Hunter Killer

by Geoffrey Jenkins

  axe. He stood with his feet apart and went through the gestures of chopping, shaping, fitting. He shook his head.

  The deck is bois mangue, not tatamaka like the hull,' she explained. He is very proud of his boat. Even Chepé, who

  is a master shipbuilder, admires it. He explains that he

  shaped every piece of decking with an adze so that they all 196

  fit—each one has its own particular place and will be useless elsewhere. Becides, the decking is much too short for the hull, even if he reshaped it.'

  Axe,' corrected MKG. He shaped the planks with an

  axe.'

  No,' replied Adele. R is an adze, a shipbuilder's tool. It

  looks like—a garden hoe. They stand on a log and chop towards their toes. The adze is as sharp as a razor. But

  André says that the axe will do for a patch—if we had some

  timber.'

  Andre gestured towards the spit of sand, now looming

  whiter as the sky cleared and the wind dropped.

  He wants to walk over to the western side of the island

  where there used to be a small pocket of bois mangue, but he warns you, it is most likely to have disappeared in the storm.'

  The radio began with Morse and Adele decoded while the

  rest of us waited around. Peace looked anxious. She handed

  him the signal first, and he read it out:

  ' Interrogation Captain du Plessis of French freighter Semittanté now complete x helos to search grid pattern east and west of Semittantes last estimated position in Grid E-10 x estimates place Semittanté west of this position following cyclone x'

  As the signal had come in, I noticed Mac move up unobtrusively with the Remington, pretending to clean it with a scrap of cloth. The move was not lost on Adele, either.

  As Peace explained the earlier search messages to MKG and the others, Andre, Adele and I set off. We stumbled

  through the sand piled high in drifts at the base of VingtCinq Coups ; farther away the gale had stripped away the topsoil down to the coral bedrock.

  Of the pocket of timber, nothing remained but a few untidy

  sockets in the earth. André gestured hopelessly and then

  indicated the low northern slope of the island. Adele and I walked hand in hand.

  Adele said, I thought Geoffrey Peace was your friend. We're virtually prisoners. And that awful engineer!' She shuddered.

  I think Mac would do anything for Peace,' I said slowly. Èven to shooting us?' she asked. Little Bear means—well, I don't have to say it,' I said. '

  Peace has side-stepped what is the main issue as far as we

  and the world are concerned, namely, MKG's position as VicePresident. His single-mindedness is something frightening.'

  And deadly,' she said. If MKG had the slightest suspicion, he'd call the space-shot off. All we can hope is that one 197

  of Tyler's planes finds us—quickly. I feel ashamed every time I look at MKG:

  ' It may solve itself,' I said. ' We can't tow Little Bear

  without a boat. Even if we could, the searchers—'

  Instinctively I looked seawards. Even now, Tyler and his

  hunters might be lying off Love-Apple Crossing.

  André let out an exclamation. Adele wheeled on him. He

  was pointing to the lagoon.

  ' There!'

  In the lagoon, maybe a hundred yards away, was a long, dark object. There was a rapid-fire of Creole from André,

  who started towards Vingt-Cinq Coups at a shambling run. I

  turned to Adele and stopped in amazement. She was stripping off her clothes! In a moment the whole loveliness of her sun-tanned body stood in sharp relief against the pure white sand.

  ` Come on!' she called. Quick! Help me!'

  She raced into the surf, breasted it, paused and signalled

  me on with her upraised arm. I, too, pulled off my clothes in bewilderment and followed her. Beyond the breakers; Adele

  hung on to something. In a few strokes, I was at her side.

  She clung to a dark log whose top branches only remained.

  `Bois mangue! It's a whole tree of it! André's eyesight is uncanny.'

  She squirmed on to the floating log like a seal and sat astride, laughing. For that moment the massive search, the

  great Presidential drama, the whole outside world, seemed to recede. Her joy and her laughter were—for me.

  ' Don't look so serious, my darling ..

  Her naked loveliness caught me by the throat as she sat

  there, her eyes dancing. I trod water and looked up at the

  firm curve of her breasts and the wild loveliness of her wet hair. I said, ' When we're married, we shall come back to Love-Apple Crossing.'

