Geoffrey Jenkins: Hunter Killer

' Jesus Christ!' burst out Boz. You knew too!'

They knew, but they weren't with me,' replied Peace. '

I want you to remember that, Boz, if you have to turn me in to Tyler before the blast-off.'

Blast-off!' echoed Pete. You're gonna let MKG go without knowing!'

Yes.' Peace nodded grimly. What sort of effect would it have on him to tell him now?'

No!' yelled Boz wildly. You can't, Commander, it's too big!'Sit down!' snarled Peace, waving the Colt. The headphone crackled and Peace put it on, drawing to one side to give Mac a clean line of fire.

T minus twenty.'

The vP-5 engines thundered over us. A streamer with a weight attached fell into the sea a few yards from the cutter. Andre fished it out and handed it to Peace.

Peace repeated MKG. T minus eighteen and counting. All systems go.' His eyes never left Boz and Allingham. ' The message-' began Boz.

The headphone crackled and Peace repeated with grim humour. Observe countdown routine. Do not interrupt sequence. T minus fifteen'

The vP-5 swooped down again, two men craning out of the co-pilot's window for our reply. We stared back, motionless, while they gestured at Mac's gun. T minus twelve.'

Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x what does boat reply?

Baker Charley Sugar to Willowtrack x boat does not reply x two men with guns in her x

Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x my sonar reports possible contact bearing 010 degrees true x am slowing to evaluate contact x

I saw the ripple of sweat on Peace's head under the headphones. Tyler was slowing-he would have to, in order to enable the delicate listening devices in his hull to pinpoint the contact. It would be impossible for him to do so while tearing at full speed through the water. Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x contact evaluated as submarine machinery x range 20,000 yards x depth 600 feet x speed zero x course zero x

Tyler had burst into sonar range at under 12 miles. T minus ten.'

Ten minutes to blast-off.

Then-Peace gave a gasp. He repeated, I have recycled to T minus fifteen. Holding.' He clapped his hand over the microphone and whipped out, Something's gone wrong down there! He's holding the count!'

Thank God!' whispered Boz, his face deadly pale.

Peace stared at the speaker in silent dismay. There was a chatter from the Americans. Mac looked nonplussed. Then

Peace held up his hand. He smiled with grim satisfaction.

Recycle to T minus fifteen. Monitoring checklight fault. Counting.'

My mouth was parched. Tyler had been given five minutes

– five vital minutes for Peace.

Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x proceeding emer- gency flank speed on contact bearing x

Tyler had picked up a firm contact and, on the correct assumption it was Little Bear, was now tearing at us full speed at something over 40 miles an hour. He would be here before Little Bear could go!

T minus ten. All systems go.'.

Baker Charley Sugar to Willowtrack x countdown now T minus 10 x

Peace's hand holding the Colt never wavered. Each minute seemed an hour. The big plane circled in slow banks, centring on the bright orange marker buoy. I thought I detected a cream of white water to the south-Willowtrack's periscope. T minus five. All systems go.'

Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x contact bears 002 degrees true x course zero x speed zero x range 2,700 yards depth 600 feet x

`My God! Tyler's here!' burst out Boz.

T minus four. All systems go.'

The big plane dived so low over the cutter that we cowered away under the thwarts, stunned by the noise. Mac was back on his feet first, Remington in hand.

We could still hear mKG's disembodied voice over the headphone. T minus two. All systems go. Stand by for DATICO checkout. At T minus one I will count to zero.'

When Peace pressed the firing-button, we knew that the umbilical cable which attached MKG to the marker buoy would be blown out by an explosive bolt and we would nd longer hear him.

Boz jumped up, rocking the boat. Stop! Stop!' T minus one. I count… fifty-nine

John!' Adele's face was ashen. She pointed. A white feather of foam broke the calm surface of the sea less than a mile away. Tyler!

Willowtrack to Baker Charley Sugar x stop him x for Christ's sake stop him x .. eighteen… seventeen… sixteen.. fifteen… fourteen

… thirteen… twelve… eleven… ten…' The big plane pulled round, coming at us.

Boz threw himself at Peace, but Peace's eyes had never left him. With a savage blow he clubbed him unconscious with the Colt.

… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four. three… two… one.'

ZERO!'

Peace clapped his hand to the headphone and leapt up.

Gone!'

All of us were on our feet, oblivious of the big plane, oblivious of the submarine.

A white column erupted out of the sea like a depth-charge.

Sunlight exploded on the perspex. Streaming water, Little

Bear leaned over at a crazy angle. Peace gave a wild intake of breath. Then, amongst the white foam at the base, I saw the bite of red flame as Little Bear's motor kicked in. The missile jerked upright.

I turned to speak to Adele, but my voice was drowned in the ear-stunning thunder of the explosion. Adele came hard against my shoulder.

The white thing with its tail of white flame tore skywards, bearing with it the President of the United States.

The blast smacked across the sea. Above Love-Apple

Crossing it brought a flock of white birds into the air, like a plume raised in salute.

EXTRACT FROM CAPTAIN ' S LOG , U. S. N. WILLOWTRACKACK

Love-Apple Crossing, 17th February, 197 The following transcript of a Telstar relay is incorporated in today's log:

Up here in space the sun shines brightly on the bareheaded man about to take the highest oath of office in the United States, Marvin K. Green. His silver helmet and goldplated visor are at his side. On the left shoulder of his spacesuit is emblazoned the Stars and Stripes. The rest of the small group who watch the ceremony stand back in the shadow of the canopy.

' The sharp light throws into bold relief the faces of the President and of Dr Felix 'Coulter, Director of Space Station One. Martin K. Green's shows the strain of his fantastic one-man voyage. Dr Coulter holds the small bible which the

President carried in the cockpit of Little Bear.

' Dr Coulter asks the President to raise his right hand, which he does. He repeats after Dr Coulter: " I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and I will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

' The President looks down for a moment to the brilliant blue-and-white curve far below which is the Earth.

' With deep feeling, he says, "So help me God."'