Red Hawk Rising

by Peter William Hall

  Jamie took it and replied, “My name’s Jamie Rogerson and, no, I’m not married, nor do I have children. But I remember the days when my younger brother wasn’t well; we’d have sleepless nights.” He smiled sympathetically and Penny Walmar smiled back a grateful smile.

  The first boat in had finished unloading and the trolley was pulled over to the cold room behind the shop. Walmar and Berin finished unloading and Walmar asked for the order. Jamie gave the list and Walmar and Berin sorted the fish out plus some crayfish. They put it in a wooden tray and gave it to Jamie. “Go to the shop and Yvonne will price it for you and you pay her. Tell her it’s for my private account,” said Walmar. “Oh! And let us have that tray back. They cost money.” Jamie thanked him and nodded to Penny Walmar and headed for the shop with the tray of fish. Walmar and Berin started pulling the trolley across to the cold store.

  When Jamie went into the shop he saw the seafood counter covered in ice and fresh fish being laid out upon it. He was the first customer in. “Hi Yvonne,” he said. “Mr Walmar told me to see you about pricing and payment. It’s to his personal account.”

  “Fine,” she replied, “I’ll be with you in a couple of minutes.” Other customers started arriving at the shop. Yvonne finished putting fish onto the counter and took the tray from Jamie. She checked and weighed the fish and made out an invoice in duplicate for them. Jamie paid her and she stamped the invoice as paid and gave him the top copy. He thanked her and headed out to the van. He put the tray in the back of the van and put a wet sack over it for the short trip back to West Sanby. As he got in and drove off, Jamie felt that it had been a useful trip. The man from the pub had told the truth about being Walmar’s deck hand. By his accent, Walmar was East European but obviously well-established here in the village. His wife was English and, by her accent, a local. The deck hand was a different story. He looked as though he could be East European but his accent was English. Somehow, thought Jamie, his English is too good for the deck hand of a fishing boat. There was hardly any accent when he spoke. He decided that the man needed checking out. Yvonne could be a useful contact but he would need to be careful. She would know everyone in the village and much of their history. Jamie decided it would be when he took the tray back and the fishing boats were out. That way he could have a chat with Yvonne about the locals. The only other place he could find out about them would be in the local pub. Jamie wondered how much Mr Casey knew about the Parfleet St Peter locals. He decided that he needed to find out.

  ***

  In the Russian Consulate in Manchester, Major Garasov was in consultation with Colonel Sergei Kharkov of the KGB. His passport showed him to be a secretary from the Russian equivalent of the Department of Trade. He was officially on a seven-day visit and had meetings arranged with engineering companies in England. Unofficially, he had other engagements that would take him to places not on his official itinerary. These were being discussed with Major Garasov. One of those engagements was in Sleaford. That engagement would use skills of Colonel Kharkov that had nothing to do with trade.

  Air Vice-Marshal Denby was being driven back to Air Ministry after a satisfactory meeting with his opposite number in MI5. He smiled grimly to himself. It had been agreed that he would have a member of No. 28 JSTU temporarily attached to the office of the supply section in Air Ministry that was dealing with the supply of equipment and parts for the Red Hawk SAM system. An MI5 agent would also be temporarily attached to the supply section to support the RAF person. Now he was going to have to convince Squadron Leader Dawson to release the man he wanted without giving away too much.

  Hamilton was ensconced in an office of Davis Aviation Industries, going through the files of all the staff and employees and checking them against the security clearances. There were three persons he was querying and he would feed their names back to MI5 for further checking. One was a staff member and the other two worked in the manufacturing and assembly areas of the factory. Hamilton was checking everyone, not just those involved with the launcher construction. He would also spend some time following through the assembly process and those associated with it. Hamilton was looking forward to finishing the checks by the end of the week and getting back to sealing the other leaks. He also wanted to follow up on Major Garasov of the Russian Consulate in Manchester, feeling quite sure that he was behind a lot of the problems they were experiencing with the Red Hawk system. Looking at his watch, Hamilton decided to have a break and go and get some lunch. He headed for the management dining room which was in the admin. building and separate from the works canteen. The sound of an aircraft taking off came to him. It was a heavy aircraft, most likely one of the new Bristol Britannias that were becoming popular with the charter companies. Davis Aviation was on the developing industrial estate that flanked Luton Airport. It occurred to him that it would be easy to fly something out of the country once it got past factory security. The RAF team would be leaving at the end of the week and he suspected that security wouldn’t be as good once they left. Hamilton decided that he needed to talk to the works manager about security measures. He would also talk to the RAF sergeant about key components to the launcher. Then he would determine whether any new measures were needed to ensure effective security was maintained.

