Read Online Knife Edge (2004) by Douglas Reeman - Free Book Online Page B

It
was
lighter.
Taunton
would be standing well offshore, but when the sun brokethe horizon she would stand out for all to see. If there was anybody . . .
    He thought of the lieutenant, Ross Blackwood. What had he expected? Every one else claimed to see the likeness, but it had not been like looking into a mirror. To others, maybe. But they were strangers.
    He watched the pale hint of dawn, like something spilling over the sea’s edge. This was always the best moment of the day, no matter which sea or ocean it was. Not like those other times, the jungle becoming wild and alive with cries and squeals, and furtive movements, while your hair stood on end, and it was all you could do to keep the safety catch on. Irwin had touched on it at the conference, but most of them did not fully understand. An enemy disguised and invisible, who struck without mercy at security forces and civilians alike. Screams in the night. Only an arm’s length away; human, not animal. It had taken him a long time to put it behind him. He had learned a lot by working alongside the Gurkhas, tough, hardy little soldiers who acted first and asked questions later.
    Some one was coming up the rough track below him. Every man was in position. It could only be the other lieutenant, Piggott.
    He could hear his breathing. The climb from the waterside; on edge; nervous? He did not know him well enough to judge. Seemed efficient, and ready to jump on anybody who did not measure up to a certain standard. His mouth moved in a faint smile.
His standard.
He certainly did not try to be popular, like some.
    “All alert, Sergeant?” He squatted down on his haunches, his head and shoulders pale against the sea’s backdrop. “I’m beginning to think we’re on a fools’ errand.”
    Blackwood waited. It was a question, not an observation.
    “I mean, who would come to a hole like this?”
    “They used to bring old vessels here for scrapping, breaking up, then sell any useful gear to fishermen and the like.”
    “Really?”
    Blackwood tensed. They had all heard Captain Irwin and
Taunton
’s C.O. discussing the background of Raven’s Island. Piggott had been all ears at the time. Was this pretence of ignorance a guise to cover something else?
    “Good place to shelter if you were shifting smuggled gear from one boat to another, sir.”
    Piggott said calmly, “Just what I thought.” He broke off as a marine appeared by the slab of rock. “What is it, Ellis?”
    “I’m Cooper, sir.”
    “And
I’m waiting
!”
    “We heard some sounds, sir.” His guard was up. “Like bells.” He made a gesture, and his hand was clear against the sky. “Rattling, like.”
    Blackwood felt his resentment, and said quietly, “Like they hang on goats, sir.”
    Piggott almost laughed aloud. “For Pete’s sake!
Goats!
”
    He was on his feet, his hair almost white above his stained features, against the colourless sky.
    “I’d keep down, sir. The light’s directly behind you.” He let his words sink in. “Better safe than . . .”
    “Oh, not you, too, Sergeant!” But he sat down again.
    Steve Blackwood forced himself to unwind a little. He had been going to say,
better safe than dead.
    He edged forward again and felt his knee crack. It was cramp. He looked down the slope and saw the narrow channel below, when minutes earlier there had been only darkness. He tried again. Piggott’s impatience and irritation were doing nothing to help . . . He stiffened. He had heard it, too. As the marine had described it, a rattling sound.
    “Go and tell Mr. Blackwood.” He saw the marine lurch to his feet. “Nice and easy. No panic.”
    Piggott said abruptly, “Taking sides, Sergeant?”
    He checked himself. “We don’t know where Captain Irwin is, sir. And Mr. Blackwood is second in command.”
    “On the ridge, sir!”
    He glanced at the sky, the growing light, and carefully eased his binoculars from their case. A risk, but they had to know. He could still hear the tinkling