Jupp padded into the cabin and opened the drinks cabinet as Goss replied, ‘I’ve done my best, but it’s nowhere near ready. Those butchers have made more mess than they’ve repaired. We should have gone down to Greenock or Rosyth.’ He glanced at the nearest scuttle and added harshly, ‘The weather’s worse, too.’
Fraser grimaced. ‘Proper ray of sunlight, you are!’
Lindsay said, ‘I believe we may be at sea for’Christmas.’
He watched his words affecting each of them in different ways. He had been at sea for nearly every Christmas he could remember, but this was different. Most of the ship’s company had not, and after the’ misery of the last patrol, Christmas in the Arctic wastes might seem like a final disaster. He followed Goss’s stare to the scuttle. The sky was very pale and without colour. Inside the cabin it was humid with steam heat, but beyond the toughened glass the air would be like a razor.
Fraser asked mildly, ‘Is it definite, sir?’
Lindsay glancedd at Jupp’s stooped shoulders and
smiled. ‘The chief steward informs me that it is so.’ Jupp bowed over the-desk with his tray of glasses and eyed him calmly. ‘I saw the turkeys meself, sir. Bein’ stacked up ready for Mr Barker’s people to collect ‘em.’ He shook his head. ‘A sure sign.’
Fraser grinned. ‘Very.’
Goss did not seem to be listening. ‘Same patrol?’
‘No.’ Lindsay held up-his glass to the light. ‘Further south-west than Uncle Item Victor. But that is just between us.’
Goss shuddered. ‘Nearer Greenland. There’ll be ice about.’
The three of them lapsed into silence, so that the muffled shipboard noises intruded like whispers.
Lindsay watched as Jupp refilled his glass and wondered if the chief steward had noticed he was drinking more lately. He should have gone ashore, if only to stretch his legs or to find a change of scene. But apart from two official visits to the headquarters at Kirkwall he had remained on board immersing himself in the business of preparing his ship for sea again. He knew he had stayed too much alone, that it had solved nothing.
He realised too that something had to be done to break the gloom which. hung over his command likee a threat, especially with the added prospect of Christmas at sea. He had granted shore leave as often as possible, but the libertymen had soon discovered the scope of enjoyment in Scapa was almost nil. There had been several fights, drunkenness and two cases of assault on naval patrolmen. Few of the defaulters brought before him for punishment had offered a reason for their behaviour, and he knew that all these things were just symptoms of frustration and boredom. The stark thrill of being spared Loch Glendhu’s fate, of hitting at the — enemy, had soon vanished when back in harbour. Anywhere else and it might not have mattered. But here, in this dismal place it was taking its toll.
He said suddenly, ‘I thought we’d have a party before we sail. It will help make up for Christmas.’
Fraser eyed him curiously. ‘It’ll pass the time.’
But Lindsay was watching Goss. ‘It’s rather up to you, Number One. If you think you’ve too much on your plate we’ll scrub round it, of course.’
Goss stirred in his chair. ‘I am very busy, sir.’ He was pondering on Lindsay’s words, his eyes far away as he continued, ‘Who would be coming anyway?’
Lindsay tried to keep his tone matter of fact, knowing Fraser was-watching him. He hoped Goss would not see through his little game as easily as Fraser was obviously doing.
He said, ‘Oh, all the usual. Base staff, some of the people who have been helping us. That sort of thing.’
Fraser said over the rim of his glass, ‘I think it might be too difficult. Number One’s people have still got a good bit of clearing up to do. In any case, who’d want to come to a ship like this? There’s a damn great carrier here now and….’
Goss swung towards him angrily. ‘That’s all you bloody well know! How,many ships like this one have you seen then, eh?’ Some of his drink slopped on to his thighs but he did not notice. ‘A carrier, you say? Well, that’s just another warship, and most people are sick to death of them up here!’
Lindsay asked quietly, ‘You’re in favour?’ He saw Fraser drop one eyelid in a brief wink.
Goss recovered some of his old dignity. ‘Well, if you think-‘- He darted a glance at Fraser. ‘Yes, I am, sir.’
‘That’s settled then. I’ll leave it to you. Two days is not long to arrange it, but I expect you’ll manage.’
Goss pushed his empty glass towards Jupp. ‘Manage?’ He frowned. ‘I’ve seen the main saloon filled to overflowing in my day. A prince, his whole retinue, and some of the richest passengers we’ve carried, all eating and drinking fit to bust.’ He nodded firmly. ‘We’ll show ‘em.’ He stood up violently. ‘So if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll find Barker. Go over a few things with him.’ He did not mention the patrol at all. ‘Carrier indeed! Who the hell wants to see that!’ He left the cabin with unusual speed.
Fraser signalled for another drink and then said quietly, ‘I’ve not seen him like that for years. My God, sir, you don’t know what you’ve sparked off.’
Lindsay smiled. ‘I hope you’re right, Chief. This ship needs something, so we’ll make a start with the party, right?’
Fraser grinned. ‘Right.’
Lindsay did not have much time to think about the proposed party. Almost to the hour of its starting he was kept busy dealing with the ship’s affairs as with growing speed sailing preparations were completed. Fresh supplies and ammunition. A new whaler to replace the one destroyed by shellfire, as well as the promised turkeys, which were whisked away by Barker’s men to the cold storage room before any could go astray. And of course there were the new ratings who arrived in dribs and drabs in the ferries to take the places of more seasoned men needed elsewhere.
The Benbecula’s company watched the new arrivals with all the usual interest. The men who had made just one patrol, who had been drafted straight from shore training establishments, now stood like old salts and eyed the newcomers with a mixture of contempt and assured superiority. Lindsay had watched some of them from the bridge. Their brand-new greatcoats and gasmask haversacks, their regulation haircuts and general air of, lost confusion marking them out from all the rest.
He had heard Archer, the chief boatswain’s mate, bellowing at them, ‘Come on then, jump about! Drop yer bags ‘n’ammicks and get fell in while I gives you yer parts of ship!’
Archer seemed to have grown in size since the commissioned boatswain, Tobey, had left for another ship, but quite obviously relished his new powers.
When, one pale-faced recruit had said timidly, ‘I thought we were coming to a warship, P.O., not a….’ he had got no further.
Archer had roared at him, ‘This ‘ere is an’ armed merchant cruiser, see? Any bloody fool, can ‘andle a battleship, but this takes seamen, got it?’ As he had been about to turn away he had added loudly, ‘And I’m not a P.O., I’m the chief bosun’s mate, so don’t you bloody well forget it!’
The little seaman,had tried to escape after the rest of the draft but Archer’s voice had pursued him like an enraged walrus. ‘An’ get yer bloody ‘air cut!’
It was dark in the Flow when Goss came to Lindsay’s quarters. ‘Ready for you in the wardroom, sir.’
Lindsay noticed Goss was wearing a new uniform and his cheeks were glowing from a fresh shave and bath. There was something else, too. A kind of defiance.
When they reached the wardroom Lindsay was astounded. It was difficult to believe he was in the same ship. Everything shone with polish and small coloured lights, and two long tables were groaning under such a weight of sandwiches, canapes and go many tempting. morsels that he could pity the officers and their mess bills when the reckoning was made. Most of the stewards who had been with the company before the war were wearing their old mess jackets and maroon trousers, and as Lindsay followed Goss’s massive figure towards the assembled officers he saw three other stewards waiting selfconsciously with violins and a piano which had certainly not been present before.