Black August gs-10

by Dennis Wheatley

  She looked at him steadily and then she said: 'I agree with Kenyon that apart from the question of our personal gratitude you ought to be shot for what you've done, but there is a sort of half truth in your specious excuses about the troops being useless where they were with the whole country in chaos; the great point is, that right or wrong you've done it now, and I for one have no desire to be dumped back on the quay at Chatham. Last night was quite enough slumming for this child. I shall probably die of seasickness, but I'd rather chance that and take a trip to the West Indies with you.'

  Sallust nodded. 'A most sensible summing up of the situation. What about you, Ann?'

  'I agree with Veronica. What you've done may be frightfully wrong theoretically, Gregory, but fifty soldiers and one destroyer aren't going to save England from anarchy, and since you've, saved us once already I think we can't do better than trust in you again.'

  'A delightful vote of confidence, my dear.' He grinned and turned to Silas. 'Do you want to beat your little drum, Harker, and see me clapped in irons?'

  The American's large humorous face had grown very grave as he replied: 'I think I'd like to have a word with Fane alone before I give any answer to that.'

  'All right, go ahead; you'd better use the lobby, but wait ' Gregory held up his hand as they both rose from the table. 'I'd be glad if you will remember that I personally have not the least intention of returning to England, and that I only brought you along as a kindness. Moreover, I have the best part of sixty men under my command; they, at least, would never believe your story, and are prepared to carry out my orders to the letter. If through your interference Fanshawe cuts up rough there's going to be blue hell on this ship get that?'

  'Do you really mean that you would go to the length of ordering your troops to fire on Fanshawe's sailors?' asked Kenyon horrified.

  'That's it; and Fanshawe wouldn't stand a chance against me even if he had twice the numbers, but in the meantime the ship would become a shambles, and after, unless I could persuade sufficient sailors to come over to my side, we should probably be wrecked. Worst of all I just might be killed myself. I say worst of all, not out of any personal conceit, but because as long as I remain alive there is a reasonable prospect of discipline being maintained. Without me well, you've got a half mutinous crew already, and I'm not altogether satisfied about one or two of my own men. Now out you go, and just consider the sort of thing that might happen to your sister and Ann here in such circumstances, then come back and tell me if you still think it's up to you to go putting a match to the powder barrel.'

  The conference in the lobby was brief. 'He's got us,' said Kenyon shortly. 'At least he's got me. Principles or no principles I can't run the risk of exposing the girls to any horrors like that.'

  The American loomed immense and lofty even over Kenyon's height. 'He means it too,' he said seriously. 'He'll loose hell on this ship if he meets with any opposition, and he's right about the possibility of mutiny. I'd been counting that in myself.'..

  'Yes. He seems to be one of those exceptional egoists who really have the courage to throw all established ideas overboard and carry their theories into practice regardless of the cost.'

  Harker's blue eyes twinkled. 'He's a proper blackguard, but I like the man; this sort of thing needs guts.'

  'It does. He's just the sort of chap I'd follow anywhere if only his authority were legitimate.'

  'What's the odds?' Silas's full lipped mouth crumpled into a smile. 'We're either for him or against him, and if it's “for” we'd best back him for all we know, and put our scruples right behind us.'

  'Yes. If we go to Fanshawe now things will blow up for certain, and if we don't we'll be liable anyhow to the same penalties as Sallust if his plans break down; so the sensible thing seems to do our damndest to help him pull this mad venture through.'

  'Sure, I'm glad you see it as I do. Let's get back, shall we?'

  Kenyon nodded. 'Righto! I only hope we don't have trouble with the sailors after all.

  'Don't worry.' Silas ducked his head quickly as he stepped through the wardroom door. 'If we stick together we'll see this party through.'

  'Well?' Gregory raised his left eyebrow with cynical inquiry.

  'Having registered our protests we are going to forget it,' said Kenyon, 'and accept your leadership without further question.'

  Silas squeezed himself back into his chair. 'That's so, General, and for the duration, as you call it, you can count on us.'

