Santorini

9

‘Manhattan Project?’ Admiral Hawkins said. ‘What on earth does she mean by “Manhattan Project”?’

‘I don’t know, sir,’ Denholm said. ‘Eugenia doesn’t know either. She just caught the words as she walked into the wardroom. Only Andropulos, Alexander and Aristotle were there. The phrase was repeated twice and she thought it odd enough – I think it’s very odd, too – to pass it on to me. When they became aware of her presence the subject was switched. She said that whatever the nature of the subject was they seemed to find it rather amusing.’

Talbot said: ‘Even Alexander was amused?’

‘Humour, sir, is not Alexander’s forte. Nobody’s seen him smile since he came aboard the Ariadne, I would doubt if anyone has ever seen him smile. Besides, it was Alexander who was discussing the subject. Maybe he doesn’t laugh at his own jokes.’

‘I know you know something about those things, Denholm,’ Hawkins said. ‘Doesn’t it suggest anything to you?’

‘Zero, sir. The immediate and obvious – far too obvious – connection is the atom bomb. The Manhattan Project, of course, was that immensely long, immensely complicated and immensely expensive project that led to the invention of the atom bomb. “Manhattan” was only a code word. The actual research was carried out in New Mexico and Nevada or thereabouts. I’m sorry, sir, but the significance, the relevance of the phrase in our present situation, quite escapes me.’

‘At least I’ve got company,’ Hawkins said. He picked up two slips of paper from his table in the admiral’s cabin. ‘Those two messages have come in since last we saw you. In this case, I don’t think their significance will escape you.’

‘Ah! This one from the White House itself. “Two of your philanthropist’s beneficiaries are no longer with us. Beneficiary A has been involved in a fatal automobile accident.”’ Denholm looked up from the paper. ‘Has he now? For Beneficiary A I take it we can read either Admiral X or General Y. Did he fall, did he jump or was he pushed?’ He looked at the paper again. ‘And I see that Beneficiary B has just disappeared. Again I assume that Beneficiary B was either X or Y. How very inconvenient for them, how very convenient for us.’ Denholm looked from Hawkins to Talbot. ‘From the very restrained wording I take it that this news is not to be broadcast from the house-tops.’

‘I shouldn’t have thought so,’ Hawkins said. ‘We have already arranged for the coded original to be destroyed.’

‘I take it then, sir, that speculation about their abrupt departure is pointless.’

‘Indeed. Not only pointless but needless. They have fallen upon their swords. One does not wish to sound cynical nor stand in condemnation but it’s probably the only faintly honourable thing they have done for a long time. The second signal, Denholm?’

‘The one from Heraklion. Interesting, sir. It seems that the Taormina’s last port of call was Tobruk. Furthermore, although it’s registered in Panama, it appears to be permanently based in Tobruk. It’s more than interesting, it’s intriguing, especially considering that that well-known philanthropist sitting in our wardroom seems to have considerable business interests in Tripoli. It’s most damnably frustrating, sir.’

‘What is?’

‘That we haven’t a single shred of evidence to adduce against him, far less proof.’

‘I have this feeling,’ Talbot said, ‘that neither evidence nor proof will ever be required. Andropulos will never come to trial.’

Hawkins looked at him for a few thoughtful moments. ‘That’s the second time you’ve said that, Captain. You have access to some information that we lack?’

‘Not at all, sir. Maybe I’ve just got blind faith in this blindfolded goddess of justice. You know, the lady who holds the scales in her hands.’ Talbot smiled. ‘Or maybe, as Van Gelder keeps on hinting, I have some traces of Highland blood in me. Says I’m fey, the second sight or some nonsense like that. Ah, the man himself.’

‘A radio message from Greek Intelligence,’ Van Gelder said. He proffered the paper he held in hand.

‘Just tell me,’ Hawkins said. ‘Gently. I’m becoming allergic to bad news.’

