Geoffrey Jenkins - Hunter Killer

I think Mac would do anything for Peace,' I said slowly. Even to shooting us?' she asked. Little Bear means-well, I don't have to say it,' I said. '

Peace has side-stepped what is the main issue as far as we and the world are concerned, namely, MKG's position as VicePresident. His single-mindedness is something frightening.'

And deadly,' she said. If MKG had the slightest suspicion, he'd call the space-shot off. All we can hope is that one 197 of Tyler's planes finds us-quickly. I feel ashamed every time I look at MKG:

' It may solve itself,' I said. ' We can't tow Little Bear without a boat. Even if we could, the searchers-'

Instinctively I looked seawards. Even now, Tyler and his hunters might be lying off Love-Apple Crossing.

Andre let out an exclamation. Adele wheeled on him. He was pointing to the lagoon.

' There!'

In the lagoon, maybe a hundred yards away, was a long, dark object. There was a rapid-fire of Creole from Andre, who started towards Vingt-Cinq Coups at a shambling run. I turned to Adele and stopped in amazement. She was stripping off her clothes! In a moment the whole loveliness of her sun-tanned body stood in sharp relief against the pure white sand.

` Come on!' she called. Quick! Help me!'

She raced into the surf, breasted it, paused and signalled me on with her upraised arm. I, too, pulled off my clothes in bewilderment and followed her. Beyond the breakers; Adele hung on to something. In a few strokes, I was at her side.

She clung to a dark log whose top branches only remained.

`Bois mangue! It's a whole tree of it! Andre's eyesight is uncanny.'

She squirmed on to the floating log like a seal and sat astride, laughing. For that moment the massive search, the great Presidential drama, the whole outside world, seemed to recede. Her joy and her laughter were-for me.

' Don't look so serious, my darling..

Her naked loveliness caught me by the throat as she sat there, her eyes dancing. I trod water and looked up at the firm curve of her breasts and the wild loveliness of her wet hair. I said, ' When we're married, we shall come back to Love-Apple Crossing.'

She leaned down and kissed me, sweet and salt together. `

Love-Apple-Crossing,' she murmured. ` Yes, back to

Vingt-Cing Coups-our happiness will make up for all the unhappiness of those old lovers.'

Adele-' I began, but she kissed me again and pushed me away. She slid off the log. ` Come, we must get the log ashore before the others arrive and see me like this!'

Together we floated the log to the beach, pulling it well clear of the surf above the highwater mark. Adele barely had time to drag on her clothes before the others, led by Peace and MKG at a run, reached us. Andre panted out a flood of Creole. Boz gave a whoop of joy when he saw the log

and seized the big Texan. Together they did an impromptu war-dance on the sand. Andre grabbed MKG'S hand and even Trevor-Davis was moved to clap his American counterpart on the shoulder. Only Mac had not bothered to come. Andre put a foot on the log like a trophy hunter and burst into Creole, while the rest of the scientists stood round grinning like kids.

Adele and I alone did not share in the general rejoicing.

She translated Andre: He says bring the axe right away and he'll have the cutter ready by midday tomorrow.'

Boz looked concerned. That leaves the afternoon only to check her over.'

Sorry, Boz,' replied Peace. "That missile is staying down until the last moment-and that means until only a few hours before the launch itself.'

Boz turned in protest to MKG. I gotta check-'

MKG said quietly, ` Commander's right, Boz. I know you'd like to go over every rivet, but the risk is too big.'

Boz drew his fellow-scientists in with him. See here, MKG, I know we checked and re-checked everything before she was stowed, but that is nearly six weeks ago now.'

She was fine then, and there's no reason to think she isn't fine now,' replied MKG. You set the stable table yourself.'

The same goes for SNAP,' added Peace. ` She also should be fine. We haven't pulled rods since she went aboard.'

Boz remained dubious. ` Sure, sure. We went over everything with a toothcomb before. Everything jim-dandy. But what if-'

' How long does it take to start the nuclear power plant?' I asked.

