The Greatest Enemy

by Douglas Reeman

  The American was wandering around the wardroom, glancing at the ship’s crest, the letter rack, and anything which took his fancy.

  Lamb continued evenly, ‘For the purpose of security your stay here is being described as a courtesy visit. The Thai authorities have expressed the hope you have all you need, as local facilities are somewhat primitive.’

  Standish thought of Quarrie and his men who were struggling to put their machinery to rights again.

  He said, ‘I suppose you could fly any spares to us if need be?’

  Lamb glanced round and frowned severely as the American laughed and said, ‘Jeez.’

  ‘You’ll know soon enough, so I’ll get to the point.’ Lamb glanced at his watch. ‘The Terrapin will be returning to Singapore in three months to be paid off. Both the C. in C. and the integrated command to which you are now attached will be grateful if all spares demands are minimal, if not completely nil.’

  ‘I see.’ Standish made himself relax and consider the verdict. Paid off. Finished. He had been anticipating it ever since he had stepped aboard, but something about Lamb’s dismissal, his offhand words about this old ship filled him with sudden resentment.

  The American asked, ‘Okay if I go and hunt out the communications department?’

  Lamb nodded. ‘Not more than fifteen minutes.’

  ‘Sure.’ The lieutenant glanced idly around the wardroom. ‘Which way do I go?’

  Standish said abruptly, ‘The quartermaster will take you.’

  As the American left the wardroom he said, ‘I’d have thought he would have known where to go.’

  Lamb shifted in his chair but made no comment. Then he said, ‘I wanted to chat to you alone. Off the record, so to speak.’ He seemed ill at ease. ‘I expect you know what a lot of dust has been stirred up recently. Well, now there’s this submarine you allegedly sighted.’

  ‘It was there.’ Standish watched the other man’s discomfort. It was happening all over again. But this time he was prepared, even eager to see how Lamb would handle it.

  ‘Perhaps. We had no reports of any submarines in the area, but I suppose the Chinese, or the Russians for that matter, might have slipped one through the net. It is a remote possibility.’

  ‘Is that the admiral’s opinion?’

  Lamb flushed. ‘He was interested in the report, naturally. It will be looked into, have no doubt on that score.’

  ‘I take it that Captain Jerram is not so enchanted with the idea?’ Standish saw the shot go home, watched the mounting confusion on Lamb’s face.

  He stood up and walked to an open scuttle before replying, ‘You could put it like that.’

  Standish watched him coldly. ‘In three months time this ship will be dropped from the Navy List, right? So if you wish it, why not just sit back and wait until then, or have your lords and masters already got their axes sharpened?’

  Lamb faced him, his face grim. ‘Look, I didn’t want to come here. But I’m a staff officer, and I do what I’m told just as much as you. There has been a lot of talk. Rumours if you like. I’m not asking you to make a statement, I merely want you to speak to me as you would across the bar in Fort Blockhouse.’ He took a deep breath. ‘If, and I’m only saying if, you were asked, would you accept command of this ship on a temporary basis, until she is paid off?’

  Standish stared at him. ‘And what about Commander Dalziel?’

  ‘Ah, well, that is a little delicate.’

  ‘Why should that be?’ Standish leaned back in his chair and watched him calmly. ‘Couldn’t he be kidnapped or run over by a truck? Surely a staff officer is well versed in these delicate matters?’

  Lamb look away. ‘I guessed you’d take this attitude. In your shoes I hope I’d have done the same. But I doubt it. However, whatever I believe, you must hear me out. Officially, Dalziel is completely fit and well after his other trouble. Nevertheless, it seems unlikely he’d have got this command but for an oversight somewhere. Maybe some pressure was brought to bear, I don’t know or care. What I do know is that Her Majesty’s Government is not prepared to get involved in some great Far East commitment merely because of a tactless or ill-devised incident, do I make myself clear?’

  ‘The Americans are equally disinterested in that surely? After Viet Nam they will want to remain on the sidelines for a while.’ Standish added bitterly, ‘But nobody but a fool would ignore a real threat from the communists again.’