  She leaned down and kissed me, sweet and salt together. `

  Love—Apple—Crossing,' she murmured. ` Yes, back to

  Vingt-Cing Coups—our happiness will make up for all the

  unhappiness of those old lovers.'

  Adele—' I began, but she kissed me again and pushed

  me away. She slid off the log. ` Come, we must get the log

  ashore before the others arrive and see me like this!'

  Together we floated the log to the beach, pulling it well clear of the surf above the highwater mark. Adele barely had time to drag on her clothes before the others, led by Peace and MKG at a run, reached us. André panted out a flood of Creole. Boz gave a whoop of joy when he saw the log

  198

  and seized the big Texan. Together they did an impromptu war-dance on the sand. André grabbed MKG'S hand and even Trevor-Davis was moved to clap his American

  counterpart on the shoulder. Only Mac had not bothered to

  come. André put a foot on the log like a trophy hunter and

  burst into Creole, while the rest of the scientists stood round grinning like kids.

  Adele and I alone did not share in the general rejoicing.

  She translated Andre : He says bring the axe right away

  and he'll have the cutter ready by midday tomorrow.'

  Boz looked concerned. That leaves the afternoon only to

  check her over.'

  Sorry, Boz,' replied Peace. "That missile is staying down until the last moment—and that means until only a few hours before the launch itself.'

  Boz turned in protest to MKG. I gotta check—'

  MKG said quietly, ` Commander's right, Boz. I know you'd like to go over every rivet, but the risk is too big.'

  Boz drew his fellow-scientists in with him. See here, MKG, I know we checked and re-checked everything before she was stowed, but that is nearly six weeks ago now.'

  She was fine then, and there's no reason to think she isn't fine now,' replied MKG. You set the stable table yourself.'

  The same goes for SNAP,' added Peace. ` She also should be fine. We haven't pulled rods since she went aboard.'

  Boz remained dubious. ` Sure, sure. We went over everything with a toothcomb before. Everything jim-dandy. But what if—'

  ' How long does it take to start the nuclear power plant?' I asked.

  Boz smiled, despite his preoccupation. Pull-rods,' he corrected. That's what it's called. Till she's fully activated, two hours. You've also got to spin up her gyros and stabilize the stable table.'

  You're making a lab job out of it instead of a field test,'

  MKG chided him gently. You know that's part of the countdown routine, Boz.'

  Data and compensations—' Boz started to say, but MKG waved a hand. You know it can be done without all the

  trappings, Boz. Let's stick to the essentials, especially since Tyler will be just over the horizon.'

  Boz and the scientists looked unhappy. I think they would

  have liked to strip down the entire missile.

  MKG's remark about Tyler was with me still. Can't the

  Seventh Fleet interfere with you once Little Bear's in flight?'

  Boz and MKG exc
hanged amused glances. ' No, Little Bear 199

  has no radio or radar acquisition. Once Boz presses that " fire " button, nothing can stop me.'

  Peace nodded at the log. The sooner we get this up to

  Vingt-Cinq Coups, the sooner André can start.'

  MKG said, I feel I want that next to me, even when I sleep.'

  Tonight will be a lovely night, after the cyclone,' said Adele. ' Clear, with stars and a moon.' MKG caught the strange note in her voice, but Peace said quickly, Searchers'

  moon. I'd prefer it pitch-black.'

  Half an hour later, gasping and stumbling, we brought the

  log to Vingt-Cinq Coups. Andre barely gave himself time to

  recover his breath before he took the axe and, barefooted,

  his toes gripped the rough timber, he started a long, slow, rhythmical chopping stroke.

  Peace ordered Adele to check the Navy waveband; immediately she asked for a pencil. She decoded the signal and handed it to him.

  Listen to this, MKG, John,' he said. ' Love-Apple Crossing is Grid Position E-13. Fifty miles to the immediate east is Grid 1-12, and to the west is 1-14. Northwards 1-11 and

  southwards E-10.'

  They would first search a band only 50 miles south of us! It seemed impossible that we could escape detection, I told myself, perhaps in mitigation of my surrendering to Peace's threats.

