Read Online the Savage Day - Simon Vaughn 02 (v5) by Jack Higgins - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jack Higgins
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ship, I'd appreciate it if you'd make it clear to Billy the Kid, here, that we don't want any heroics.'
Poor Binnie couldn't even manage a scowl. He got up suddenly and made for the companionway.
Norah Murphy said, 'I'm afraid he isn't much of a sailor. What time do we leave?'
'I've decided to make it a little later than I'd intended. Five o'clock or even six. Give this weather a chance to clear a little.'
'You're the captain. What about your friend Meyer? Will we be seeing him again?'
'I should imagine so - when the right time comes.'
Binnie stumbled down the companionway and clutched at the wall to keep his balance. I said, 'Never mind, Binnie. They say Nelson was sick every time he went to sea. Still, I don't suppose that's much comfort. Your lot didn't have much time for him either, did they?'
He ignored me completely and disappeared into the aft cabin. I started for the companionway and Norah Murphy moved round the table to block my way. She seemed genuinely angry.
'Were you born a thoroughgoing bastard, Vaughan, or do you just work at it?'
The boat rocked hard, throwing her against me so I did the obvious thing and kissed her. It was hardly all systems go, but I'd known worse.
When I finally released her, she shrugged, that strangely cruel mouth of hers twisted scornfully. 'Only fair, Major,' she observed.
'Now who's being a bastard?' I said and went up the companionway fast.
We left just before six that evening and although the weather hadn't improved all that much, at least it hadn't got any worse. As I pressed the starter and the engines rattled into life, the wheelhouse door opened, a flurry of wind lifting the chart like a sail, and Norah Murphy came in.
She stood at my elbow peering into the gloom of evening. 'What's the forecast?'
'Nothing to get worked up about. Three to four winds with rain squalls. A light sea fog in the Rathlin Island area just before dawn.'
'That should be useful,' she said. 'Can I take the wheel?'
'Later. How's Binnie?'
'Flat on his back. I'd better go and make sure he's all right. I'll see you later.'
The door closed behind her and I took Kathleen out through the harbour entrance in a long sweeping curve into the Firth.
The masthead light began to swing rhythmically from side to side as the swell started to roll beneath us and spray scattered across the window. A couple of points to starboard I could see the outline of a steamer against the slate grey evening sky and her red and green navigation lights were clearly visible.
I reduced speed to twelve knots and we plunged forward into the gathering darkness, the sound of the engines a muted throbbing on the night air. It must have been close to eleven o'clock when she returned. The door opened softly and she came in with a tray. I could smell the coffee and something more. The delicious scent of fried bacon.
'I'm sorry, Vaughan,' she said. 'I fell asleep. I've brought you some coffee and a bacon sandwich. Where are we?'
'Well on the way,' I said. 'There's Islay over there to the east of us. You can see a light occasionally between rain squalls.'
'I'll spell you if you like.'
'No need. I can put her on automatic pilot.'
I checked the course, altered it a point to starboard, then locked the steering. When I turned and reached for my sandwich I found her watching me, a slight frown on her face.
'You know, I can't figure you, Vaughan. Not for one single minute.'
'In what way?'
She lit a cigarette and turned to peer out into the darkness. 'Oh, the Beast of Selengar bit.'
'My finest hour,' I said. 'Believe me, MGM couldn't have improved on the part.'
And I had made her angry again. 'For God's sake, can't you ever be serious?'
'All right, keep your shirt on. What do you want to know? The gory details?'
'Only if it's the truth, no matter how unpleasant.'
'And what's that?' I demanded and found that for no accountable reason, my throat had gone dry. I swallowed some of the coffee quickly, burning my mouth, and put the
Poor Binnie couldn't even manage a scowl. He got up suddenly and made for the companionway.
Norah Murphy said, 'I'm afraid he isn't much of a sailor. What time do we leave?'
'I've decided to make it a little later than I'd intended. Five o'clock or even six. Give this weather a chance to clear a little.'
'You're the captain. What about your friend Meyer? Will we be seeing him again?'
'I should imagine so - when the right time comes.'
Binnie stumbled down the companionway and clutched at the wall to keep his balance. I said, 'Never mind, Binnie. They say Nelson was sick every time he went to sea. Still, I don't suppose that's much comfort. Your lot didn't have much time for him either, did they?'
He ignored me completely and disappeared into the aft cabin. I started for the companionway and Norah Murphy moved round the table to block my way. She seemed genuinely angry.
'Were you born a thoroughgoing bastard, Vaughan, or do you just work at it?'
The boat rocked hard, throwing her against me so I did the obvious thing and kissed her. It was hardly all systems go, but I'd known worse.
When I finally released her, she shrugged, that strangely cruel mouth of hers twisted scornfully. 'Only fair, Major,' she observed.
'Now who's being a bastard?' I said and went up the companionway fast.
We left just before six that evening and although the weather hadn't improved all that much, at least it hadn't got any worse. As I pressed the starter and the engines rattled into life, the wheelhouse door opened, a flurry of wind lifting the chart like a sail, and Norah Murphy came in.
She stood at my elbow peering into the gloom of evening. 'What's the forecast?'
'Nothing to get worked up about. Three to four winds with rain squalls. A light sea fog in the Rathlin Island area just before dawn.'
'That should be useful,' she said. 'Can I take the wheel?'
'Later. How's Binnie?'
'Flat on his back. I'd better go and make sure he's all right. I'll see you later.'
The door closed behind her and I took Kathleen out through the harbour entrance in a long sweeping curve into the Firth.
The masthead light began to swing rhythmically from side to side as the swell started to roll beneath us and spray scattered across the window. A couple of points to starboard I could see the outline of a steamer against the slate grey evening sky and her red and green navigation lights were clearly visible.
I reduced speed to twelve knots and we plunged forward into the gathering darkness, the sound of the engines a muted throbbing on the night air. It must have been close to eleven o'clock when she returned. The door opened softly and she came in with a tray. I could smell the coffee and something more. The delicious scent of fried bacon.
'I'm sorry, Vaughan,' she said. 'I fell asleep. I've brought you some coffee and a bacon sandwich. Where are we?'
'Well on the way,' I said. 'There's Islay over there to the east of us. You can see a light occasionally between rain squalls.'
'I'll spell you if you like.'
'No need. I can put her on automatic pilot.'
I checked the course, altered it a point to starboard, then locked the steering. When I turned and reached for my sandwich I found her watching me, a slight frown on her face.
'You know, I can't figure you, Vaughan. Not for one single minute.'
'In what way?'
She lit a cigarette and turned to peer out into the darkness. 'Oh, the Beast of Selengar bit.'
'My finest hour,' I said. 'Believe me, MGM couldn't have improved on the part.'
And I had made her angry again. 'For God's sake, can't you ever be serious?'
'All right, keep your shirt on. What do you want to know? The gory details?'
'Only if it's the truth, no matter how unpleasant.'
'And what's that?' I demanded and found that for no accountable reason, my throat had gone dry. I swallowed some of the coffee quickly, burning my mouth, and put the
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