' and on the tannoy system a voice bellowed, `Attention on the upper deck. Face aft and salute!'

  Lindsay stood up and walked slowly to an open scuttle, feeling the morning sunlight on his face. As he listened to one of de Chair's marine buglers he could picture the ensign rising at the taffrail, while the Jack was hoisted in the bows. Once at sea the ensign would be replaced by one of the well-worn ones, tattered and stained, which Ritchie retained for harder use.

  He had awakened in his bunk with Jupp touching his shoulder, a cup of black coffee poised and ready. For just a few seconds he had been gripped with something like terror until Jupp had grinned at him.

  "S'all right, sir. It append just like you remembers!'

  As he shaved and dressed and the ship had come alive around him for another day he had tried to piece it all together in his mind. Each small moment, so that he could hold it intact forever.

  To' think that mere seconds had saved them. Another moment and they might never have met. The letter which she had written had probably been lost or bogged down in some forgotten mail office. If he had not stayed in that strange restaurant. If, if, if.... It seemed unending.

  Goss appeared
in the doorway, `You wanted me, sir?F 'Orders, Number One. Four days notice.'

  `Not much. Still a lot of work undone. I suppose they don't care any more.'

  `Well, do what you can. They might still cancel the orders.'

  Goss shook his head doubtfully., `I went ashore last night and met an old mate of mine. He says there's a big convoy being assembled. Any time now, it seems.'

  It made sense. Every available escort would be required if the convoy was to be a large one.

  He replied, `Leave will be granted. as before.'

  Goss nodded. `Good. Gives me room to get things sorted out with most of the jolly jacks ashore.'

  The telephone buzzed again. Jupp's face was expressionless. `It's the Signals Distribution Office, sir.'

  He handed the phone to him and said breezily, `Now, Mr Goss, what about a cuppa while you're 'ere?'

  Her voice seemed right against his ear. `Sorry about the deception, although this is the S.D.O.' Then she asked quickly, `Are you all right?'

  `Yes. Never better.' Goss, Jupp and the cabin had faded away. `When can I see you?'

  He heard a typewriter clattering in the background as she replied, `Now, if you like. At the gates. I must see you as soon as possible.' She added very clearly, `There isn't much time, is there?'

  `No.' He glanced quickly at his watch. `I'll be there right away.'

  When he had replaced the handset he saw Goss watching him, a cup like a thimble in his large hand.

  `I'm going ashore, Number One. Not for long.'

  Goss nodded. `I can cope, sir.' He studied Lindsay over the rim of the cup. So that was it. Well, bloody good luck to him.

  Jupp asked, `Nice coffee, Mr Goss?'

  Goss stayed poker-faced. `Very nice.' Surprisingly, he winked. `Better for some though, eh?' Then he followed Lindsay from the cabin.

  At the brow he stood beside Lindsay and looked at the busy jetty below.

  `By the way, sir, if, and I say if you were thinking of taking a bit of leave yourself.' He waited until Lindsay was facing him. `Then we can manage quite well.' He shrugged. `After all, the sooner I get used to carrying the weight on my own the better, so to speak.' . `Yes. Thank you.' He turned to watch a column of soldiers marching along the next jetty, their bodies deformed by packs and weapons. `I may hold you to that.' Then he saluted and ran quickly down the brow.

  She was waiting just outside.the gates, looking very young in her white uniform. But exactly as he remembered her.

  She said, `There's a little Chinese restaurant just up the road. It's quiet.' She shot him a quick glance. `Not too ,bright either.'

  As they hurried past the dock-bound vehicles and groups of saluting sailors she added breathlessly, 'I had to pinch myself this morning. Even now I'm afraid I'll wake up.'

  The restaurant was just as she had described it. And at such an early hour quite empty.

  They were ushered to a table and he said quietly, 'My God, you're even more beautiful than I remembered.'

  'It must be darker in here than I thought!' Her voice was husky, and for a few moments neither of them spoke.

  Then she removed her cap and shook out her hair. That too was like a touch against his heart.

  'I'm working in the S.D.O.' She did not look at him. 'So ' I know about your orders. Four days.' She fell silent until a waiter had brought some tea. 'I will be going, too. Back to old England.' She faced him and reached out to grasp his hand. 'Maybe we'll be in the same convoy.' She squeezed it gently. 'Don't worry. It won't be like that other one. It can't be.'

  'No. But why are you going back so soon?'

  She wrinkled her nose. 'I was sent here with some others for the Singapore operation. We were to work here on communications. Now that's all over we're going home again. Maybe I'll even get my proper signals course now.' She dropped her eyes. 'I'm sorry. I was forgetting about those other Wrens. It must have been terrible.'

  He started to speak but she tightened her grip on his hand.

  'Just a minute. There's something I must tell you. I, don't know what you'll say or think but I must say it.' He waited, suddenly tense.

  'You remember my friend Marion?' 'The one whose father is a lord?'

  `Yes, that Marion. Her father's terribly rich. But she's very nice.' She seemed suddenly nervous. 'He has business out here. Her father. There's a place down the coast. We stayed there during the last leave.' Her hand trembled slightly. 'I can get leave again now that I'm on draft.' Then she turned. and looked directly into his eyes. 'If you'd like that.'

