Free To Risks Unknown by Douglas Reeman Page A

quietly, ‘Is there any information about local naval patrols, sir?’
    Scarlett sighed. ‘Our bombing has driven most of the heavy stuff away to Sicily. There are a few armed trawlers, I believe, but I will give you the latest gen on those when we get closer to zero hour.’
    He stood back against the white bulkhead and studied all of them intently. ‘This is damned important for us, gentlemen. It is our first real operation of value in the Mediterranean. I intend to see that we do not make a mush of it.’ His glance fell briefly on Wemyss. ‘In this game you’ve got to think fast and boldly. It’s no place for barrack stanchions and people who are afraid to act for themselves. No use dripping over lack of detailed plans, or waiting for someone to wipe away the tears when it gets a bit dicey.’ He slapped his palms together and Porteous jumped nervously. ‘Just remember that the island’s defences are only as strong as the weakest men there. In this case the ruddy Eye-ties. If we can smash their water supply and rub the Jerry’s nose in the dust as well, we shall be well on the way to success.’
    He took Crespin’s arm. ‘Walk with me to the launch. I just want to fill in a few details before I send your final orders aboard.’
    As they left the wardroom followed at a discreet distance by the two soldiers, Shannon said, ‘Now
there
is someone who is getting things done!’
    Wemyss grunted. He had by now taken a firm dislike to Scarlett.
    Porteous said vaguely, ‘He has quite a record, I’ll give him that.’
    The others looked at him and then Shannon said, ‘Do you know him?’
    Porteous flushed under the combined stare. ‘I’ve
heard
of him. He’s already got a D.S.O. and D.S.C.’
    Wemyss unbuttoned his shirt and muttered sourly, ‘Then he’s either got a lot of our blokes killed or he’s managed to survive longer than most!’
    Shannon’s thin face darkened. ‘Well, what else do you know?’
    â€˜He’s been building a sort of private navy down here for some time. Running stores to Tobruk, carrying out raids and that sort of thing.’
    Shannon bit his lip and stared through the open scuttle. ‘Well, it just shows that given half a chance even the Admiralty can see that temporary officers are as good if not better than regulars!’
    â€˜Well, yes.’ Porteous faltered and then blurted out, ‘Of course he is a
very
influential man. Before the war he was a big stockbroker in the City, and was pretty famous as a yachtsman
and
mountaineer. He’s not
exactly
typical, would you say?’
    Wemyss turned away, unable to watch Shannon’s anger. You had to hand it to Porteous, he thought. Soft he might be, but when he did pluck up courage he certainly had all the right words.
    On deck Crespin stood beside Scarlett and watched the soldiers jumping down into the waiting launch.
    Then Scarlett said softly, ‘I want you to make a good show of this operation.’
    Crespin did not look at him. ‘I shall do what I can, sir.’
    â€˜I am sure you will, old boy.’ Scarlett straightened up to leave. ‘I just have a thing about people I’ve not worked with before.’ He faced Crespin and his eyes were for once quite still and devoid of warmth. ‘It does not follow that because a man has reached a certain rank or appointment at a time when a battle starts that he is equipped in any way for fighting it. I’ve got very high standards, and I expect everyone under me to reach them.’
    A quick smile broke the hardness on his features. ‘Still, I’m sure
you
will be all right.’
    He touched his cap in a casual salute and dropped down to the boat.
    Crespin watched the launch curving away towards the waterfront and realized that his hands were shaking badly. So it was not as he had imagined it at all. He had thought the
Thistle
to be a