  ' Hear that, Boz!' exclaimed MKG. When they don't find anything there, they'll turn north—here.'

  It's one hell of a risk,' said Boz.

  We're being squeezed between the risks and the deadline,'

  replied MKG. He turned to Peace. By heavens, Commander, I

  wish I knew the reason why the President hasn't called off

  the Seventh Fleet's search. Maybe it's even a giant cover on his part because the secret was outing anyway. I don't know. I'

  ve thought and thought it over. But with only two days to go, this thing has really gotten into me and it'll take a hell of a lot more than Tyler and Thornton to make me turn back now.'

  I saw the elation in Peace's face as he turned to meet my

  eyes.

  ' What we need is some real liquor for a celebration to

  night,' the big Texan said, laughing.

  Celebrate when I'm on the way in Little Bear,' replied

  MKG. And don't toast me only—toast the Commander here.'

  The secret hammered in my mind until I wanted to shout

  it out to the whole of Limuria. Adele must have felt the same 200

  as I did for she went over to André's log and came

  back with one of the shavings.

  She held it out to me. ' Smell! There's no smell like bois mangue in the world.'

  It was pungently aromatic—perhaps it owed something to a

  common ancestor with camphor in the. East Indies—with a hint of cinnamon which lingered.

  Until it was too dark to see, André swung his axe, refusing assistance. Peace declined to switch on the radio. Mac grunted over the cutter's engine, but I noted that the Remington was close in the stern locker near his hand. The wind dropped and the sea merely grumbled now

  against the reef. We lit a fire of bois mangue chips and grilled fish which Trevor-Davis had speared in the lagoon. The tiny fire etched the sinister black grating above us with scarlet ; the moon rose; under its softness the sea resumed its long, languid Limurian lope, a sigh instead of a snarl. Limuria returned to her gentleness. We sat with our backs to the coral wall, smoking, looking

  across the lagoon. MKG was in the middle—scruffy, unshaven and nondescript, but we were drawn to his personality like

  moths to a flame. He seemed to have put his questionings

  behind him and his eyes were bright. We all had too much to say for words.

  MKG turned to Adele and pointed with the glowing tip of his cigarette to a bright constellation in the south. Pity Love-Apple Crossing is so far south. I would have liked to

  show you Little Bear in his own place in the firmament.'

  ' Why can't we see him?' asked Adele in a small voice.

  Perhaps the thought was eating her, too—what if Little Bear did not go according to expectation?

  There was a lightness in the Vice-President's voice, by -contrast. ' You can't spot Little Bear in the southern hemisphere,' he told her. Nor Polaris, which is in Little Bear's tail.

  Orion's Belt was a jewel above our heads ; on the right the Southern Cross hung over the limitless ocean. The silence

  was immense. In my heart I knew that if ever MKG came back, he would bring with him something of the incalculable horizons which lay before our eyes to add to a personality so full and strong that I, for one, had never encountered anything like it before. Could the end justify the means in this fantastic space-journey? I hastily stopped my thoughts ; I

  was beginning to think like Peace, without considering the

  vast consequences of the act. 201

  I said, breaking the spell, 'How long will your flight to

  Santa Fe take, MKG?'

  À few hours,' he replied. ' I'll orbit a couple of times to get the automatic docking computer lined up on its target,

  which is the space station. We know Santa Fe's orbital position exactly at any time. It's a relatively easy thing since we developed the locking beam which Acton and Davis used so

  successfully.'

  Boz came and squatted on his haunches in front of MKG. ` Can't we float up Little Bear as soon as the cutter is ready, MKG? That check—'

  MKG flicked away the glowing end of his cigarette. Sorry, Boz. The longer she's out of sight the safer. It'll louse up the whole project if she's spotted at the very last moment. And it's getting that way, time-wise.'

  Tyler's fliers will be over Love-Apple Crossing tomorrow,'

  said Peace flatly.

  Guessing's fine—' objected Boz.

  ' I'm not guessing, Boz,' answered Peace. ' The helos and

  carrier planes will have sanitized Grid E-12 east of us by

  tomorrow. Then—Love-Apple Crossing, Grid E-13. That's

  the way it goes ; one grid finished, the next grid begun.'