  ‘Quite. Yes, I’m sure you’re right.’ Lamb consulted his watch. ‘I take it then you’d not be interested?’

  ‘No.’ Standish was surprised that he had not even hesitated. ‘How would you have done it anyway?’

  Lamb shrugged. ‘Had you been willing to accept command without comment there would have been little fuss. Commander Dalziel might have been prematurely retired. It has happened before, I believe.’

  Standish rose from the chair. ‘But of course you wouldn’t be sure, would you?’ He added dryly, ‘No fuss. Just a man dropped from circulation because his views don’t happen to coincide with someone else’s. No inquiry, nothing loud or vulgar like that. Just bang, and oblivion, is that it?’

  Lamb faced him, ‘We were just talking, remember that.’ He moved to the door adding, ‘I hope for your sake you’re right about the next three months. If not, there will be something other than an inquiry to finish this commission, I can assure you!’

  On deck they found the American lieutenant leaning on the guardrail watching the work being done to the Whizz-Kid.

  He looked up and smiled easily. ‘Smart boat. Should be a real asset, I’d say.’

  Lamb said bleakly, ‘We’ll leave now. There’s a lot to get done before we fly out.’ He glanced at Standish. ‘Local leave is all right for your people. But they must abide by the military patrols and stay in the town limits. There’s been a bit of trouble recently. Ambushes on the roads, you know.’

  ‘I do know.’ Standish recalled the burned out village. The charred corpses. ‘But nothing you can’t handle, eh?’

  The American was watching him with quiet interest. As Lamb made for the ladder he reached out and touched Standish’s arm. ‘See you around. Very interesting visit.’ His eyes gleamed in the sunlight. ‘That storm must have been quite something.’ Then he followed Lamb down the ladder.

  As the launch glided away Standish saw the radio supervisor walking aft from the bridge.

  ‘Did you show the American around, Keeble?’

  The petty officer shrugged. ‘No, sir. ’E didn’t want nothing to do with me. ’E was more interested in the radar department an’ the chartroom.’

  Standish nodded. ‘Did Lieutenant Irvine look after him?’

  Keeble replied, ‘I think so, sir. Funny sort of officer, if you ask me. All questions. Like ’e’d just stepped out of college.’

  Standish walked back to the quarterdeck, his mind busy with Keeble’s words. Lieutenant Rhodes certainly showed little knowledge of communications, but in Standish’s view was no sort of fool. Rear-Admiral Curtis was not the kind of man to have dead-weight on his staff, so where did he fit in?

  He was still pacing back and forth beneath the awning when the quartermaster reported that the launch was returning with the captain aboard.

  Dalziel listened to the report on the first day’s work, and when Standish mentioned the visitors he merely asked, ‘What about Rhodes, the American?’

  ‘Communications.’ Standish paused. ‘So he said.’

  ‘You don’t agree?’

  ‘I think he is an Intelligence man, sir.’

  Dalziel seemed distant. ‘Could well be.’ He shot him a quick glance, his deepset eyes suddenly tired. ‘We’re being paid off in three months, but I suppose they told you?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  Dalziel looked moodily along the upper deck, his head jutting forward like the day he had come aboard. Standish pictured him in the months and years ahead, with two framed photographs to remind him of his life’s work. The destroyer which had
been cut in half by a carrier, and this one, the elderly Terrapin, which would be taken from him by means more subtle, but no less brutal for him.

  Dalziel seemed to feel him watching and said tersely, ‘I’m going to shower. I’ll be staying aboard if you wish to visit the town.’

  ‘Thank you. I might do that.’

  Dalziel turned towards the hatch. ‘The Hotel Europa should suit you.’ He hesitated, as if struggling with his emotions. ‘Miss Gail might still be there, but I could be mistaken.’

  Standish watched him as he vanished through the hatch. All at once he was glad he had said nothing about Lamb’s cautious questioning and hints.

  If Dalziel deserved nothing else he deserved loyalty. No, he thought bitterly, he needed it, even if he would never admit it. Perhaps one day in the future he would be able to look back and see all this as an episode. The action aboard the Cornwallis, the submarine’s blip on the radar, even Dalziel himself would become blurred against the other things which might happen. He would eventually let them all slide into memory, even as his own suffering was now doing.