‘Not all that bad, sir. Not for us, at any rate. Says that someone attached to the department for Middle East and North African affairs – they carefully don’t give his name, I suppose he’s a minister of some sort, I suppose we could find out easily enough but it seems unimportant – took off by government plane on a routine visit to Canea, the town close by the Souda Bay air base. Never got there. But at exactly the time he should have got there a patrolling Greek Mirage spotted a plane very like the one he was flying in – too much of a coincidence for it not to have been the same plane – passing directly over Heraklion.’

‘So, of course,’ Talbot said, ‘you consulted the chart and arrived at the conclusion that he was heading for some place. What place?’

‘Tobruk.’

‘And you also arrived at the conclusion that he wouldn’t be coming back from there?’

‘Allowing for the vagaries of human nature, sir, I would not have thought so. Greek Intelligence have also established the fact that the vanishing minister, if minister he was, held an account at the same Athens bank that Philip Trypanis honours with his custom. It would appear, to coin a phrase, that they are now hot on the trail of Mr Trypanis. Whether they nab Mr Trypanis or not hardly seems a matter of concern for us.’

‘I would think,’ Hawkins said, ‘if our philanthropist friend in the wardroom knew of the fate of his pal in government here and those of A and B – or X and Y – in Washington his humour might be in marked abeyance by now. And if he knew that we knew of the Taormina and that its home base was Tobruk, he would be downright thoughtful. Was that all, Van Gelder?’

‘On that subject, sir, yes. Captain Montgomery, Professor Wotherspoon and I have been discussing the weather.’

‘You have?’ Hawkins looked at him suspiciously. ‘Don’t tell me that Cassandra has you in her clutches again?’

‘Certainly not, sir. The Euros has died away. Completely. We suspect it will only be a matter of time before the weather returns to normal. A very short time. Latest met. reports confirm that. The Angelina, at the present moment, is lying between our ship and the Kilcharran, facing north-west. If the Meltemi starts up – also from the north-west, of course – we won’t be able to sail her out of her present position. It might be wise to tow her alongside us now.’

‘Of course,’ Talbot said. ‘See to it now, would you, Number One. After that, let us foregather for the last supper.’

Van Gelder looked through the opened doorway. ‘It’s already getting dark, sir. You don’t feel like waiting for the dawn before we take off?’

‘Nothing I’d like better than to wait for the dawn. But we have this duty to our fellow man.’

‘We have to be brave, noble and self-sacrificing?’

‘The sooner we take off, the easier will lie the heads along the Potomac. Not to mention, of course, those on the Kilcharran and Ariadne.’

Denholm looked from Talbot to Van Gelder. His face registered an expression of near incredulity.

‘Am I to understand, Captain, that you and Lieutenant-Commander Van Gelder are sailing on the Angelina?’

Talbot shook his head. ‘I suppose it had to come to this, Number One. Junior officers questioning our nautical expertise.’

‘I don’t understand, sir. Why on earth are you and Number One going along on the Angelina? I mean–’

‘We are not going along on the Angelina. We are taking the Angelina. Professor Wotherspoon and his wife are the people who are not going. They don’t know that yet, of course. The good Professor is going to be very wroth but it’s difficult to please everybody.’

‘I see, sir. Yes, I see. I should have guessed. I’d like to come along, sir.’

‘Yes and no. You shall come along, but not on the Angelina. You will take the launch. You won’t start up the engine until we’re at least three miles clear. We don’t want, you understand, to precipitate any premature big bangs.’

‘And then we follow you at that distance?’

‘Not so much follow us as circle us at, of course, the same prudent distance of three miles. Your purpose, again, of course, is to ward off and warn off any unsuspecting vessels that come too close.’

‘And then help tow you back here?’

‘When we’ve dumped the mine and sailed on a sufficiently safe distance, we’ll start the engine and head back. A tow would help. Or perhaps the Admiral will fetch us in the Ariadne. We haven’t decided yet and at the moment it’s not important. But what I’m about to say is important.