  One of those rare smiles lit up Sallust's face. 'I'm glad,' he said slowly. 'It makes a world of difference to have your voluntary support, although I don't mind telling you now you would never have got as far as Fanshawe. The sentries in the passage outside the lobby had their instructions before we sat down to dinner.'

  Kenyon smiled. 'I see; that's why you had them posted, eh? Although Fanshawe seemed to think it a mad idea to put sentries outside a mess.'

  'A General Officer is entitled to his guard, my friend,' Sallust replied lightly. 'But now we're all agreed, what about some more port? A toast to a happy and successful voyage.'

  Rudd hastened forward with a new decanter, and the toast was drunk, then Veronica leaned towards Gregory: 'Were you serious about taking us to the West Indies?'

  'Perfectly, have you any preference for any particular island?'

  'I've always wanted to go to the West Indies,' Ann announced unexpectedly.

  'Good,' he nodded. 'Well, I favour Haiti myself, it's native owned or one of the smaller islands. Dominica perhaps I've friends there; you see complications might arise if we turned up at Jamaica or Cuba.'

  'But why the West Indies?' Veronica protested. 'Think of the voyage, in this armoured speed boat. There's so much engine to it they haven't even room for a bathroom.'

  He shrugged. ‘Europe is impossible, and the African coast presents all sorts of unpleasant problems. In the Indies there is an excellent climate; very few poisonous reptiles in the better islands, an abundant variety of fruit, and excellent deep sea fishing. What more do you want?'

  'But my dear man, you don't expect us to live on the beach, do you?'

  'Why not? All towns will be dangerous for a year or two to come until the world settles down again with a considerably reduced population. Even after the bloodshed stops there will be starvation and every sort of ghastly pestilence. Our only hope as I see it is to find a garden of Eden for ourselves and sit in it playing contract for shark's teeth.'

  'What! live in the woods like savages?'

  'Not quite. My reason for commandeering troops was not only for my own protection. I don't doubt that I could have got out of England on my own, but I should hate to live on a desert island, however fruitful, in complete solitude, and with organised labour one can do anything. Build houses, dig gardens, assure oneself an adequate and regular supply of food, and protect oneself from possible hostility of the inhabitants if any. These Tommies are to act the role of numerous Man Fridays to my Crusoe.'

  'My God, you’ve got a nerve!' exclaimed Veronica.

  'But surely,' Kenyon cut in, 'they're bound to realise that you are not acting on instructions once you get them on the other side.'

  'Of course, but I shall offer them a choice. To return to England in the ship with Fanshawe or to stay with me. These chaps are not fools, Fane. They will have been under my orders for three weeks or a month by then, and since a natural gift for leadership has been thrust upon me by a kindly and all seeing Providence, nine tenths of them will stay under their self appointed Commander rather than face a return to the uncertainties of England. In fact, I expect most of the sailors will stay too, perhaps this ship will never go back. If not we'll see if we can't find some method to refine crude oil or perhaps convert one of the engines. If we could we'd turn her into a private yacht.'

  'As I see it you're out to start a brand new Colony,' remarked Harker. 'And I think it's a great idea.'

  'That's it, “Hesperides” we'll call it. The Golden Isle where all is peace
under the benign reign of King Sallust the First that's me. You will form my natural aristocracy and the lads shall be the population.'

  'I've a notion that you'll have a spot of trouble with one or two of them first.'

  'I expect so. That's why in a way I would rather that the ship went back. It would take any discontented elements with it. As it is I anticipate having to make a few drastic examples. That red faced fellow Brisket is a bad egg, I'm sure, so is the bird with the protruding teeth. Sanders, I think his name is, but I'm not certain. I haven't been with them long enough to get all their names pat yet.'

  'What is the drill tomorrow?' asked Kenyon.

  'You'd better take Orderly Officer, Fane. First parade six thirty. Inspect their turn out and create hell if any of them are unshaven or slipshod in their dress. Then run 'em round the deck for ten minutes, follow my leader fashion, to get their circulation going. After that an hour's physical drill. Second parade nine o'clock, rifle inspection. I'll take that myself.'

