Donald Cameron 9.On Land and Sea by Philip McCutchan

Author:Philip McCutchan [Philip McCutchan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Media
Published: 2016-02-08T00:00:00+00:00

10

Penrose wiped a hand across his sweating face. Cries were coming up from the water: the Kaiserhof had sliced right into the Spaniard, a gunboat of some two to three hundred tons. The vessel had broken in half, the stern portion banging its way along the big ship’s side until the wreckage fell away astern and sank. Cameron was searching out the next hazard. His engines were still moving full ahead. Two men came to the bridge: Leading Seaman Leroy, and Mr Cambridge. Leroy had used his initiative and had checked round below in the fore part of the ship. He reported no damage, no entry of water. The Kaiserhof s bows had taken it well. Cameron asked, ‘What about the Germans in the foc’s’le?’

‘Pretty cowed, sir. I went in armed, of course, and a hand with me. I reckon they just don’t know how few we are, sir.’

‘We’ll keep them in ignorance as long as we can,’ Cameron said. ‘All right, Leroy, thank you. Keep an eye on the fore peak, just in case a seepage develops.’

‘Aye, aye, sir.’ Leroy went down the ladder. Cameron was approached by Mr Cambridge, who was looking grim.

‘I think that was unwise, Commander. To hit that boat.’

‘It was necessary. Unless we wanted to hand the ship back.’

‘There’s going to be no end of a fuss in London.’

Cameron said, ‘Those who’re going to make it, weren’t here when it happened. They weren’t faced with the alternative.’

‘Still — neutral persons! No, it was most unwise. I must insist on one thing.’

‘Well?’ Cameron was short; his attention was ahead, where a searchlight from the dockyard was being swung onto them.

Cambridge said, ‘I imagine you’ll keep some sort of — of log. I think that would be proper. I wish it to be entered that I did not condone your action.’

‘As you wish,’ Cameron said. Cambridge hung about, looking uncertain. The beam of the searchlight swung blindingly, right into the bridge. Cambridge put a hand over his eyes until he had turned his back. He blundered about in front of the wheel and met a dirty look from Penrose. Penrose didn’t care much for civvies aboard a ship, they were just clutter. Especially those who talked bollocks. Penrose knew Cameron had been right, neutrals or not. Nobody liked doing it, no seamen ever liked leaving other seamen to it and never mind their nationality, but it had been inevitable. The Spaniard had virtually committed suicide, standing right slap across the Kaiserhof s course.

Cambridge seemed mesmerized by Penrose’s stare. Like a rabbit in a car’s headlights, Penrose thought. Suddenly Cambridge said, ‘You. What did you think?’

‘Me, sir? Not my job.’

‘Not your job to think?’

Penrose answered woodenly. ‘You know I didn’t mean that, sir. If you want to know… I think the Captain was dead right. And maybe I’d better have that put in the perishing log an’ all.’

‘There’s no need to be rude.’

Penrose didn’t respond. Daft bugger, he thought, doesn’t he know there’s a war on? To his relief, Cambridge left the bridge, big head teetering on the scraggy neck.

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