Geoffrey Jenkins - Hunter Killer

The mounting tension and the burden of our secret overlaid any satisfaction there might have been when we dragged the repaired cutter to the water's edge next afternoon. MKG and the American team slept. Peace, on the grounds that the radio batteries were failing, had kept it assiduously out of the way during the morning. Mac hovered like an evil presence. I had a restless night; I fancied I heard a helicopter's rotors and I started upright. It was noise, but not of rotors. At dawn I saw: the shoreline was thick with grey noddies, blackand-white terns and little love-terns which had returned to their home after the cyclone. A squadron, not of Tyler's men but of steel-eyed frigate-birds, hung over the lagoon, divebombing shoals of fish. Adele hitched the painter over her shoulder and paddled into the wavelets.

But Andre stood back, muttering.

Peace said sharply. Slap it about, Andre-the sooner we see whether she's seaworthy, the better. Mac also wants to try the engine.'

Andre says every ship must have a life. She cannot go into the water like this.'

An echelon of frigate-birds circled low, eyeing us.'

' Say, the cutter has served us wonderfully and so has he,' answered Peace.

Adele translated, but Andre gestured defiantly. In' the islands we have strange gods. Perhaps you will not approve. But without it, the cutter cannot go into the water.'

For God's sake! What does he want?' began Peace, but

Adele cocked her head to the radio and turned it up. A voice said : Red Force reporting to CIC x Grid E-10, E-12 negative x am commencing search Grid E-13 and E-11 x' The reply came back:

CIC to Red Force x report likely contact and vector in VP-5's for MAD investigation x'

Peace stiffened. You hear that? They'll be here any moment now. What the hell is wrong with Andre, Adele? Tell him the birds will be here soon-'

The old man looked sullen. ' He says the birds are here. That's what he's talking about.

The radio said:

Red Force helo FX-6 reporting now entering Grid posi- tion E-13 x helos FX-5, FX-7 and FX-8 at intervals 20 205 miles north x will co-ordinate reports from FX-6

Marilyn's Dream x'

The carrier was brief:

' Keep that dream going, fellah x'

Andre gestured at the circling birds, spoke to Adele, and then pointed at the new planks in the hull. Peace's mouth tightened and he went to the sternsheets, where the Remington was kept.

No! Geoffrey, no! Not Andre!' I burst out.

Adele said helplessly, ' The boat must have a life. The new planking must have a life. One must die in order that the ship may live. Without it, there is no life for his boat.'

There was a volley of Creole from Andre. In my father's day, he says, the islanders used to make a human chain of rollers to the sea, and a new or a repaired boat was launched over them. It took life, for only the strong survived. Now there are not enough strong young men any more. But there must be a life.'

For a long moment Peace paused. Then he grabbed the

Remington. He slid back the bolt.

Geoffrey! For God's sake!' I rushed forward.

Before I could reach him, Peace fired. One of the circling mass of frigate-birds fell, flopping into the water at our feet. Delight and astonishment spread over old Andre's face. He crashed his rough fist between Peace's shoulders, grabbed the axe, and splashed after the wounded bird. In a moment he was back, holding the bucking thing clear as it struck at him. He gestured to us. The boat-get it on its side-the bird must not die before-'

Peace, MKG and I heaved the cutter over. Andre yanked the kicking bird to his new planks and shoved its neck against them. With a deft stroke he severed the bird's neck and, as the blood gushed, he made the sign of the Cross against the boards. He went to Peace and took his forearm in a curious grip.

Adele said, 'He says, only a man of the sea would know.

I recovered my wits. ' Geoffrey, in the name of all that's not holy..

It's as old as time-or the sea,' he explained. ' When he spoke of a life for a life I remembered: ancient Mediterranean shipwrights used to demand a human sacrifice at the time of launching. The custom's mutated somewhat, but it still survives among these backblocks of the sea. Come on now!'

He glanced at the sky. There was nothing. We eased the cutter into the water. The new planks held. Smiling and gesticulating, Andre hoisted the sail. We headed for Semit- tan tes grave.

' Quick!' yelled Peace. For God's sake-quick! Get those hats on! Here they are!'

There was no mistaking the roar of rotors. The helicopter flew towards the lagoon entrance from the open sea.

Switch off that radio!' hissed Peace. Under the decking quick!' He threw the Remington after it and pulled on a big hat.

The helo came at us wave-top level.

No English!' breathed Peace. MKG'S face was drawn under its stubble. Adele was wide-eyed. Andre's astonishment was genuine-he had never seen a plane before.

The helo swung low and hovered over us with a downrush of air. Look up! Look up at her! Play it!' ordered Peace.

We stood up, shouting incoherently and waving. The observer looked into our faces from thirty feet up. A loudhailer clicked on, so that we overheard his conversation with the pilot.

Hell, Pete, this looks a pretty beat-up bunch'

So would you be, if you'd been out in a cyclone in that boat,' replied the other. Jeez, it was bad enough in the flat top.'

I ain't no horse-player, but I'd lay money none of these guys is Vice-President of the United States!' said the observer. The harsh metallic laughter echoed over the lagoon. The helo swung and I caught a glimpse of a pin-up girl with the legend '

Marilyn's Dream ' near the horse-collar winch.

That goddam' ole ship is at the bottom of the sea,' said the pilot. We're wasting our time, I say.'

This business sure gripes ole Revs's ass,' the other said, laughing. Jesus!'

This is the first land I seen,' commented the pilot.

' Nothing but sea, sea, sea,' rejoined the other. There ain't a thing for us here, brother. Say-' he peered down' there's a dame in that boat.'

Listen, fellah, if you want a dame you can get one nice and cosy back in the Seychelles without flying a thousand miles to some goddam' spit of land.'

Sure, sure,' replied the observer. I just sort of like the idea of a dame out here-dancing girls, soft music, tropical lagoon ..

You sound like you got a couple of sheets to the wind right now,' said the pilot. Call 'em up, fellah. Ask what we' re supposed to ask'

Okay, okay,' replied the observer.. I got it written down,'

There was a pause. Then he called, 'Bateau?'

I shuddered at his French.

`Ship-bateau? Nau-naufrage-wreck?'

Andre spoke to Adele. They laughed and pointed upwards.

Aw, cut it out-can't you see they're just a bunch of dumb islanders? Let's get the hell outa here.'

' I guess so. First let's mosey around the lagoon. Report back, willya?'

Sure. FX-6 Marilyn's Dream reporting x Love-Apple Crossing- sounds like a first-run movie-house title-negative x sighted boat with islanders x called 'em up-negative x l a g o o n – '

' Negative,' added the other. Well, 'bye from Marilyn's Dream, folks.'

The loudhailer cut and the helo whirled upwards. Sweat stood out under Peace's eyes. Adele was very still. My knees were weak.

Put on that radio, Adele,' ordered Peace. Look!'

The helo came to a hovering stop above the place where

Semittante lay. The observer's voice was recognizable on the set as Adele held the Navy wavelength:

Helo FX-6 to Red Force x Grid position E-13 x Love- Apple Crossing investigated x negative x island boat in inner lagoon x negative x wreck in lagoon x refer for routine investigation VP-5 MAD x wreck probably old x lies inside reef x'