Эдвин Грей - Diving Stations

‘Is Layton still C-in-C?’ he asked.

‘Yes, sir. I understand that Admiral Phillips takes over tomorrow morning when he returns from Manilla.’

‘Any alterations to the dispositions since yesterday’s conference?’

‘Nothing immediately affecting Singapore, sir. But the destroyers Thanet and Scout are to be ordered to leave Hong Kong and return here. And I believe Rapier has also been recalled.’

Captain Edwards chuckled. ‘I can see the C-in-C’s hand in that one, Flags. He’s an old submariner himself. We’ve only one submarine operating in the whole of the Far East and he obviously intends to keep an eye on it. Mind you he’s probably right. Rapier will be a darn sight more use patrolling the Gulf of Siam than she will be defending Hong Kong.’

Captain Snark made no effort to hide his satisfaction when he read Layton’s recall signal. Hamilton had been a thorn in his side from the day of his arrival in Hong Kong and, since the incident in Hai-An Bay, their mutual antagonism had been paraded quite openly. Snark was one of the old school◦– a disciplinarian who believed in complete obedience to orders no matter how unpalatable they might be. Like most officers of his generation he was a born fighter. And the strain of suppressing his natural instincts and being forced to kow-tow to the Japanese for the past three years had warped his judgement and soured his brain.

Blessed with very little tact and absolutely no imagination he was unable to understand the subtlety of Hamilton’s reasons for saving the Japanese destroyer. Had Rapier’s skipper been under orders to rescue Suma, Snark would have endorsed every action he had taken. But to undertake the salvage of a Japanese warship when he was under no obligation◦– and when his orders only required him to obtain Ottershaw’s release◦– was, in Snark’s eyes, little short of treason.

That his antagonism towards the submarine captain was due to his own subconscious resentment of their two different roles never entered his head. Snark wanted to be in the fight as well◦– most of his contemporaries were commanding Escort Groups in the North Atlantic◦– but, instead, he was desk-bound in China and charged with the humiliating task of pacifying the Japanese no matter what the provocation. And yet Hamilton, a man promoted from the lower deck and who lacked the background and training of the traditional officer-class, had been in combat operations since the beginning of the war. And, in Snark’s view, it just wasn’t fair.

Hamilton knocked on the cabin door, entered, and saluted respectfully. Despite his outward self-confidence he wondered what the hell Snark wanted this time. The old fool had never forgiven him for the Suma episode. The psychological game of ‘face’ was a conception beyond the limits of the narrow world in which he lived. He could not grasp that the Royal Navy had secured a normal victory over the Japanese that more than compensated for its recent humiliations.

Snark looked up at Rapier’s commander but said nothing. Let the bugger sweat, he thought to himself. His finger’s toyed with Layton’s signal for a few moments and then he put it down on the desk.

‘If I remember correctly, Lieutenant,’ he said finally, ‘you expressed a wish to leave Hong Kong on the very day you arrived.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Hamilton agreed. ‘I believe I did at the time.’

‘Do you still want to go?’

‘No, sir. I have a feeling something is going to blow up this weekend. I’ve heard reports of Japanese convoys moving into the gulf of Siam, and Macao is full of rumors. I reckon there’s something in the wind and I’d hate to miss it.’

‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, Lieutenant.’ Snark’s tone of voice belied the spoke sentiment. ‘The C-in-C has ordered your immediate recall to Singapore.’

Hamilton had no intention of giving Snark the satisfaction of seeing that he was in any way upset by the decision. He nodded and smiled. ‘So my guess seems to have been correct, sir. The Admiral obviously thinks the convoys are heading for Malaya and he needs a submarine across the enemy’s lines of communication.’ He carefully picked on Snark’s weak point and twisted the knife. ‘It looks as if the war has passed you by again, sir. I’ll probably be in action again in a few days while you’ll still be….’

Snark beat him to it…. sitting on my arse in a bloody office! ‘Well don’t be so damned sure about that, Lieutenant. If the Japanese attack Malaya you don’t expect them to ignore Hong Kong do you? And when they come I’ll show you young whipper-snappers how to fight.’ The mere thought of the coming battle was sufficient to bring a flush to his pallid cheeks and, for the first time since they had met, Hamilton actually saw him smile.

Despite their deep-seated antagonism Hamilton felt suddenly sorry for the lonely, passed-over staff officer, even though he was not yet prepared to express his sympathy openly.

‘If Rapier is being withdrawn and two of the destroyers recalled to Singapore it doesn’t look as though they intend to leave you anything to fight with, sir.’

Snark snorted. ‘That’s the trouble with your generation, Lieutenant◦– always concerned with materials. Well, I shall do my bit even if it means sitting in a sampan holding a Lee Enfield!’

Hamilton could not restrain a small smile at the thought of Snark sitting alone in a small boat with a rifle across his knees and defying the entire Japanese Navy to cross the straits. And yet, somehow, he knew it was no idle boast. The old Navy man had been brought up the hard way and it was just the sort of thing Snark would do.

‘The C-in-C wants you back urgently,’ Snark pointed out as he reluctantly dragged himself away from his vision of glory. ‘How soon can you leave?’

‘Within two hours, sir. Rapier has already shipped a full outfit of torpedos and we topped up our bunkers this morning. I’ve kept her at maximum combat readiness all the time we’ve been here.’

‘You’ve certainly been taking on enough stores to last two ships for about six months,’ Snark observed drily. He held up his hand as Hamilton prepared to launch into his excuses. ‘No◦– don’t say anything. It would be improper to lie to your superior officer.’ He smiled conspiratorially. ‘I’m quite sure you are not engaged in smuggling or similar nefarious activities◦– we leave that sort of thing to the local police. But I share your view◦– if Hong Kong falls to the Japanese it would indeed be prudent to have some stores hidden elsewhere for you to fall back on if necessary.’

You crafty old bastard, thought Hamilton. All this time I’ve been taking you for a fool and yet you knew what I was up to. He could not help wondering just how much the captain did know.

Snark stood up. He looked at Hamilton with steady eyes. ‘Don’t worry, Lieutenant. I’d prefer not to know your secrets.’ He thrust out his hand and Hamilton grasped it firmly. ‘Well, good luck. I wonder which of us will get the first Jap?’

Hamilton grinned. ‘You’ll have to get your skates on, sir. If my arithmetic is correct I’m already leading you five to nothing!’

The roar of the Hurricane fighter, taking off from Kai Tak across the Straits in the New Territories, echoed back from the hills. Hamilton looked up as it skimmed low across the Peak towards Deep Water Bay to begin the first leg of its patrol. As he crossed the road to the waiting staff car he glanced back at Tamar. The old hulk, now flying the broad pendant of Commodore Collison, the SNO Hong Kong, had been moored against the stone wall of the dockyard since 1895◦– a symbol of the British Empire’s steadfast immovability. He wondered how many more days she would remain there to enjoy her fading glory.