She was that, Mahlberg had thought as his wife eyed him accusingly, and dangerous as well.
Need. The word stuck in his mind. Do I “need” you? “You think that I cannot achieve what is rightfully mine on my own?”
She smiled. “Eventually, perhaps. But why postpone triumph? Especially since it need not be so. I have much to offer.”
“What do you expect in return, Ingrid?” Mahlberg said.
“Everything,” she said.
Anger swept over him but he did his best to control it. She forgets herself, he thought. She forgets who is in command aboard this vessel and the power that I possess. She forgets that woman is subservient to man. He forced his anger to dissipate.
The telephone on Mahlberg’s desk rang urgently, its red light blinking. He picked up the receiver and pressed it to his ear as Ingrid placed his hand near her lips and began to kiss his fingers seductively.
“Kapitan.” It was Kadow. He had the bridge watch. “We’re approximately eighteen kilometers from Kalvenes.” Kalvenes was where they were to meet the refueling vessel and pick up the destroyers.
Ingrid looked up at Mahlberg expectantly, rubbing her body against his.
“I’ll be right up,” Mahlberg said, and replaced the receiver in its cradle. He gently pushed Ingrid back. “Duty calls,” he said evenly.
“You can’t delay it, Kapitan zur See?”
He picked up her coat and draped it over her shoulders, guiding her to the door. “Unfortunately not,” he said.
“When can I see you again?” she said, expectation written on her face. “We have much to talk about.” She suddenly grew petulant. “And I’m lonely. It’ll be such a long voyage.”
“Socially?” he said. “When we are again in port.”
“But—”
“I have but one mistress at sea and she demands all of my attention.”
“Don’t be absurd,” she said. He could see that she didn’t believe him.
“I am being quite honest, Ingrid,” Mahlberg said. “I have no time for frivolity and I will not undermine the morale of this ship by engaging in unprofessional activities.” Need you? Do you really think that I need a whore to vouch for my capabilities? This voyage will decide who succeeds Raeder — not your disgusting talents.
“Who do you think you are?” she snapped. “You can’t toss me aside. You had more than enough time before—”
“Before, I was not aboard ship.”
“You think that makes a difference? I can have any man I want. Now the great Kapitan zur See suddenly has developed morals. What was it? Did you remember that you had a wife? Is it the children?”
“In the future,” he said calmly, “you will be prohibited from entering all living quarters aboard ship. On any tour of the vessel you will be accompanied at all times by Korvettenkapitan Eich, our chief medical officer. He is short, fat, and has bad breath.”
“You arrogant—”
“Yes,” Mahlberg said. “I am. Now, if you will excuse me, I have duties to attend to.” He pushed her through the door and closed it behind her.
He donned his cap and overcoat, stopping in front of the full-length mirror to consider his appearance. He was pleased with the reflection. Of course he was arrogant — he had every right to be. He was also confident, professional, and the finest officer in the Kriegsmarine. His arrogance was well founded and entirely appropriate — he commanded Sea Lion. Ingrid May simply did not understand. Ashore he had time for their assignations, but aboard his vessel his time, his energy, his interests were reserved for his vessel. He removed an errant piece of dust from the shoulder of his deep blue coat. He was God on Sea Lion: unapproachable, unassailable, unmistakably a deity. He was, he knew deep in his heart as he stared into the blue eyes in the mirror, infallible.
Chapter 13
Hardy, in as foul a mood as Number One had ever seen him, gave the order: “Close all watertight doors and scuttles. Hands to station for leaving harbor.” Number One passed on the order to a chief bo’swain’s mate, a three-badger with thirteen years of good service, who sounded the bugle over the intercom and announced: “Do you hear there? Do you hear there? The ship is under sailing orders. Special sea-duty men to their stations.”
Number One followed Hardy’s cold gaze as Prometheus swung into the Flow, preparing to take her place along with her three destroyers: Eskimo, Windsor, and Firedancer. The majestic Prince of Wales was astern of them.
“Depth Charge at Cruising Stations, at the stern to set the depth charges with the special key and do any electrical work necessary,” the voice crackled over the speaker.
“Stand by, Engine Room, stand by, Wheelhouse,” Hardy said without emotion. “Ready, Number One? Half ahead port.”
“Half ahead port, yes, sir,” Number One repeated and then called the order into the engine room voice tube. “Half ahead port,” he confirmed to Hardy.
“Starboard twenty,” Hardy ordered.
“Starboard twenty, sir,” Number One said and passed on the course to the wheelhouse. They were pulling away from the buoy next to the filthy oiling jetty that they had sucked life from earlier that morning.
“Wheel amidships. Half ahead starboard,” Hardy ordered and walked from one side of the bridge to the other, noting Firedancer’s station as they took position prior to entering Hoxa Sound.
Number One watched Hardy skillfully guide his ship to the entrance of the sound and wondered if he would ever have the ability to do the same. However querulous Hardy could be, and lately it seemed as if nothing were right enough for him, he was a superb sailor. But there were demons eating away at him, Number One decided, gnawing at his guts so that the only way he could find release was to unleash his anger on others.
Torps Baird waited with his party at the two TSDS Davits and three-ton winches that rose above Firedancer’s stern on either side of the depth charge rack.
“All right, Engleman. What’s it to be? Hoxa, Hoy, or Switha? Here’s a chance to make a quid. Simple as that. Here. Here’s three witnesses. Let the boy seaman hold the money until we’re through.”
“Sod off.”
“Here now! You’re as cold as charity, you are. Begrudge a mate the chance to make a bit. You’d stand a better chance with me than you would playing crown and anchor.”
“Hoy!” Blessing said excitedly. “I bet we’re going through Hoy.”
“That’s it, lad,” Baird said. “He’s got the spirit of it.”
Engleman turned to Blessing in disgust. “It’s Hoxa Sound, you daft child. Can’t you see the channel markers?”
“Why, bless my soul,” Baird said. “So it is. Let that be a lesson to you, Boy Seaman,” he said to Blessing. “You’ll thank me for showing you the evils of gambling when you hand over that quid.”
“Depth Charge Party, close up,” Sublieutenant Morrison ordered. “Man the TSDS Davits.”
Baird and his party took their stations, hooking the steel leads and cables into the eyes of the squat streaming paravanes — torpedolike devices that trailed the destroyer, snagging and cutting the suspension wires of anchored mines. Once cut, the mines would float to the surface and be detonated with gunfire.