‘You will take along with you Chief Petty Officer McKenzie, Marine Sergeant Brown and Petty Officer Myers to operate the radio. Most importantly, you will also take with you, suitably wrapped in plastic, the krytron detonating device and conceal it well. I suggest under the floorboards of the wheelhouse. You will instruct Petty Officer Myers to take along the smallest portable transceiver he can lay hands on and conceal it in the same place. Make sure the floorboards are securely nailed down afterwards.’

‘May I ask the reason for this excessive secrecy, sir?’

‘You may not for the excellent reason that I have no reason to give you. The best I can do is to wave a vague hand and say that I am preparing for unforeseen eventualities. The trouble with the unforeseen is that it is unforeseeable. You understand?’

‘I think so, sir.’

‘I suggest you go now and alert your crew. And for God’s sake don’t let anyone see you wandering around with the krytron under your arm.’

Lieutenant Denholm left. Hawkins said: ‘There are times, Captain, when I feel I have to say, with regret of course, that the truth is not always with you. I mean the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.’

‘I agree, sir,’ Van Gelder said. ‘Sets a very bad example for junior officers.’

Talbot smiled. ‘Be ye as pure as snow ye shall not escape calumny. Something like that. We captains become inured to such injustices. I have the odd feeling – all right, all right, Vincent, let’s settle for just a few microscopic traces of Highland blood – that Andropulos is going to be asking the odd casual question at table tonight. I suggest we have Dr Wickram up here.’

Andropulos did indeed have the odd casual question to ask at table that night but he was in no hurry to introduce them. It was not until after they had finished the main course that he said: ‘We do not wish to pry, Captain, nor ask questions about purely naval matters which should be none of our concern. But whatever is happening surely does concern us, whether directly or indirectly, and we are but human and very, very curious. We can all see that the Angelina is alongside with that highly suspect atomic mine lashed down in its cradle on the deck. I thought the intention was to sail it away with all possible speed?’

‘We shall be doing just that, Mr Andropulos. In the fullness of time, by which I mean after we’ve finished dinner. You will not be happy until it is gone?’

‘I confess I will feel a considerable degree of relief when I see the Angelina disappearing over the horizon, and with a clear sky and an almost full moon we should be able to see just that. Selfish? Cowardly? Maybe, maybe not.’ Andropulos sighed. ‘I do not see myself in the role of hero.’

‘I don’t see myself as such. No sensible person does.’

‘But, surely – well, that atomic mine is still highly unstable, is it not?’

‘I don’t think it’s quite so highly dangerous as it was. But why ask me? You’re sitting next to the expert.’

‘Of course. Dr Wickram. How do you see things now, sir?’

‘The Captain is right, or I hope he is. The radioactive emanations of the hydrogen missiles, from which of course the atomic mine is now separated, have an extremely limited range. They are no longer affecting the mine which should be now slowly beginning to stabilize itself. But I have to emphasize that it’s a slow process.’

‘How long will it be before it has fully stabilized itself? By which I mean when will it reach a condition when a passing vessel’s engines will have no effect on it?’

‘Ah. Well, now.’ Wickram’s tone was the verbal equivalent of a shrug. ‘As I’ve said, we’re in the realms of the unknown, the untested, but I have been making some calculations. Difficult calculations involving some rather advanced mathematics so I won’t bother you with those, but my estimate is that the mine should be quite safe in twelve hours at the most. Possibly even in six hours. At a lesser time than that – well, the risk would be unacceptably high.’

‘Damn you to hell, Talbot,’ Wotherspoon said. His voice was low and controlled but the ivoryknuckled fists showed the depths of his anger. ‘It’s my boat you’re talking about. It’s not the property of your damned Navy!’

‘I am aware of that, Professor, and I’m most damnably sorry about it.’ Talbot was with Hawkins, Wotherspoon and his wife in the admiral’s cabin. ‘But you are not coming along. Did you honestly imagine that the Royal Navy would idly stand by and let you, civilians, risk your lives for us?’ Talbot smiled. ‘It’s not only our duty but we’re getting paid for it.’

‘It’s not only bloody high-handed, it’s piracy! Hijack. That sort of illegal behaviour you’re sworn to destroy. You are, of course, prepared to resort to force in order to restrain me.’

