Read Online the Savage Day - Simon Vaughn 02 (v5) by Jack Higgins - Free Book Online
Authors: Jack Higgins
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memorable night in Belfast, but Norah Murphy herself was all togged up for Cowes week in a yellow oilskin. Underneath she wore a navy blue Guernsey sweater, slacks and rubber boots.
Meyer turned to me as I arrived. 'I'm just making my excuses to Dr Murphy, Simon, but I really must get moving now or I'll miss my plane.'
'I'll be seeing you soon,' I said and shook hands.
He got into the taxi quickly. The driver passed out a suitcase to Binnie, then drove away.
Norah Murphy said coolly, 'So here we are again, Major.'
'So it would appear.'
I led the way down the steps to the dinghy and Binnie followed with the case. He didn't look too happy, but he got in after a moment's hesitation and sat in the prow. Norah Murphy perched herself in the stern beside me.
As we pulled away she said casually, 'It's going to be a dirty night. Is the boat up to it?'
'Have you done much sailing?'
'One of my aunts was married to a retired sea captain. They had a house near Cape Cod.'
'Then you should have learned by now not to be taken in by top show. Take the Kathleen. Underneath that rather drab coat of grey paint there's a steel hull by Akerboon.'
'Only the best.' She looked suitably impressed. 'How is she powered?'
'Penta petrol engine. Twin screws. She'll do about twenty-five knots at full stretch. Depth sounder, radar, automatic steering. She's got the lot.'
I cut the motor and we coasted in. Norah Murphy took the line and went over the rail nimbly enough. Binnie was nothing like so agile and from the look on his face it was obvious that he was going to have a bad night of it whatever happened.
He was like a fish out of water. In fact, I doubt if he had ever been on a boat, certainly a small boat of that type, in his life before. When he took off that sinister black overcoat of his he looked younger than ever and the clothes he wore didn't help. A stiff white collar a size too large for him, a knitted tie and an ill-fitting double-breasted suit of clerical grey.
Norah Murphy opened one of the saloon cupboards to hang the coat up for him and found a neopryne wet suit, flippers and mask and an aqualung inside.
She turned, one eybrow raised. 'Don't tell me you still intend to go over the rail if the situation arises.'
'I'll take you with me if I do, I promise.'
She put the suitcase on the table, opened it and took out Binnie's Browning automatic. She held it in her right hand for a moment, looking at me, eyes narrowed slightly, then she tossed it to Binnie who was sitting down on one of the bench seats.
'Damn you, Vaughan,' she said rather petulantly. 'I never know which way to take you. You smile all the time. It isn't natural.'
'Well, you've got to admit the world's a funny old place, love,' I said. 'Definitely a laugh a minute.'
I went into the galley, got the bottle of Jameson and three mugs. When I returned she was sitting on the opposite side of the table from Binnie smoking a cigarette.
'Whiskey?' I said. 'It's all I've got, I'm afraid.'
She nodded, but Binnie shook his head. Admittedly we were dancing about a bit, for quite a ground swell was building up inside the harbour, but he already looked ghastly. God knows what it was going to do to him when we ventured into the open sea.
Norah Murphy said, 'Where's the cargo?' I told her and she nodded. 'What are we carrying?'
'Fifty Lahti anti-tank cannon and fifty sub-machine-guns.'
She sat up straight, frowning deeply. 'What goes on here? I expected more. A great deal more.'
'Impossible in a boat this size,' I said. 'Those Lahtis are seven feet long. Have a look in the aft cabin and see for yourself. It will take a couple of trips to get all your first order across.'
She went into the aft cabin. After a while she came back and sat down, picking up her mug again.
'Another thing,' I said. 'If we're challenged, if this boat is searched, we don't stand a cat in hell's chance, you realize that. As I'm not one of those captains who relishes the idea of going down with the
Meyer turned to me as I arrived. 'I'm just making my excuses to Dr Murphy, Simon, but I really must get moving now or I'll miss my plane.'
'I'll be seeing you soon,' I said and shook hands.
He got into the taxi quickly. The driver passed out a suitcase to Binnie, then drove away.
Norah Murphy said coolly, 'So here we are again, Major.'
'So it would appear.'
I led the way down the steps to the dinghy and Binnie followed with the case. He didn't look too happy, but he got in after a moment's hesitation and sat in the prow. Norah Murphy perched herself in the stern beside me.
As we pulled away she said casually, 'It's going to be a dirty night. Is the boat up to it?'
'Have you done much sailing?'
'One of my aunts was married to a retired sea captain. They had a house near Cape Cod.'
'Then you should have learned by now not to be taken in by top show. Take the Kathleen. Underneath that rather drab coat of grey paint there's a steel hull by Akerboon.'
'Only the best.' She looked suitably impressed. 'How is she powered?'
'Penta petrol engine. Twin screws. She'll do about twenty-five knots at full stretch. Depth sounder, radar, automatic steering. She's got the lot.'
I cut the motor and we coasted in. Norah Murphy took the line and went over the rail nimbly enough. Binnie was nothing like so agile and from the look on his face it was obvious that he was going to have a bad night of it whatever happened.
He was like a fish out of water. In fact, I doubt if he had ever been on a boat, certainly a small boat of that type, in his life before. When he took off that sinister black overcoat of his he looked younger than ever and the clothes he wore didn't help. A stiff white collar a size too large for him, a knitted tie and an ill-fitting double-breasted suit of clerical grey.
Norah Murphy opened one of the saloon cupboards to hang the coat up for him and found a neopryne wet suit, flippers and mask and an aqualung inside.
She turned, one eybrow raised. 'Don't tell me you still intend to go over the rail if the situation arises.'
'I'll take you with me if I do, I promise.'
She put the suitcase on the table, opened it and took out Binnie's Browning automatic. She held it in her right hand for a moment, looking at me, eyes narrowed slightly, then she tossed it to Binnie who was sitting down on one of the bench seats.
'Damn you, Vaughan,' she said rather petulantly. 'I never know which way to take you. You smile all the time. It isn't natural.'
'Well, you've got to admit the world's a funny old place, love,' I said. 'Definitely a laugh a minute.'
I went into the galley, got the bottle of Jameson and three mugs. When I returned she was sitting on the opposite side of the table from Binnie smoking a cigarette.
'Whiskey?' I said. 'It's all I've got, I'm afraid.'
She nodded, but Binnie shook his head. Admittedly we were dancing about a bit, for quite a ground swell was building up inside the harbour, but he already looked ghastly. God knows what it was going to do to him when we ventured into the open sea.
Norah Murphy said, 'Where's the cargo?' I told her and she nodded. 'What are we carrying?'
'Fifty Lahti anti-tank cannon and fifty sub-machine-guns.'
She sat up straight, frowning deeply. 'What goes on here? I expected more. A great deal more.'
'Impossible in a boat this size,' I said. 'Those Lahtis are seven feet long. Have a look in the aft cabin and see for yourself. It will take a couple of trips to get all your first order across.'
She went into the aft cabin. After a while she came back and sat down, picking up her mug again.
'Another thing,' I said. 'If we're challenged, if this boat is searched, we don't stand a cat in hell's chance, you realize that. As I'm not one of those captains who relishes the idea of going down with the
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