“Flood forward one and two. Planesman, down angle ten degrees, make your depth seventy.”
“Aye aye, Sir down ten, seventy meters.” The deck inclined forwards slightly as the boat dived. The few seagulls who followed all vessels flew confused circles as the sail slid further down and finally disappeared below the waves. Her wake was visible for a short time and finally there was nothing, just a sunny breezy day in the English Channel.
“Depth seventy Sir,” the Planesman pulled back on the yoke to level the boat. The navigation officer Lt Commander Daniel Cartwright looked over to Luke. “Sir I’ve plotted a course to take us around The lizard and Dingle, current bearing to put us on track would be two thirty degrees.” His accent still bore the slight rural lilt of his Suffolk roots.
“Thanks, Mr Cartwright. Scrap it. We’re not going up north again. I want a new route across the Bay of Biscay and around the north-west tip of Spain, keep well clear of Brest and Ferrol, we don’t want the French and Spanish navies to know about us. We’re going around the Cape of Good Hope. It’s a fast dash, pick a good line, no standing offshore.” The navigation officer gave him a puzzled frown and turned to start work.
“Yes, Sir.” After a short time, Cartwright turned, “Two two five Sir.”
“Thank you. Planesman, bring her to two two five, speed six knots.”
“Aye aye Sir, two two five at six.”
“Exec, Take her through the Angles and dangles drill.”
“Sir.”
Angles and Dangles is a series of random sharp turns, figure eights, and random depth changes. It’s intended to eliminate any unintended self-noise which could occur during extreme manoeuvres. It’s carried out at the start of a patrol, in order to determine if loose items aboard the submarine are properly rigged for sea. Loose items can fall or shift position during the sudden manoeuvres of undersea combat, making noises that could be detected by an enemy submarine. After a series of deck tilting extreme manoeuvres, the XO reported.
“Angles and Dangles clear Sir.”
“Thank you, Mr Davis. Planesman, proceed on two two five. Speed twenty six knots.”
“Two two five at twenty six aye Sir.”
The Ghost slid quietly through the dark waters of the western approaches, unseen, unheard.
SAVITA SLEPT SOUNDLY in her warm cosy bunk, her breathing soft and peaceful. Sleep glorious sleep, she had hours of it to go. The curtain was rudely ripped aside, two ratings roughly pushed her in the chest.
“Are you, Savita Kapoor?”
“What’s this? Yes.”
“Then you are accused of the following.
Disregard for the traditions of the sea.
Of only posing as a sailor, and actually being a Pollywog.
Of not paying proper homage to King Neptune the true God of all the seas.” She knew what this was. She’d not crossed the equator before and it was an old naval tradition that you undergo the crossing of the line ceremony, and appear before King Neptune himself. You’d be judged and inevitably found guilty. One of the ratings read from a sheet he held up. “I Davy Jones subpoena you to appear before the King and his court of Shellbacks. Get up.” She reached for her blue naval coverall. “That won’t be necessary Pollywog, bra and knickers only.” She groaned, retrieved her bra and put it on then climbed out of her bunk. She was led to the mess where Leading seaman Hyder was also under restraint and stood in his boxer shorts. Davy Jones pointed to two plates on a table. “The Pollywogs will sit and eat their breakfast.” They sat and picked up the knives and forks. Savita looked at the mess, she’d no idea what it was and knew only that it looked disgusting. She tasted it, and it was every bit as foul as it looked. It seemed to be cold porridge mixed with various sauces and curry powder. She took a few spoonfuls then pushed it away. “You will eat your food and be grateful for it.” Hyder was struggling too, he was holding back spasmodically from being sick. This didn’t help Savita at all. She struggled and could only just resist doing it herself. After a few minutes, Davy Jones said, “That’s enough, the Pollywogs will now stand in judgement before the King. They were taken forward to the torpedo room. It had been transformed into a courthouse. A Petty officer was dressed as King Neptune. Two leading seamen sat at his side, one dressed as a woman and one who was particularly fat was bare chested. There were more than a dozen grinning onlookers perched wherever they could.
“Who stands before me awaiting judgement?” She was pushed in the back “Savita Kapoor.”
“Paul Hyder.”
“This is my wife,” said the King and pointed to the man dressed as a woman, “and this is the Royal baby.” He indicated the fat bare chested man.
“You have been read the charges?” She knew there was no escaping.
“I have.”
“I have.”
“Then how do you plead?”
“Not guilty.”
“Not guilty.”
“You may plead your case.” He pointed to Hyder. He made up a weak case, pointing out his young age.
“You.” He pointed at Savita.
“I’ve never needed to cross the line before, can’t I be excused your majesty?”
“No. I pronounce you both guilty, my Shellbacks will administer the punishment. But first kneel, then you may kiss the baby’s belly.” The two of them took it in turns to kneel and kiss the man’s stomach.
A large tray had been purloined from the engine room and filled with oil, something resembling the muck they’d had for breakfast and dirty washing up water. First, Leading seaman Hyder was taken by the hands and feet, then dipped and rolled in the mess until he was filthy with it. Then it was her turn. She was rolled in it until most of her was covered.
“Boobs too,” said a rating, a plastic cup was used to pour it over her chest.
“You will visit the whole of the boat, so the rest of my Shellbacks may greet you,” said the King. Savita crawled on her hands and knees towards the aft of the boat followed by Hyder. The companionways were lined with men and a few women including the new Medical officer Pearl Turner. They poured all manner of filth on the pair, oil, both black and cooking, dirty water mixed with last night’s food remains. There were jeers and insults aplenty. Most laughed at them. Savita started to grin, she’d got into the spirit of the event. Finally, it was over. Hyder led the way to the shower.
“After you, Sir.”
“No, you go first. I can stand a few more minutes.” She stood outside the shower and waited. She stood there in her underwear and caught out a few of them looking her up and down, they tried to be discrete. She could see how bizarre it was, here she was in her underwear, in a submarine with men passing by. She knew she had a good body, Savita couldn’t blame them for looking.
“Oh God,” she thought. It’s Luke, and I’m a mess, she could feel herself starting to colour up. He walked up to her grinning, she thought he looked gorgeous with his eyes and cheeky smile. “Hi, well it’s over now. You’re a Shellback too Savita. He’d used her first name, she’d never heard him call her that. He noticed her surprise. “I can call you by your real name”, he looked down at her body, “you’re not exactly in uniform are you?” Did he linger longer than he should? She wondered.
“I feel filthy Sir.” He looked, smiled and raised an eyebrow.
“Do you now?” Was he flirting? “You were a good sport. They’ll like that.” The shower door opened and Hyder stepped out. “Hello, Sir.”
“Hi.” He turned aft and walked back to his bunkroom. Luke made way for a couple of passing seamen and now stood closer to her. He didn’t move back when they’d gone by. “What was the worst of it Savita?” She caught her breath. Did he know what he did to her, standing this close? “The tray in the torpedo room.” They talked for more than a minute, she found herself raising her arms to toss up her hair. Then stopped herself. You flirt Savita. She found her embarrassment had faded, in spite of herself, she quite enjoyed being here half-naked, talking with him. She saw him flick a couple of glances down at her body. He certainly didn’t seem in any rush to leave. She knew she’d have to go in there soon. “Well Sir, I’ll need to go in,” she said tilting her head towards the shower, “I need a good scrubbing down.” He gave her that drop dead sexy smile.