‘If we have to, yes.’ Talbot nodded to the opened, darkened doorway. Wotherspoon turned, caught sight of three large figures half-hidden in the gloom. When he turned back, he was literally speechless with fury. ‘It’s the last thing we want to do,’ Talbot said, ‘and it’s totally unnecessary.’ He let an element of coldness creep into his voice. ‘Quite frankly, Wotherspoon, my primary concern is not your welfare. I think you’re being most extraordinarily selfish and totally inconsiderate. How long have you been married, Mrs Wotherspoon?’

‘How long have–’ She tried to smile but her heart wasn’t in it. ‘Almost six months.’

‘Less than six months.’ Talbot looked at Wotherspoon without enthusiasm. ‘And yet you’re willing to expose her to danger and – the chance is very real – to send her to her death because your stiff-necked pride has been wounded. You must be proud of yourself. Do you really want to go, Mrs Wotherspoon?’

‘Angelina.’ The correction was automatic and this time she did smile almost certainly because of the incongruity of it in the circumstances. ‘You put me in an impossible situation.’ She paused, then went on quickly: ‘No. No, you don’t. I don’t want to go. I don’t want James to go either. Delving around in antiquities is our business, not violence and death. Heaven knows I’m no latterday Amazon and if there are any dragons waiting around to be killed I don’t want my husband to be St George. Please, James.’

Hawkins spoke for the first time. ‘I make no appeal to your emotions, Professor. All I ask you is to put yourself in Commander Talbot’s position. I think you would agree it is a pretty impossible one.’

‘Yes.’ Wotherspoon had unclenched his fists. ‘I see that.’

‘I think three signals are in order, John,’ Hawkins said. The Wotherspoons had left. ‘One to the White House, one to General Carson in Rome and one to Rear-Admiral Blyth. The same signal, coded of course, to each. How about “Settled weather with favourable north-west wind. Angelina about to sail with armed mine. Transfer of hydrogen missiles from plane to Kilcharran continuing smoothly.” That should fit the bill?’

‘Admirably. It should come as quite a shock to them all.’

‘We haven’t of late, I must admit, been sending them much in the way of good news.’

A small knot of interested spectators were gathered round the head of the gangway, the foot of which offered easy access to both the stern of the Angelina, whose sails were already hoisted, and the bows of the Ariadne’s launch. Among the more interested of the spectators was Andropulos.

He turned to Talbot and said: ‘How much longer now, Captain?’

‘Ten minutes. Thereabouts.’

Andropulos shook his head as if in disbelief. ‘And then all our troubles will be over?’

‘It’s beginning to look that way, isn’t it?’

‘It is indeed. Tell me, why is the launch there?’

‘Simple. It’s coming with us.’

‘Going with you? I don’t understand. Won’t the sound of its engines–’

‘Maybe trigger off the mine? The launch won’t start up until we’re at least three miles clear. It will then proceed to circle us, again at a distance of three miles, to warn off any vessels – powered vessels, that is – that threaten to come too close to us. We haven’t come this far, Mr Andropulos, to take any chances.’

‘The thought, the precaution, never occurred to me. Alas, I fear I will never make a man of action.’

Talbot gave him what Andropulos misinterpreted as a kindly smile. ‘One cannot be all things to all men, sir.’

‘You are ready to go, Captain?’ Hawkins said. He had just joined them.

‘A few minutes, sir. Sails are filling rather nicely, aren’t they?’

‘You are going, Captain?’ Andropulos seemed a trifle disconcerted.

‘Certainly. I’ve always rather fancied myself as the skipper of an Aegean lugger. You seem rather surprised, Mr Andropulos?’

‘I am. Rather, I was. But not now.’ He looked down to the deck of the Angelina where Van Gelder was adjusting a halyard on the foresail. ‘And of course, inevitably, Lieutenant-Commander Van Gelder. Hand-picked men, eh, Captain? Hand-picked by yourself, of course. I congratulate you. I also salute you. I suspect that this is a much more dangerous mission than you have led us to understand, a mission so perilous that you have chosen not to delegate some members of your crew to carry it out.’

