Geoffrey Jenkins - Hunter Killer

With a quick glance at Andre, Peace grabbed the bird

Little Bear was head-high.

MKG looked out at us-grave, a slight smile in the deep-set eyes.

Peace snatched the axe from the bottom-boards and struck off the great bird's head. Boz and his team gaped in astonishment. Peace leaned out, holding the twitching stump, steadying himself against the smooth whiteness of the missile casing.

With the bloodied neck, Peace made the sign of the Cross on it.

Adele gave a gasp. There was a startled outburst from

Andre. Boz gave a quick signal to MKG. I heard the rapid whirr of the ballast pumps. MKG raised a gloved hand and gave the thumbs-up sign, his eyes fixed on us all.

The capsule-shield sank to gunwale-level.

Adele translated Andre automatically: The strange ship has a life now..

Another signal. The pumps whirred. I looked down into MKG's strong face. Was he already President of the United

States?

The eyes went for the last time slowly from Peace to me, to Boz, to each member of the team, to Adele, momentarily to

Mac, and finally to Adele. Boz raised his clenched fist as a signal. MKG reached out for a switch.

The capsule vanished.

I do not know how long we all stood numbed, trying to follow the missile into the depths. Adele wept; Peace held the headless bird. The sea was empty, except for the tiny cutter. Only at firing-depth would MKG send up the marker buoy with its radio antenna.

Boz said at last, Commander, we must get at least half a mile away-probably a bit farther is better.'

Seven-thirty.

Let's wait for the buoy,' I said.

No time,' replied Boz. We must get clear.'

Rather than create sound by using the engine, Peace had

Andre raise the lateen sail and we glided across the still sea. The sole marker off Little Bear was a group of frigate-birds tearing at their dead companion.

Andre dropped the sail at Peace's command. The buoy where was the buoy? Adele explained to Andre, whose seasight was keenest. We waited.

Suddenly Andre exclaimed: the bright orange marker with its radio antenna plopped out of the sea. Boz slipped on one of the double rubber-padded headphones of the vu set and fiddled with the dials; the other scientists busied themselves with the DATICO gear.

I'll repeat everything MKG says,' said Boz.

Peace turned to Adele, his voice strained. Keep the radio going all the time. Check Tyler.'

His words were drowned. The big vP-5 swept over us at wave-top height. The thunder of its four great engines momentarily blanked out the radio. It came so low that I could 216 see the massive search radar dome, the pilot and the co-pilot in their seats. It was still in Arctic paint, broad orange stripes against the black hull.

The voice on the radio was vibrant with excitement:

VP-5 maritime reconnaissance Baker Charley Sugar to all HUK and ASW forces x powerful MAD contacts Grid position E-13 x sighted submarine marker buoy approxi- mately 2f miles east Love-Apple Crossing x men in boat using radio x marker buoy has radio antenna x The reply was immediate:

Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x hold that contact x am vectoring all HUK forces to Grid E-13 x home them in x am proceeding maximum speed to evaluate contact x

I looked at my watch.

One hour and five minutes!

Willowtrack was 40 miles away: she could do near 40 knots when pushed-Tyler would be here before MKG blasted off!

Peace's face was like iron. He knelt next to Boz and said into his chest microphone speaker. 'MKG! For Christ's sake, there's a vp-5 overhead. They've picked up this transmission. Tyler's coming-can't you cut it short-'

Boz pushed him away as the headphone crackled. dice, Commander. The countdown routine is fixed. One hour, no less. I'll start MKG in a couple of minutes.'

' Tyler-' repeated Peace. His words were drowned as the big plane thundered overhead again, banking slowly over Little Bear's marker.

Baker Charley Sugar to Willowtrack x strong radio emis- sions x reports, countdown will begin in a few minutes x Willowtrack came back:

All Red and Blue Force aircraft, helos, cowboys and subs vectored to your area x what duration is countdown? The fact that Willowtrack was replying meant she was either on the surface or running partially submerged with her radio mast up, which would make her slower than full speed deep down. The thought of that streamlined hull tearing through the water towards us forced my eyes to the south. The horizon was empty.

Boz said sharply, Sequencer start! I repeat, sequencer start!' The headphone crackled. ' T minus sixty and counting!' MKG had begun the countdown.

One whole hour until Boz pressed the firing button. Baker Charley Sugar to Willowtrack x countdown has begun x voice says T minus 60 x

After what seemed hours, Boz repeated MKG in a f! at voice:

'T minus fifty. All systems go:

Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x nearest search plane to your position is in Grid E-16 x cannot get there in time x I am proceeding at maximum speed x will echo- range starting at 20,000 yards x is contact moving?

'T minus forty-five. All systems go.

Baker Charley Sugar to Willowtrack x contact steady x countdown now T minus 45 x

Adele sat next to me on the rough thwart, her face white. I saw Peace's sweat drip on to the collar of his rubber divingsuit. Boz and the Americans sat like statues. Peace glanced across at me without speaking. I read his thought: 20,000 yards, nearly 12 miles! When Tyler started to echo-range, we would know exactly how close he was.

'T minus forty.'

Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x who is in the boat? The big plane swung round, inspected us. The minutes were agonizing.

Baker Charley Sugar to Willowtrack x eyeball check shows nine men and one woman x radio apparatus and two antenna-like portables x

'T minus thirty.'.

Half an hour to go.

My palms were clammy. Adele spoke softly in Creole, as if to herself. I think she was praying. Andre said something and she turned to me, her eyes tear-bright.

Andre says the ship down in the sea has its life from the frigate-bird. It will fly.'

How close was Willowtrack? I did a rapid mental calculation. Being partially instead of fully submerged, Tyler would not be getting Willowtrack's full 40 knots. Say 35 now-over 40 miles an hour! If I were correct, he would start echoranging in roughly another 15 minutes. Willowtrack would then be 12 miles from her target! minus twenty-five.'

Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x drop following message to boat by streamer x Tyler to Commander Peace x request with all fervour at my command you call off launch x please convey this to the President of the United States x

'President!'

Boz spun on Peace, staring incredulously.

With the speed of a cobra striking, Peace leaned forward and plucked the headphones from Boz's ears. The Colt with the hocked hammer was in his hand. As he did so, he jerked his head to Mac. He was so quick with the Remington that I did not see him reach under the sternsheets for it. He stood, balancing himself with one foot on the thwart, the wicked muzzle covering the boat.

Peace held the speaker against him so that MKG could not hear.

Yes,' he said slowly, including all the Americans with

Boz in his reply. ' The President had a severe stroke shortly before we ditched Semittante. He wasn't expected to live.'

You knew and you let MKG carry on with this?' Boz looked stunned. Pete Allingham, his face livid with anger, started to get to his feet, but Mac waved him down.

Yes,' said Peace. Little Bear goes.'

Not while I'm here to stop it,' snapped Pete. Mac raised the Remington and pointed it square at the Texan's chest.

I wouldn't try to, Allingham,' Peace said grimly. He's been itching for days to try it out on John and Adele.'