  At the JSTU on RAF West Sanby, there was a lot of activity. The radar unit was rapidly assembled and the generator and caravan were sited. The power connections and testing would follow. Andy was busy checking the various components and their serial numbers against the hand-over records from the previous week. He decided that he would be glad when the progress clerks were posted in and they could take over a lot of this work.

  At Jennings Engineering, a dummy frame was being assembled to cover the real purpose of the missile loading tractor (MLT). The vehicle was designed with dual controls in the cab so that it could be driven normally on roads as well as work on missile sites. One of the company’s drivers would be delivering it to RAF West Sanby where it would be handed over to the JSTU. So far, the design appeared to be working well and the company was looking forward to a firm order for a number of the vehicles. The RAF team had left early that morning in an RAF truck for the base. The company had used Thorneycroft for the engine and chassis and designed the rest to the Ministry of Defence specification. They were pleased to have won the contract against other tenderers. The managing director stood in the shed where it was being prepared for delivery and had a very satisfied expression on his face. He had promised the men a bonus when it was delivered and he felt they had all earned it. His best driver, Eddy Dennis, would deliver the vehicle. He was also good with the tools if there were any problems on the way.

  Jamie Rogerson arrived back at the West Sanby pub and took the seafood into the kitchen. His boss’s wife was in there and she looked pleased with what she saw. “If this lot goes well, we’ll order more for the week-end,” she said. Jamie nodded and apologised for being late back but explained he had to wait for the fishing boats to return on the high tide. “That’s okay, Jamie,” she said. “Bob’s been holding the fort till you got back so you’d better get changed for work and relieve him.” Jamie thanked her and went into the bar to see Bob, the publican, and then get changed to start work. There were a few locals in for a ploughman’s lunch and a beer. Some would be going back to work but a couple of the old-timers were settled into a game of dominoes. When Jamie came back in, Bob said that he was going for his lunch and would relieve Jamie in about thirty minutes so that Jamie could also have lunch. Jamie thanked Bob and went to collect dirty glasses and dishes from the tables. Back in the kitchen, Mary, Bob’s wife, had set out lunch for them both and they sat down to eat. “That Jamie’s a good lad,” she said. “Pity he’s only temporary.”

  “Ay,” said Bob, “it is, but that’s the way things are sometimes. Let’s see what he thinks in a couple of weeks’ time.” While saying this, Bob knew full well that he couldn’t tell his wife the truth about the approach to him from the RAF. They had been good years in the R
AF and he was pleased to be involved now in some way and it felt great. Bob kept his eyes on his plate as he ate, not wanting to give anything away to his wife. Out in the bar, Jamie was able to talk to the old-timers and mentioned his visit to Parfleet St Peter and got them talking about the place and its inhabitants. They mentioned the fishermen and their boats. Jamie mentioned the fish he’d got from Walmar. “Nickie the Pole!” one of the old men said. “He escaped from Poland in 1939 and settled here after the war. He married into a local fishing family. I knew Penny when she were a youn’un. Nice kid and grew up into a good woman. Nickie’s a good family man and good in the community.”

  The other old man agreed with him. “Mind, it’s funny,” said the second man. “He don’t seem to be able to keep his deck hands mor’un a few months at a time. He’s had a few. Must work ‘em too ‘ard or something.” Jamie broke off from the conversation to serve some other customers.

  The two old-timers continued to reminisce about the fishermen and the friendly rivalry between the two villages. The reality was that one was a fishing community and the other a farming community and they supported each other as they saw the need. Jamie tried to listen in as he worked. He had got some good information that needed following up. He’d report back to Lutterworth later and get a note up to Andy Hill at the RAF base. He would write and post it in his afternoon break so it was delivered tomorrow morning.