‘Nonsense, Mr Andropulos. You exaggerate. Well, Admiral, we’re off. Taking a median estimate on Dr Wickram’s time limits we should be disposing of this mine in nine hours’ time – six a.m. tomorrow. If the wind holds – there’s no guarantee that it will, of course – we’ll be well on our way to the Kásos Strait by then.’

Hawkins nodded. ‘And with luck – although I don’t see why the factor luck should enter into it – we should be picking you up in the early afternoon tomorrow. We shall remain with Captain Montgomery until he has finished loading the hydrogen missiles and until the destroyer I’ve radioed for comes to pick him up and escort him to Thessalonika. That should be between nine and ten in the morning. Then we’ll come looking for you.’ He turned his head. ‘You’re off, Mr Andropulos? I should have thought you would have remained to witness this rather historic moment.’

‘I intend to do just that. I also intended to record this historic moment. I go to fetch my trusty Leica. Well, Lieutenant Denholm’s trusty Leica. He lent it to me less than an hour ago.’

Talbot chatted briefly with Hawkins, said his goodbye, climbed down the gangway, had a brief word with Denholm on the launch and then boarded the Angelina. Van Gelder had already pulled in and coiled the bow rope. Talbot stooped over the cleat on the poop-deck to do the same with the stern rope when he became aware of a certain commotion and exclamations about his head. He straightened and looked up.

Andropulos had made his reappearance not with his trusty Leica but with what was probably an equally trusty and much more unpleasant Navy Colt .44, the muzzle of which was pressed against the temple of a plainly terrified Angelina Wotherspoon. Behind him loomed Alexander and Aristotle, both men similarly armed and both with the muzzles of their pistols similarly pointed at temples, those of Irene Charial and her friend Eugenia, neither of whom looked any happier than Angelina, which was to say that they looked very unhappy indeed. Having a pistol grinding into one’s temple is an unpleasant sensation for even the most hardened: for three young ladies whose nearest previous approach to violence must have been the printed page or some of the less-regarded TV psycho-dramas the effect must have been traumatic.

‘Don’t cast off quite yet, Captain,’ Andropulos said. ‘We’re coming with you.’

‘What in God’s name is the meaning of this devilry?’ Hawkins’s expression reflected an equal degree of shock and anger. ‘Have you taken leave of your senses?’

‘We have not taken leave of our senses. We are just taking leave of you.’

‘I don’t understand,’ Hawkins said, ‘I just don’t understand. This is the way you repay us for having saved your lives and offered you every hospitality?’

‘We thank you both for your care and your kindness. However, we have no wish to overstay our welcome or impose upon you further.’ He jabbed Angelina’s temple with a force that made her gasp with pain. ‘After you, Mrs Wotherspoon.’

The six of them descended the gangway in succession and boarded the Angelina. Andropulos transferred the attention of his Colt from Angelina to Talbot and Van Gelder.

‘Nothing rash or heroic or gallant, if you please,’ Andropulos said. ‘Especially gallant. It could only have the most distressing consequences, both for you and the three young ladies.’

‘Is this a joke?’ Talbot said.

‘Ah! Do I detect a certain loss of composure, a crack in the monolithic calm? If I were you, Captain, I would not take me for a joker.’

‘I don’t.’ Talbot made no attempt to conceal his bitterness. ‘I took you for a wealthy businessman and a man of honour. I took you at your face value. I suppose we all learn from our mistakes.’

‘You are too late to learn from this mistake. You are correct in one respect – I freely confess to being a wealthy businessman. A very wealthy one. As to the second charge?’ He shrugged his indifference. ‘Honour is in the eye of the beholder. Let us not waste time. Instruct this young man–’ Denholm standing in the bows of the launch was less than six feet away ‘–to follow his orders precisely. The orders, I understand, that you have given him, Captain. That is, not to start his engines until we have put three miles away from him and then to circle us, at that same distance, to fend off unwanted intruders.’

