Geoffrey Jenkins: A Ravel of Waters

'Any chance shots will bring the rest of the gang at the double,' said Tideman. 'Action must be silent at that stage.'

Kay shuddered and glanced involuntarily at the sentry. He was staring the other way, probably yearning for a smoke.

'I won't be able to move fast in the survival suit,' I continued. 'John, you've got to take the bridge guard by surprise. You must keep control while I get up aloft to the top-gallant mast.’

'This is not going to work’ said Kay emphatically. 'You're both assuming that the bridge is the only place which is occupied by the gang. With the reinforcements Grohman brought there are now three Group Condors in the stern keeping watch over the crew. There's another in the engine room. Then there's Grohman himself — where will he be? As soon as shooting starts on the bridge, the gang will converge on it. John against — how many? He won't stand a chance.'

I had earlier realized the discrepancy of forces involved. I had rather pushed the risk to one side when thinking through the logistics and split-second timing of the operation. 'That's part of the risk…' I started, but she stopped me. 'The odds are too long for success.' 'What do you suggest?* I asked. 'I'll give you a more sporting chance.' ‘You, Kay?’ 'I want to rush the bridge with John.' I was about to protest, but Tideman interjected. ‘I agree.'

'While John is… accounting… for the guard, I'll make for the hydraulics control panel…' 'Kay,' I said impatiently, 'the hydraulics can come later.'

Kay's eyes were bright. She went on. 'Let's run over the position of various members of the gang — three in the stern, one in the engine room, another on the bridge, and finally our sick-bay guard. Grohman could be anywhere, but let's assume he will be in your cabin, Peter, when our attack goes in.'

'At the slightest sound of trouble he'll be out like a rocket — plus UZI,' I remarked.

'I intended stopping all of them from getting into orbit, like a rocket or anything else,' she said.

'What's in your mind?' demanded Tideman incredulously.

'Jetwind is practically unsinkable,' she replied. 'She has the most elaborate system of watertight bulkheads in case of damage — bridge, stern, engine room, the accommodation, the hull 'The hull's in no danger!' I exclaimed.

'The captain's and officers' quarters can be isolated in an emergency,' she went on. 'Your soundproof cabin doors double as bulkheads. As you know, all emergency doors are held open magnetically until they are released by a master switch on the bridge. One touch and the whole ship can be sealed off.' She emphasized her words. 'Sealed off. Equally, sealed in. The gang can be effectively sealed in.'

'Good girl!' Tideman exclaimed excitedly. 'Heavens, what a brain-wave!'

'Kay,' I said. 'You're wonderful! You've levelled the odds in our favour! We're going to make this operation work. It will, I hope, catch everyone off-balance. We'll play the detail by ear as we go.'

'So far, so good,' said Tideman. 'Let's assume we're in command of the ship and your part of the plan is working — you've aimed the pinnace loaded with the fused-up charges at the fleet. What next?'

'Your job, John, is to have Jetwind poised to high-tail the moment I get back aboard. Cut the anchor free, if necessary, manoeuvre ready to take off — you'll have the time while I'm making my way back from Trolltunga.'

'A lot depends on how fast the pinnace travels,' said Tideman. 'If our own craft of the same type are any criterion, it will cruise at something like seven or eight knots. Which means in turn it will tkke roughly fifteen minutes to reach the Red ships. Once I start to move Jetwind, the fleet is sure to spot her. We know Grohman has orders not to move. They'll suspect the hijack has misfired. The Reds are trigger-happy. A couple of 76 mm shells from the Sposobny or a missile will put paid to Jetwind.'

'The fleet has castrated itself already,' I answered. 'No ship dare fire. The flash would detonate the fuel in the same way that the pinnace will.'

Tideman riffled the cards in his excitement and repeated my words. 'We're going to make this operation work!'

‘I want Jetwind pointing northeast when I get back aboard from the pinnace,' I went on. 'She's lying roughly facing south now, head to wind.'

'Northeast?' echoed Tideman. 'Past the fleet? What will be happening to it at that stage? It's too risky, Peter. Rather head south, altogether clear of Molot. We don't know the location of Molot's shoals, remember.'

'The stranded icebergs will guide us. They mark the main exit channel to the open sea.' 'But…' objected Tideman.

'It's a waste of time to attempt to beat the wind,' I went on. 'If it holds as it is now, Jetwind will enjoy her best point of sailing the way I aim to go.'

'Why the hurry?' demanded Tideman. 'The fleet won't be able to chase us, if everything goes according to plan.' 'There is need for hurry,' I said. 'What do you mean?' 'Tomorrow Jetwind has an appointment with Seascan!'

'You still intend to keep the rendezvous? I'd overlooked that!' Tideman exclaimed in amazement.

'Of course. Then Jetwind has another appointment at Gough with Thomsen's party of shipping tycoons. With any luck I'll keep both.'

Tideman forgot himself as far as to throw down his cards and stare at me. 'You're a devil for punishment, Peter!' Kay asked quietly, 'When do we start?'

All three of us had now put down our cards. The guard still lolled aimlessly. The UZI, sinister and black, lay on the table only as far as his reach. 'Now,' I replied. 'Give me the dagger, John.'

I do not clearly remember Tideman palming me the lethal slide-rule from his pocket, or my leaving the sick-bay. The nerve-stretched take-off to the operation produced a kind of amnesic blank in my mind. I surfaced in Kay's cubicle with her lips and her body against mine. She was shaking with emotion like a loose back-stay in a gale.

'Darling, my darling!' she whispered. 'I can't let you, I won't let you! This is plain suicide! You're not even seeing me, you're so preoccupied! I love you, I want you — I'm going to lose you!'

I kissed her, tried to soothe her. 'Even kamikazes have their moment of glory, my darling.'

Her mouth sought mine; it was salty with tears. 'There's no glory in a burst from an automatic,' she sobbed.

'What's the alternative?' I asked. 'Being led like sheep to the slaughter?'

Her head fell on my chest. 'What chance did our love get?' she asked brokenly. 'A week? A fall overboard? Being imprisoned together with this awful shadow hanging over us? And now…'

I kissed her fair hair and combed it back past her ears with my thumbs. 'There was no time, my darling — either then, or now.'

A final convulsive sob shook her body. Then she took control of herself. She eased me away from her. 'Don't kiss me goodbye,' she said, her head turned aside. 'I can't handle it. And it is — goodbye.'

I said nothing. Already part of my mind was focused on the guard.

The survival suit hung like a crucified monster on its hanger. It had big ungainly boots which were integral with the legs. The suit came in one size only and it was made of a substance called foam neoprene, the latest in survival gear. Tideman had told me that the manufacturer claimed one could get into the suit in half a minute. Key feature of the outfit was a sealing zipper which had been developed for the United States space programme. Silently I handed Kay the dagger, indicating that she should not meddle with the blade release. The suit certainly bore out the maker's claims — with Kay's assistance I was into it in what seemed seconds. Almost immediately the insulation made me sweat; perhaps fear of being surprised by the guard also had something to do with it. The visor and cap came last. By pulling the cap forward and tilting my head, my face was hidden. In that position, however, I could see nothing of anyone above waist-level.