To Risks Unknown (22 page)

Scarlett seemed changed in some way. He moved about the room a good deal while he was speaking and his smile had not yet shown itself.

‘So the repairs are satisfactory, are they?'

Crespin replied, ‘As far as they go, sir. I would like to get her dry-docked as soon as possible to make a further inspection.'

Scarlett walked to his desk and fidgeted with some papers. ‘Waste of time. Must learn to improvise.' He turned and looked at him. ‘I could have done with Moriarty here. There's a lot to do. I can't deal with every damn thing myself.' He sounded angry. As if he was blaming Crespin and Moriarty for the amount of damage to the ship.

Crespin said, ‘I thought we'd be going to a base in Sicily, sir.'

‘Did you?' Scarlett sounded miles away. ‘Well, that's a job for the footsloggers now. We've other fish to fry.'

There was a tap at the door and Crespin's heart gave a leap as the girl moved across to the desk. She looked cool and very calm, and the fact that she was properly dressed in uniform further added to an impression of remoteness.

She sat down and smiled gravely. ‘It's nice to see you again, sir.' That was all.

Crespin felt Scarlett watching both of them and sensed a small warning in the girl's eyes.

He said, ‘Good to be here.'

Scarlett ran his fingers through his thick hair. ‘I've had some of our people over in Sicily for the last two weeks collecting captured enemy weapons.' He added bitterly, ‘Battlefield clearance stores, as they are officially titled.'

Crespin watched him steadily. So that was why he wanted Moriarty. He had a sudden picture of the North African base, the litter of gutted vehicles and salvaged weapons.

Scarlett continued, ‘I've been all over the damn place trying to drive some sense into the top brass. If it wasn't for Rear-Admiral Oldenshaw's support from England I honestly believe that some of these stupid dunderheads would get this force disbanded!'

Crespin tensed. He was right. Scarlett had been trying to enlarge on his successful raid but had found no takers.

Scarlett spread his hands with mock despair. ‘Left to them this first success would just fade into a slow infantry war, all the way from the toe of Italy to Berlin. It could take years and years, and probably end in bloody stalemate!'

The girl said softly, ‘You've a conference at sixteen hundred, sir.'

Scarlett stared at her. ‘Oh yes. Thanks.' He pulled his thoughts together with an effort. ‘Third Officer Forbes is just trying to get me off my hobby-horse.' He smiled at her and she bent over some clipped signals.

Crespin could almost feel the tension between them like a steel spring.

Scarlett said sharply, ‘Anyway, I am not without some influence. I was able to make our point of view in the right quarter, but it was a struggle.' He walked heavily to a wall map. ‘This is top secret, but I can tell you. I haven't any choice as it happens.' He rested his index finger on the toe of Italy. ‘We are to invade here on the third of next month, with a second group of landings six days later further north to cut off and occupy Naples.' The finger moved up the coastline. ‘That will be the big one, Operation Avalanche, smack into the Gulf of Salerno.'

Crespin hid a smile. Scarlett seemed to love these names they gave to the various landings.

Scarlett turned and rocked back on his heels. ‘Now, when this starts moving the Hun is going to realize that we're really in earnest and going for the jackpot. He's going to pull troops from everywhere, just as he did in a small way to combat your little raid.' He took a deep breath. ‘Intelligence has already reported heavy movements of armour and troops from all over Italy, and what is more to the point, from other occupied countries. Well, that's all fine and dandy for the countries in question, but it's no help to our forces. Winter will soon be here and the Army will have enough trouble fighting its way north through Italy, what with flooded valleys, roads washed away and so forth, without facing an enemy twice as powerful as it is at this moment.'

Crespin did not move. He could feel a fly crawling on his arm, could sense the girl's eyes on his face, but could not even turn his head. Scarlett knew exactly what he was going to say, but for once he seemed unable to say it.

He said calmly, ‘When we have occupied the southern part of Italy, I assume you will start moving the special service units into the Adriatic, sir? After all, the Yugoslavs have already proved they are willing and able to fight the Germans, if only they can get the weapons.'

