If you say so.
Oh, but I do, and there it is on your top chart. Id say we should be seeing the lighthouse there at midnight.
So what?
That should give us a landfall at Kilalla around three.
It depends on the weather.
And so it does, but keep on course. I have a marine compass in any case, and Id be very hurt if I discovered we werent proceeding in a westerly direction.
All right, Tully said sullenly. Now what happens?
Well, as there is nowhere else Id particularly like to spend the night on this disgusting pig boat, well use the cab of the truck. It even has a bunk behind the drivers seat. He turned to Keogh. Give him your radio, Martin.
Keogh took it from his pocket and put it on the chart table. There you go.
Whats this? Tully demanded.
Two-way radio. I have one, too, so we can keep in touch, us down there and you up here. Another thing. You have one of your men standing on the deck down there where I can shoot him if anything untoward happens.
You bastard.
I always was, but I keep my word, and Im going to give you a chance to be sensible. He took an envelope from his pocket and threw it down. Thats the fifty thousand pounds Mr. Keogh took from you.
Tully was truly shocked. My God!
Count it when were gone. Its all there. Ryan smiled looking like the Devil himself. No bloodshed, no aggravation, and you get another fifty thousand at Kilalla in a few hours. Think about it. He nodded to Keogh. Lets go. You first, Martin. Ill mind your back and you cover me.
They went down the ladder one after the other, and Tully opened the envelope and examined the money. Damn him! he said.
Whats he playing at? Dolan asked.
Hes giving me a way out, isnt he? Play the game and settle for a hundred thousand.
And will you?
Theres fifty million pounds in gold sitting out there, Dolan, fifty million.
All right, Dolan said, but these are hard bastards.
Well so am I.
Tully sat there frowning and examining the chart. Dolan said, Have you any ideas?
Not at the moment. If we dont pass the Calf of Man hed know it. On top of that hes got a marine compass. He shook his head. No, well have to stay on course and wait for our chance. Theres bound to be one. Maybe in the early hours of the morning when were closer to Ireland.
Dolan nodded. Theyll be tired then.
And seasick with any luck. I didnt tell the bastard, but I checked the weather forecast and its deteriorating. Winds gusting to seven around midnight, and you know what this old tub is like in rough weather.
The original beast.
The radio crackled and Keoghs voice sounded. As the song says, is that the captain of the ship?
Tully pressed the answer button. What do you want?
A man on deck.
All right. Tully turned to Dolan. Down you go, Mick. Two hours, then Ill have Muller relieve you, and youd better take an oilskin. Youll need it. He smiled savagely. See, its started to rain again.
DOLANS SHIFT BEING over, it was Muller who stood by the ladder, clearly visible in the sickly yellow glow of the deck lights, a miserable-looking figure as he tried to shelter from the rain under the lower canopy of the wheelhouse.
Now isnt that the great sight! Keogh demanded as he devoured one of Mary Powers ham sandwiches.
Kathleen laughed as she passed him a cup of tea. Youre a terrible man, Martin.
Ryan said, His bad luck hes on the wrong side. Here, Ill put the heater on for a while.
A warm glow spread throughout the cabin within seconds. God, but thats nice, Kathleen said.
Ryan took another sandwich. Youll be fine back there in the cabin. Nice and cosy on that bunk bed. You get your head down and get some sleep.
What about you and Martin?
Oh, we can snatch an hour or two just sitting here. Well take it in turns.
They finished eating and she put the rest of the sandwiches and the Thermos away and looked out into the darkness where the sea was angry, whitecaps driving in, rolling the Irish Rose from one side to the other.
Kathleen clutched at Keoghs arm. Exciting, isnt it? he said sardonically.
Damn you, Martin, Im bloody terrified and you know it.
It always gets worse before it gets better, thats the way of it, he teased her.
She punched him in the shoulder. You can stop that.
Ryan looked at his watch. Nine oclock. Get on the bunk and try to sleep. Youll be better off.
Yes, well, first I want to go to the toilet.
The one thing we dont have, he said.
Its all right for you and Martin. You can stand at the side of the truck. I cant do that.
Dear God. Ryan picked up the radio and called the wheelhouse. Tully, come in.
What do you want? Tully demanded.
My niece wants the toilet. Keogh is going to escort her, and just to keep you in order hell take Muller with him.
All right, Tully said.
Keogh opened the door on his side and stepped down, his AK at the ready, the stock folded. The wind was much stronger now driving in the rain as he approached Muller.
The lady needs the toilet, so you lead the way and watch yourself.
Muller glared at him but did as he was told, opening the door to the companionway and leading the way down. Keogh followed, the girl at his heels. He kept Muller covered while she went inside.
