The Black Tide

The next thing I knew it was daylight and the sun was streaming in out of a hard clear sky. It was still shining three and a half hours later when I took off from Heathrow in a half-empty Fokker Fellowship, flying over an England that was mantled deep in snow and brilliantly white. It was only when we were over the Channel and approaching the coast of France that we ran into cloud.

PART THREE

THE ROAD TO DUBAI

CHAPTER ONE

The clouds were thinning when we landed at Nantes, fitful gleams of sunlight flickering on wet tarmac, and in the city itself the French moved quickly, huddled in topcoats, for it was cold with an east wind blowing down the river. Baldwick was out when I reached the Hotel du Commerce, and not expected back until evening. I scribbled him a note, and after checking into a room, took a taxi to the address of the Lloyd’s agent. His name was Louis Barre and he had a small, untidy office looking out over the quay to a glimpse of the river through the superstructure of a cargo vessel.

‘Mistair Rodin?’ He was on his feet, waving a telex at me as I entered. ‘Zis arrive thees morning to say you are coming to me. Sit down, sit down please.’ He waved me to a chair. ‘You want to know about Choffel, eh? The Petros Jupiter. I have made enquiries.’ He was large and energetic, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet as he talked, jiggling a bunch

of keys in the pocket of his jacket. ‘He is what I think you call my patch.’ His English was quick, almost staccato, the words ejected like grape pips through half-closed teeth. ‘It is a big river, the Loire, but Nantes is not like a seaport. It is more… what is the word? More a port of the region. Along the quay here we know many people, and Choffel, he has a house at Parnay, a few kilometres beyond Saumur, so it is not difficult for me to find out about him.’

He bounced across to the door of the outer office, rattled some French at the girl who had shown me in, then turned back to me: ‘She has now finished typing the report. You like coffee while you read it? Milk, sugar?’ I said I’d like it black and he nodded. ‘Deux noirs,’ he said and handed me a single sheet of typescript. ‘It gives the background, all I can discover about him. If you want more, then we drive to Parnay and talk to his daughter. She is secretary at a clinic in Saumur. But today she is at home because she has a bad cold.’

The report was in the form of notes and typed in English:

Dossier of Henri Albert Choffel, ship’s engineer: Age 46. Medium height, appearance swarthy, black waved hair, large ears, nose like hawk. Address: 5042 Les Tuffeaux, Parnay. Place of birth — no information.

First employed in the locality by Reaux et Cie as replacement for engineer who is sick on board the coaster Tarzan in 1959. Married Marie Louise

Gaston from Vertou in 1961. One child, a daughter, Guinevere. Continued in employment with Reaux until 1968 when he became chief engineer of the bulk carrier Olympic Ore. This vessel is Greek-owned at that time and sailing on Panamanian flag-of-convenience. She is sunk in 1972.

After that there is no information about Choffel until 1976, except that he buys the house at Parnay and his wife dies in February 1973, after a transplant of the kidney operation. It is her husband who gives the kidney.

In 1976 Choffel’s name occurs in connection with the Stella Rosa. This is a small Lebanese vessel sunk off Pantelleria and Choffel is chief engineer. The enquiry, which was in Palermo, exonerated Choffel from any involvement in the sabotage of the sea cocks. But the ship is gun-running for the Polisario and on his return to Nantes in March 1977 his connection with these two ships, the Olympic Ore and the Stella Rosa, makes it difficult for him to gain employment as chief engineer. He is, in any case, not a Frenchman, though he has been naturalized for over twenty years. This is evident from his papers, which are already French when he is first employed by Reaux in 1959. This leads me to believe he may have been from North Africa originally. I can enquire of the relevant department of government if this information is required.

In 1978 I understand he tried to establish a

small mushroom business at his home in Parnay, but this does not seem to have succeeded as he is back in Nantes looking for employment on a ship early in 1979. I can discover no information concerning this man in Nantes between June 1979, when he shipped out as third engineer on the Colombian-registered cargo ship, Amistad, and this year when he is second engineer on the Petros Jupiter. I have not so far made enquiries of his daughter, but will do so if it is thought necessary.

(SIGNED) LOUIS BARRE