  Back at Parfleet St Peter, the fishing boats were being readied to go out on the high tide again that night. They had all been refuelled and the nets and pots checked and prepared for the night’s fishing. It meant being out for about ten hours between high tides since the channel was not deep enough for the boats at low tide. Once readied, the men would get some sleep before the night’s work. Walmar and Berin were busy stowing gear on the Penny Jane. They finished and then walked up the street to Walmar’s house to have a meal. Going round to the back door, they took off their boots and entered in their stockinged feet. The small back porch led into a spacious kitchen with a large kitchen table in the middle. Penny Walmar had a meal prepared for the two men. They washed their hands and faces at the laundry sink and came back and sat down. Penny served their meal, a beef and vegetable stew. Berin complimented her on the delicious aroma it was giving off. Penny tried to make little of it but was inwardly pleased at the compliment. As the men ate, she poured herself a cup of tea and sat quietly reflecting on the deck hand, Bill Enderby, as she knew him. He was very correct and courteous and polite and, according to her Nickie, a good worker. Yet there was something that made her feel wary about him. Too often he didn’t smile with his eyes, only his mouth. She felt that people who were like that couldn’t be fully trusted but Penny said nothing of her feelings to her husband, whom she loved dearly. The men finished their meal and Walmar said, “Well, Bill, you’d better head back to the flat and get some sleep if we’re sailing about 11.00 p.m. I’m going to head for bed myself.”

  “Fine. Thank you, Mrs Walmar, for an excellent meal. You are a fine cook. I’ll be ready, Mr Walmar.” Then he headed for the back porch to put his sea boots on and go back to the flat behind Walmar’s shed.

  CHAPTER 9

  Eddy Dennis was making a final check of the vehicle he was to drive to RAF West Sanby in the morning. They had estimated a trip of seven hours plus a break at Sleaford, the distance being about a hundred and twenty miles. If he left at seven in the morning he should be delivering the vehicle by 3.00 p.m. He would have time to get to Grimsby to catch the train to Newark. He’d possibly have to overnight there before getting a train to Nottingham and then Coventry. His wife, Nellie, would have a break from him but they’d still miss each other. She was a good woman and Eddy felt that he was a lucky man. Eddy checked the fuel tank and gauge and saw the reading was full. He checked that there were two full jerry cans of fuel and another of water. The toolkit was fitted if he should need it. He felt satisfied and went off to let his foreman know that everything was ready for the morrow.

  The JSTU team from Coventry had arrived at RAF West Sanby and Sergeant Williams reported in to Flight Lieutenant Gaskin. He reported that the MLT was operational and should arrive the next afternoon. After he had completed his report and left to supervise his team’s settling in to their workshop, Flight Lieutenant Gaskin had a telex sent off to Squadron Leader Dawson up-dating the status of preparations. An hour later Dawson received the telex and decided to report to Group Captain Clarkson. By the time Clarkson received the report it was almost 17.00 hours. For some reason he felt concerned and sat there drumming his fingers on the desk. He decided to get a message to Hamilton of MI5 and ask him to take some protective action since, in this case, the RAF couldn’t justify taking action. Looking at his watch he realised it could be too late to speak to Hamilton and would talk to him first thing in the morning.

  That evening, Andy headed for the telephone box and put a call through to the Waltons. When the call connected, the operator told Andy to put in one shilling and sixpence and press button A. He did so and Judith Walton answered the call and greeted Andy with, “I’ve got a daughter pining away already! You’d better speak to her.”

  “Thanks, Mrs Walton,” he replied and heard Alice’s voice in the background as she came to the telephone. Judith Walton handed Alice the telephone and discreetly headed out of the room, cocking her head at Anne to follow so that Alice could have some privacy.

