The young rating clattered up the steps to the bridge two at a time, his naval greatcoat

flapping behind him so great was his urgency. 'Sir, sir!' he gasped to AB as soon as he got to the bridge. 'Message from signals, sir! They've cracked Von Scrampton's code! He's not here, sir! He's in Norway - we're safe!'

'Thank you Scrimshank', said AB quietly. 'Let me see that signal.' He took the paper from the boy's trembling fingers - his own were strangely still. Scanning it, he let out a bitter laugh. 'Those fools in the Admiralty! They know nothing of Von Scrampton - nothign! I've been locked in this deadly game with him for 17 months now, and I know - KNOW, I tell you - that this is a bluff. Look at the call off sign. Look at the phrasing of this signal. He's trying to lure us into a false sense of security.' Crumpling the blue slip of paper into a ball he tossed it into the corner. Silence fell on the bridge, and then Scrimshanks began to wail.

'I can't take it! I can't take it any more!! The waiting, the uncertainty, this cat and mouse - I just want to go ho...' HIs shrill hysterical voice stopped as AB's open hand smacked across his cheek. The callow youth was lifted off his feet by the power of the old seadog's arm, and then slumped against the steel bulkhead sobbing.

'There'll be none of that talk of my ship, Scrimshanks you West Yorkshire nancy.' The grizzled veteran's voice was calm but harsh. 'None, I tell you. We're here to do a job, and we're going to do it. Von Scrampton's got nothing that I can't foresee and I can't deal with. I'm going to beat him to the punch and that's all there is to it. Now go below, have a tot and get a grip on yourself.'

The confidence flooded back into the boy. 'Yessir' he snapped, and bracing his shoulders he ran out.

Watching him go, AB wished he could inspire the same confidence in himself. For all his morale-boosting talk, he knew that this was going to be a long night.

Posted By: Old Git, Jun 16, 11:21:36