  But as he looked slowly along the littered deck and at the storm-scarred paintwork he found himself doubting, knowing that he did not want to lose the Terrapin, any more than Dalziel did.

  There was no reason or sense in it. Any fool could see that. Just as there was no point in going ashore in the hopes of seeing that girl. But he would go nevertheless, just as he knew he would back Dalziel in spite of his own doubts. Or perhaps because of them.

  * * *

  The Hotel Europa stood on the corner of a wide street facing the sea. By the time Standish had got ashore the sun had already disappeared beyond the inland hills, and the lengthening purple shadows of evening were broken here and there by lighted windows and open doors. It was not too dark to see that the hotel hardly lived up to its name. It was three stories high, with the upper rooms opening on to well-weathered verandas, and the paintwork was scarred and blistered by many suns. Only the nameboard was freshly painted, and he guessed that in its lifetime the hotel had changed its title to suit the times. Many conquerors had been and gone, and it was likely that the name would one day change again as a matter of expediency or tact.

  The town, or what he had seen of it on his way from the jetty, was as varied as he could have imagined. Across the street from the hotel was a small cinema surmounted by a giant and garish hoarding depicting an American western with Thai lettering. Immediately outside the cinema was an ornate and delicately carved shrine, below which sat three Buddhist monks, their faces quite expressionless and unmoved by the people who thronged around them in a slow, colourful tide.

  The military were much in evidence. Jeeps were parked in several side streets, their uniformed occupants idly watching the passing crowds, their hands never far from their weapons.

  Yet in spite of them the atmosphere was peaceful, even gentle, and as he walked quickly towards the hotel he was conscious of the different dialects, the mixed aromas of incense and fish, the dusty American cars vying for position with handcarts and rickshaws.

  Inside the hotel entrance he saw some servants extinguishing oil lamps as the overhead fans started to revolve in squeaking unison.

  The round-faced clerk at the desk beamed at him and rolled his eyes to the roof. ‘The electricity has only just returned.’ He made an eloquent shrug. ‘Storms or bandits, who can tell?’

  Standish glanced towards the main lounge and bar. There were several Europeans there, some in crisp slacks and coloured shirts, their cropped hair and youthful exuberance suggesting them to be some of the many American airmen who were serving at Thai bases up country.

  He asked, ‘Is there a Miss Gail here?’

  The man regarded him with new interest. ‘Perhaps.’

  ‘Could I see her?’ Standish felt uneasy under his inscrutable stare.

  ‘It might be arranged.’ He coughed and then smiled as Standish placed some money on his desk. ‘At once, sir.’

  He snapped his fingers and a small boy scampered from a stool beside the entrance. He spoke to the boy quickly and then looked at Standish. ‘If you will follow, he will take you to the English lady, sir.’

  As Standish started after the minute Thai youth he noticed that the clerk was busy counting his easily gained bribe.

  On the next floor were several smaller lounges, obviously for the convenience of hotel residents. They looked shabby and much used, and Standish imagined they were usually occupied by visiting engineers and servicemen on leave who would care little for the lack of comfort.

  The boy opened a door and nodded emphatically towards the opposite side of the room. There was a double door which opened on to one of the verandas, and outlined against the darkening sky he saw someone looking towards the sea.

  When she turned into the lamplight he hardly recognized her. She was wearing a plain yellow dress, her tanned arms and legs bare, while the long black hair hung across her shoulders, loose and shining in the light.

  Standish said uncertainly, ‘Thought I’d come and see that everything’s all right.’ He had made a fool of himself again. Gone was the drill jacket and despair. She was lovely and quite unreachable in her new guise, and he saw a kind of defiance in her eyes as she replied, ‘That was nice of you. Please sit down.’

  Before he could reach a chair she had turned again and walked on to the veranda.

  ‘I have been watching your ship. She looks so small from here.’

  Standish followed her and leaned his hands on the blistered rail, very aware of her nearness, her warmth, and the scent of her hair.

