Shaw murmured, “It’s a tall order…"
“Our assignments usually are, but somehow we manage to stagger through,” Latymer said gruffly.
“I suppose so.” Shaw gave a fleeting smile. “Do you want me to go to China, sir?”
“Oh, no! That wouldn’t get you far. Remember the threat is direct to REDCAP initially. It’s my guess Lubin’ll be somewhere in the region of REDCAP.” He added rather mysteriously, “He could even be in Australia already… but somehow I don’t think that’s very likely.”
“Australia, sir?” Shaw looked surprised. “Why there? REDCAP’s being sited in Geneva, surely?”
Latymer grinned. “You’re not the only one who thinks that. It was, until just recently. However, the Swiss have refused to have it, on the grounds that any intending aggressor might be tempted to try to knock it off with a few conventional bombs so as to negate the safeguard, get rid of the reprisal in advance. They didn’t think that was a fair risk to ask of a small, lightly-defended country. Can’t say I blame ’em really. All the other neutrals refused it on similar grounds. Well, after that there was a devil of a lot of hoo-ha and hot air in private, with Russia refusing to let it be sited in U.K. or U.S.A. and vice versa. Deadlock was only averted by a compromise proposal, which was that REDCAP should be sited in Australia.”
“In a member-nation’s territory — non-neutral ground?”
Latymer gestured irritably. “Not exactly — I’ll explain in a moment. It’s going up to a place called Bandagong, just inside the Northern Territory — somewhere south-west of Alice Springs, on the fringe of the central desert. I dare say you’ve heard of the MAPIACCIND Experimental Power Station at Bandagong?”
“Yes, I have, sir—”
“Amazing place, I believe. Semi-military establishment. You can send me a postcard all about it! Well — that’s to be REDCAP’s permanent home, Shaw, and to answer your query let me tell you it’s no longer Commonwealth territory at all. In effect, it’s a kind of neutral zone under MAPIACCIND sovereignty, guarded on its outer perimeter by what sounds like half the Australian Army — Australia, as of a few weeks ago when a special secret session of the Federal Parliament rushed an Act through, has given up all her rights in the area. It’s garrisoned internally by troops of the MAPIACCIND Field Force. They’ve always been there, of course, but now their role is to act as a guarantee of the area’s complete autonomy, even though it’s physically situated within a member-nation’s boundaries. There’s an airfield close by, with aircraft on constant patrol against the conventional attack that the Swiss were worried about, and the whole area’s ringed with Early Warning radar stations, so it’s pretty secure in that way. I hope, too secure for Lubin to do anything. I believe it is, too. You see what that means?” Latymer jabbed the ruler at Shaw again. “Any attempt must be made before REDCAP gets to Bandagong. And it’s on its way already, Shaw. Therefore the time of the most danger is from now, while it’s in transit between here and Sydney, where it’s to be off-loaded, and again from there to Bandagong, where it’ll go in a road convoy under Australian Army guard… Of course, it would get there quicker if it was discharged at Fremantle or Melbourne, but the roads up from Sydney are better, apparently.”
“How far on its way is it, sir?”
Latymer said, “By my reckoning, it’ll be just past Gibraltar at this moment. It’s going out in the new ship — the Australia and Pacific Line’s New South Wales.”
Shaw raised an eyebrow. “The nuclear-powered job? Why not an H.M. ship, sir?”
Latymer growled, “Allow me for the second time to use the phrase ‘suspicious bastards.’ No country would agree to its being put aboard a warship of any other country and it’s far too big to fly out, so a merchant ship was the obvious — the only — answer. REDCAP was built in England, and as it happened the New South Wales fitted in very nicely indeed, with her dates and her comparatively high speed and so on, and also the fact that she wasn’t fully booked made it possible to get a MAPIACCIND escort party abroad her almost at the last moment — incidentally,” he added, “REDCAP’s whereabouts are supposed to be a close secret, right the way along, at any rate until it gets to Bandagong. It’s under the charge of a Colonel Gresham, late the Royal Engineers, and a small party of MAPIACCIND men. As to the ship’s company, the only ones who know they’ve got REDCAP aboard are the Master, Staff Commander, Chief Officer and one or two others at the Master’s discretion — all trusted men who’re directly concerned with cargo. The thing’s crated as machine parts.” Latymer tapped the desk with the ebony ruler. “And now I’ll tell you something. Right from the start I had an uneasy feeling, a hunch if you like, that something was going to happen to that liner. It’s a horrible thought, seeing she’s got upwards of three thousand people aboard her.” Latymer was looking directly into Shaw’s eyes now, leaning massively across the desk. “Donovan’s news doesn’t help that feeling… and I’m convinced that it’s aboard the ship that the danger, whatever it may be, is most likely to develop. And it’s most likely that’s where Lubin’ll be. If China’s behind him we don’t know what may happen.” He added quietly, “That’s why I’m sending you to join the New South Wales, because it’s vital Lubin should be picked up as fast as possible.”
Shaw nodded. “I understand, sir. But couldn’t REDCAP be oil-loaded en route and transferred to another ship?” Latymer snapped, “God give me patience. Don’t be silly, the threat’s the same whatever ship it’s in. And to change the plans now would be to let all concerned know we’re on the trail. In any case I can’t get anything done until I get enough proof to make the Cabinet believe me. I’m sorry, but the New South Wales will have to carry the danger. World security must take priority over — over”
“Over more than three thousand men, women, and children?”
Latymer’s face hardened. He said evenly, “If you like to put it that way, yes. Lesson Number Two in the book, I believe. Do I have to go into all that again?”
Shaw sighed. “No, sir. I know you’re right, of course.”
“Thank you. In that case I’ll go on. You accompany REDCAP all the way to Bandagong, if you haven’t bowled Lubin out before Sydney — and remember it’s Lubin we want and not any hangers-on, minor operatives. Don’t scare the birds too soon. Until REDCAP’s safely in Bandagong, it’s firstly a British and then an Australian responsibility, and we can’t afford a single slip.” Latymer sat back. “Well — that’s it, then. You’ll board the New South Wales, probably in Naples, as soon as I can make certain arrangements. I’ll be sending for you again later on to-day, to give you your final orders and to let Captain Carberry have a word with you.” Carberry, the Outfit’s Number Two, was in charge of all details such as documentation and overseas contacts, and was also the technical expert on certain matters. “In the meantime, go home and look after the ladies. Get your Miss Delacroix to rustle you up a meal, and then get some sleep.”
“Very good, sir.”
Latymer stood up, stretched. He said, “You’re not to leave your flat at all for any reason whatever — I’ll want you at the end of a telephone from now on, Shaw. Meanwhile,” he added more kindly, “don’t worry about those girls while you’re out of the country. I’ll not forget to have them watched! They won’t come to any harm.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“All right, Shaw. Off you go now. I’ve got a lot to do. I won’t keep you waiting long.”