  'Very good, sir.'

  'I'll rough out some sort of plan this evening for the day's routine, then we must put our heads together as to how to vary it a bit. The men must be kept busy, interested and amused during the voyage. That will keep them fit, help to preserve discipline and enable all of us to get to know each of them personally. Besides, regular healthy occupation is the strongest antidote against discontent.'

  Harker gave his slow smile. 'You certainly have the right idea how to handle a job like this.'

  'Then amusements,' Gregory went on with a little nod. 'We'll arrange a sing song for tomorrow night I think. You might attend to that, Harker. Find out what local talent we've got amongst our own men, then get Fanshawe or Broughton to cooperate and rope in some of the tars as well excellent way of getting the two lots on a friendly footing. We might try and fix a gymkhana for the following afternoon, high jumps, obstacle race round the deck and all that sort of thing then a boxing contest the following night.'

  'Thank goodness I'm not a man,' Ann murmured to Veronica.

  'I know, darling, I detest organised games.'

  Harker's curiously musical accent covered the aside. 'When do you mean to open these marvellous secret orders officially General?'

  'After nine o'clock inspection. All my men will be on deck and under arms then.'

  'You've a feeling that the naval bird may not stand for it, eh?'

  Gregory smiled slightly. 'Well, as Fane said a little time ago, it's hardly rational that the Government should send troops to the West Indies with a Revolution going on at home and if they did it's not usual to send them in a destroyer. However, I've got quite a good story in my head for Fanshawe because I thought this whole party out a very long time ago. I only hope for his own sake that it convinces him.'

  'Himmel!' cried Veronica suddenly.

  'What is it?' came a chorus of surprised exclamations.

  'I've just thought, darlings, what in the world shall we do for clothes?'

  With the exception of Gregory they all burst out laughing, but he eyed her gravely. 'I thought you told me this afternoon that you were a devil with a needle.'

  'So I am, what of it?'

  'Well, we can't afford to carry passengers on a trip like this; everyone must earn their keep in some way. Ann's quite a useful cook, so with Rudd's assistance and a couple of orderlies to do the dirty work she'll be able to pull her weight, but your only accomplishment being sewing I'd thought of you as seamstress for the party; there will be several score socks to mend.'

  'Take him away somebody or I shall faint,' Veronica covered her eyes with her hands as though to shut out this nightmare vision, but they only laughed the more as Gregory went on: 'When the socks give out you shall make a sweet little grass skirt for each of us; decency, like discipline, must be maintained.'

  As the laughter subsided Kenyon found Ann smiling at him for the first time since she had visited Grosvenor Square.

  'You know,' she said, 'I'm looking forward to life on an island. I think it's all going to be wonderful fun.'

  'Do you, Ann. I ' but his sentence was cut short by the sudden entrance of Lieutenant Commander Fanshawe. He looked more square jawed than ever and there was an angry light in his eyes as he flung at Sallust:

  'I've been busy on the wireless and now we've got it going again.'

  'Have you? that's splendid.' Gregory's tone was mild as milk but his eyes suddenly narrowed and his hand fell casually to his belt, just above the pistol holster. Mr. Rudd appeared, silent and watchful in the doorway of the wardroom, behind the Lieutenant Commander. His hand slipped under a newly acquired apron.

  'Yes,' said Fanshawe harshly, 'and we've picked up Chatham. They say that no orders have been passed to C. in C. Nore, and that they've never heard of Brigadier General Sallust. My instructions are to return to port at once.' As he finished speaking they felt the engines beginning to throb. The destroyer had leapt from cruising to full speed ahead.

  13

  The Bluff is Called

  'I gather that you have already given the necessary orders,' said Gregory.

  'Yes.'

  'Without consulting me?'

  'I don't have to.' The Lieutenant Commander's voice was grim.

  Sallust nodded. 'All right. Still, I want to talk to you and it might as well be now; sit down and join me in a glass of port.'

  'Thank you, no! I have to return to the bridge.'

  'Why; is there no one up there now?'

  'Yes, the officer of the watch, Broughton.'