  He made himself look towards the dark blue water in which some early stars were already mirrored like tiny lanterns. The Terrapin was little more than a black shadow, but even a mile offshore he could see her bright anchor light, the faint glow of scuttles beneath her awnings.

  He asked quietly, ‘Has anything happened yet?’

  She shook her head. ‘There was a message. A car was being sent to the hotel for me. Perhaps it was delayed in some way.’ It sounded like a question.

  Standish said, ‘Perhaps. There has been some trouble on the roads. The army might have stopped all traffic for a bit.’ He hesitated. ‘Has Mrs. Penrath gone?’

  ‘Yes. Her husband came for her. She did not want to leave me on my own, but it was unfair to keep her. Her husband had to get back to his work. He was a nice, jolly little man. I liked him.’

  Standish said gently, ‘You shouldn’t be up here like this. You could go outside, have a look round. You might enjoy it.’

  ‘I tried earlier.’ She turned away. ‘I suppose it was my fault. There were several young men. They kept looking at me. Following me.’

  Standish cursed himself. ‘Probably Americans on leave. You can hardly blame them for looking at you. When I came in just now I thought …’

  She swung round suddenly, her hair half hiding her face. ‘What did you think? That she looks like a girl who would be easy, is that what you thought?’

  She let her arms fall to her sides as Standish placed his hands on her shoulders and gripped them tightly.

  ‘You know I didn’t think that.’ He felt her resist and then give in as he pulled her against his chest. ‘I just want you to be happy, to try and forget everything else.’ He touched her hair very gently and felt her spine stiffen again. ‘I had no right to come, but I’m glad I did all the same.’

  ‘What shall I do?’ The defiance had gone. She sounded confused and uncertain.

  ‘I need not return to the ship until tomorrow morning.’ He was speaking very carefully, afraid that he might break the fragile link. ‘I will send word to them where I am and book a room in the hotel.’ She made as if to release herself but he continued, ‘It will be all right. I promise you. Your future husband would not like to think of you alone, be sure of that.’

  ‘Why are you doing all this?’

  He replied, ‘If you were my sister I’d not like to think of you here on your own eithe
r.’

  She leaned back and looked directly into his face. Her eyes were searching and very grave. ‘But you are not my brother.’

  ‘No.’ He tried to smile but it would not come. ‘I’m not anything.’

  Then she stepped away from him and touched his arm with her fingers.

  ‘I would like you to be here. Thank you.’ She tossed the hair from her face and smiled. ‘I always seem to be thanking you, don’t I?’

  Angry voices and the sound of breaking glass echoed up from the street, and when Standish glanced down he saw some pale, hurrying shapes before they vanished into a side alley. Some of Terrapin’s libertymen. There would be more bleary-eyed defaulters to face tomorrow after a night on the town. When he looked round again he saw that she was watching him, her face serious and troubled.

  ‘When I was looking at the ship I was wondering what would happen to you also. I hope, no I want you to be happy, too.’

  She brushed a strand of hair from her eyes as a cool breeze fanned across the veranda. Even that movement was painful for him to see, and the thought of not seeing her after this night was even more unbearable.

  ‘It will be another ship sometime. New faces.’ He shrugged. ‘I’ll have to get used to the idea.’ It was strange how distant and unreal the other problems seemed now that he was here. With her. Dalziel, Irvine, even the ship were another part of him, out there, waiting to reclaim his loyalties or his enmity.

  The door opened slightly and a white-coated servant said hesitantly, ‘There has been a message. Mr. Winter has been delayed. He will arrive some time tonight.’

  Standish watched her, realizing it was the first time he had heard the man’s name. Perhaps he had tried to shut out even that piece of reality.

  She said quietly, ‘It’s Roger. He’s coming.’

  ‘I see.’ He watched her hands clenching into tight fists, saw the quick painful thrust of her breasts through the yellow dress, as if she was on the verge of panic. ‘Would you like a drink? It might help to steady you.’ He made the smile come. ‘I’ll bet he’s a lot more nervous than you are!’