‘Lieutenant Denholm understands his orders perfectly clearly.’

‘In which case, cast off.’

The wind was fresh, but not strong, and it took the Angelina quite some time to overcome its initial inertia and reach a speed of three or four knots. Slowly the Ariadne dropped astern and after fifteen minutes it was at least a mile distant.

‘Excellent,’ Andropulos said. ‘Rather gratifying, is it not, when things go exactly according to plan.’ There was no hint of undue satisfaction in his voice. ‘Tell me, Commander Talbot, would you believe me when I say that I am genuinely fond, very fond, of my niece and her friend Eugenia and might even come to regard Mrs Wotherspoon in the same light?’

‘I don’t know why I should believe you and I don’t see why it should concern me. It could be.’

‘And would you believe me when I say I wouldn’t harm a hair of their heads.’

‘I’m afraid I do.’

‘Afraid?’

‘Others wouldn’t believe it, or wouldn’t know whether to believe it or not. Which makes them perfect hostages.’

‘Exactly. I don’t need to say that they will come to no harm in my hands.’ He looked thoughtfully at Talbot. ‘You are singularly incurious as to the reasons for my conduct.’

‘I am very curious. But one does not become a wealthy businessman by engaging in idle tittletattle. If I were to ask you, you would tell me exactly what you wanted to tell me. No more, no less.’

‘How very true. Now, a different point entirely. The three young ladies pose absolutely no threat to me. You and Van Gelder are a very different kettle of fish. My two friends and I regard you as highly dangerous individuals. We think you are capable of concocting devious and cunning plans and using a great deal of violence in putting those plans to the test – if, that is, you thought there was the slightest chance of success. You will understand, therefore, that we will have to immobilize you. I will remain by the wheel here. You two gentlemen, accompanied by the three ladies, will proceed to the saloon where Aristotle who, as you will readily understand, is very good at knots, will tie you hand and foot, while Alexander, who is every bit as proficient with a gun as Aristotle is with ropes, will ensure that proceedings are conducted in a peaceful fashion.’

Hawkins was bent over Professor Wotherspoon who was lying half propped-up on a sofa in the wardroom. Wotherspoon, dazed and making odd choking noises that were part way between moans and curses, was struggling to open his eyes. Finally, with the aid of his fingers, he managed to do just that.

‘What the hell has happened?’ The watchers had to strain to catch his words, which were no more than an asthmatic croak. ‘Where am I?’

‘Take this.’ Hawkins put an arm around his shoulders and a glass of brandy to his lips. Wotherspoon sipped, gagged, then drained the contents.

‘What has happened?’

‘You’ve been banged over the back of the head,’ Grierson said, ‘and not lightly, either. “Sapped”, I believe, is the current term. By the butt of the revolver, I should guess.’

Wotherspoon struggled to a sitting position. ‘Who?’

‘Andropulos,’ Hawkins said. ‘Or one of his criminal friends. Some more brandy is in order, Doctor?’

‘Normally, no,’ Grierson said. ‘In this case, yes. I know the back of your head must hurt badly, Professor, but don’t touch it. Bruised, bleeding, puffy but no fracture.’

‘Andropulos has hijacked your vessel,’ Hawkins said. ‘Along, of course, with the atomic mine. He has also taken hostages.’

Wotherspoon nodded and winced at the pain it caused him. ‘My wife, of course, is one of them.’

‘I am sorry. Along with Irene Charial and her friend Eugenia. There was no way we could stop them.’

‘Did you try?’

‘Would you have tried if you saw the barrel of a Colt screwing into your wife’s temple? And two other guns screwed into the temples of the two other ladies?’

‘I hardly think so.’ Wotherspoon shook his head. ‘I’m trying to come to terms with the situation. With a head like an over-ripe pumpkin about to burst, it’s not easy. Talbot and Van Gelder. What’s happened to them?’

‘We don’t know, of course. Clapped in irons, handcuffed or some such, I should imagine.’

‘Or permanently disposed of. What in God’s name is behind all this, Admiral? Do you think this fellow Andropulos has gone off his rocker?’

