Cell

48

Aboard Barge No. 4, Ali also had radio communication with the skippers of the other barges. Not as sophisticated as Sarge's, it still gave him warning of what was happening.

'We are being killed by gunmen ashore,' Mohammed, skipper of the first barge, reported as his control station at the rear began to sink.

'Stay calm. Be precise,' Ali ordered.

'All the men in dinghies who headed for the left bank have been killed. That is where the enemy is…'

'What weapons are they using?' Ali demanded.

'Automatic weapons. Many of them…'

'Where are the gunmen stationed?'

'Somewhere on the river bank. We didn't see them…'

Mohammed adjusted his headset. He voice was becoming hysterical. The deckhouse was now close to the water. Soon it would be under the river.

'What about the bridge? Your objective?' snapped Ali.

'Waterloo is standing. We are sinking. The whole barge…'

'You should have told me that first. What caused it to sink?'

'I'm leaving. I'm going to drown…'

The voice ended in a gurgle as the river flooded into the deckhouse with terrifying speed. Mohammed was drowned before he could make his way out.

Ali had heard the first gurgle, had guessed what had happened. The trouble was all the skippers of the other barges would have heard the calamitous news. Different tactics were called for as they approached Westminster. He took a quick decision.

Europeans always repeated their tactics. Especially when they were successful. He had to surprise them. His voice was calm as he spoke again.

'The plan will proceed. Mohammed was exaggerating. He became hysterical. I am now coming aboard Barge No. 2. Have a rope ladder at the stern I can use to come aboard.'

He turned to his deputy, saw that he had anticipated what Ali would need. He was lowering a small, powerful speedboat at the stern. He then shinned down the rope to take over the controls.

Ali was beside him before he had expected the commander's arrival. Ali spoke quietly, firmly.

'Top speed. Remember to zig-zag- the way you did once on the Nile. We will trick them.'