When she came out, Keogh said to Muller, Go on, you first.
Muller obeyed sullenly and took up his station under the wheelhouse canopy whilst Keogh and Kathleen returned to the truck and climbed inside.
When she came out, Keogh said to Muller, Go on, you first.
Muller obeyed sullenly and took up his station under the wheelhouse canopy whilst Keogh and Kathleen returned to the truck and climbed inside.
Lie down now, Ryan told her. There are blankets there. Try and sleep.
She did as she was told and Keogh and her uncle sat there, looking out as rain streamed down the windscreen and the ship rolled.
Better than a roller coaster, this, Ryan said.
The Germans built them for inshore work, Keogh told him. The bottoms almost flat. He lit a cigarette. Ive been thinking. Very convenient, Tully having the one pistol.
I know. I wouldnt believe that for one minute.
That ploy of yours giving him the fifty thousand back. Will it work?
Id like to think so, but I doubt it. Hes a greedy animal, that one, but it was worth the try.
So whats your best guess?
Oh, hell stay on course because I can check with my marine compass. I should imagine hell wait till were close to the Irish coast. The early hours would be best. Theyll expect us to be tired, so I suggest you get your head down for a while and Ill keep watch.
AND KEOGH, WITH the soldiers habit ingrained of snatching an hour of sleep when he could, simply leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and was asleep in the instant. His breathing deepened and Ryan watched him for a while. Hell on wheels, this one, and capable of anything, but who are you, Martin? he thought. Who are you really? He sat there, the AK in his lap, watching Muller, occasionally glancing up at the light in the wheelhouse, and waited.
KEOGH CAME AWAKE with a start, Ryans hand on his shoulder. He checked his watch and saw that it was midnight. You should have wakened me, Michael. You need your sleep, too.
Less than you do. Im older. Will you look over there.
Keogh saw the light at once flickering out there in the darkness. Would that be the Calf of Man?
Thats right and were dead on course. Ive checked with the compass.
So far so good, then. Ill just step out for a moment. Call of nature.
He opened the door and stepped down, the wind so strong that it bounced against him. It was Dolan on duty again and Keogh waved cheerfully.
Try to smile, you miserable sod, he called and relieved himself at the side of the truck.
He climbed back inside and Ryan said, Now me, and got out on his side.
Tully, watching all this from the stern window of the wheelhouse, suddenly clenched his fist, excitement surging through him. Thats it. Christ, thats it. He turned to Muller. Ill take the wheel. Relieve Dolan. Tell him to get up here. Go on, its important.
Muller did as he was told and a few moments later Dolan came in, water streaming from his oilskins. Whats up? I only did an hour.
I think Ive got it, Tully said. That girl is going to want to go to the toilet again, shes bound to.
So what?
Well, try this for size. Keogh held Muller at gunpoint while she went in?
Thats right.
What would happen if there was someone waiting in there with a shooter? Someone whod bring her out with the barrel under her chin? What would Mr. Bloody Keogh do, what could he do?
My God, its a thought, Dolan said.
Yes, well you cant do it. Theyll miss you if youre off the deck too long, so get down to the engine room and get Fox. Grant will have to manage on his own. Tell Fox to get his shooter and go to that toilet now. He can sit there and wait.
How long for?
As long as it bloody well takes. Now get out of here, and he hung on to the wheel as a sudden squall hit the Irish Rose from the north.
IT WAS JUST after two, the wind very strong now, and Ryan checked his watch. We must be close. Three oclock was a fair arrival time.
Kathleen came awake with a groan and sat up. Jesus, I feel awful. What time is it? Ryan told her and she swung her legs to the floor. Ill have to go to the toilet again.
All right. Give me a minute. He called Tully.
What do you want? Tully replied.
My niece needs the toilet. Well handle it the same as last time.
Thats okay, Tully replied, then shaking with excitement he got the two guns from the chart table drawer and passed one to Muller. When the right moment comes, put the wheel on the chain lock.
In this weather? the German asked.
Itll only be for a moment. Tully whistled down the voice pipe, and when Grant answered he said, Jock, were in business. Get your gun and wait at the top of the engine room companionway. The girls going to the toilet.
Ill be there, Grant answered.
Tully punched the chart table with one fist. Itll work, it bloody well has to.
DOLAN WENT DOWN the companionway and stood sullenly under the threat of Keoghs AK. I shant be long, Kathleen said.
Fox, hearing the voices, had moved into the shower, pulling the curtain closed. She went into the toilet cubicle and he waited, pouncing when she came out, twisting her left wrist behind her back, and ramming the muzzle of his pistol into her neck.