Scarlett studied him bleakly. ‘You are so right. Unfortunately, we cannot wait that long. By the time we have fixed a line right across Italy the damage will have been done. We must hold up the enemy's movement of troops from the other side of the Adriatic, and that, as you so quickly observed, means Yugoslavia. We already have agents over there, and people who are doing invaluable work in liaison with the underground. But it is not enough, and this is where you come in.' He sat on one corner of the desk and swung his leg slowly like a pendulum.

‘I want you to go to the offshore islands and meet some of these partisans and find out what they're doing.' He saw Crespin's unspoken question and hurried on, ‘Not with your ship. That would be out of the question of course. I have a schooner ready and waiting in the harbour. It's full of battlefield clearance stores which will be far more use to the Yugoslavs than any of our gear. After all, anything they've got now is either German or Italian, so we must try and keep it that way.'

From the corner of his eye Crespin saw the girl staring at Scarlett with something like shock. So even she had not been told about this.

Scarlett was saying, ‘I can give you some good men, but I don't have to tell you how risky this could be.' He leaned forward slightly. ‘It's an important mission, otherwise I'd have sent some madcap lieutenant. Also, while you're there you can try and find a suitable and protected anchorage for the
Thistle.
For when we do move into that area in strength I want to hit the bastards where it hurts most!'

A smart marine peered through the door. ‘The car's ready, sir.'

Scarlett waved him away. ‘Well, Crespin, what do you say?'

‘When do you want me to leave, sir?' Crespin thought he saw a flash of relief in Scarlett's eyes. ‘I mean, if the Germans are as edgy as you say, it might be better to get a move on right away.'

Scarlett nodded slowly. ‘Quite right. I am glad you see it my way. I've made arrangements for your ship to remain at her present moorings and a normal harbour routine to be carried out. Lieutenant Wemyss can run things here until you return, and this way we will excite as little attention as possible. One whiff of rumour about what you're up to and I'm afraid it would be serious. And I would be helpless to assist you in any way. You're on your own, and your judgement is what I'm depending on.' He laid one hand on Crespin's shoulder. ‘What we're
all
depending on!'

He stood up and walked towards the door. ‘You'll find the schooner ready to go. You can study the rest of the available details as soon as you get aboard.' He looked Crespin gravely in the eyes. ‘Good luck.' Then he walked through the door calling for the marine.

The instant the door had closed the girl was round the desk and in his arms. For a long moment she pressed her face against his, her words broken and despairing. ‘You
mustn't
go, John! Tell him it's too dangerous!'

He ran his fingers over her hair, the touch bringing back the memories and wiping away the pain of separation. ‘I have to, Penny. You must see that!'

Then she pushed herself away and leaned back against the desk. ‘You don't understand! He's been like a different person all these weeks. He's tried to get his own way, and when he couldn't fit in with the Sicily landings he nearly went mad.' She shook her head. ‘But I never dreamed he would suggest your going in the schooner!' She pointed at the map. ‘Why, we don't even know for sure which islands are in the hands of the partisans and which ones are occupied by the Germans.'

Crespin walked towards her and held her arms against her sides. ‘I'll be all right. Someone has to go, and I'm the obvious choice if my ship is to be the one which eventually ends up there.'

She said, ‘He's been trying to pump me ever since we got to Malta. I've not told him about us. I wouldn't dare. He's so possessive, so jealous of anyone who looks like challenging his position.'

Crespin grinned. ‘I thought you admired him.'

‘I did.' She shuddered. ‘But now I don't know him at all!'

They both turned as the door opened a few inches. It was Scarlett, his face expressionless as he peered in at them.

He said, ‘I just wanted to say that you can take the rest of the day off, Penny.' His eyes flickered between them. ‘But I see you have already made your arrangements!' The door shut with a sharp click.

Crespin held her more tightly. ‘Well, I imagine he knows about us now!'

She seemed to go limp and rested her forehead against his chest. ‘I want the whole world to know. But I'm afraid of him, John. He's so ruthless, so filled with his own importance.' She clutched his sleeve. ‘And I'm partly to blame, I know that now.'