  The next three minutes passed quickly and the operator’s voice cut in, “Your three minutes is up. Do you wish to extend?” Andy replied in the affirmative and put more coins into the slot. It had only been two and a half days since they had seen each other but it seemed more like weeks to them both. After the next three minutes were up, they ended the call and Andy headed back to the barracks, feeling pretty good. He thought about his feelings for Alice and wondered what the future would hold. She wouldn’t be twenty-one until April next year but she seemed to act older than her years. If the romance did last then he would need to think about his future. Getting back to the barracks, he checked that the new arrivals had settled in okay and headed for his ‘bunk’ (as an NCO’s room was known).

  Sitting back on his bed, Andy put his mind to reviewing what he knew about the security of the Red Hawk system. There were no civilians working on this base. They were all RAF personnel. Activities on the base were easily observed from the sea wall, to which the public had access. With the dogs, it was unlikely that someone would try to breach the security fence at night to gain access. Since the trials would simulate operational conditions, then JSTU personnel would be on duty ‘round the clock’. Everyone on the unit had to have high security clearance therefore there was little or no risk from the unit personnel. What about the squadron and base personnel? Their security clearance wouldn’t be as high as the JSTU personnel but they would be unlikely to be a risk. What information did the Russians want? The radar, still, and its operating frequency; key components in the missile, launcher and control system. The missile and launcher would be on the airfield but the control system would be in the hangar initially. The weak link would be the supply of spare parts to the JSTU from the manufacturers. The Russians had made one attempt at stealing a component en route. Would they try again? Andy decided that he needed to put himself in the shoes of the Russians and work out how they would approach the problem. A knock on the door broke his train of thought. It was Lance and he wanted to talk about going north when they had a free weekend. Andy told him to come in and sit down. There was only one chair in the room and he sat on that. “I’ve been talking to Anne and she wants me to go up when we have a weekend free. That should be the weekend after next. The whole system will be set up by then. What do you think, Andy? Are you interested in coming up with me?” he asked.

  Andy sat up straight. “Of course I’m interested,” he replied. “What about Dan?”

  “I haven’t asked him yet,” said Lance, “but I’m sure he will be. He talked a lot about Margaret on the way down here and they are keen to
keep in touch with each other.”

  “M-mm. You started something when you invited us to view Roman ruins!” said Andy with a laugh. Lance gave a wry smile in reply. Andy went on, “I’m sure Alice would like me to go up with you. We’ll need to book some accommodation in Wylam unless Alice and I continue up to Alnwick. I’m sure my mother would be delighted if we did that. I think any arrangements we make should be tentative at present, until we know what’s happening and what the duty rosters will be.”

  Lance nodded in reply. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll talk to Dan. Let’s make tentative arrangements then.”

  “Fine,” said Andy. “Now I have some work to do. I’ll see you later.”

  Lance slid off the chair and headed for the door. “Fine, talk to you later,” and he closed the door as he went out of the room. Andy let out a big sigh. He was going to have some juggling to do on three fronts to satisfy each — his unit work, his Lutterworth instructions and also a romance. He hoped he could manage to do it all successfully. The trouble was, he didn’t know what other surprises were likely to come his way. He opened his desk and got a pad and pencil to write down his thoughts on the unit and on the latest Lutterworth brief. Then he would write to Alice and also his parents.

  It was 10.00 p.m. and Walmar slid quietly out of bed to avoid disturbing his wife, picked up his clothes and crept down the stairs to get dressed and head out to his fishing boat. He knew the other fishermen in the village would be doing the same. Walmar dressed quickly, picked up the hamper packed with food and a flask of hot cocoa, and left by the back door. As he walked down the street, Anderson, another trawler owner/skipper, came out of his house and they walked quietly down the street together towards the harbour. Back in their beds, Penny Walmar and Anderson’s wife had heard their men leave and each said a prayer for the safe return of their husbands. The North Sea could turn very dangerous and night fishing always was more risky. When Walmar and Anderson reached the harbour, Berin was waiting on the deck of the Penny Jane. The two skippers wished each other “Good fishing — and take care,” and headed for their respective boats. Other men arrived and just as quietly headed for their boats. Soon the silence was broken as they started the motors on their fishing boats and cast off. Walmar’s Penny Jane led the way out of the harbour. Berin handled the spotlight to show the way out and then it was switched off as they followed the channel lights out to deeper water. The whiting were running and they needed to fish while they were there.