Medusa

Gareth glanced through the paper, nodded, dealt with the little queue of officers waiting to be briefed, then went over to the nearest mike, his voice stilling all conversation as it blared out over the ship’s main broadcast: ‘This is the Captain speaking. We have a situation ashore that was not wholly unexpected and is to some extent our reason for being here in Port Mahon …’ And then he was outlining briefly what the firing was all about. He also indicated that there had been outside intervention … ‘Whether by political sympathisers, mercenaries or some foreign power is not yet clear. I will keep you informed.’ Just as he said that there was a flash, followed immediately by the rumble of a heavy explosion, the rumbling muffled as though it were underground, and suddenly the highest point of La Mola was lit by a pyrotechnic display that was so colourful and went on for so long it was more like fireworks than the destruction of a military target. ‘Looks like they’ve got the garrison’s ammunition dump.’ Gareth had a pair of the bridge binoculars fixed on La Mola. Davison said something to him and he lowered the glasses, frowning. ‘Funny! I should have thought he would have been glad of a coffee, even a drink …’ He turned to me. ‘That Australian of yours. Seems he was worried about something, so he’s pushed off. Said he’d be at the dig when you wanted him. Yes, Yeo?’

The Yeoman of Signals was at his elbow again. ‘Looks as though they’ve taken the radio station, sir. They’re playing local music interspersed with announcements of this sort.’ He handed Gareth a slip of paper.

‘Ismail Fuxá — ’ Gareth was reading it aloud — ‘I imagine you pronounce it Fusha, the X is sh, isn’t it? He’s described here as leader of the Independent Movement and it says he’ll be broadcasting an Independence Day message to the Menorquin people at 06.00. Apparently the speech will be repeated every hour on the hour throughout the rest of the day. What do you think?’ He glanced up at me. ‘The speech taped in advance?’ And he added, ‘Must have been. Which suggests a degree of organisation …’

The Navigating Officer interrupted him. ‘Message from the Naval Base, sir. No answer from the garrison command post on La Mola. And the Jefe would like a word with you on UHF.’

The ultra high frequency set used by Nato service units was on the far side of the bridge. He picked up the headset with its boom-mike and though I couldn’t hear what was said I saw the lines of strain on his face ease. He was talking for barely a minute and then he said, ‘Well, thank God for that. They haven’t got the Naval Base.’ He said it loud enough for all on the bridge to hear, knowing I suppose that it would spread from there right through the ship.

‘Launch coming back now, sir.’

He nodded, watching it come out from behind Bloody Island, making an arrowed arc as it swung to pass under the bows and come alongside the ladder. To seaward the first glimmer of the dawn was etching black the outline of Lazareto Island with the bulk of La Mola reared up behind it.

Mault, when he reached the bridge, reported that he had been received very formally. He had the impression that his visit was not welcomed and that the Spanish Navy Jefe was wanting to distance himself from the British naval presence in the harbour.

‘You saw Perez himself, did you?’ Gareth asked him.

‘In the end, yes.’

‘Would you say his coolness was dictated by higher authority?’

‘Yes. He asked me to thank you for your offer of assistance, but to tell you it would not be necessary.’

‘He’s in touch with Madrid then?’

Mault nodded, i think so. But locally I had the feeling he was cut off. I was with him when the explosion occurred on La Mola. That was when he told me his Communications people could no longer talk to the garrison there. He seemed very dejected. In the circumstances the sensible thing would seem to be for us to withdraw to Gibraltar.’

Gareth looked at him, gave a short bark of a laugh and said, ‘The sensible thing!’ His voice was full of irony. ‘Oh yes, Lieutenant Commander — that would undoubtedly be the sensible thing. Unfortunately, our orders are quite the opposite. We stay here.’ And he turned on his heel, striding quickly up and down the bridge several times, his face tight-drawn, an expression almost of anguish on his face. He seemed to be struggling to make up his mind about something. Finally, he turned to me. ‘Wait for me in my cabin.’ He was moving towards the door and when I started to say something about it being time I was off his ship he turned on me angrily, ‘Just do as I tell you. Wait in my cabin. I may need you if I manage to contact any of Soo’s friends.’