Read Online Pride and the Anguish by Douglas Reeman - Free Book Online Page B

Nimmo turned to leave Corbett added, “And, Chief! In future try to make yourself more presentable when you go to yourstation! Remember that most of your people are native Chinese. From now on a good example will be all the more important.”
    Nimmo’s square face remained expressionless. “Aye, aye, sir. I’ll remember that.”
    He walked away and Corbett said testily, “A regular, too!”
    Trewin said quietly, “He realised it was an emergency, sir. That is surely a good thing.”
    Corbett eyed him and then replied calmly, “A high standard is not something you switch on for Sundays, Trewin. Aboard my ship at least it will remain standard and routine.”
    Sub-Lieutenant Hammond looked round the door. “Signal, sir. No enemy aircraft shot down.” He looked wide-eyed and very young, Trewin thought.
    Corbett was unimpressed. “We shall do better next time.” He stared at Trewin. “Close up special sea dutymen. We’ll weigh anchor in forty-five minutes.” To Hammond he added sharply, “Make a signal to Flag. Check the state of readiness of the whole group.”
    Trewin followed Hammond into the passageway and said quietly, “Well, this is it, Sub.” Through the chartroom scuttle he could see the red glow of fires beyond the crowded waterfront houses. They were well inland. Towards the airfields by the look of them. He finished grimly, “At least we know where we stand!”
    Hammond followed his glance, his eyes suddenly anxious. “I hope we do better next time.” He licked his lips. “Poor devils, they didn’t stand a chance.”
    He said it so fervently that Trewin asked, “Is there someone special ashore for you, Sub?”
    Hammond looked at him with immediate caution. “Well, yes, as a matter of fact.” He seemed uncomfortable.
    Trewin said, “But it’s none of my bloody business, is that it?”
    â€œI’m sorry, Number One.” Hammond’s cheeks coloured. “I didn’t mean that.” He faltered. “She’s a wonderful girl. But I’d rather you didn’t say anything about her to anyone else.” He saw Trewin nod and continued more calmly, “I was with her whenthe attack started. I didn’t want to leave her.”
    Trewin thought of the November drizzle across the bombed street, the silent A.R.P. workers and tired firemen. His feeling of loss and despair. He said shortly, “You never do.”
    He turned away from Hammond’s curious stare as Leading Telegraphist Laird, the ship’s senior operator, pushed his head from the radio-room door. He was a cheerful and irrepressible person on most occasions, but he was unsmiling as he said, “Signal, sir! The Flag Officer, East Coast Patrols is coming aboard in fifteen minutes!” He grimaced and added, “Shall I tell the captain, sir?” He waited the right number of seconds and then added with a sad smile, “Or will you?”
    Trewin said grimly, “Leave it to me.” To Hammond he added, “
Porcupine
hardly seems big enough for an admiral!”
    As he disappeared down the passageway Laird said under his breath, “No ship’d be big enough for that bastard!”
    And fifteen minutes later, as the sky brightened to display the blackened buildings and blasted rubble from the bombing, Rear-Admiral Mark Fairfax-Loring came aboard.
    Shortly afterwards, with the frail sunlight filtering through the drifting banks of grey smoke, the six gunboats weighed and headed down the anchorage.
    For them the waiting was over.
    T REWIN LIFTED HIS GLASSES and trained them on
Squalus,
the next gunboat in line astern. She was keeping perfect station about half a mile distant, and the other four ships of the group followed in a slightly curving formation as they rounded the jutting green headland of Gelang Point. It was halfway through the forenoon watch, and on the unsheltered bridge