Convoy to Atlantis
Page 9
Reasoning was beyond him, but when he heard the metallic sound of the opening hatch he climbed to his feet, pulling Leolo with him. Zoru stood at the open hatchway and sunlight was breaking on his face.
Brick stumbled to his side. His arm was about Leolo and his heart was too full for words to express what he felt.
"Miraculous," breathed Zoru. "Miraculous deliverance!"
Looking out the hatch Brick saw a mighty cloud of smoke disappearing over the rim of the horizon. The convoy! From the Arsenal of Democracy blood for the veins of the British empire was flowing—safely still.
And then Brick saw an American destroyer standing against the cobalt sky, driving toward them. Above her the Stars and Stripes rippled in a stiff breeze. The sight brought a lump of pride to his throat.
He caught Zoru's hand in a strong clasp and his arm tightened about Leolo's shoulders. Zoru returned the pressure with his hand and Leolo smiled up at him, her eyes telling him the answers to questions he would ask later.
Then they turned and waited for the destroyer.
About the Author
William P. McGivern (1921-1982) also wrote under the pen names Vance Gerald, P.F. Costello, and Bill Peters. He was American novelist and television scriptwriter. He published more than 20 novels, mostly mysteries and crime thrillers. His novels were adapted for a number of films, among them Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), a noir tale of three losers, The Big Heat (1953). While a successful novelist, McGivern moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s to write for television and film. His credits include the TV series Ben Casey, Adam-12, and Kojak and the William Castle film I Saw What You Did (1965).