Gently he lifted her chin and studied her. ‘He wanted you, too, is that it?' When she nodded he said quietly, ‘That's something I won't blame him for.'

She reached inside her pocket and he felt her thrust a piece of paper into his hand. ‘I've got a room. I share it with a nurse, but she's away most of the time.' She was holding his arm so tightly that he could feel her fingers digging into his skin. ‘I'll be there waiting. Please try and come before you leave.' She looked up at him, her eyes pleading. ‘Say that you will try!'

He touched her face and felt the skin hot beneath his fingers. ‘As soon as I can. And don't worry, I'll be all right.'

When he reached the crowded street he looked up at the window but she had gone. Then he touched the piece of paper in his pocket and walked quickly down the hill towards the harbour. Not only would he get back, but this time he had a good reason for surviving, he thought. The best reason in the world.

The schooner was about seventy-five feet in length and had, Crespin imagined, been afloat for the same number of years. She lay in a small silted inlet tied to a disused jetty, and looked as if she would topple on to her beam ends without its support. She was scarred and filthy, and the tan-coloured sails which were so carelessly furled on her two masts were so patched that they must surely lose more wind than they caught.

But she was typical of the hundreds of such craft which scavenged an existence throughout the Adriatic and the Aegean.

In peacetime you would find them as far afield as Gibraltar and Spain, although from their rough and ready appearance it was hard to know how they stayed afloat.

A bearded, surly-looking man in a torn shirt and canvas trousers watched Crespin climb down to the littered deck. He could have been a Greek or a Cypriot, but when he spoke he obviously came from some part of London.

He said, ‘Leading Seaman Allan, sir.' He pointed at the hatch. ‘You'll find the other officer below.'

Crespin nodded. It was a good beginning. As he climbed down the rickety ladder he was conscious of the mixed selection of smells. Paraffin and petrol, bad fish and tar, and an all-enveloping one of dirt.

The cabin was little more than an airless box. It was lined with crude bunks and lit by two oil lamps. An army officer was seated at a table, a chart spread out between a jumble of wine bottles, dirty plates and a huge chunk of cheese. He was wearing a washed-out suit of khaki drill and had a huge German Lüger strapped to one hip. As Crespin ducked between the low deck beams he stood up and gave a broad grin.

Crespin had been immediately aware of some familiarity and the grin clinched it. It was Coutts, the Grenadier in the goatskin, whom he had supposed dead or captured. He looked very much alive and had also been promoted to captain.

Coutts pushed a stool across the deck. ‘Park yourself, old chap.' He saw Crespin's expression and laughed. ‘The bad penny, you see, has reappeared!' He poured some wine into two glasses. ‘Actually, it wasn't too difficult. I played “dead” and the Jerries were so enraged about what you were doing by the pier that they didn't bother to prod me with a bayonet to make sure.' He frowned briefly. ‘There were plenty who were less fortunate.'

‘But how the hell did you get away?'

‘Walked, old boy. Just kept going until I ran into the Americans coming in the opposite direction. They were harder to convince than the Germans but, as you see, I'm back in circulation again.'

The wine tasted sour but was very welcome nevertheless.

Crespin said, ‘What do you think of our proposed jaunt?'

Coutts rubbed his nose. ‘It's far too soon of course, but we'll just have to feel our way. I've been to Yugoslavia before, but things keep changing there. You're never quite sure who is a friend.'

There was something very reassuring about Coutts. He said, ‘This boat has a crew of ten, and the skipper is a petty officer who used to be a trawlerman before the war. A bit rough, but damn handy in a scrap.'

Crespin leaned over the chart, his eyes taking in the details without effort. He asked, ‘How ever did you get into this game?'

Coutts stared at the bottle. ‘I've been in the Long Range Desert Group. One of my ancestors was a pirate, so I suppose I just wanted to follow him. And now that the desert's all cleared up again I've transferred my affections to this sphere of operations. I don't think I'll ever really settle down to Buckingham Palace guard duty after this!'

Crespin chuckled. It was hard to picture this long-haired character as a red-coated Grenadier.