Boz smiled, despite his preoccupation. Pull-rods,' he corrected. That's what it's called. Till she's fully activated, two hours. You've also got to spin up her gyros and stabilize the stable table.'

You're making a lab job out of it instead of a field test,'

MKG chided him gently. You know that's part of the countdown routine, Boz.'

Data and compensations-' Boz started to say, but MKG waved a hand. You know it can be done without all the trappings, Boz. Let's stick to the essentials, especially since Tyler will be just over the horizon.'

Boz and the scientists looked unhappy. I think they would have liked to strip down the entire missile.

MKG's remark about Tyler was with me still. Can't the

Seventh Fleet interfere with you once Little Bear's in flight?'

Boz and MKG exchanged amused glances. ' No, Little Bear 199 has no radio or radar acquisition. Once Boz presses that " fire " button, nothing can stop me.'

Peace nodded at the log. The sooner we get this up to

Vingt-Cinq Coups, the sooner Andre can start.'

MKG said, I feel I want that next to me, even when I sleep.'

Tonight will be a lovely night, after the cyclone,' said Adele. ' Clear, with stars and a moon.' MKG caught the strange note in her voice, but Peace said quickly, Searchers' moon. I'd prefer it pitch-black.'

Half an hour later, gasping and stumbling, we brought the log to Vingt-Cinq Coups. Andre barely gave himself time to recover his breath before he took the axe and, barefooted, his toes gripped the rough timber, he started a long, slow, rhythmical chopping stroke.

Peace ordered Adele to check the Navy waveband; immediately she asked for a pencil. She decoded the signal and handed it to him.

Listen to this, MKG, John,' he said. ' Love-Apple Crossing is Grid Position E-13. Fifty miles to the immediate east is Grid 1-12, and to the west is 1-14. Northwards 1-11 and southwards E-10.'

They would first search a band only 50 miles south of us! It seemed impossible that we could escape detection, I told myself, perhaps in mitigation of my surrendering to Peace's threats.

' Hear that, Boz!' exclaimed MKG. When they don't find anything there, they'll turn north-here.'

It's one hell of a risk,' said Boz.

We're being squeezed between the risks and the deadline,' replied MKG. He turned to Peace. By heavens, Commander, I wish I knew the reason why the President hasn't called off the Seventh Fleet's search. Maybe it's even a giant cover on his part because the secret was outing anyway. I don't know. I' ve thought and thought it over. But with only two days to go, this thing has really gotten into me and it'll take a hell of a lot more than Tyler and Thornton to make me turn back now.'

I saw the elation in Peace's face as he turned to meet my eyes.

' What we need is some real liquor for a celebration to night,' the big Texan said, laughing.

Celebrate when I'm on the way in Little Bear,' replied

MKG. And don't toast me only-toast the Commander here.'

The secret hammered in my mind until I wanted to shout it out to the whole of Limuria. Adele must have felt the same 200 as I did for she went over to Andre's log and came back with one of the shavings.

She held it out to me. ' Smell! There's no smell like bois mangue in the world.'

It was pungently aromatic-perhaps it owed something to a common ancestor with camphor in the. East Indies-with a hint of cinnamon which lingered.

Until it was too dark to see, Andre swung his axe, refusing assistance. Peace declined to switch on the radio. Mac grunted over the cutter's engine, but I noted that the Remington was close in the stern locker near his hand. The wind dropped and the sea merely grumbled now against the reef. We lit a fire of bois mangue chips and grilled fish which Trevor-Davis had speared in the lagoon. The tiny fire etched the sinister black grating above us with scarlet; the moon rose; under its softness the sea resumed its long, languid Limurian lope, a sigh instead of a snarl. Limuria returned to her gentleness. We sat with our backs to the coral wall, smoking, looking across the lagoon. MKG was in the middle-scruffy, unshaven and nondescript, but we were drawn to his personality like moths to a flame. He seemed to have put his questionings behind him and his eyes were bright. We all had too much to say for words.