  'Then there is no need for you to return at once; sit down for a minute.'

  Fanshawe regarded Gregory with an angry stare, his chin thrust out, his bushy eyebrows drawn together. 'Look here,' he replied, I don't know what your game is. A Brigadier in charge of a platoon, with a couple of officers who aren't officers at all and two ladies attached; but one thing's clear you've got no right on board this ship. You jollied me into leaving port against my better judgment and I'll be lucky if I'm not court martialed for this trip; anyhow you'll have the chance of explaining to the authorities directly we arrive, but in the meantime I and the officers under me do not propose to hold any further communications with you at all. Understand?'

  'That's a pity,' said Gregory affably; 'because we are going to be cooped up in this ship together for quite a little time.'

  'What the devil do you mean?'

  'Simply this. We are going to adhere to our first instructions and if you think it over you will see why.'

  'I'm hanged if I do!'

  'Don't you? Then it has obviously not occurred to you that these orders you have just received by wireless may be faked. It is highly probable that the Communists have taken over at Chatham by now.'

  The sailor made an angry noise; half grunt, half laugh. 'What rot! Besides they wouldn't be able to use the Admiralty code even if they had!'

  'Oh? What about the mutineers in the fleet?'

  'We're not all fools, you know; they will have been dealt with by now.'

  'All right then; in that case your new orders can only be the result of some blunder on the part of Higher Command.'

  'Thank you, they are quite plain, and in these waters it would be difficult to get higher authority than C. in C. Nore.'

  'Perhaps.' Gregory rose slowly to his feet and stood, passing the tip of his tongue backwards and forwards between his lips while he eyed the sailor with a queer meditative look; then he added suddenly: 'But he's not quite high enough for me. I don't want trouble but I intend to carry out my mission.'

  'Trouble?' the Lieutenant Commander picked him up: 'I shouldn't advise you to start it! I left instructions with the officer of the watch exactly what to do if I failed to return to the bridge ten minutes after I left him.'

  'Did you? How thoughtful.' Gregory was almost purring now. 'Well, time is nearly up so you had better beat it, hadn't you?'

  'I'm going all right but you and your party will kindly remain here until we get in.'

  'Am I to
understand that you are placing us under arrest?'

  'Understand what you like, but I am in command of this ship and those are my orders.'

  'All right; Rudd!' Gregory's voice was curt. 'The door, for the Commander.

  'Yes, sir.' Rudd's eyes had never left Sallust's face, now he forced his way quickly in front of Fanshawe and gripped the knob of the wardroom door; as the sailor turned he was between them.

  The whole thing was over so quickly that the others, seated at the table behind Gregory, hardly saw what happened. His arm seemed to shoot out with a vicious jab, his fist thudded on the flesh below the naval officer's ear, and Rudd, with a muttered 'easy now,' caught the body as it fell.

  'You brute!' Veronica was on her feet, her eyes blazing, but Ann was first beside the unconscious sailor, kneeling by him and pillowing his head in her lap.

  'Shut up!' snapped Gregory. 'You didn't want me to shoot him, did you? Rudd, nip into the pantry quick, and get that steward out of the way; send him forward to get some rum or some damn thing. Fane, take charge of the two men in the passage, let no one pass. Harker, give me a hand to get this bird on the settee.'

  Between them they carried Fanshawe over to the side of the wardroom and propped him up with cushions. Gregory rolled up one of his eyelids and gave a grunt of satisfaction. 'He won't give us any trouble for a bit.' Then he stood thoughtfully rubbing his own knuckles while the girls fussed over the unconscious man.

  'What about the officer on the bridge?' asked Harker. 'That ten minutes is back with Omar Khayyam's seven thousand years by this time.'

  'I know; we've go to do something pretty quick. Slip up on to the bridge will you, Harker; tell Broughton that Fanshawe sent you; that we are discussing the situation quite amicably down here and that he is to take no action for the moment.'

  'Do you think he'll believe me?'

  'Got to chance it; come back as soon as you can and let me know how he takes it. If they try to arrest you, you must use your gun; we've gone too far to turn back now.'