Hunter Killer by Geoffrey Jenkins

Author:Geoffrey Jenkins [Jenkins, Geoffrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Thrillers, General, Action & Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9781440135309
Publisher: iUniverse Star
Published: 2009-08-25T23:00:00+00:00

the ship. Then, from overhead, came a violent rending and crunching. Eyes went automatically upwards for the tell-tale inrush of water from Devastation's crushed sail. It did not come. Fore and aft were a series of heavy thumps. Sweat ran down Peace's throat. Then—quiet.We're through!' MKG exclaimed in disbelief.

The long barrel of the periscope slid up with its customary hiss. Peace put his eyes to the instrument's rubber cushions —

then drew back. They were wet—with his own sweat of fear. He ran his sleeve across the eyepiece. The tension was unbearable. He turned the 'scope a full circle, slowly. He drew back, his voice slack with reaction.

Blow the main ballast!'

I swallowed hard as the high-pressure air volted into the tanks, upsetting the pressure in the Control Centre. We had broken through—now Peace was securing his handhold on the coral. He was bringing the entire buoyancy of the 5,000ton craft to bear on the underside of the coral to clamp the sub there—part and parcel of the atoll itself. Devastation creaked and groaned. A film of apprehension spread momentarily over Peace's eyes as a high-pitched squeal of tortured metal, followed by a heavy crunch, came from somewhere up for'

ard.

Stand by to surface

The crew were dazed automatons: intricate routine checks, reports, flowed in. Peace remained motionless at the periscope stand.

` Ready to surface!'

With infinite caution, Peace blew the remaining tanks. The coral held. We were fast—part of the atoll, safe from underwater detection, safe from eyes afloat. Open the hatch!'

The petty officer spun the locking dogs. Peace, foot on the ladder, did not notice the dollop of water as he threw it open. He went up alone into the darkening night, into the wild plumage of spray blowing in from where the cyclones are born.

124

1 0 H U N T E R - K I L L E R G R O U P

' Nine days to got'

MKG spoke our thoughts as he and I sat in Peace's cabin, waiting for him to return from his lonely vigil on the bridge. He had been away for nearly an hour. Adele had left us to

go to the radio-room where, apparently, she was on the best of terms with Williams the operator. I felt weary, frustrated; every drop of emotion had drained out of me. The strain of

the past hours was plain in MKG'S face. We were caught in a trap—and we knew it.

The prospect of my being launched only nine days from

now is dim,' MKG went on.

Adele opened the door. She did not seem to share our depression. She was almost gay. Her first glance was for me ; she overheard MKG'S remark.

Here itr the islands we say—' the Creole spun softly off

her tongue= God will plant new coconuts after the cyclone.'

mkg's warm smile for her chased away his abstraction. I'll

have no second chance with Little Bear,' he said. Now that

the secret is about to come out from Tyler, and Devastation is trapped, it looks as if Little Bear is finished, washed up. Imagine the hoop-dee-dah there'll be!'

Adele said, Tyler hasn't started transmitting yet.

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