‘By his own standards, he’s probably under the impression that he’s perfectly sane. We have every reason to believe that he is a long-term and highly professional criminal operating on a hitherto unprecedented international scale. Terrorism and drugs would appear to be his forte. There is no time to go into that at the moment. The immediate point is that Lieutenant Denholm is very shortly leaving in the launch to follow them. Do you feel up to accompanying him?’

‘Follow them? Board and capture them? I should say.’

‘As you as much as said yourself, Professor, your mind isn’t yet firing on all cylinders. If the launch were to go within a couple of miles of the Angelina its engine beat would probably detonate the atomic mine.’

‘As you say, I’m not at my best. But if you have any spare rifles or pistols there would be no harm in taking them along. Just in case.’

‘There will be no firearms. If there were to be any exchange of fire you know where the first bullet would lodge, don’t you?’

‘Yes. You do put things so nicely. Less than an hour ago you were prepared to restrain me at all costs. You seem to have changed your mind, Admiral.’

‘It’s not my mind that has changed. It’s the circumstances.’

‘A rapid change in circumstances,’ the President said, ‘does give one a rather more balanced view of life. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I enjoyed that lunch, but then, a couple of hours ago I didn’t expect or wish to have any today. Although the memory of the treachery will be with us for a long time one has to admit that the discreet if tragic settlement of the Pentagon question removes a major burden of worry. But that was only a local and, let us confess it, a basically selfish concern.’ He waved the paper he held in his hand. ‘This, of course, is what matters. The good ship Angelina, with this damned bomb aboard, is heading steadily south-east and with every second that passes it is putting another yard – or is it two? – between itself and all the horrors of Santorini. It is not too much to say, gentlemen, that a holocaust of unimaginable proportions has been averted.’ He raised his glass. ‘I give you a toast, Sir John. The Royal Navy.’

The President had barely returned his glass to the table when a messenger entered. The President glanced at him briefly, looked away, then looked at him again. All traces of satisfaction drained from his face.

‘Bad news, Johnson?’

‘I’m afraid so, Mr President.’

‘The worst? The very worst?’

‘Not the very worst. But bad enough.’

The President took the message, read it in silence, then looked up and said: ‘I’m afraid our celebrations have been rather premature. The Angelina has been hijacked.’

Nobody repeated the word ‘hijacked’. Nobody said anything. There didn’t seem to be anything to say.

‘Message reads: “Angelina and armed mine hijacked by Andropulos and two criminal associates. Five hostages taken – Commander Talbot, Lieutenant-Commander Van Gelder and three ladies, one of whom is Andropulos’s niece. Physically impossible for Angelina to return to area so major danger no longer exists. Will keep you posted hourly. Our major and only concern now recovery of hostages.”’

‘Dear me, dear me,’ Sir John said. ‘This is distressing. Both ominous and confusing. Here we have this madman – or genius, who knows how much truth there is in the old maxim that they are the two sides of the same coin – loose in the Levant with an armed atomic mine aboard. Does he know that it’s armed? One rather suspects he doesn’t. Where have the three ladies suddenly appeared from and what were they doing aboard one of Her Majesty’s frigates in the first place? Why, of all improbabilities, should this villain elect to kidnap his own niece? And why, not to mention how, did this same villain kidnap the captain of the frigate and one of his senior officers? And where, in the name of all that’s holy, does he hope to sail his ship, cargo and prisoners, when he must know that every ship and plane in NATO will be searching for him? But he does so hope. That is obvious. His long and spectacularly successful criminal career, undetected until now, proves that he is a devious, cunning and brilliant operator. He has another scheme in mind. Not a man, as we have now learnt to our cost and should have known from his record, to be underestimated. A villain, indeed, but a very resourceful villain.’

‘Indeed,’ the President said. ‘One can only hope that Commander Talbot proves to be even more resourceful.’

‘I have the uncomfortable feeling,’ Sir John said, ‘that at the present moment Talbot is in no position to prove anything.’