Read Online To Risks Unknown by Douglas Reeman - Free Book Online Page B

helped.’ He downed the whisky in one swallow and breathed out noisily. ‘Good stuff. I’ve just been in Algiers swapping yarns with our American friends. Got back an hour ago, as a matter of fact. A relief to see you alongside, I can tell you.’
    Crespin refilled the glasses carefully. ‘I understand that I am to serve directly under you, sir?’
    â€˜Correct.’ Scarlett regarded him over the rim of the glass. ‘Why, are you a bit peeved about it?’
    Crespin stared at him. ‘I don’t quite understand, sir?’
    Scarlett threw back his head and laughed. He had excellent teeth. ‘Good God, I suppose they forgot to tell you!’ He became serious again. ‘I’m R.N.V.R., old chap. One of those bloody temporary fellows!’ He could not stop the grin from spreading again. ‘So you see, Crespin, the normal scheme of things has been reversed.’
    Crespin felt the whisky like fire in his empty stomach. This must be another of Oldenshaw’s strange prodigies. But it was unusual to find temporary officers either so senior or so important. He knew that many of his contemporaries would have hated to serve under a part-time sailor. Perhaps that was why he and not one of them had been chosen to command the
Thistle.
    If that was so, then the little admiral’s knowledge was even more vast than he had imagined.
    He said flatly, ‘I know plenty of regulars whom I wouldn’t trust in command of the Gospert ferry, sir. I have also met reserve officers whom I would place in a similar category.’
    Scarlett wagged the glass. ‘Spoken like a man! Well, we shall get along all right. I run the outfit here, and all you have to do is get this ship in the right place when and where I tell you.’
    Crespin saw Scarlett’s eyes rest meaningly on the bottle. It was a third empty already and it was still only ten o’clock in the morning.
    He asked, ‘Those two soldiers. Do they have anything to do with us?’
    Scarlett nodded. ‘Very much so.’ He seemed to relax slightly as Crespin refilled his glass. ‘I was just coming to that, as a matter of fact.’ He glanced at his watch and downed the glass in two swallows. ‘I left word for your officers to join us in the wardroom, I hope you don’t mind. It saves me saying everything in duplicate, what?’
    Crespin smiled. ‘I’ll lead the way, sir.’ Inwardly he resented being kept in the dark. In front of his own officers he would hardly be in a position to ask questions without undermining his own authority. But there seemed to be no second motive behind Scarlett’s words. Maybe he wanted to show that as far as he was concerned everyone involved in his scheme was being treated as an equal. Crespin imagined that Scarlett was above all, the sort of man who needed to inspire confidence, just as he needed plenty to drink.
    He found his officers and the two soldiers standing in a silent and somewhat self-conscious group.
    Wemyss said, ‘I’ve sent the steward away, sir. I hope that was what you wanted?’
    The question was directed at Crespin and Scarlett’s brows dropped slightly in a brief frown.
    But his voice was as crisp and breezy as ever. ‘Well, gentlemen, let’s get on with it, shall we?’
    The major took out a chart and unfolded it carefully on the wardroom table. It showed a part of the North African coast with Sicily and the Italian mainland at the top. There were several pencilled arrows and figures and a whole jumble of dates and references which Crespin could only guess at.
    Scarlett said, ‘It’s getting near time for the big push.’ He tapped the land mass of Sicily with one finger. ‘Next month we will launch an invasion here. Operation Husky, as it is called in higher circles. After that we will have a crack at Italy, so this first invasion must go like clockwork.’ The finger moved south and stopped