(1967) The Deep Silence by Douglas Reeman

Author:Douglas Reeman [Reeman, Douglas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Historical Fiction
ISBN: 9780099078609
Google: suhWAAAACAAJ
Publisher: Random House UK
Published: 1968-06-14T23:00:00+00:00

Jermain smiled. `Reduce speed to fifteen knots. They'll pass clear astern of us now.'

Mayo leaned his elbows on the chart and grimaced. `And that's all there is to it. The little Chinks will steam happily into an ambush and get a dose of gunfire. Then there'll be a few diplomatic notes exchanged and it'll be all quiet until they think of another way of getting their agents and equipment across!'

Jermain eyed him with amusement. `You're a cynic, Pilot!'

Wolfe said, `What now, sir?'

`As Pilot has just remarked, we just applaud from the sidelines. As soon as the PT boats are well away we'll flash a further sighting report and resume patrol. I don't imagine we'll be there much longer.'

The intercom interrupted their speculations. `Another contact, sir. Faint propeller noises and a good deal of throwback from the shallows, but definite enough.' Oxley sounded entirely absorbed. `I would think that there is another ship or ships keeping along the coast, close inshore.'

Jermain felt vaguely uneasy as the bearings and tracking information began to form a picture on the plot table. The Chinese coastline at this point was desolate and little used. For five days they had sighted nothing, and the nearest port of any consequence was a hundred and fifty'miles to the south west.

He said sharply, `Take the con, Number One. I'm going forrard to talk with Oxley.' Without waiting for a reply he ducked his head through the door and hurried along the passageway. He caught vague glimpses of his men sitting or standing quietly at their stations, their eyes expectant as he passed. He found Oxley and his operators hunched over their equipment, their faces flickering in the lights thrown back from the dials and gauges.

Even Oxley showed some surprise at Jermain's entrance. He pushed the headset from his ears and said, `There's no change, sir.'

Jermain glanced round the crowded compartment, the dark figures suddenly taking on personality and meaning. There was Colquhoun, and in front of him, in the operator's seat, young Lightfoot. There was Petty Officer Irons, and another operator, their eyes unblinking as they watched and listened.

Oxley added, `We'd have to get much closer inshore, sir. The echoes are very distorted at this range. Now, if we were tracking another submarine it'd be different!' -

Jermain studied the gauges. The Temeraire was cruising in barely ten fathoms of water. And in any case, what explanation could he give for his actions?

He asked, `Can you make any sort of guess about these ships?'

Oxley shrugged. `I would say two ships. Both twin screw and doing about fifteen knots. From the rhythm and power I would definitely say that they are warships.' He shook his head. `No doubt about that, in my view.'

Irons looked over his shoulder and squinted at the captain. `That's right, sir. Too powerful for coasters or the clapped-out freighters the Chinks use hereabouts!'

Jermain rubbed his chin. It felt rough under his palm but he did not notice it. He said, `Keep tracking. I'll move in a bit closer, but you'll have to keep contact as best you can.

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