  'You know I would, Eve. If you're sure

  She stared down at their hands on the table. 'I'm sure. It's just that I'm afraid of losing you again. This way well know.' She tried to laugh. 'I was also scared you'd think I was in the habit of taking all my commanders to a coastal villa!'

  'When can you leave?'

  She looked up again, her eyes very bright. 'Today. And you?'

  He remembered Goss's words. Perhaps he knew about it, too. Maybe the whole ship did.

  'This afternoon. How do we go?'

  `I can get a car. Or rather Marion will. She can get anything.'

  'I'm beginning to like` her, too.'

  She replied quietly, 'We'd better go now. There are things I must do.' She replaced her cap and added, 'At least you'll know you've got a good driver.' She faced him and he saw the colour on her cheeks. 'The best in Scapa, they used to say!'

  'They were right.'

  Outside the restaurant the sunlight was almost blinding.

  He said, 'I'll phone your quarters.'

  'Yes. Then I'll pick you up.' She grinned. 'That sounds bad.'

  'Not to me.' He touched her bare arm. 'I love you.'

  A working party of seamen marched along the road, and- as they passed the petty officer bawled, 'Eyes left!'

  When he turned again she saluted him too and said, `And I you, sir!'

  He watched her until she had disappeared into a nearby building and then hurried, through the gates after the working party. Even when he reached the top of the brow he was still expecting something to go wrong. A change of orders. A staff conference. Some crisis which would hold. him aboard like one last cruel trap.

  Goss listned to his instructions and said, `Where will you be staying, sir? In case I need to contact you.'

  `I'll telephone the ship when I know the number where I can be reached.'

  He saw Stripey, the ship's cat, sauntering up the brow after a brief visit to the dockyard.

  Goss nodded. `Then I suggest you get going, sir.'

  In his cabin as he threw a few things into a case he kept one ear for the telephone.

  Jupp helped him pack, and as he was about to leave said, `Perhaps you'd take this too, sir.' He held out a tiny silver replica of the Benbecula. It was less than two inches long but perfect in scale and detail. He added awkwardly, `It was made by the Becky's boatswain many years back. Shouldn't be tellin' you this o'course, but 'e 'ad to melt down four silver teapots from the first class dinin' saloon to complete it.'

  Lindsay stared at him. 'But you'll want to keep this!'

  `I was savin' it, sir.' He shook his head. `Maybe this is what for. Anyway, I reckon she'd appreciate it.' -

  Lindsay placed it inside the case. `She will. As much as I do.'

  Jupp shifted from foot to foot. `Well, this won't get the work done. Chatterin' like this.' He hesitated. `An' good luck, Cap'n.'

  'I shall miss this sort of treatment when I go back to the real Navy.'

  Jupp grinned. `I'll probably take a pub after this lot's over, sir. You can come an' see me sometimes.'

  `It's a promise.'

  Jupp followed him to the ladder and watched as he - hurried down to the promenade deck. It was strange to be parted from the little silver ship after all these years, he thought vaguely. But the girl for whom it had been intended had not waited for him. His lip curled with disgust. She had married a bloody bricklayer, and it - served her right.

  He heard the trill of pi
pes and gave a deep sigh of relief. Lindsay had got away all right. He loped into the.

  cabin and picked up the telephone.

  "S'all right, Bob. You can reconnect the phone now.

  All's well.'

  Then humming cheerfully he went to his pantry to find

  the bottle of Drambuie.

  The car was a very old open M.G. but the engine sounded healthy, and when they had cleared the town limits the miles began to pass more quickly.

  Once, as they swung around a wide curve above the sea she asked, `Why are you staring at me? It's not fair. I have to watch the road.'

  Lindsay rested his arm along the back of her seat, his fingers touching her hair as it ruffled in the wind. He had never seen her out of uniform before. At the dockyard gates he had almost walked past her. The dress was pale green and very simple. Itwas, she had explained, straight off a stall, and had proved it by removing a price tag which had been dangling from the hem.

  `I'm enjoying it. So you drive and I'll stare, okay?'

  Another time, while they waited for some cattle to wander aimlessly across the road, they held hands, oblivious to the heat and dust or the native driver who paused to study them.

  Green hills with trees almost touching above the road changed in seconds to long open stretches and only an occasional building or bungalow to show any sign of life. The dust poured back from the wheels in an unbroken yellow bank, the car jerking violently across deep ruts and loose stones with careless abandon. Climbing in low gear then roaring down again, with quick flashes of dark blue between the tall palms to show that the sea was never far away.

  Then another road, narrower than the main one, and the girl had to reduce speed to take an increasing number of bends.

  She said, `What you were saying about the ship. Is it definite?'

  He nodded. `Yes.'

  She reached out and grasped his hand, keeping her eyes on the road. `You feel bad about it, don't you?' She hesitated. `Maybe I can get transferred near this place you'll be going.'

  She must have been thinking about Canada again for she added, 'I'm not jolly well going away from you again, if I can help it!'

  `You'd better have a word with Marion! She's bound to know about these matters.'