  MKG said, It's as relentless as . . . as ..

  A countdown,' said Peace.

  Ì gotta have more time,' insisted Boz. I can't risk a

  failure.'

  Peace said quickly, Can you work in the dark on Little

  Bear, Boz?'

  ` No.'

  ` See—there's one hell of a moon,' went on Peace. What

  if I go down at sunset, cut Little Bear free?'

  Boz swung excitedly on Peace. ` You're sure an ideas man,

  Commander.'

  Ìt will leave Little Bear completely vulnerable for the two hours it takes to pull rods and fully activate the SNAP motor,'

  said Peace. Maybe not completely, for it'll be dark and there'll be enough moon for Boz and his team to work by.

  There's André's acetylene lamp until they can draw their

  own power from the missile's power plant.'

  Jeez I' exclaimed the Texan. ` That'll give us a whole

  night to test her, Boz!'

  When Peace spoke, I detected the real reason for his concession. You'll want to help the boys for a while, won't you, MKG? Don't get short on sleep, though—you and Boz

  and the others can rest up here tomorrow afternoon.'

  202

  In other words, Peace would keep the radio well out of the

  way until it was too late to retract.

  Boz and the scientists were enthusiastic. See here, Commander,' said Boz. As soon as the power starts coming through from the reactor, we'll submerge her up to the capsule. We'll have power then to operate the ballast pumps.'

  The Americans and Trevor-Davis crowded round MKG, squatting like Boz on their heels.

  Boz turned to Trevor-Davis. Can do, fellah? That SNAP is your pigeon.'

  The thought of getting back to mechanics seemed to animate t
he silent Englishman. Can do,' he replied. I'll want light, though, from the acetylene.'

  We'll have to risk it,' said Peace.

  It's not such a big risk,' said Adele. ' All the fishing boats in Limuria will be out now that the storm's over—I expect

  everyone is as hungry as we are. Tyler's men will see hundreds of fishermen's acetylene lights at sea tonight and tomorrow.'

  Good!' breathed Peace.

  Adele jerked up and pointed south. Look at that light!

  What a meteor!'

  A distant stain of red, followed by brilliant white, blotted out the Southern Cross for a moment.

  It isn't a meteor,' said Peace grimly. That's a flare dropped from a plane.'

  Adele gave a shiver and a silence fell upon us. Would Tyler discover Little Bear—with a flare like that tomorrow as the missile lay immobile on the surface of the lagoon?

  Peace broke the silence. Tyler's driving his men into the

  ground. Anything that floats, they'll find.' His voice became hard. Tomorrow we—that is, Mac, André, John and Adele

  and I—will play at island fishermen in the lagoon. Boz, you and your boys will need all the sleep you can get if you're going to work right through the night. We'll bury the DATICO gear, the VLF radio and the space-suit here in the sand of the hut in case we have some nosey helo overhead. The dunking

  helos will come first, then the vP-5's.'

  It sure looks as if we're on the hook,' remarked the big

  Texan.

  On the hook, but not landed,' Peace replied. Everyone will play absolutely dumb if a helo comes over—in the boat

  we don't speak, except Adele, if she wishes, in Creole. If a helo comes over the hut, act like sleeping fishermen. André's safe anyway. None of us look too zazzy in our present rig.

  We'll pass for islanders.'

  203

  MKG laughed and assumed a Southern drawl. For them

  kind words, Commander, I thank you from the bottom of

  mah cotton-pick'n' heart.' His easy confidence broke the tension. Peace went on, ' While we're playing round in the lagoon

  tomorrow, I'll put a marker over Little Bear so that we know exactly where to look after dark.'

  What if the fliers spot Semittante?' I asked.

  The water will be as clear as glass,' added Adele.

  They will,' said Peace. ' They will. But until a vP-5 can get here with MAD gear, they won't know whether the wreck is new or old. The Sea of Limuria hasn't only got one wreck,' he went on. Look at 'em all on the St Brandon reef. I think it's unlikely that they'll divert a vp-5 specially to investigate yet one more wreck. Most likely it will be logged for routine investigation when a vP-5 comes to case Grid E-13. We can